Bog StriderA narrow, beetle-like creature glides across the water’s dark surface on four brown, spindly legs. It stands just over five feet tall, holding its head and thorax upright while clutching an intricately carved hunting spear in two clawed forelimbs. Powerful mandibles click in rhythm with the reed-thin antennae waving upon its head as if testing the air for the scent of prey.Bog Strider CR 2Source Pathfinder #34: Blood for Blood pg. 82
XP 600
N Medium monstrous humanoid
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 120 ft. (in water); Perception +6DefenseAC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +3 natural)
hp 15 (2d10+4)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +4OffenseSpeed 30 ft., water stride 50 ft.
Melee spear +4 (1d8+3/x3), bite -1 (1d6+1) or 2 claws +4 (1d4-2), bite +4 (1d6+2)
Ranged spear +4 (1d8+2/x3) or mwk net +5 ranged touch (entangle)StatisticsStr 14, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 9
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 17 (21 vs. trip)
Feats Dodge
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +7, Survival +6, Swim +11; Racial Modifiers +4 Swim
Languages Aquan; tremor tap 120 ft.
SQ hold breath, water sprintEcologyEnvironment temperate or warm swamps
Organization solitary, pair, band (3-12), or tribe (13-60)
Treasure NPC gear (masterwork net, spear, other treasure)Special AbilitiesHold Breath (Ex) A bog strider can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 times its Constitution score before it risks drowning.
Tremor Tap (Ex) Bog striders can send and receive messages by creating and sensing silent vibrations on the surface of any body of water they currently tread. The range of communication extends outward 120 feet to all other bog striders within line of effect on or under the water. Because the ripples created on the water prove omni-directional, bog striders can communicate with multiple targets at the same time. Only bog striders can understand this form of communication. This ability also grants bog striders tremorsense in water at a range of 120 feet.
Water Sprint (Ex) Once per hour, a bog strider can move up to 5 times its normal speed (250 feet) on water when making a charge or retreating from an enemy. Once it decides to increase its movement in this fashion, the effect lasts for up to 4 rounds, after which a bog strider becomes fatigued for as many rounds as it chose to move at a higher speed.
Water Stride (Su) A bog strider can tread upon rivers, lakes, and flooded swamplands or marshes as if under the effects of the water walk spell. It also gains an increased movement rate by using the surface tension and its multiple legs to propel itself across the water.DescriptionBog striders call themselves Ses’h in Aquan, but the first explorers to encounter them named the reclusive bug-men after their ability to stride on water like solid ground. Individual bog striders resemble upright beetles with four legs, two arms, and powerful mandibles. They depend on their waterborne speed to quickly chase down prey and flee from predators. Otherwise, they care little for civilizations other than their own, rarely venturing from the swampy rivers and lakes they call home.
The long, spindly legs of bog striders give the impression of a greater size then their relatively fragile frames actually account for. Although their limbs are in most cases more than double, even triple, the length of other humanoids, their inflexible joints grant them little more mobility, range of motion, and capability to reach than others. Regardless of gender, nearly all bog striders stand 5 feet tall and weigh approximately 150 pounds.Bog Strider Seer-QueensLeaders of multiple tribes of bog striders, seer-queens help organize and coordinate efforts to stave off the extinction of their species and interpret the will of nature.
The following adjustments to a standard bog strider represent a seer-queen. Many also pursue a deeper faith in Gozreh, attaining class levels as a cleric or druid.
+5 natural armor. This replaces the standard bog strider natural armor bonus.
+4 Intelligence, +4 Wisdom, +6 Charisma. Seer-queens are smarter, wiser, and more regal than normal bog striders.
Water Magic (Sp) While standing upon the water’s surface, bog strider seer-queens can cast the following powers as spell-like abilities: 3/day — create water, purify food and drink; 1/day — delay poison, fog cloud, quench.
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