NEW MONSTERS
CHAPTER 8
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Dangerous underground predators, kigrids attack any potential prey they encounter. They are persistent and determined stalkers, using their darkvision and scent abilities to identify and follow their quarry. Kigrids are cunning hunters that try to force their prey into dead-end tunnels, off cliff edges, and into other obstacles to prevent their escape. If their quarry puts up determined resistance, the kigrids might negotiate or withdraw if the entire pack is in danger. Kigrids seem to understand most spoken languages (perhaps this is a latent psionic ability) and can reply in Undercommon with a growling, howling voice.
Organization: Solitary, pair, gang (3–4), or troop (7–12 adults and 2–4 young) Challenge Rating: 3 Treasure: 50% standard Alignment: Often neutral evil Advancement: 6–9 HD (Medium) Level Adjustment: — This baboonlike creature has a beard of half a dozen small tentacles hanging from its chin. Its fur is a murky brown color, and it has large, blue-black eyes. It stands about 3 feet high but moves in a crouch, with arms as long as its legs. It has three fingers on each hand and three toes on each foot.
Combat A kigrid pulls down prey with its powerful bite. It uses its poisonous rake to finish off grappled opponents. A kigrid Saltors are just one of many kinds of subterranean scavengers. They eat anything they can catch: worms, grubs, snails, fish, cannot begin a grapple and perform a rake attack in the same crayfish, moss, fungi, and so on. As might be expected, their round. Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a kigrid must hit diet is light on protein; this can make them dangerous foes to small, lightly armed, or wounded parties of adventurers. with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as Saltors are intelligent beings, and they know well that they a free action without provoking attacks of opportunity. If it are weaker than most other underground dwellers. To compenwins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and makes two sate for this, they use weapons and tools to make foraging and rake attacks against its foe. Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 16, initial and secondary hunting small game easier. Parties that treat saltors well and damage 1d4 Dex. A kigrid delivers its poison only with its rake have metal tools to offer might be able to garner information special attack (it has poison spurs near its rear claws). The save from the creatures about the region in which they live. Saltors DC is Constitution-based. speak Undercommon in a barking tone. Psionics (Sp): 3/day—blink, daze monster (DC 12), detect thoughts (DC 12). Caster level 5th. The save DCs are Charisma- Combat based. Even a pack of saltors would not be a match for a well-equipped Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +10, damage 1d6+2 plus poison and wary party of heroes if not for the creatures’ psionics and special sonic attack. (see above). A kigrid makes two rake attacks when it attacks a Psionics (Sp): 3/day—blur, magic missile; 1/day—haste (self grappled opponent. Skills: Kigrids have a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Move only). Caster level 3rd. Silently, and Spot checks, and a +8 racial bonus on Jump and Screech (Su): As a standard action, a saltor can emit a Survival checks. high-pitched, piercing shriek in a 20-foot cone. The shriek deals 2d8 points of sonic damage to all nonsaltors and stuns SALTOR such creatures for 1 round. A DC 14 Fortitude save negates the Small Aberration stun and halves the damage. Once it screeches, a saltor cannot Hit Dice: 5d8+5 (27 hp) screech again for 1 hour, so saltors save their screeches until they are sure they need them. Initiative: +3 Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), climb 30 ft. One saltor screeching sets off all the other adults in the Armor Class: 16 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural), touch 14, flattroop as well. This protective measure allows the troop to pqqqqqqqqqrs footed 13 Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+0 PSIONIC ILLITHIDAE Attack: Handaxe +7 melee (1d4+1/×3) or bite +7 melee If you are using the Expanded Psionics Handbook in your game, (1d6+1) you can substitute the following psi-like abilities for the psionic Full Attack: Handaxe +7 melee (1d4+1/×3) and bite +5 melee spell-like abilities given for the embrac, kigrid, and saltor. (1d6) Embrac: 3/day—ego whip (2d4 Cha, DC 13), mental disrupSpace/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft tion (DC 13), concussion blast (two targets, 2d6 damage); 1/day—greater concealing amorpha. Manifester level 7th. The Special Attacks: Psionics, screech save DCs are Charisma-based. Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft. Kigrid: 3/day—concealing amorpha, id insinuation (2 targets, Saves: Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +5 DC 13), read thoughts (DC 12). Manifester level 5th. The save Abilities: Str 12, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 12, Cha 11 DCs are Charisma-based. Saltor: 3/day—concealing amorpha, energy ray (3d4 sonic); Skills: Climb +11, Jump +7, Listen +5, Spot +5, Tumble +5 1/day—hustle. Manifester level 3rd. Feats: Alertness, Weapon Finesse pqqqqqqqqqrs Environment: Underground
