Shingleback Stalker

CR 5 (1,600 xp)

NE large magical beast
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, scent, track, poison; Perception +10

AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (-1 size, +6 natural, +3 Dex)
hp 51 (6d10+18)
Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +3
Defensive Abilities poison immunity

Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 bites +10 (d6+4 plus poison) and Tail slap +8 (d8+2 plus grab)
Special Attacks toxic, constrict (d6+4)

Str 19, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 9
Base Atk +6, CMB +11 (+15 grapple), CMD 24 (28 vs. trip)
Feats Improved Initiative, Multi-Attack, Combat Reflexes
Skills Stealth +5 (+9 in natural environments), Swim +13, Perception +10 (+18 to track poisoned targets);
Racial Skill Modifiers +4 stealth while in natural environments, +4 perception
Special Qualities Hold Breath, Stalk the Poisoned, Toxic Meal

Environment rivers, swamps, marshes, and forests
Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3–8)
Treasure none

Poison (Ex) left head bite - injury; save Fort DC 16; frequency 1/R for 6 R; effect 1d2 Dex; cure 1 save.

Poison (Ex) right head bite - injury; save Fort DC 16; frequency 1/R for 6 R; effect 1d2 Str; cure 1 save.

Toxic (Ex) creatures taking damage from both poisons suffer an additional 1d2 Con ea R and are sickened.

Hold Breath (Ex) Shingleback stalkers can hold their breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 times its Constitution score before it risks drowning.

Stalk the Poisoned (Ex) gain a +8 circumstance bonus to perception checks when tracking targets poisoned in the last 24 hours.

Toxic Meal (Ex) creatures that bite a shingleback stalker are poisoned – ingested, save Fort DC 16, frequency 1/R for 6 R; effect 1d2 Con; cure 2 saves.  If a creature eats a corpse slain by a Shingleback Stalker risk being poisoned – ingested, save Fort DC 13, frequency 1//R for 3 R; effect 1 Con, cure 1 save.


Exceedingly toxic, the Shingleback Stalker divides its attacks against multiple targets to maximize the number of poisoned targets it can track after springing out to attack.  It typically leaves behind the dead or dying poisoned target to track down another target, depending on local scavengers being unwilling to consume a poison meal.  While each head only has a single eye, by adjusting the distance between the two eyes, it enjoys the benefits of both a predators binocular vision and a herbivores greater arc of vision.

Shingleback Stalkers lair near bodies of water, striking from surprise to poison their prey so that they can track it down after the poison has weakened their targets.  When circumstance permits, they typically submerge their bodies in water, mud, or among plants, much as crocodiles do.  Its poisonous flesh leaves it safe from most predators hunting for food.

Shingleback Stalkers are a popular beast for collectors, who must maintain the grounds to maintain them.  They are excellent guards and if raised while young, they can be trained without penalty with the handle animal skill.

A dangerous creature to hunt and poisonous to eat, nonetheless they are still-hunted for their poisons and when they begin eating the village animals.

Author's Note: Feedback would be great, and playtesting even better!

The CR is 4-5, but I felt its poisonous traits would bump it up a bit.  It is not much of a damage machine, but its poison plays holy hell with anyone who gets too close.  The bite damage is lowered by 1 step as the creature focuses on poisoning its target, not chewing them to death.  The tail slam and grab are potent secondary attacks, but typically reserved for prey that is weakend by the poison but still putting up an annoying chase.  The high dexterity was given for the darting, viper-like strikes it makes, though comparing it to a lion, only a CR 3, perhaps this beastie deserves a step down in CR.

Additional Ratings
Balance:	1 2 3 4 5 ( 1 Vote )
Utility:	1 2 3 4 5 ( 1 Vote )
Clarity:	1 2 3 4 5 ( 1 Vote )