SpiroskekThe rear limbs of this elk-sized insectoid loop into a large, chitinous sphere, and it nimbly propels itself forward with balance and grace.Spiroskek CR 6Source Down the Blighted Path pg. 59
XP 2,400
CN Medium magical beast
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +12DefenseAC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural)
hp 68 (8d10+24)
Fort +9, Ref +10, Will +5
Defensive Abilities wheel barbs; Immune disease, poisonOffenseSpeed 40 ft., climb 10 ft.
Melee bite +13 (1d6+4 plus bleed), claws +12 (1d4+4)
Special Attacks freewheeling charge, bleed (1d6)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th; concentration +11)
3/day—glitterdust (DC 15), silent image (DC 14)StatisticsStr 18, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 5, Wis 16, Cha 17
Base Atk +8; CMB +12; CMD 27
Feats Dodge, Mobility, Nimble Moves, Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Climb +17, Perception +12, Stealth +9, Survival +5 (+13 when tracking); Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +8 Survival when tracking
Languages Aklo (can’t speak)EcologyEnvironment any underground
Organization solitary, pair, or nest (3–6)
Treasure incidentalSpecial AbilitiesFreewheeling Charge (Ex) A spiroskek can prime its wheel-limb for a swift and powerful charge attack, allowing it to move triple its normal speed on a charge, double move, or run action. While using a freewheeling charge, a spiroskek may run or charge over difficult terrain (though each square of difficult terrain still counts as 2 squares of movement). If the spiroskek successfully hits during this charge, it can immediately attempt either a bull rush or an overrun combat maneuver with a +4 circumstance bonus on the check without provoking an attack of opportunity. The effort needed for a freewheeling charge leaves the spiroskek staggered until the end of its next turn.
Wheel Barbs (Ex) The spiroskek’s wheel-limb is covered in tiny, flexible barbs. These grant the spiroskek a +4 bonus to CMD against bull rush, dragAPG, repositionAPG, and trip maneuvers, and to Acrobatics checks to avoid falling on slippery terrain.DescriptionWise Darklands-dwellers learn to listen for the faint, eerie “skek-kek-kek” noise that a prowling spiroskek’s wheel-limb makes. These insectile carnivores of Nar-Voth stalk a variety of intelligent prey, and generations of devouring derros, duergar, and fey has imparted the creatures with a measure of illusory magic. They are clever ambush predators, capable of phenomenal bursts of speed. Once their prey has been wounded, a pack follows like vultures, waiting for their anticoagulant saliva to bleed a creature dry before moving in to feast. Many spiroskeks target slaver parties, taking advantage of the meat that arrives bound or hobbled; duergar especially hate the beasts.
Spiroskeks are clever, but have little culture. They communicate in a language of mandible clicks and bodily gestures, which they use to give warnings and exchange tales of successful hunts. Normally loyal to their nests, spiroskeks consider most other creatures—even others of their kind—either enemies or prey.
Spiroskeks are 5 to 6 feet tall and weigh approximately 170 pounds.
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