This week is an original monster that I completed a while back and only more recently got art for. The idea for this creature came from the thought of having a beast that shares plant traits along with those of its base creature. From that concept came, with art provided by Vildevitus#2346, the mulcher!
I wasn't quite sure what base creature I wanted to use but ultimately landed on monstrous humanoid because I realized that I didn't have many of them. Its aura of verdant growth means that most creatures aren't going to be able to easily approach the mulcher without provoking an attack from it, but will also make it difficult to escape. Like most creatures of its size, its touch AC is rather dismal with most of its armor coming from its natural hide. One of its greatest defenses however comes from the plants growing thick throughout its body - granting it plant traits and lashing vines that wraps up targets that strike it. Its special attacks are limited to the ability to swallow whole though it can use its Power Attack feat for some extra damage. Its other feats mostly help it take advantage of unsuspecting foes or react quickly to certain dangers. Finally, its special qualities allow it to more easily navigate through difficult terrain and disguise itself as islands floating in the swamp before attacking unaware victims.
Pathfinder 1e:
I had envisioned mulchers as being highly reclusive creatures that don't leave many survivors when they do interact with other creatures. I opted to have them be rare in my setting and then built them as humanoids. Since plants don't have nearly as many defensive abilities in 2e as they did in 1e, I had little to give him in that means, but did make sure to include Lashing Vine as a reaction. I expanded its use a little bit so that it can use it to open combat and also allowed it to tangle up weapons. Verduous Aura hasn't changed much in the 2e version but I did add the Grab ability to its jaw Strike since Lashing Vine is a little more limited in how regularly it can be used this time aorund. This also gives GMs a reason to use his jaws over his trident for reasons other than just flavor. As before, it doesn't have too many crazy offensive properties - most of its other abilities help it live in the swamp and disguise itself from prey.
Pathfinder 2e:
Blue's D&D 5e Version:
ENCOUNTER HOOKS
Ground Up: A ship carrying valuables became lost in a swamp and the heroes have been dispatched to recover the ship, its lost property, and any remaining crew. Venturing into the swamp leads the heroes into conflict with a host of predatory plants that attack the heroes as they try to find signs of the boat. Tracking it through the swamp is difficult but not impossible but as they pick up hints of its passing, they find dismembered body parts left among the plants. Following the trail leads them to a large island on the ship where they find the boat beached, its hull cracked open and the few survivors tied to it with vines. However, when the heroes attempt to free them, a smaller island just off the shore reveals itself to be a mulcher that seeks to add the heroes to its larder. Having attacked the ship to begin with, the mulcher has been trading the goods from the ship with other denizens of the swamp while using the crew as fertilizer for the plants he tends to within the swamp.
Roots of All Evil: A band of mulchers has formed an alliance with a band of druids that believe society, even as ones primitive as the ones they live in, are a blight upon the world. The heroes stumble across the cult and their plot to flood the city by destroying a nearby dam. When the heroes arrive, the druids are summoning roots and branches to tear apart the dam while a crew of mulchers stands guard. The mulchers may have magic of their own at the ready, but are a largely physical threat to hold off the foes while the druids work their magic. If the fight moves onto the dam, the mulchers will switch tactics and attempt to throw the heroes over the side.
Next week will be another Monster Hunter critter and if you want to join in on the discussion of what's coming up or what I'm working on, check out our Discord or brand new Twitter!
Have a Monstrous Monday!
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