LeechrootThis tangle of rotten, seemingly lifeless roots twitches slightly,
moving the damp, bloody ground beneath it.Leechroot CR 4Source Bestiary 5 pg. 155, Tears at Bitter Manor pg. 62
XP 1,200
NE Large undead
Init -1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft.;
Perception +3DefenseAC 18, touch 8, flat-footed 18 (–1 Dex, +10 natural, –1 size)
hp 32 (5d8+10)
Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +7
Defensive Abilities bloodthirst, channel resistance +2; DR 5/slashing; Immune undead traitsOffenseSpeed 5 ft., burrow 5 ft.
Melee 2 roots +7 (1d6+5 plus 2 bleed and grab)
Space 10 ft., Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks bleed (2), bloody sap, drag underStatisticsStr 20, Dex 8, Con —, Int —, Wis 17, Cha 15
Base Atk +3; CMB +9 (+13 grapple); CMD 18 (can’t be tripped)
Skills Stealth +11; Racial Modifiers +16 Stealth
SQ earth barrierEcologyEnvironment any forests
Organization solitary, garden (2–5), or hivemind (4–10)
Treasure noneSpecial AbilitiesBloodthirst (Su) A leechroot can absorb blood
directly from its victims’ cuts and from the soil
on which that blood has dripped. The leechroot
gains fast healing equal to the number of
creatures with the bleed condition within its
reach (if any).
Bloody Sap (Su) The viscous resin
that exudes from a leechroot’s
tentacles is infused
with negative energy,
preventing both natural
and magical healing.
The DC of the Heal check
to stop the bleeding from
a leechroot’s attacks
increases by 2. While the
bleed damage persists,
any magical healing
requires a successful DC 15
caster level check or the
spell or ability has no effect
on the bleeding creature.
Drag Under (Ex) As part of an action to maintain a grapple,
a leechroot can move the grappled creature up to 5 feet
(within the leechroot’s reach) and bury it partially into the
ground. The buried creature is pinned and can’t receive
help to break free from the grapple. A buried opponent that
escapes the grapple remains pinned unless it digs itself
out with a successful DC 10 Strength check attempted as a
move action.
Earth Barrier (Ex) A leechroot burrowing 5 feet below the
surface is partially visible, can make attacks using its
normal reach, and gains concealment and partial cover.
It can be uprooted with a successful drag combat
maneuver. It may burrow back under the earth as a move
action that provokes attacks of opportunity.DescriptionLeechroots emerge from the remains of plants poisoned
by the blood-drenched soils of war-torn forests. Chaotic
intertwinings of rotten roots, these monstrosities quickly
spread their curse, soaking other dead plants in their sap
to spawn horrid offspring. A leechroot is driven solely by
an insatiable thirst for blood. It hides among undergrowth
and below the earth while waiting for unwary prey. With
its razor-sharp roots, a leechroot slashes at anything that
comes its way, snatching victims and feeding directly from
their wounds. The absorbed blood mutates into a thick,
dark-red sap that runs through the leechroot and oozes
from its unhallowed body, helping to heal and sustain
the predatory creature.
An adult leechroot averages about 12 feet across
(not including its thick, lashing root appendages)
and weighs 700 pounds. By consuming
enough blood, however, leechroots can grow
significantly larger.Leechroot HivemindSometimes a network of leechroots
can reach a state of sentience, creating
a creature called a leechroot
hivemind. The hivemind
has an Intelligence
score, which increases
depending on the
number of plants
that compose the
leechroot hivemind.
This single mind
shares a limited
sentience, and it holds
a bloody grudge against
any who dare to slay a
member, its cunning giving
it the ability to plot against
such hated foes.
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