Giant Serpentweed
by Jamie BatyX9 28, DMR2 91, CoM
Large Plant
Hit Dice: 9d8 (40 hp)
Initiative: +2 (+2 Dex)
Speed: 0 ft. (0 squares)
Armour Class: 13 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +2 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+14
Attack: Bite +10 melee (2d6 +4)
Full Attack: Bite +10 melee (2d6 +4)
Space/Reach: 10 ft. / 20 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, plant traits, root of the problem, tremorsense
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +5, Will -1
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 0, Wis 2, Cha 4
Skills: Listen +10, Spot +10
Feats: Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Weapon Focus (Bite)
Environment: Any marsh or aquatic
Organisation: Plant (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 10-18 HD (Large); 19-27 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: -
The giant serpentweed is a flesh-eating plant found in bogs and areas of standing water. Much of the plant lives under water, rooted to the bog bottom, but it has 2d5 stalks that reach above the surface. These thick, scaly stalks each end in a digestive sac that resembles a toothed mouth. From a distance, the stalks look like giant snakes.
Note: The above stats are for one stalk, not the entire plant.
Combat
The serpentweed stalks normally lie in wait just under the surface of the water. From there, they detect the vibrations of passing creatures, which they then attack aggressively.
The stalks can attack anything within a 20-foot radius of the plant. When a stalk loses all of its hit points, it is severed. When all the stalks are severed, the plant can no longer attack, but the plant itself is not dead. The only way to kill a serpentweed permanently is to burn the underwater roots. A severed stalk will grow back within six months.
Root of the Problem (Ex): Stalks of giant serpentweed that are severed regrow within six months. Giant serpentweed can only be permanently destroyed by inflicting 25 points of fire damage directly to the underwater root system. The roots are AC10 and have the same saves as a stalk.
Tremorsense (Ex): Giant serpentweed is sensitive to vibrations in the water and can automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the water within 60ft.
Plant Traits: A plant creature possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature's entry): Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects); Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, and stunning; Not subject to critical hits; Plants breathe and eat, but do not sleep.