Gargantua Carrion Crawler
by Jamie BatyCO, X7 29, RC 177
Gargantuan Aberration
Hit Dice: 12d8+72 (126 hp)
Initiative: +1 (+1 Dex)
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares), climb 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armour Class: 15 (-4 size, +1 Dex, +8 natural), touch 7, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+31
Attack: Tentacle +15 melee (1d4 +10 plus paralysis)
Full Attack: 8 Tentacle +15 melee (1d4 +10 plus paralysis) and bite +10 melee (3d6 +5)
Space/Reach: 20 ft. /15 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved Grab, Paralysis, Swallow Whole
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60ft., scent
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +6, Will +12
Abilities: Str 30, Dex 13, Con 22, Int 11, Wis 15, Cha 6
Skills: Climb +20, Hide -11, Listen +6, Spot +6
Feats: Alertness (B), Combat Reflexes, Track
Environment: Any underground
Organisation: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: ---
Level Adjustment: ---
This creature is a dungeoneer's worst nightmare- 40 ft long body with 8 ft long tentacles and a voracious appetite that doesn't ever cease. It will hunt down anything it thinks it can eat, which is to say anything smaller than it. A Gargantua carrion crawler weighs 8,000 lbs.
Combat
Gargantua carrion crawlers fight like their smaller brethren with two exceptions- the first is the tentacles slam its opponents so hard, they cause damage. Secondly, they often will try to swallow whole medium or smaller foes, even if they are not paralysed first. Otherwise, they are relentless attackers, and will paralyse as many foes as possible to minimise threats. They eat everything they paralyse and kill.
Improved Grab (Ex): If a Gargantua carrion crawler hits with its bite attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If the grapple succeeds, the Gargantua carrion crawler may attempt to swallow the victim whole in the next round. A Gargantua carrion crawler may only grab an opponent that is Large size or smaller.
Paralysis (Ex): Those hit by a carrion crawler's tentacle must make a Fortitude save vs DC 22 (Con based) or be paralysed for 2d4 rounds.
Scent (Ex): This special quality allows a Gargantua carrion crawler to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell.
Swallow Whole (Ex): A Gargantua carrion crawler can try to swallow a grappled opponent of up to two sizes smaller by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed creature takes 2d8+10 points of bludgeoning damage and 6 points of acid damage per round from the Gargantua carrion crawler's gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 30 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 14). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.
A Gargantua carrion crawler's gizzard can hold 2 large, 8 medium, 32 small, 128 tiny or smaller opponents.
Skills: A Gargantua carrion crawler has a +8 racial bonus to all climb checks. It may always take 10 on climb checks, even if rushed or threatened.