Bog Salamander

Large Magical Beast

Hit Dice: 14d10+70 (147 hp),dying/dead –6/–20 Initiative: +0 Speed: 20 feet,swim 40 feet AC: 19 (–1 size,+10 natural),touch 9,flat-footed 19 Base Attack/Grapple: +14/+25 Attack: Bite +20 melee (2d8+7) Full Attack: Bite +20 melee (2d8+7) and 4 claws +15 melee (1d8+3) Space/Reach: 10 feet/10 feet (Face/Reach:10 feet by 10 feet/10 feet) Special Attacks: Force wave,murky vortex Special Qualities: Bog lurker,darkvision 60 feet,low-light vision Saves: Fort +14,Ref+9,Will +6 Abilities: Str 24,Dex 11,Con 20,Int 6,Wis 14,Cha 6 Skills: Listen +12,Sneak +7 Feats: Cleave,Fast Healer,Improved Cleave,Power Attack,

Stomp,Trample

Environment: Warm swamps Organization: Solitary,pair,or clutch (3–5) Challenge Rating: 10 Treasure: Standard Advancement: 15–20 HD (Large);21–30 HD (Huge) Level Adjustment: +6

Bog salamanders lurk in isolated swamps and fens. Strong and vicious,they are compact enough to hide in shallow water.When prey wanders by,they rear up from the murk to rip and tear the victim with their claws and fangs. They enjoy a magical bond with their swampy environment, allowing them to turn the terrain against their victims.

The black,scaled bog salamander resembles an eightlegged lizard with a large,fanged maw.Over 10 feet long,its powerful body barely reaches 5 feet offthe ground.Even in the shallows,a bog salamander can slip beneath the water and hide,leaving only its eyes and nostrils above the surface.

These creatures’ bodies are imbued with magical energy that forges a bond with the water and mud around them, allowing them to exercise a crude level ofcontrol over their environment.When a clutch ofbog salamanders settles in a swampy area,the land slowly becomes wilder and more dangerous.Quicksand becomes more common,the fens’ waters expand outward from their old borders,and the trees and undergrowth seem to grow thicker and more menacing.

The salamanders’ magical attunement to plant life not only draws on the swamp’s nature,but it also feeds back into the terrain and causes the land to flourish.While humans and giants may consider a wild,overgrown swamp to be dangerous,many greenbonds would disagree with that assessment.They point to the bog salamanders as important children ofthe Green, predators that help maintain the balance between the wilds and the encroaching forces ofcivilization.Greenbonds who dwell within swamps rely on these creatures as guardians and allies.The spells ofgreenbonds allow them to forge relationships with these normally predatory,voracious beasts.

Combat

Salamanders prefer to remain in hiding for as long as possible. While vicious,they are also cautious and patient.A salamander would prefer to let a dozen potential targets wander just out ofreach ofits jaws before rising up to overwhelm that unlucky thirteenth traveler who stumbles into its hiding spot.

Salamanders usually pick shallow pools ofwater near pathways or similar areas that see frequent traffic.They remain below the surface until an obviously vulnerable opponent moves past them.Ifa salamander spots a wounded or apparently weak foe,it remains in hiding but uses its murky vortex ability to drag its meal to it.

Force Wave (Su): A bog salamander’s affinity for its watery environment allows it to create sudden,powerful surges ofwater that batter its foes.As a standard action,a salamander can project a 60-foot cone ofwater in the form ofa crashing wave.All creatures in this area must make Reflex saves (DC 17) or take 4d6 points ofdamage and be knocked prone.On a successful save,a creature takes half damage and remains on its feet.The save DC is Strength based.A salamander can only use this ability in water that is at least 2 feet deep.

Murky Vortex (Su): A bog salamander can form a powerful vortex around its body that drags opponents toward it. As a free action,a salamander causes a strong flow ofwater that forces any opponent within 60 feet who fails a Strength check (DC 15) to move 10 feet closer to it each round.A creature makes this check immediately after taking its actions for the round.This ability only operates in areas where the water is deep enough to reach mid-thigh on a potential victim.For example,a swampy area might be deep enough for a salamander’s vortex to drag a human toward it,but too shallow for a giant to feel the effect ofthe vortex.

Creatures already adjacent to a salamander using this ability fall prone ifthey fail their Strength checks.A creature that becomes prone in shallow water may begin to drown.

Bog Lurker (Ex): Despite their great size,bog salamanders are adept at finding cover in swampy areas.A salamander can almost completely submerge in water as shallow as 4 feet.In such areas,it gains a +15 competence bonus on all Sneak checks to remain hidden from view.

Bog Salamander Encounter (EL 10)

While traveling through a swamp,the characters come across obvious signs ofbog salamander activity.They uncover the shredded remnants ofarmor and clothing along with discarded weapons,traveling gear,and camping supplies.Soon, they come across a mojh greenbond tending to a badly wounded bog salamander.The salamander has obviously attacked and killed many ofthe innocent travelers whose remains the PCs uncovered,but ifthey attack to halt the creature’s depredations,the greenbond fights to defend it.

The mojh considers the beast an important part ofthe swamp.Ifthe PCs attack,the greenbond holds them offfor as long as possible before fleeing with the aid ofspells. Enraged by the party’s temerity,the mojh encourages the other salamanders ofthe swamp to lair closer to pathways. On the other hand,ifthe characters aid the mojh,this greenbond proves to be a valued ally.By winning its trust and putting the mojh in their debt,they can convince it to use its abilities to encourage the surviving salamanders to lair deeper in the swamp,far from paths used by travelers.