Cactus Tubeworm
Medium Vermin
Hit Dice: 2d8+2 (12 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 feet (6 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (+3 Dex, +3 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/ Grapple: +1/+5
Attack: Touch +4 melee (none)
Full Attack: Touch +4 melee (none)
Space/ Reach: 5 ft./ 5 ft.
Special Attacks: improved grab, suffocate, wrap
Special Qualities: blindsight 60 ft., vermin traits
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +0
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: Escape artist +13.
Feats: Weapon finesse.
Environment: Tubeworm Cactus
Organization: Solitary or colony (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 1/2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
As you cut the mass of tubular cactus in a desperate search for water, you see a white viscous serpent-like creature emerge from the incision. It strikes at your arm and immediately starts to wrap around you, its length seemingly without end coming out of the cactus…
Cactus tubeworms live a symbiotic life with their plant. They are nourished by the cactus’ roots and in turn protect it from predators who will nourish the earth around it. The plant is a mass of green circumvolutions with tiny spines. The worms are cylindrical, white and have no mouth pieces that can grow as long as 170 feet. The dried worms can be used as rope.
Combat
Improved Grab (Ex): If a tubeworm hits a Small or Medium-sized opponent with its touch attack, it attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it gets a hold, it can attempt to wrap (see below) in the next round.
Wrap (Ex): With a successful grapple check, the tubeworm can wrap itself around the foe it has already grappled successfully. It forms a skin tight layer around the wrapped creature. Attacks on such a target deal half damage to the tubeworm and half to the wrapped creature. At the end of the tubeworm’s, the wrapped creature is considered tripped and falls prone on the ground. If the tubeworm manages to wrap, it can attempt to suffocate the wrapped creature in the next round (see below). The wrapped creature may try to unwrap itself with a successful grapple check.
Suffocate (Ex): The tubeworm can asphyxiate a wrapped creature by drawing air from its lungs. This attack automatically does 1d4+2 points of damage per round. After that round, the wrapped creature begins to suffocate as described on page 304 of the DMG.
Skills: Cactus tubeworms have a +10 racial bonus to Escape Artists checks.
The only name given is for the plant: writhing mass (pretty unimaginative
) - your's better by far. Or cactus tubeworm perhaps, anyways...The mechanics looks good, would have made a nice contendant for the design contest a while ago.
Cactus Tubeworm is a good name. Monster dudes, do you have the Cactus Tubeworm in the ToA working copy?
Dude! Like no we don't dudes, but that's a totally tubular concept!
;)
B: "What?"
A: "...I got tubed today."
B: "Sod off!"
PeaceBringer, if the source material does not describe the creature as ribon-like, and the plant material is tubular, then you indeed should rename it Cactus Tubeworm and say the creature is like a serpent (cylindrical).
Well, it's probably from all the totally rad flatworms I've seen in my biology class. I've made the changes now. :D