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Legacy of the Dragons
Rock Ape Medium Magical Beast Hit Dice: 4d10+16 (38 hp), dying/dead –5/–18 Initiative: +1 Speed: 30 feet AC: 26 (+1 Dexterity, +15 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 25 Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+9 Attack: Slam +9 melee (1d6+5) Full Attack: 2 slams +9 melee (1d6+5) and bite +4 melee (1d4+2), or stone +5 ranged (1d8+5) Space/Reach: 5 feet/5 feet (Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet) Special Attacks: Slow gaze, throw stones Special Qualities: Spell immunities, darkvision 60 feet Saves: Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +1 Abilities: Str 21, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 3, Wis 11, Cha 10 Skills: Sneak* +13, Spot +1 Feats: Cleave, Power Attack, Power Charge Environment: Any land or underground Organization: Solitary or band (3–8) Challenge Rating: 4 Treasure: Standard Advancement: 5–8 HD (Medium); 9–16 HD (Large) Level Adjustment: +3 “The rock ape is the epitome of quiet contemplation. Surely these are some of the most thoughtful and secretly ingenious creatures known to exist.” So stated the explorer and archivist Zaron Whelm. Whelm was one of the first people in modern times to encounter the rock ape, a rare creature that haunts only the most secluded areas. He was fascinated with the creatures and exaggerated their attributes. The truth is, although quiet and peaceful (except when threatened or hunting), rock apes have no greater intellect than most beasts. While cunning, they are not ingenious by most standards. Compared to animals, however, they are quite smart, and their societies can become fairly intricate. Rock apes are hulking brutes that stand almost 7 feet tall, although most of the time they remain hunched over or on all fours, making them seem more like 5 feet tall. They possess massive arms and broad physiques, but their most distinguishing feature is the rocklike flesh which gives them their name. These creatures’ skin serves as a natural armor that protects them from most harm. Few predators prey upon the rock apes for this reason. One thing Zaron Whelm found particularly interesting about rock apes is their predilection toward hunting other predators. They seem drawn toward preying upon creatures otherwise designed to be the aggressor. Whelm believed that in this way the rock apes were avenging lesser creatures, carrying out some kind of natural justice. This seems unlikely, however—it is far more likely that the practice simply arose
from the rock ape finding a particular niche. Their armored flesh makes its difficult for another predator to harm them, so the hunter becomes the hunted. Rock apes are found in many locales, but particularly in thick forests, jungles, and swamps. Their dark grey, black, or dark green flesh blends in well in dark, wooded areas. Those found underground are usually exclusively subterranean. Their flesh is light grey or white. When not moving, rock apes appear to be chiseled from stone. They may even be distantly related to gargoyles. Some speculate that a long-ago ancestor was an earth elemental creature or that they are natives of an earth elemental plane who came to this world and prospered. If this latter thought is true, rock apes did not come via the planar gates in Thartholan, because ancient Devanian records mention the beasts, calling them the “stone brutes of the woods.” Dwelling in small communities, rock apes make only temporary lairs where the young and infirm can rest and the strong can most easily provide protection. Most who encounter a solitary hunting rock ape meet a female, for the males (usually fewer in number) remain behind to protect the lair. Over time, some rock apes grow moss and lichen over their flesh, which gives them an even rockier appearance. A few develop a special lichen that interacts with their unique flesh and gives them a resistance to magic (SR 18). Such individuals are quite rare, however. Rock apes are vulnerable to the domineering wishes of a strong master. Sometimes this master is a more intelligent, advanced rock ape (see next page). Other times, this master is a human who has captured some rock apes and trained them to be guards. Other creatures, such as medusas (rock apes are immune to petrification), also enjoy mastering a band of rock apes to use as guards and servants. These creatures do not speak but can understand a variety of words if trained to do so.
Combat Cunning combatants, rock apes employ all sorts of tricks and strategies when attacking a foe. They set ambushes and sometimes even crude traps, such as luring opponents into quicksand, a tar pit, or a quagmire, driving them up against a cliff, or starting a landslide. They work well in a group and coordinate their actions to flank opponents, aid one another, and cover the retreat of their wounded. * Skills (Ex): Rock apes gain a +6 racial bonus to Sneak checks. Slow Gaze (Su): 1/day for 1 round, 60-foot range, save DC 12. Victims are affected as described in the slow spell, caster level 5th. The saving throw DC is Charisma based. Throw Stones (Ex): Accomplished rock throwers, rock apes receive a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls when throwing
