Fire Beetle

This housecat-sized beetle is a dull brown color brightened by two glowing green-yellow spots on its carapace.

Although nocturnal, the fire beetle lacks darkvision— it relies on its own glowing glands for illumination. Caged fire beetles are a popular source of long-lasting illumination among eccentrics and miners. Other variations on the common fire beetle exist. The two most common variants are detailed below.
Mining Beetle (CR 1/2): A mining beetle is an advanced fire beetle with the advanced simple template and a burrowing speed of 20 feet.
Flash Beetle (CR 1/2): A flash beetle is an advanced fire beetle that can create a bright flash of light once an hour. When a flash beetle does so, all creatures in a 10- foot burst must make a DC 12 Fortitude save or be dazzled for 1d3 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based.

CR 1/3 XP 135

 N Small vermin

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +0; Senses low-light vision; Perception +0 

     A creature with low-light vision can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of dim light. It retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

 DEFENSE 

 AC 12, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+1 natural, +1 size)

 hp 4 (1d8)

 Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +0 

 Immune mind-affecting effects

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor)

     A creature with a Fly speed can cease or resume flight as a free action on their turn. Without making a check, a flying creature can remain flying at the end of its turn so long as it moves a distance greater than half its speed. It can also turn up to 45 degrees during its turn by sacrificing 5 feet of movement, can rise at half speed at an angle of 45 degrees (ignoring the penalty for diagonal movement), and can descend at any angle at normal speed. At the beginning of their turn a flying creature can move in a different direction than they did previously without needing a Fly check.
     A creature with a natural fly speed receives a bonus (or penalty) on Fly skill checks depending on its maneuverability:
 • Clumsy –8
 • Poor –4
 • Average +0
 • Good +4
 • Perfect +8
     Creatures without a maneuverability rating are assumed to have average maneuverability and take no penalty on Fly checks. These modifiers are already included in the creature’s statblock.

 Melee bite +1 (1d4)

 STATISTICS

 Str 10, Dex 11, Con 11, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 7

 Base Atk +0; CMB –1; CMD 9 (17 vs. trip)

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Skills Fly –2

 SQ luminescence

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any

 Organization solitary, cluster (2–6) or colony (7–12)

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES 

 Luminescence (Ex) A fire beetle’s glowing glands provide light in a 10-foot radius. A dead fire beetle’s luminescent glands continue to glow for 1d6 days after its death. 

Giant Cockroach

A dog-sized cockroach skitters forth, greedily clicking its filth-slicked mandibles.

Much like their smaller kin, giant cockroaches are extremely adaptive and exist in any place they can find a ready source of food. Giant cockroaches are not normally very violent, but readily attack if threatened or if food becomes scarce.

CR 1/2 XP 200

 N Small vermin

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4

     A creature with tremorsense is sensitive to vibrations in the ground and can automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the ground. Aquatic creatures with tremorsense can also sense the location of creatures moving through water. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

 DEFENSE

 AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+1 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)

 hp 8 (1d8+4)

 Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +0

 Weaknesses light sensitivity

     Creatures with light sensitivity are dazzled in areas of bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell (they take a –1 penalty on attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks).
     The creature is unable to see well because of over-stimulation of the eyes. A dazzled creature takes a –1 penalty on attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (poor)

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

     A creature with a Fly speed can cease or resume flight as a free action on their turn. Without making a check, a flying creature can remain flying at the end of its turn so long as it moves a distance greater than half its speed. It can also turn up to 45 degrees during its turn by sacrificing 5 feet of movement, can rise at half speed at an angle of 45 degrees (ignoring the penalty for diagonal movement), and can descend at any angle at normal speed. At the beginning of their turn a flying creature can move in a different direction than they did previously without needing a Fly check.
     A creature with a natural fly speed receives a bonus (or penalty) on Fly skill checks depending on its maneuverability:
 • Clumsy –8
 • Poor –4
 • Average +0
 • Good +4
 • Perfect +8
     Creatures without a maneuverability rating are assumed to have average maneuverability and take no penalty on Fly checks. These modifiers are already included in the creature’s statblock.

 Melee bite +1 (1d4)

 STATISTICS 

 Str 11, Dex 12, Con 19, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 2

 Base Atk +0; CMB –1; CMD 10

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Diehard, Endurance

 Skills Climb +8, Fly –1, Perception +4, Stealth +9;

 Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Stealth

 SQ hold breath

 Hold Breath (Ex) This creature can hold its breath for a number of minutes equal to 6 times its Constitution score before it risks drowning.

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any land

 Organization solitary or intrusion (2–20)

 Treasure none

Cave Scorpion

This man-sized, bulky scorpion has thick, unyielding armor that makes it almost seem to be made of stone.

The squat cave scorpion is quite well suited for life in caves. With its bulky armor, a cave scorpion at rest looks like a pile of stones. The cave scorpion’s favorite food is dwarven meat, and when a cave scorpion finds a working dwarven mine, it can quickly become a major inconvenience. Dwarven societies often post hefty bounties on cave scorpion stingers.

CR 1 XP 400

 N Medium vermin

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4

     A creature with tremorsense is sensitive to vibrations in the ground and can automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the ground. Aquatic creatures with tremorsense can also sense the location of creatures moving through water. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

 DEFENSE

 AC 12, touch 10, flat-footed 12 (+2 natural)

 hp 16 (3d8+3)

 Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +1 

 Immune mind-affecting effects

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 60 ft., climb 40 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

 Melee 2 claws +2 (1d4), sting +2 (1d4 plus poison)

 Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 2d4)

 Rend (Ex) If it hits with two or more natural attacks in 1 round, this creature causes tremendous damage by latching onto the opponent’s body and tearing flesh. This automatically deals the listed additional damage, but no more than once per round. The type of attacks that must hit and the additional damage are included in the creature’s description.

 STATISTICS 

 Str 11, Dex 10, Con 13, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2

 Base Atk +2; CMB +2 (+43 grapple); CMD 12 (24 vs. trip)

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Skills Climb +8, Perception +4, Stealth +0 (+12 in caves)

 Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +12 Stealth in caves

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any underground

 Organization solitary, pair, or swarm (3–12)

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Poison (Ex) Sting—injury; save Fort DC 12; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d2 Str; cure 1 save.

Giant Spider

A spider the size of a man crawls silently from the depths of its funnel-shaped web.

The statistics here are for a web-spinning spider. Hunting spiders lose the web ability but gain a +8 racial modifier on Acrobatics checks. All giant spiders have a +2 racial bonus on poison save DCs.

CR 1 XP 400

 N Medium vermin

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4 

     A creature with tremorsense is sensitive to vibrations in the ground and can automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the ground. Aquatic creatures with tremorsense can also sense the location of creatures moving through water. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

 DEFENSE 

 AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 natural)

 hp 16 (3d8+3)

 Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +1 

 Immune mind-affecting effects

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

 Melee bite +2 (1d6 plus poison) 

 Special Attack web (+5 ranged, DC 12, hp 2)

 Web (Ex) This creature can use webs to support themselves and up to one additional creature of the same size. In addition, such creatures can throw a web up to eight times per day. This is similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and is effective against targets up to one size category larger than the web spinner. An entangled creature can escape with a successful Escape Artist check or burst the web with a Strength check. Both are standard actions with a DC equal to 10 + 1/2 the creature’s HD + the creature’s Con modifier. Attempts to burst a web by those caught in it take a –4 penalty.
     The character is ensnared. Being entangled impedes movement, but does not entirely prevent it unless the bonds are anchored to an immobile object or tethered by an opposing force. An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.
     Web spinners can create sheets of sticky webbing up to three times their size. They usually position these sheets to snare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on the ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a DC 20 Perception check to notice a web; otherwise they stumble into it and become trapped as though by a successful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the webbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has something to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each 5-foot-square section of web has a number of hit points equal to the Hit Dice of the creature that created it and DR 5/—.
     A creature can move across its own web at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any creature touching its web.

 STATISTICS

 Str 11, Dex 17, Con 12, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2

 Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 15 (27 vs. trip)

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Skills Climb +16, Perception +4 (+8 in webs), Stealth +7 (+11 in webs)

 Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Stealth (+8 in webs), +16 Climb

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any

 Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3–8)

 Treasure incidental

 SPECIAL ABILITIES 

 Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 14; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d2 Strength damage; cure 1 save.

Spider Swarm

An awful, scuttling mass of legs and mandibles scrambles forward out of the darkness.

The sight of a carpet of swarming spiders is unsettling indeed—particularly when the swarm is made up of spiders each the size of a gold coin and possessing bladelike mandibles capable of lacerating flesh with sickening ease. A swarm of spiders is a colonial mass of arachnids that relies on overwhelming much larger prey with sheer numbers rather than catching smaller snacks. While spider swarms spin webs, these webs are incapable of catching larger prey and typically serve the swarm as a lair rather than a method of capturing dinner.

CR 1 XP 400

 N Diminutive vermin (swarm)

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

     A swarm is a collection of Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creatures that acts as a single creature. A swarm has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A swarm makes saving throws as a single creature. A single swarm occupies a square (if it is made up of nonflying creatures) or a cube (of flying creatures) 10 feet on a side, but its reach is 0 feet, like its component creatures. In order to attack, it moves into an opponent’s space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it crawls all over its prey. A swarm can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the swarm provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A swarm can move through cracks or holes large enough for its component creatures.
     A swarm of Tiny creatures consists of 300 nonflying creatures or 1,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Diminutive creatures consists of 1,500 nonflying creatures or 5,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Fine creatures consists of 10,000 creatures, whether they are flying or not. Swarms of nonflying creatures include many more creatures than could normally fit in a 10-foot square based on their normal space, because creatures in a swarm are packed tightly together and generally crawl over each other and their prey when moving or attacking. Larger swarms are represented by multiples of single swarms. The area occupied by a large swarm is completely shapeable, though the swarm usually remains in contiguous squares.

 Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft.; Perception +4 

     A creature with tremorsense is sensitive to vibrations in the ground and can automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the ground. Aquatic creatures with tremorsense can also sense the location of creatures moving through water. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

 DEFENSE 

 AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +4 size)

 hp 9 (2d8)

 Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0

 Defensive Abilities swarm traits; Immune mind-affecting effects, weapon damage

     A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
     A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
     Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds, such as those created by a gust of wind spell. For  purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

 Melee swarm (1d6 plus poison and distraction)

 Swarm Attack (Ex) Creatures with the Swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. 
     A swarm’s attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, or other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, blood drain, poison, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.
     Swarms do not threaten creatures, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy.

 Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

 Special Attacks distraction (DC 11)

 Distraction (Ex) This creature can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Con modifier) negates the effect.
     Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.

 STATISTICS

 Str 1, Dex 17, Con 10, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2

 Base Atk +1; CMB —; CMD —

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Skills Climb +11, Perception +4

 Racial Modifiers +4 Perception; uses Dexterity for Climb checks

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any

 Organization solitary, pair, tangle (3–6 swarms) or colony (11–20 swarms)

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES 

 Poison (Ex) Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 11; frequency 1/ round for 2 rounds; effect 1d2 Str; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Cave Fisher

This man-sized, crab-like monstrosity clings tenaciously to the rough stone, its enormous pincers held out menacingly before it.

The cave fisher is a highly specialized predator that dwells in caves. The creature’s mode of hunting is unique—it clambers up a cave wall to settle on a ledge or in a crack, typically at a height of at least 30 feet. Ledges overlooking bridges and lower ledges overlooking chasms are favored hunting grounds for the cave fisher. The creature lies in wait until prey approaches within 60 feet, at which point it extrudes a thin cord of silk at blinding speed, lashing at the target as with a whip. The filament is incredibly sticky, and once the fisher strikes food with it, it reels in its meal to feed, trusting its position on a higher ledge to prevent any allies the meal may have from molesting it as it eats. Collections of bones and lengths of discarded filaments are sure signs of cave fisher habitation. A cave fisher produces its filament from glands in its body; when it reels in a victim, it generally eats the filament along with its meal. It’s impossible to harvest new filaments from a dead cave fisher, but filaments harvested from living ones are incredibly light and strong, functioning as silk rope once the sticky adhesive on a length decomposes (which generally takes 3d6 minutes). A cave fisher’s filament glands are useful in constructing sovereign glue and similar sticky magical items. A single cave fisher’s glands count as 100gp worth of raw materials, offsetting the total cost of the item’s final creation. Although cave fishers have many superficial similarities to crabs, they do not fare well in water and aren’t very good swimmers. Nevertheless, many cave fishers lair upon ledges overlooking swift-f lowing subterranean rivers, giving them a relatively steady stream of food, especially in cases where such rivers are used as trade routes. Those who ply these rivers frequently travel with a few spare slaves or some unwanted livestock, and when they approach a known cave fisher haunt, they send down the unfortunate animal or slave on a raft to distract the monster’s hunger. A cave fisher is 7 feet long and weighs 400 pounds.

CR 2 XP 600

 N Medium vermin

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0 

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

 DEFENSE 

 AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +4 natural)

 hp 22 (3d8+9)

 Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +1 

 Immune mind-affecting effects

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

 Melee 2 claws +5 (1d4+3)

 Ranged filament +3 (drag)

 Special Attacks pull (filament, 10 feet)

 Pull (Ex) This creature can choose to make a free combat maneuver check with a successful attack. If successful, this check pulls a creature closer. The distance pulled is set by this ability. The type of attack that causes the pull and the distance pulled are included in the creature’s description. This ability only works on creatures of a size equal to or smaller than the pulling creature. Creatures pulled in this way do not provoke attacks of opportunity and stop if the pull would move them into a solid object or creature.

 STATISTICS

 Str 17, Dex 12, Con 17, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 4

 Base Atk +2; CMB +5 (+9 with pull); CMD 16 (28 vs. trip)

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Skills Climb +11

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any underground

 Organization solitary, pair, or tangle (3–6)

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES 

 Filament (Ex) A cave fisher can fire a thin filament of sticky silk as a standard action. This touch attack has a range of 60 feet and no range increment. A creature struck by a cave fisher’s filament becomes attached to the sticky thread. As a standard action, a creature can rip the filament free with a DC 20 Strength check. A caught creature can also attempt to escape a filament by making a DC 25 Escape Artist check. A filament is AC 14 (touch 12), has 5 hit points, and has DR 15/slashing. An application of liquid with high alcohol content (or a dose of universal solvent) dissolves the adhesive and releases the creature caught by the filament. A cave fisher can have only one filament active at a time. 

 Pull (Ex) A cave fisher has a +4 racial bonus on CMB checks made using its pull special attack.

Giant Ant

A thin, six-legged ant the size of a pony stands at the ready, its mandibles chittering and its stinger dripping with venom.

Giant ants are as industrious as their normal-sized kin. While their nests generally don’t consist of thousands, their greatly increased size more than compensates. The statistics given above are for soldier ants—the variety most commonly encountered. The following simple templates can be used to create variants of the standard soldier ant.
Worker (–1 CR) Worker ants do not have a poison sting attack or a grab special attack.
Drone (+1 CR) Drones have the advanced simple template and a fly speed of 30 feet (average).
Queen (+2 CR) The queen of a nest is an immense, bloated creature. She gains the advanced and the giant simple templates, but drops her speed to 10 feet and loses her climb speed entirely.

CR 2 XP 600

 N Medium vermin

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +5 

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

 DEFENSE 

 AC 15, touch 10, flat-footed 15; (+5 natural)

 hp 18 (2d8+9)

 Fort +6, Ref +0, Will +1 

 Immune mind-affecting effects

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 50 ft., climb 20 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

 Melee bite +3 (1d6+2 plus grab), sting +3 (1d4+2 plus poison)

 Grab (Ex) If this creature hits with the indicated attack it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on its CMB check to make and maintain the grapple, but does not gain the grappled condition itself. A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold. Otherwise, it deals constriction damage as well (the amount is given in the creature’s descriptive text).
     Creatures with the grab special attack receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple.
     Unless otherwise noted, grab can only be used against targets of a size equal to or smaller than the creature with this ability. If the creature can use grab on creatures of other sizes, it is noted in the creature’s Special Attacks line.
     A grappled creature is restrained by a creature, trap, or effect. Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
     A grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling it, even if a special ability, such as hide in plain sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being grappled, but receives no other benefit.

 STATISTICS

 Str 14, Dex 10, Con 17, Int —, Wis 13, Cha 11

 Base Atk +1; CMB +3 (+7 grapple); CMD 13 (21 vs. trip)

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Toughness

 Skills Climb +10, Perception +5, Survival +5

 Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Survival

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any

 Organization solitary, pair, gang (3–6), or hive (7–18 plus 10–100 workers, 2–8 drones, and 1 queen)

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES 

 Poison (Ex) Sting—injury; save Fort DC 14; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d2 Str; cure 1 save

Rat Swarm

A squirming, roiling mass of squeaking rats draws closer, teeth flashing and claws scratching everything in its path.

A rat swarm typically consists of a biting, roiling mass of hundreds of disease-ridden rats driven to uncharacteristic heights of aggression by fantastic and overwhelming hunger. In such numbers, they become voracious hunters, capable of killing a full-grown human with hundreds of bites. Rat swarms are often found in the sewers of large human settlements. Rat swarms surround and attack any warm-blooded prey in their path.

CR 2 XP 600

 N Tiny animal (swarm)

     An Animal is a living, nonhuman creature, usually a vertebrate with no magical abilities and no innate capacity for language or culture. Animals usually have additional information on how they can serve as companions. An animal has the following traits unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry.
   • Intelligence score of 1 or 2 (no creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher can be an animal).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only. A noncombative herbivore treats its natural weapons as secondary attacks. Such attacks are made with a –5 penalty on the creature’s attack rolls, and the animal receives only 1/2 its Strength modifier as a damage adjustment.
   • Proficient with no armor unless trained for war.
   • Animals breathe, eat, and sleep.

     A swarm is a collection of Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creatures that acts as a single creature. A swarm has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A swarm makes saving throws as a single creature. A single swarm occupies a square (if it is made up of nonflying creatures) or a cube (of flying creatures) 10 feet on a side, but its reach is 0 feet, like its component creatures. In order to attack, it moves into an opponent’s space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it crawls all over its prey. A swarm can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the swarm provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A swarm can move through cracks or holes large enough for its component creatures.
     A swarm of Tiny creatures consists of 300 nonflying creatures or 1,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Diminutive creatures consists of 1,500 nonflying creatures or 5,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Fine creatures consists of 10,000 creatures, whether they are flying or not. Swarms of nonflying creatures include many more creatures than could normally fit in a 10-foot square based on their normal space, because creatures in a swarm are packed tightly together and generally crawl over each other and their prey when moving or attacking. Larger swarms are represented by multiples of single swarms. The area occupied by a large swarm is completely shapeable, though the swarm usually remains in contiguous squares.

 Init +6; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8 

     Scent allows a creature to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. Creatures with the scent ability can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights.
     The creature can detect opponents within 30 feet by sense of smell. If the opponent is upwind, the range increases to 60 feet; if downwind, it drops to 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the ranges noted above. Overpowering scents, such as skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can be detected at triple normal range.
     When a creature detects a scent, the exact location of the source is not revealed—only its presence somewhere within range. The creature can take a move action to note the direction of the scent. When the creature is within 5 feet of the source, it pinpoints the source’s location. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.
     A creature with the scent ability can follow tracks by smell, making a Wisdom (or Survival) check to find or follow a track. The typical DC for a fresh trail is 10 (no matter what kind of surface holds the scent). This DC increases or decreases depending on how strong the quarry’s odor is, the number of creatures, and the age of the trail. For each hour that the trail is cold, the DC increases by 2. The ability otherwise follows the rules for the Survival skill. Creatures tracking by scent ignore the effects of surface conditions and poor visibility.

     A creature with low-light vision can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of dim light. It retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

 DEFENSE 

 AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 size)

 hp 16 (3d8+3)

 Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +2

 Defensive Abilities swarm traits

     A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
     A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
     Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds, such as those created by a gust of wind spell. For  purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 15 ft., climb 15 ft., swim 15 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

     A creature with a Swim speed can move through water at its indicated speed without making Swim checks. It gains a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a special action or avoid a hazard. The creature can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered when swimming. Such a creature can use the run action while swimming, provided that it swims in a straight line.

 Melee swarm (1d6 plus disease and distraction)

 Swarm Attack (Ex) Creatures with the Swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. 
     A swarm’s attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, or other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, blood drain, poison, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.
     Swarms do not threaten creatures, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy.

 Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

 Special Attacks disease, distraction (DC 12)

 Distraction (Ex) This creature can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Con modifier) negates the effect.
     Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.

 STATISTICS

 Str 2, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 2

 Base Atk +2; CMB —; CMD —

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception)

 Skills Balance +6, Climb +10, Perception +8, Stealth +14, Swim +10

 Racial Modifiers uses Dex to modify Climb and Swim

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any

 Organization solitary, pack (2–5 swarms), or infestation (6–12 swarms)

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES 

 Disease (Ex) Filth fever: Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 12; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Snake Swarm

Hissing menacingly, this mass of snakes resembles a pile of slithering tentacles.

While all snake swarms are dangerous, swarms made up of venomous snakes are typically the most lethal. Snake swarms of both types can generally be encountered in the same regions, dwelling in ruins or wilderness alike.

CR 2 XP 600

 N Tiny animal (swarm)

     An Animal is a living, nonhuman creature, usually a vertebrate with no magical abilities and no innate capacity for language or culture. Animals usually have additional information on how they can serve as companions. An animal has the following traits unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry.
   • Intelligence score of 1 or 2 (no creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher can be an animal).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only. A noncombative herbivore treats its natural weapons as secondary attacks. Such attacks are made with a –5 penalty on the creature’s attack rolls, and the animal receives only 1/2 its Strength modifier as a damage adjustment.
   • Proficient with no armor unless trained for war.
   • Animals breathe, eat, and sleep.

     A swarm is a collection of Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creatures that acts as a single creature. A swarm has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A swarm makes saving throws as a single creature. A single swarm occupies a square (if it is made up of nonflying creatures) or a cube (of flying creatures) 10 feet on a side, but its reach is 0 feet, like its component creatures. In order to attack, it moves into an opponent’s space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it crawls all over its prey. A swarm can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the swarm provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A swarm can move through cracks or holes large enough for its component creatures.
     A swarm of Tiny creatures consists of 300 nonflying creatures or 1,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Diminutive creatures consists of 1,500 nonflying creatures or 5,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Fine creatures consists of 10,000 creatures, whether they are flying or not. Swarms of nonflying creatures include many more creatures than could normally fit in a 10-foot square based on their normal space, because creatures in a swarm are packed tightly together and generally crawl over each other and their prey when moving or attacking. Larger swarms are represented by multiples of single swarms. The area occupied by a large swarm is completely shapeable, though the swarm usually remains in contiguous squares.

 Init +6; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +9

     Scent allows a creature to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. Creatures with the scent ability can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights.
     The creature can detect opponents within 30 feet by sense of smell. If the opponent is upwind, the range increases to 60 feet; if downwind, it drops to 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the ranges noted above. Overpowering scents, such as skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can be detected at triple normal range.
     When a creature detects a scent, the exact location of the source is not revealed—only its presence somewhere within range. The creature can take a move action to note the direction of the scent. When the creature is within 5 feet of the source, it pinpoints the source’s location. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.
     A creature with the scent ability can follow tracks by smell, making a Wisdom (or Survival) check to find or follow a track. The typical DC for a fresh trail is 10 (no matter what kind of surface holds the scent). This DC increases or decreases depending on how strong the quarry’s odor is, the number of creatures, and the age of the trail. For each hour that the trail is cold, the DC increases by 2. The ability otherwise follows the rules for the Survival skill. Creatures tracking by scent ignore the effects of surface conditions and poor visibility.

     A creature with low-light vision can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of dim light. It retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

 DEFENSE

 AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +1 natural, +2 size)

 hp 16 (3d8+3)

 Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +2

 Defensive Abilities swarm traits

     A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
     A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
     Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds, such as those created by a gust of wind spell. For  purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

     A creature with a Swim speed can move through water at its indicated speed without making Swim checks. It gains a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a special action or avoid a hazard. The creature can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered when swimming. Such a creature can use the run action while swimming, provided that it swims in a straight line.

 Melee swarm (1d6 plus distraction)

 Swarm Attack (Ex) Creatures with the Swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. 
     A swarm’s attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, or other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, blood drain, poison, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.
     Swarms do not threaten creatures, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy.

 Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

 Special Attacks distraction (DC 12)

 Distraction (Ex) This creature can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Con modifier) negates the effect.
     Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.

 STATISTICS 

 Str 9, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2

 Base Atk +2; CMB —; CMD —

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes

 Skills Climb +14, Perception +9, Stealth +18, Swim +10

 Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Stealth, uses Dex to modify Climb and Swim

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any

 Organization solitary or nest (2–4 swarms)

 Treasure none

Giant Black Widow Spider

This long-legged spider has a huge, glossy black abdomen, marked on the underside with the shape of a crimson hourglass.

Females of this species are larger than males. Males are identical to the typical giant spider listed in the entry earlier on this page.

CR 3 XP 800

 N Large vermin

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4

     A creature with tremorsense is sensitive to vibrations in the ground and can automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the ground. Aquatic creatures with tremorsense can also sense the location of creatures moving through water. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

 DEFENSE

 AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +4 natural, –1 size)

 hp 37 (5d8+15)

 Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +1 

 Immune mind-affecting effects

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

 Melee bite +6 (1d8+6 plus poison)

 Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

 Special Attacks web (+4 ranged, DC 19, 5 hp)

 Web (Ex) This creature can use webs to support themselves and up to one additional creature of the same size. In addition, such creatures can throw a web up to eight times per day. This is similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and is effective against targets up to one size category larger than the web spinner. An entangled creature can escape with a successful Escape Artist check or burst the web with a Strength check. Both are standard actions with a DC equal to 10 + 1/2 the creature’s HD + the creature’s Con modifier. Attempts to burst a web by those caught in it take a –4 penalty.
     The character is ensnared. Being entangled impedes movement, but does not entirely prevent it unless the bonds are anchored to an immobile object or tethered by an opposing force. An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.
     Web spinners can create sheets of sticky webbing up to three times their size. They usually position these sheets to snare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on the ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a DC 20 Perception check to notice a web; otherwise they stumble into it and become trapped as though by a successful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the webbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has something to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each 5-foot-square section of web has a number of hit points equal to the Hit Dice of the creature that created it and DR 5/—.
     A creature can move across its own web at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any creature touching its web.

 STATISTICS 

 Str 19, Dex 15, Con 16, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2

 Base Atk +3; CMB +8; CMD 20 (32 vs. trip)

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Skills Climb +20, Perception +4

 Racial Modifiers +8 Climb, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth (+8 webs)

 SQ strong webs

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any land

 Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3–8)

 Treasure incidental

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 17; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Con and staggered; cure 2 saves. The save DC is Contitution-based and includes a +2 racial bonus.

 Strong Webs (Ex) A black widow’s webs gain a +4 bonus to the DC to break or escape.

Giant Rot Grub

This twitching, pale maggot is the size of a large dog. A circular mouth quivers and gasps at one end of its pulsating body.

Rot grubs are foul, nauseating parasites that feed on flesh and use corpses as nests in which to grow. While a rot grub can derive nourishment from dead flesh, its true hunger is for the flesh of the living. Thankfully, rot grub swarms occur only rarely, as they require the infested carcass of a Huge or larger creature and many weeks to build up the numbers necessary to constitute a swarm. In some cases, a rot grub continues to feed and grow, eventually reaching enormous size as a giant rot grub.

CR 3 XP 800

 N Small vermin

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +1; Senses blindsense 30 ft.; Perception +0

     Using extraordinary nonvisual senses, such as acute smell or hearing, a creature with blindsense notices things it cannot see. The creature usually does not need to make Perception checks to pinpoint the location of a creature within range of its blindsense ability, provided that it has line of effect to that creature. Any opponent the creature cannot see still has total concealment against the creature with blindsense, and the creature still has the normal miss chance when attacking foes that have concealment. Visibility still affects the movement of a creature with blindsense. A creature with blindsense is still denied its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class against attacks from creatures it cannot see.

 DEFENSE

 AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +3 natural, +1 size)

 hp 34 (4d8+16)

 Fort +8, Ref +2, Will +1 

 Immune mind-affecting effects

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 20 ft.

 Melee bite +6 (1d6+3 plus poison and grab)

 Grab (Ex) If this creature hits with the indicated attack it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on its CMB check to make and maintain the grapple, but does not gain the grappled condition itself. A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold. Otherwise, it deals constriction damage as well (the amount is given in the creature’s descriptive text).
     Creatures with the grab special attack receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple.
     Unless otherwise noted, grab can only be used against targets of a size equal to or smaller than the creature with this ability. If the creature can use grab on creatures of other sizes, it is noted in the creature’s Special Attacks line.
     A grappled creature is restrained by a creature, trap, or effect. Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
     A grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling it, even if a special ability, such as hide in plain sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being grappled, but receives no other benefit.

 Special Attacks gnaw, grab (Medium)

 STATISTICS 

 Str 14, Dex 12, Con 18, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1

 Base Atk +3; CMB +4 (+8 grapple); CMD 15

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any

 Organization solitary, pair, or nest (3–8)

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Gnaw (Ex) A rot grub that is grappling a foe and chooses to damage the foe with an additional grapple check deals twice its normal bite damage (2d6+6 for most giant rot grubs), in addition to injecting an additional dose of poison with each successful check. 

 Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 16; frequency 1/round for 5 rounds; effect 1d3 Str; cure 1 save.

Giant Whiptail Centipede

An elephantine centipede scurries about, its double tail lashing angrily behind it.

Whiptail centipedes are carrion eaters, though corpses large enough to satiate them are a rarity. Corpses of Huge or larger creatures left to rot often attract whiptail centipedes, who viciously defend their bounty against any who would intrude upon their lairs.

CR 3 XP 800

 N Huge vermin

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

 DEFENSE

 AC 15, touch 8, flat-footed 14 (+7 natural, –2 size)

 hp 38 (4d8+20)

 Fort +9, Ref +1, Will +1 

 Immune mind-affecting effects

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

 Melee bite +8 (2d6+7 plus poison), tail slap +3 (1d3 nonlethal plus trip)

 Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft. (20 ft. with tail slap)

 STATISTICS 

 Str 25, Dex 11, Con 21, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2

 Base Atk +3; CMB +12; CMD 22 (can’t be tripped)

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Skills Climb +15, Perception +4, Stealth +0

 Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +8 Stealth

 SQ compression

 Compression (Ex) This creature can move through an area as small as one-quarter its space without squeezing or one-eighth its space when squeezing.

 ECOLOGY

 Environment temperate or warm forests or underground

 Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3–6)

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 17; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Dex; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based.

 Tail Slap (Ex) A giant whiptail centipede’s tail slap deals nonlethal damage and gains no bonus from its Strength score on damage dealt.

Venomous Snake Swarm

Venomous snakes slither and crawl over each other in a furious mass, their poison-dripping fangs glinting in the light.

CR 4 XP 1,200

 N Tiny animal (swarm)

     An Animal is a living, nonhuman creature, usually a vertebrate with no magical abilities and no innate capacity for language or culture. Animals usually have additional information on how they can serve as companions. An animal has the following traits unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry.
   • Intelligence score of 1 or 2 (no creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher can be an animal).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only. A noncombative herbivore treats its natural weapons as secondary attacks. Such attacks are made with a –5 penalty on the creature’s attack rolls, and the animal receives only 1/2 its Strength modifier as a damage adjustment.
   • Proficient with no armor unless trained for war.
   • Animals breathe, eat, and sleep.

     A swarm is a collection of Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creatures that acts as a single creature. A swarm has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A swarm makes saving throws as a single creature. A single swarm occupies a square (if it is made up of nonflying creatures) or a cube (of flying creatures) 10 feet on a side, but its reach is 0 feet, like its component creatures. In order to attack, it moves into an opponent’s space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it crawls all over its prey. A swarm can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the swarm provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A swarm can move through cracks or holes large enough for its component creatures.
     A swarm of Tiny creatures consists of 300 nonflying creatures or 1,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Diminutive creatures consists of 1,500 nonflying creatures or 5,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Fine creatures consists of 10,000 creatures, whether they are flying or not. Swarms of nonflying creatures include many more creatures than could normally fit in a 10-foot square based on their normal space, because creatures in a swarm are packed tightly together and generally crawl over each other and their prey when moving or attacking. Larger swarms are represented by multiples of single swarms. The area occupied by a large swarm is completely shapeable, though the swarm usually remains in contiguous squares.

 Init +7; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +13

     Scent allows a creature to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. Creatures with the scent ability can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights.
     The creature can detect opponents within 30 feet by sense of smell. If the opponent is upwind, the range increases to 60 feet; if downwind, it drops to 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the ranges noted above. Overpowering scents, such as skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can be detected at triple normal range.
     When a creature detects a scent, the exact location of the source is not revealed—only its presence somewhere within range. The creature can take a move action to note the direction of the scent. When the creature is within 5 feet of the source, it pinpoints the source’s location. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.
     A creature with the scent ability can follow tracks by smell, making a Wisdom (or Survival) check to find or follow a track. The typical DC for a fresh trail is 10 (no matter what kind of surface holds the scent). This DC increases or decreases depending on how strong the quarry’s odor is, the number of creatures, and the age of the trail. For each hour that the trail is cold, the DC increases by 2. The ability otherwise follows the rules for the Survival skill. Creatures tracking by scent ignore the effects of surface conditions and poor visibility.

     A creature with low-light vision can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of dim light. It retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

 DEFENSE

 AC 17, touch 15, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +2 size)

 hp 37 (5d8+15)

 Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +2

 Defensive Abilities swarm traits

     A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
     A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
     Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds, such as those created by a gust of wind spell. For  purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 10 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

     A creature with a Swim speed can move through water at its indicated speed without making Swim checks. It gains a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a special action or avoid a hazard. The creature can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered when swimming. Such a creature can use the run action while swimming, provided that it swims in a straight line.

 Melee swarm (1d6 plus distraction and poison)

 Swarm Attack (Ex) Creatures with the Swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. 
     A swarm’s attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, or other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, blood drain, poison, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.
     Swarms do not threaten creatures, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy.

 Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

 Special Attacks distraction (DC 15)

 Distraction (Ex) This creature can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Con modifier) negates the effect.
     Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.

 STATISTICS 

 Str 9, Dex 16, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2

 Base Atk +3; CMB —; CMD —

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception)

 Skills Acrobatics +7 (+3 when jumping), Climb +15, Perception +13, Stealth +19, Swim +11

 Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Stealth; uses Dex to modify Climb and Swim

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any

 Organization solitary, nest (2–4 swarms), or knot (5–7 swarms)

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Poison (Ex) Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Rot Grub Swarm

This nauseating carpet of wriggling white grubs undulates outward in a pallid wave of hunger.

CR 7 XP 3,200

 N Fine vermin (swarm)

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

     A swarm is a collection of Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creatures that acts as a single creature. A swarm has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A swarm makes saving throws as a single creature. A single swarm occupies a square (if it is made up of nonflying creatures) or a cube (of flying creatures) 10 feet on a side, but its reach is 0 feet, like its component creatures. In order to attack, it moves into an opponent’s space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it crawls all over its prey. A swarm can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the swarm provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A swarm can move through cracks or holes large enough for its component creatures.
     A swarm of Tiny creatures consists of 300 nonflying creatures or 1,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Diminutive creatures consists of 1,500 nonflying creatures or 5,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Fine creatures consists of 10,000 creatures, whether they are flying or not. Swarms of nonflying creatures include many more creatures than could normally fit in a 10-foot square based on their normal space, because creatures in a swarm are packed tightly together and generally crawl over each other and their prey when moving or attacking. Larger swarms are represented by multiples of single swarms. The area occupied by a large swarm is completely shapeable, though the swarm usually remains in contiguous squares.

 Init +2; Senses blindsense 30 ft.; Perception +0

     Using extraordinary nonvisual senses, such as acute smell or hearing, a creature with blindsense notices things it cannot see. The creature usually does not need to make Perception checks to pinpoint the location of a creature within range of its blindsense ability, provided that it has line of effect to that creature. Any opponent the creature cannot see still has total concealment against the creature with blindsense, and the creature still has the normal miss chance when attacking foes that have concealment. Visibility still affects the movement of a creature with blindsense. A creature with blindsense is still denied its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class against attacks from creatures it cannot see.

 DEFENSE

 AC 20, touch 20, flat-footed 18 (+2 Dex, +8 size)

 hp 85 (10d8+40)

 Fort +11, Ref +5, Will +3

 Defensive Abilities swarm traits; Immune mind-affecting effects, weapon damage

     A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
     A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
     Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds, such as those created by a gust of wind spell. For  purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 10 ft.

 Melee swarm (2d6 plus distraction and infestation)

 Swarm Attack (Ex) Creatures with the Swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. 
     A swarm’s attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, or other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, blood drain, poison, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.
     Swarms do not threaten creatures, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy.

 Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

 Special Attacks distraction (DC 19), infestation

 Distraction (Ex) This creature can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Con modifier) negates the effect.
     Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.

 STATISTICS 

 Str 1, Dex 15, Con 18, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1

 Base Atk +7; CMB —; CMD —

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any

 Organization solitary

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Infestation (Ex) Any living creature that takes damage from a rot grub swarm becomes infested unless it succeeds at a DC 19 Reflex save. On a failed save, the infested creature takes 1d4 points of Constitution damage per round as the rot grubs burrow through and consume its flesh—this effect continues as long as the victim remains in the swarm and continues for 1d6 rounds after it leaves the swarm. Any energybased attack (including damage from negative energy) that deals at least 5 points of damage to the victim automatically destroys all of the rot grubs infesting it, ending the effect prematurely. Additionally, any effect that removes disease instantly ends a rot grub infestation. Immunity to disease offers no defense. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Xenopterid

What appears to be this creature’s cloak unfurls into bug wings, and its apparently human face is merely patterns on its head.

Xenopterids are human-sized predatory insects with the insidious ability to mimic the form of their favorite prey—humanoids. Xenopterids can be encountered nearly anywhere they can find food, quickly adapting their mimicry to resemble whatever humanoids are most common in a particular region. They can bend their wings to form cowls and cloaks, and they can fold their limbs to imitate humanoids’ weapons and armor. A xenopterid’s eeriest feature is its mouth—a crude chitinous beak that, when closed, resembles a human face. Up close, the xenopterid’s unsettling nature is obvious, but from a distance or in dim light, the creature easily passes for its prey. Because their mimicking abilities require concealment, xenopterids commonly hunt their prey at night. Once a xenopterid captures and kills a victim, it liquefies the creature’s remains in order to bring the putrid slurry back to the hive where it stuffs this substance into small spherical capsules the creatures use as food. Some evil races prize these capsules, and make gruesome liquors by fermenting the contents. Xenopterids live in colonies in abandoned ruins, old castles, decrepit farmsteads, and similarly abandoned human structures. A colony typically consists of 19 to 28 sterile drones and a fertile hive king and hive queen (xenopterids with the advanced creature simple template). Each colony has only one fertile male, so xenopterids reproduce slowly. Still, the only way to destroy a xenopterid colony is to kill both the king and the queen, and neither one of them ever leaves the safety of the hive. Xenopterid drones become fiercely aggressive when defending the hive against invaders.

CR 7 XP 3,200

 N Medium vermin

     Vermin includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry). 
   • Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Vermin breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., lifesense; Perception +1

 Lifesense (Ex) Using nonvisual senses, this monster notices and locates living creatures within 60 feet. Invisibility, darkness, and most kinds of concealment are irrelevant, though the monster must have line of effect to a living creature to discern that creature. The monster usually does not need to make Perception checks to notice creatures within range of its lifesense ability.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

 DEFENSE

 AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18 (+3 Dex, +8 natural)

 hp 93 (11d8+44)

 Fort +11, Ref +6, Will +4

 Defensive Abilities ferocity; Immune mind-affecting effects

 Ferocity (Ex) This creature remains conscious and can continue fighting even if its hit point total is below 0. The creature is still staggered and loses 1 hit point each round. A creature with ferocity still dies when its hit point total reaches a negative amount equal to its Constitution score.
     A staggered creature may take a single move action or standard action each round (but not both, nor can it take full-round actions). A staggered creature can still take free, swift, and immediate actions. A creature with nonlethal damage exactly equal to its current hit points gains the staggered condition.

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 20 ft. (clumsy)

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

     A creature with a Fly speed can cease or resume flight as a free action on their turn. Without making a check, a flying creature can remain flying at the end of its turn so long as it moves a distance greater than half its speed. It can also turn up to 45 degrees during its turn by sacrificing 5 feet of movement, can rise at half speed at an angle of 45 degrees (ignoring the penalty for diagonal movement), and can descend at any angle at normal speed. At the beginning of their turn a flying creature can move in a different direction than they did previously without needing a Fly check.
     A creature with a natural fly speed receives a bonus (or penalty) on Fly skill checks depending on its maneuverability:
 • Clumsy –8
 • Poor –4
 • Average +0
 • Good +4
 • Perfect +8
     Creatures without a maneuverability rating are assumed to have average maneuverability and take no penalty on Fly checks. These modifiers are already included in the creature’s statblock.

 Melee 2 claws +13 (1d6+5 plus grab), bite +13 (1d6+5 plus poison)

 Grab (Ex) If this creature hits with the indicated attack it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on its CMB check to make and maintain the grapple, but does not gain the grappled condition itself. A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold. Otherwise, it deals constriction damage as well (the amount is given in the creature’s descriptive text).
     Creatures with the grab special attack receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple.
     Unless otherwise noted, grab can only be used against targets of a size equal to or smaller than the creature with this ability. If the creature can use grab on creatures of other sizes, it is noted in the creature’s Special Attacks line.
     A grappled creature is restrained by a creature, trap, or effect. Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
     A grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling it, even if a special ability, such as hide in plain sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being grappled, but receives no other benefit.

 Special Attacks blood drain (1d2 Constitution), poison

 Blood Drain (Ex) This creature possesses the extraordinary ability to drain blood at the end of its turn if grappling a foe, inflicting Constitution damage.

 STATISTICS 

 Str 20, Dex 17, Con 19, Int —, Wis 12, Cha 7

 Base Atk +8; CMB +13 (+17 grapple); CMD 26 (34 vs. trip)

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Improved Critical (claw)

 Skills Climb +13, Disguise +6 (+14 when disguised as a humanoid), Fly –5, Stealth +11

 Racial Modifiers +8 Disguise (+16 when disguised as a humanoid), +8 Stealth

 SQ entangling slime

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any land or underground

 Organization solitary, pair, or hive (3–30)

 Treasure none

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Entangling Slime (Ex) A xenopterid can produce a sticky, slimy secretion it uses to protect its territory and eggs. The xenopterid can slime up to a 10-foot-square area per day at a rate of 1 square foot per minute. For 1 week thereafter, any creature coming in direct contact with the slime must succeed at a DC 19 Strength check or be entangled and glued to it as if it had failed its save against a tanglefoot bag. The save DC is Constitution-based. 

 Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 19; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Dex; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Hivemind Rat Swarm

A swarm of rats groups around a barrel, every pair of red eyes staring intently at one rat in the center of the mass.

A hivemind consists of a swarm of smaller creatures whose individual minds have supernaturally bonded into one to become a single, collective intelligence. Hiveminds often occur in swarms that have existed for generations and that have dwelled in areas of potent magical influence, particularly areas of strong psychic magic. Over time, the swarm learns to work together in more intelligent ways to achieve its goals, and it eventually evolves a cohesive mind. Of course, this evolution can be hastened by direct intervention of potent magic (typically something on the level of a miracle or wish), or as an unintended side effect of esoteric rituals, the use or destruction of artifacts, or the deaths of powerful minds. A hivemind swarm learns from its surroundings, which in turn shape its choices in the languages it learns and the psychic spells it develops a penchant for casting. An urban swarm may pick up Common, Dwarven, Elven, or Halfling from snippets of conversations overheard through sewer grates, whereas an underground swarm may learn Dwarven or Undercommon. A hivemind may begin to exert its psychic abilities by compelling animals or people to bring it food or protect it from larger creatures, and it slowly graduates to defending itself and actively attacking as it gains experience. Eventually, the hivemind’s mental network takes on more complex tasks as a collective mind. At this point, the hivemind creates a nexus, a single individual in the swarm through which the collective routes all thought. While the nexus is often fairly inconspicuous within the teeming mass of the swarm, it is possible for a highly perceptive observer to notice its decisive movements, spellcasting gestures, or intense gaze. The death of the nexus does not eliminate the shared intelligence of a hivemind, but it is disruptive, forcing the collective to focus inward to regroup and form a new nexus.

CR 8 XP 4,800 

 N Tiny magical beast (swarm) 

     Magical Beasts are similar to animals but can have Intelligence scores higher than 2 (in which case the magical beast knows at least one language, but can’t necessarily speak). Magical beasts usually have supernatural or extraordinary abilities, but are sometimes merely bizarre in appearance or habits. A magical beast has the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Magical beasts breathe, eat, and sleep.

     A swarm is a collection of Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creatures that acts as a single creature. A swarm has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A swarm makes saving throws as a single creature. A single swarm occupies a square (if it is made up of nonflying creatures) or a cube (of flying creatures) 10 feet on a side, but its reach is 0 feet, like its component creatures. In order to attack, it moves into an opponent’s space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it crawls all over its prey. A swarm can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the swarm provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A swarm can move through cracks or holes large enough for its component creatures.
     A swarm of Tiny creatures consists of 300 nonflying creatures or 1,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Diminutive creatures consists of 1,500 nonflying creatures or 5,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Fine creatures consists of 10,000 creatures, whether they are flying or not. Swarms of nonflying creatures include many more creatures than could normally fit in a 10-foot square based on their normal space, because creatures in a swarm are packed tightly together and generally crawl over each other and their prey when moving or attacking. Larger swarms are represented by multiples of single swarms. The area occupied by a large swarm is completely shapeable, though the swarm usually remains in contiguous squares.

 Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent, thoughtsense 60 ft.; Perception +16

 Thoughtsense (Su) Using nonvisual senses, this monster automatically detects and locates conscious creatures within the specified range. Invisibility, darkness, and most kinds of concealment are irrelevant, though the monster must have line of effect to a thinking creature to discern that creature. The monster usually does not need to make Perception checks to notice creatures within range of its thoughtsense ability. 
     Thoughtsense can distinguish between sentient (Intelligence 3 or greater) and non-sentient (Intelligence 1–2) creatures, but otherwise provides no information about the creatures it detects.
     Nondetection, mind blank, and similar effects can block thoughtsense.

     Scent allows a creature to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. Creatures with the scent ability can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights.
     The creature can detect opponents within 30 feet by sense of smell. If the opponent is upwind, the range increases to 60 feet; if downwind, it drops to 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the ranges noted above. Overpowering scents, such as skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can be detected at triple normal range.
     When a creature detects a scent, the exact location of the source is not revealed—only its presence somewhere within range. The creature can take a move action to note the direction of the scent. When the creature is within 5 feet of the source, it pinpoints the source’s location. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.
     A creature with the scent ability can follow tracks by smell, making a Wisdom (or Survival) check to find or follow a track. The typical DC for a fresh trail is 10 (no matter what kind of surface holds the scent). This DC increases or decreases depending on how strong the quarry’s odor is, the number of creatures, and the age of the trail. For each hour that the trail is cold, the DC increases by 2. The ability otherwise follows the rules for the Survival skill. Creatures tracking by scent ignore the effects of surface conditions and poor visibility.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

     A creature with low-light vision can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of dim light. It retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

 DEFENSE 

 AC 20, touch 20, flat-footed 18 (+2 Dex, +6 insight, +2 size) 

 hp 76 (9d10+27) 

 Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +4 

 Defensive Abilities swarm traits 

     A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
     A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
     Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds, such as those created by a gust of wind spell. For  purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

 OFFENSE 

 Speed 15 ft., climb 15 ft., swim 15 ft. 

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

     A creature with a Swim speed can move through water at its indicated speed without making Swim checks. It gains a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a special action or avoid a hazard. The creature can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered when swimming. Such a creature can use the run action while swimming, provided that it swims in a straight line.

 Melee swarm (2d6 plus disease and distraction) 

 Swarm Attack (Ex) Creatures with the Swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. 
     A swarm’s attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, or other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, blood drain, poison, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.
     Swarms do not threaten creatures, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy.

 Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft. 

 Special Attacks disease, distraction (DC 16), psychic spellcasting

 Distraction (Ex) This creature can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Con modifier) negates the effect.
     Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.

 Psychic Spells Known (CL 6th; concentration +9)

 3rd (4/day)—synaptic pulse (DC 16)

 2nd (6/day)—paranoia (DC 15), spontaneous immolation (DC 16)

 1st (7/day)—charm animal (DC 14), charm person (DC 14), mind thrust I (DC 14), unseen servant 

 0 (at will)—bleed (DC 13), daze (DC 13), ghost sound (DC 13), haunted fey aspect (DC 13), mage hand, open/close, telekinetic projectile (DC 13) 

 STATISTICS 

 Str 2, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 17, Wis 13, Cha 10 

 Base Atk +9; CMB —; CMD — 

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness 

 Skills Acrobatics +14, Climb +14, Knowledge (arcana) +15, Perception +16, Stealth +22 (+32 when hiding the nexus), Swim +10

 Racial Modifiers +10 Stealth when hiding the nexus 

 Languages Aklo, Common, Goblin, Halfling; telepathy 100 ft. 

 Telepathy (Su) This creature can mentally communicate with any other creature within a certain range (specified in the creature’s entry, usually 100 feet) that has a language. It is possible to address multiple creatures at once telepathically, although maintaining a telepathic conversation with more than one creature at a time is just as difficult as simultaneously speaking and listening to multiple people at the same time.

 SQ hivemind nexus 

 ECOLOGY 

 Environment any 

 Organization solitary or infestation (2–5 swarms) 

 Treasure none 

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Disease (Su) Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 16; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves.

 Hivemind Nexus (Ex) The collective intelligence of the hivemind comprises a complex series of connections and pathways among the members of the swarm. In order to focus the mental power of the swarm, the collective network of minds selects an individual member known as a “nexus.” It is through the nexus that all actions and decisions are routed to the entire hivemind. A hivemind nexus often acts in a slightly different manner than the other members of the swarm, and an observer can single out a hivemind swarm’s nexus as a move action with a successful Perception check opposed by the hivemind’s Bluff or Stealth check (whichever skill has a higher modifier for the hivemind). The hivemind gains a Racial Modifier of +10 on this Bluff or Stealth check, due to the hundreds of similar-looking creatures constantly moving around it. Once a nexus is spotted, it can be slain if the observer manages to deal at least 1 point of damage to the swarm, provided that damage is applied in the same round that the observer managed to identify the nexus. If a nexus is destroyed, the hivemind swarm is staggered and must succeed at a concentration check (DC = 15 + twice the spell level) in order to cast a spell. A hivemind swarm is able to create a new nexus by spending 1d6 rounds concentrating, during which time it can take no other action (including making any swarm attacks).

CREATING A HIVEMIND SWARM

“Hivemind swarm” is an acquired or inherited template that can be added to any creature with the swarm subtype (referred to hereafter as the base creature). The hivemind template allows a swarm to increase in power and abilities, much like a class—when you create a hivemind swarm, you can customize its CR as needed by adjusting the number of additional Hit Dice (and thus associated statistics). A hivemind swarm uses the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
 Challenge Rating: +1 for each additional Hit Die gained above the base creature’s Hit Dice.
 Type: A hivemind swarm’s type remains unchanged unless the base creature was an animal or vermin. In this case, its type changes to magical beast.
 Senses: A hivemind swarm gains thoughtsense to a range of 60 feet.
 Armor Class: A hivemind swarm gains a +1 insight bonus to its AC per additional Hit Die.
 Hit Dice: A hivemind swarm gains at least one racial Hit Die in addition to the Hit Dice of the base creature. The type of racial Hit Die the hivemind swarm gains is the same as that of the base creature. A hivemind swarm can never gain more than 20 racial Hit Dice in this manner. 
 Saves: The hivemind swarm’s base saves increase as appropriate for a creature of its type as the hivemind swarm gains racial Hit Dice.
 Defensive Abilities: A hivemind creature retains all of the base creature’s defensive abilities and special qualities, including all swarm traits. Due to its increased Intelligence score, a hivemind swarm is not immune to mind-affecting effects; since a hivemind swarm has a single mind, mind-affecting effects treat it as a single target despite its numerous separate bodies.
 Attacks: A hivemind creature retains its swarm attack, and continues to deal automatic damage to any creature whose space it occupies at the end of its move, with no attack roll needed. The swarm base damage is based on the hivemind’s Hit Dice, starting at 1d6 for 1 Hit Die and increasing by 1d6 for every additional 5 Hit Dice beyond the first.
 Special Attacks: A hivemind creature retains all of the base creature’s special abilities and gains the following special ability.
 Psychic Spellcasting (Su): A hivemind creature gains the ability to cast psychic spells as per a psychic of a caster level equal to the number of additional Hit Dice it gains when it gains this template. A hivemind swarm can still deal swarm damage to creatures whose space it occupies at the end of its move, even if it has already cast a psychic spell in that round.
 Ability Scores: If a base creature’s Intelligence score is 10 or lower, the hivemind swarm gains a base Intelligence score of 11. A hivemind swarm’s Intelligence score increases by 1 point for every Hit Die it gains beyond the base creature’s Hit Dice. If the base creature’s Charisma is lower than 10, the hivemind swarm gains a base Charisma score of 10. For every 4 Hit Dice the hivemind swarm gains beyond the base creature’s Hit Dice, it gains a +1 bonus to an ability score of its choice (this bonus can be applied to Intelligence, and it stacks with the bonus to Intelligence that a hivemind swarm gains for every Hit Die it attains).
 BAB: A swarm’s base attack bonus increases as it gains racial Hit Dice as appropriate for a creature of its type.
 Feats: A hivemind swarm loses all feats that the base creature had but gains a number of feats as normal for a creature of its Hit Dice.
 Skills: A hivemind swarm loses all skill ranks that the base creature had but has skill ranks per racial Hit Die as defined by its creature type. A hivemind swarm’s class skills are the same as those that its creature type had and also include all Knowledge skills and Spellcraft.
 Languages: A hivemind creature gains telepathy (100 ft.) and can speak a number of languages of its choice equal to 1 + its Intelligence modifier.
 Special Qualities: A hivemind gains the following.
 Hivemind Nexus (Ex): The collective intelligence of the hivemind comprises a complex series of connections and pathways among the members of the swarm. In order to focus the mental power of the swarm, the collective network of minds selects an individual member known as a “nexus.” It is through the nexus that all actions and decisions are routed to the entire hivemind. A hivemind nexus often acts in a slightly different manner than the other members of the swarm, and an observer can single out a hivemind swarm’s nexus as a move action with a successful Perception check opposed by the hivemind’s Bluff or Stealth check (whichever skill has a higher modifier for the hivemind). The hivemind gains a Racial Modifier of +10 on this Bluff or Stealth check, due to the hundreds of similar-looking creatures constantly moving around it. Once a nexus is spotted, it can be slain if the observer manages to deal at least 1 point of damage to the swarm, provided that damage is applied in the same round that the observer managed to identify the nexus. If a nexus is destroyed, the hivemind swarm is staggered and must succeed at a concentration check (DC = 15 + twice the spell level) in order to cast a spell. A hivemind swarm is able to create a new nexus by spending 1d6 rounds concentrating, during which time it can take no other action (including making any swarm attacks).

Rat Plague Swarm

Countless beady-eyed rats emerge from the shadows, a tidal wave of fur and teeth. They surge forward devouring all in their path.

Called forth by angered deities to wreak havoc upon the underbellies of cities, plague swarms of rats emerge from the depths, a formidable force of nature. They crawl through sewers, invade homes, and infest the streets with an unnatural tenacity. Normal means of extermination and control are laughably ineffective against them, as these rodents bear the indomitable spirit of their divine benefactors. Multiplying at an astonishing pace, they soon become a teeming mass, threatening to overtake entire districts with their presence. Their ceaseless gnawing and relentless invasion serve as a harrowing testament to their singular purpose: to ensure that mankind feels the full weight of divine displeasure.

 CR 11/MR 8 XP 25,600 

 LE Tiny magical beast (mythic, swarm) 

     Magical Beasts are similar to animals but can have Intelligence scores higher than 2 (in which case the magical beast knows at least one language, but can’t necessarily speak). Magical beasts usually have supernatural or extraordinary abilities, but are sometimes merely bizarre in appearance or habits. A magical beast has the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Magical beasts breathe, eat, and sleep.

     A swarm is a collection of Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creatures that acts as a single creature. A swarm has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A swarm makes saving throws as a single creature. A single swarm occupies a square (if it is made up of nonflying creatures) or a cube (of flying creatures) 10 feet on a side, but its reach is 0 feet, like its component creatures. In order to attack, it moves into an opponent’s space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it crawls all over its prey. A swarm can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the swarm provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A swarm can move through cracks or holes large enough for its component creatures.
     A swarm of Tiny creatures consists of 300 nonflying creatures or 1,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Diminutive creatures consists of 1,500 nonflying creatures or 5,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Fine creatures consists of 10,000 creatures, whether they are flying or not. Swarms of nonflying creatures include many more creatures than could normally fit in a 10-foot square based on their normal space, because creatures in a swarm are packed tightly together and generally crawl over each other and their prey when moving or attacking. Larger swarms are represented by multiples of single swarms. The area occupied by a large swarm is completely shapeable, though the swarm usually remains in contiguous squares.

 Init +16M/–4, dual initiative; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +23

 Dual Initiative (Ex) This creature gets two turns each round, one on its initiative count and another on its initiative count – 20. For example, if the monster’s initiative is 23, for its first turn it could make a full attack (and take a 5 foot step) at initiative 23, and for its second turn at initiative 3 it could take a move action and cast a spell. This allows the monster to perform two actions per round that normally take an entire round, such as using a summon monster spell. For the purposes of spells and effects that have a duration of a round or longer or trigger at the beginning of the creature’s round or the start of its turn (such as saving throws against ongoing effects or taking bleed damage), only the creature’s first turn each round counts toward such durations.

     Scent allows a creature to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. Creatures with the scent ability can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights.
     The creature can detect opponents within 30 feet by sense of smell. If the opponent is upwind, the range increases to 60 feet; if downwind, it drops to 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the ranges noted above. Overpowering scents, such as skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can be detected at triple normal range.
     When a creature detects a scent, the exact location of the source is not revealed—only its presence somewhere within range. The creature can take a move action to note the direction of the scent. When the creature is within 5 feet of the source, it pinpoints the source’s location. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.
     A creature with the scent ability can follow tracks by smell, making a Wisdom (or Survival) check to find or follow a track. The typical DC for a fresh trail is 10 (no matter what kind of surface holds the scent). This DC increases or decreases depending on how strong the quarry’s odor is, the number of creatures, and the age of the trail. For each hour that the trail is cold, the DC increases by 2. The ability otherwise follows the rules for the Survival skill. Creatures tracking by scent ignore the effects of surface conditions and poor visibility.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

     A creature with low-light vision can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of dim light. It retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

 DEFENSE 

 AC 25, touch 17, flat-footed 20 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 natural, +2 size) 

 hp 152 (16d10+64); fast healing 5 

 Fast Healing (Ex) This creature regains hit points swiftly, usually 1 or more per round, as given in the creature’s entry. Except as noted below, fast healing is just like natural healing. Fast healing does not restore hit points lost from starvation, suffocation, or thirst, nor does it allow a creature to regrow lost body parts. Unless otherwise stated, it does not allow lost body parts to be reattached. Fast healing continues to function (even at negative hit points) until a creature dies, at which point the effects of fast healing end immediately.

 Fort +11, Ref +16, Will +9; second save 

 Defensive Abilities reform, swarm traits, unstoppable; DR 10/epic 

     A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
     A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
     Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds, such as those created by a gust of wind spell. For  purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

     A creature with DR ignores damage from most weapons and natural attacks. Wounds heal immediately, or the weapon bounces off harmlessly (in either case, the opponent knows the attack was ineffective). The creature takes normal damage from energy attacks (even nonmagical ones), spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities. A certain kind of weapon can sometimes damage the creature normally, as noted below. 
     The entry indicates the amount of damage ignored and the type of weapon that negates the ability. 
     Some monsters are vulnerable to piercing, bludgeoning, or slashing damage. Others are vulnerable to certain materials, such as adamantine, alchemical silver, or cold-forged iron. Attacks from weapons that are not of the correct type or made of the correct material have their damage reduced, although a high enhancement bonus can overcome some forms of damage reduction. 
     Some monsters are vulnerable to magic weapons. Any weapon with at least a +1 magical enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls overcomes the damage reduction of these monsters. Such creatures’ natural weapons (but not their attacks with weapons) are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. 
     A few very powerful monsters are vulnerable only to epic weapons—that is, magic weapons with at least a +6 enhancement bonus. Such creatures’ natural weapons are also treated as epic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. 
     Some monsters are vulnerable to good-, evil-, chaotically, or lawfully aligned weapons. When a cleric or inquisitor casts align weapon, affected weapons might gain one or more of these properties, and certain magic weapons have these properties as well. A creature with an alignment subtype (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful) can overcome this type of damage reduction with its natural weapons and weapons it wields as if the weapons or natural weapons had an alignment (or alignments) that matched the subtype(s) of the creature. 
     When a damage reduction entry has a — after the slash, no weapon negates the damage reduction. 
     A few creatures are harmed by more than one kind of weapon. A weapon that inflicts damage of either type overcomes this damage reduction. 
     A few other creatures require combinations of different types of attacks to overcome their damage reduction, and a weapon must be both types to overcome this type of damage reduction. A weapon that is only one type is still subject to damage reduction.

 OFFENSE 

 Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., swim 30 ft. 

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

     A creature with a Swim speed can move through water at its indicated speed without making Swim checks. It gains a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a special action or avoid a hazard. The creature can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered when swimming. Such a creature can use the run action while swimming, provided that it swims in a straight line.

 Melee swarm +14 (4d6–2 plus 4d6 blight, curse of lycanthropy, disease, and distraction) 

 Curse of Lycanthropy (Su) A natural lycanthrope’s bite attack in animal or hybrid form infects a humanoid target with lycanthropy (Fortitude DC 15 negates). If the victim’s size is not within one size category of the lycanthrope’s size, this ability has no effect.

 Swarm Attack (Ex) Creatures with the Swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. 
     A swarm’s attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, or other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, blood drain, poison, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.
     Swarms do not threaten creatures, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy.

 Space 20 ft.; Reach 0 ft. 

 Special Attacks distraction (DC 19), mythic power  (8/day, surge +1d10) 

 Distraction (Ex) This creature can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Con modifier) negates the effect.
     Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.

 Mythic Power (Su) The Mythic monster can draw upon a wellspring of power to accomplish amazing deeds and cheat fate. Each day, it can expend a number of uses of Mythic Power equal to its Mythic Rank. This amount is its maximum amount of Mythic Power. If an ability allows it to regain Mythic Power, it can never gain more than this amount. The monster automatically has the Surge ability, and can use this Mythic Power to activate it. It may have other abilities that rely on Mythic Power.

 Surge (Su) This creature can call upon its Mythic Power to overcome difficult challenges. It can expend one use of Mythic Power to increase any d20 roll it just made by rolling a die and adding it to the result. Using this ability is an immediate action taken after the original roll is made and the results are revealed. The bonus die depends on the creature’s Mythic Rank. The monster can use this ability even if it’s mindless or of animal-level intelligence.

 STATISTICS 

 Str 2, Dex 19, Con 8, Int 19, Wis 18, Cha 15 

 Base Atk +16; CMB —; CMD — 

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Ability Focus (curse of lycanthropy), Ability Focus (distraction), DodgeM, Extra Mythic PowerM, Great Fortitude, Improved InitiativeM, Lightning ReflexesM, Lightning Stance, Wind Stance 

 Skills Acrobatics +20, Climb +31, Diplomacy +18, Perception +23, Stealth +31, Swim +31 

 Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Infernal (can’t speak any language); telepathy 200 ft. 

 Telepathy (Su) This creature can mentally communicate with any other creature within a certain range (specified in the creature’s entry, usually 100 feet) that has a language. It is possible to address multiple creatures at once telepathically, although maintaining a telepathic conversation with more than one creature at a time is just as difficult as simultaneously speaking and listening to multiple people at the same time.

 SQ hivemind, multiply (rat swarm with curse of lycanthropy [Fort DC 12]) 

 ECOLOGY 

 Environment any 

 Organization solitary or brood (plague swarm plus 1–100 spawn) 

 Treasure none 

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Blight (Su) Plague swarms deal additional untyped damage equal to their standard swarm damage. This damage originates from divine power, similar to the spell flame strike. A plague swarm’s damage counts as magic and epic for the purposes of bypassing damage reduction.

 Curse of Lycanthropy (Su) A humanoid of any size who takes damage from a plague rat swarm must succeed at a DC 19 Fortitude save or it contracts lycanthropy and becomes a wererat. Any humanoid who contracts lycanthropy from a rat plague swarm becomes immune to bubonic plague.

 Disease (Ex) Bubonic Plague: Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 19; onset immediate; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Str damage, 1 Cha damage, and target is fatigued; cure 2 consecutive saves.

 Hivemind (Su) A plague rat swarm can maintain constant telepathic communication with every wererat it created with its curse of lycanthropy as long as they are on the same plane. These wererats have an attitude of helpful toward the swarm.

 Multiply (Ex) Plague swarms spawn at an incredible rate. Once per minute, a plague swarm can produce a new swarm of the type listed in its stat block as full-round action. When the plague swarm is not in combat, it typically uses this ability once per minute. If the plague swarm is destroyed, all of the swarms that it spawned also disperse.

 Reform (Su) A rat plague swarm can be destroyed only if a mythic spellcaster (or a non-mythic spellcaster who succeeds at a DC 31 caster level check) affects it with remove disease on the round before the swarm is dispersed. This condition bypasses a swarm’s normal immunity to single-target effects.

Leng Spider

This immense purple spider has a legspan of nearly forty feet and a hideously bloated body, yet still moves with fluid grace.

The spiders of Leng have long warred with that realm’s more humanoid denizens, yet this does not make the spiders allies of sane life. These spiders see themselves as deserving of true positions of power, and the only creatures they suffer to live apart from their kin are their magically controlled slaves. Fortunately, the spiders have no intrinsic way to travel to the Material Plane, and must use portals or other methods to visit this world. Artistic trap builders, Leng spiders construct lairs of dangerous and haunting beauty made of webs and other materials found nearby. A Leng spider’s body is 18 feet long and weighs 6,000 pounds. Most leng spiders possess only 7 legs, but some possess 9, 11, or only 5—they never possess an even number.

CR 14 XP 38,400

 CE Huge magical beast (extraplanar)

     The Extraplanar subtype is applied to any creature when it is on a plane other than its native plane. A creature that travels the planes can gain or lose this subtype as it goes from plane to plane. Monster entries assume that encounters with creatures take place on the Material Plane, and every creature whose native plane is not the Material Plane has the extraplanar subtype (but would not have it when on its home plane). Every extraplanar creature in this book has a home plane mentioned in its description. Creatures not labeled as extraplanar are natives of the Material Plane, and they gain the extraplanar subtype if they leave the Material Plane. No creature has the extraplanar subtype when it is on a Transitive Plane (the Astral Plane, the Ethereal Plane, or the Plane of Shadow).

     Magical Beasts are similar to animals but can have Intelligence scores higher than 2 (in which case the magical beast knows at least one language, but can’t necessarily speak). Magical beasts usually have supernatural or extraordinary abilities, but are sometimes merely bizarre in appearance or habits. A magical beast has the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Magical beasts breathe, eat, and sleep.

 Init +13; Senses arcane sight, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +21

     A creature with tremorsense is sensitive to vibrations in the ground and can automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the ground. Aquatic creatures with tremorsense can also sense the location of creatures moving through water. This does not allow the creature to ignore any miss chance for concealment that would otherwise apply.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

     A creature with low-light vision can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of dim light. It retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

 DEFENSE

 AC 29, touch 17, flat-footed 20 (+9 Dex, +12 natural, –2 size)

 hp 202 (15d10+120); fast healing 10

 Fast Healing (Ex) This creature regains hit points swiftly, usually 1 or more per round, as given in the creature’s entry. Except as noted below, fast healing is just like natural healing. Fast healing does not restore hit points lost from starvation, suffocation, or thirst, nor does it allow a creature to regrow lost body parts. Unless otherwise stated, it does not allow lost body parts to be reattached. Fast healing continues to function (even at negative hit points) until a creature dies, at which point the effects of fast healing end immediately.

 Fort +17, Ref +18, Will +10 

 Immune cold, confusion and insanity effects, poison, sonic; SR 25

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

     A creature with Spell Resistance has the extraordinary ability to avoid the effects of spells and spell-like abilities that directly affect it. To determine if a spell or spell-like ability works against a creature with spell resistance, the caster must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level). If the result equals or exceeds the creature’s spell resistance, the spell works normally, although the creature is still allowed a saving throw.

 OFFENSE

 Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

 Melee mwk flail +22/+17/+12 (3d6+8), bite +16 (2d6+4 plus poison)

 Ranged mwk bolas +23 (1d8+8)

 Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

 Special Attacks web (+24 ranged, DC 25, 15 hp), web weaponry

 Web (Ex) This creature can use webs to support themselves and up to one additional creature of the same size. In addition, such creatures can throw a web up to eight times per day. This is similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and is effective against targets up to one size category larger than the web spinner. An entangled creature can escape with a successful Escape Artist check or burst the web with a Strength check. Both are standard actions with a DC equal to 10 + 1/2 the creature’s HD + the creature’s Con modifier. Attempts to burst a web by those caught in it take a –4 penalty.
     The character is ensnared. Being entangled impedes movement, but does not entirely prevent it unless the bonds are anchored to an immobile object or tethered by an opposing force. An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.
     Web spinners can create sheets of sticky webbing up to three times their size. They usually position these sheets to snare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on the ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a DC 20 Perception check to notice a web; otherwise they stumble into it and become trapped as though by a successful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the webbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has something to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each 5-foot-square section of web has a number of hit points equal to the Hit Dice of the creature that created it and DR 5/—.
     A creature can move across its own web at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any creature touching its web.

 Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th; concentration +21)

     Spell-like abilities are magical and work just like spells (though they are not spells and so have no verbal, somatic, focus, or material components). They go away in an antimagic field and are subject to spell resistance if the spell the ability is based on would be subject to spell resistance.
     A spell-like ability usually has a limit on how often it can be used. A constant spell-like ability or one that can be used at will has no use limit; unless otherwise stated, a creature can only use a constant spell-like ability on itself. Reactivating a constant spell-like ability is a swift action. Using all other spell-like abilities is a standard action unless noted otherwise, and doing so provokes attacks of opportunity. It is possible to make a concentration check to use a spell-like ability defensively and avoid provoking an attack of opportunity, just as when casting a spell. A spell-like ability can be disrupted just as a spell can be. Spell-like abilities cannot be used to counterspell, nor can they be counterspelled.
     For creatures with spell-like abilities, a designated caster level defines how difficult it is to dispel their spell-like effects and to define any level-dependent variables (such as range and duration) the abilities might have. The creature’s caster level never affects which spell-like abilities the creature has; sometimes the given caster level is lower than the level a spellcasting character would need to cast the spell of the same name. If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature’s Hit Dice. The saving throw (if any) against a spell-like ability is 10 + the level of the spell the ability resembles or duplicates + the creature’s Charisma modifier.
     Some spell-like abilities duplicate spells that work differently when cast by characters of different classes. A monster’s spell-like abilities are presumed to be the sorcerer/wizard versions. If the spell in question is not a sorcerer/wizard spell, then default to cleric, druid, bard, paladin, and ranger, in that order.

 Constant—arcane sight, freedom of movement, tongues

 At will—dispel magic, fabricate (webs only)

 3/day—air walk, invisibility, major image (DC 19)

 1/day—charm monster (DC 20), insanity (DC 23), mirage arcana (DC 21), veil (DC 22)

 STATISTICS 

 Str 26, Dex 29, Con 26, Int 21, Wis 17, Cha 22

 Base Atk +15; CMB +25; CMD 44 (54 vs. trip)

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Improved Trip, Iron Will, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Vital Strike

 Skills Acrobatics +27 (+31 jump), Climb +34, Craft (traps) +20, Knowledge (any one) +20, Perception +21, Spellcraft +20, Use Magic Device +21

 Languages Aklo; tongues

 ECOLOGY

 Environment any

 Organization solitary, pair, or cult (3–6)

 Treasure double

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Poison (Su) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 25; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Con plus confusion for 1 round; cure 2 consecutive saves. A Leng spider’s venom causes flesh to blister and rot away and the mind to experience vivid and horrific hallucinations—these visions cause the poisoned creature to react in an unpredictable manner, as if confused. The hallucination element of this poison is mind-affecting. The save DC is Constitution-based. 

 Web Weaponry (Ex) A Leng spider is talented at using its webs to construct masterwork weapons. This technique of weapon creation allows the spider to effectively create a flail or bolas by attaching a heavy object such as a rock or chunk of metal to a cord of webbing. The spider attaches one end of this webbing to a leg and can then wield the weighted cord as a masterwork flail or a masterwork bolas. It can only wield one such weapon at a time—it must use its other legs to walk. If a Leng spider drops or loses a web weapon, it can create a new one as a full-round action, provided it has access to heavy-weight objects of the correct size (such as loose rocks or skulls).

Locust Plague Swarm

Millions of red-eyed locusts blot out the sun. They descend in a ravenous tornado, consuming everything they touch.

Dispatched by wrathful deities as a symbol of nature's fury, plague swarms of locusts rise like an ever-growing storm, casting ominous silhouettes against the sun. Their insatiable hunger drives them to devour crops, strip trees bare, and lay waste to everything in their path. Measures that typically fend off smaller swarms are rendered useless, for these creatures bear the fury of their divine masters. Their unprecedented breeding rates and sheer magnitude have led settlements to be swallowed whole in mere days. The sight of such a calamity is a potent reminder of their unyielding mission: to fulfill their deity’s desire for retribution against the transgressions of the mortals below.

 CR 15/MR 8 XP 51,200 

 NE Fine magical beast (mythic, swarm) 

     Magical Beasts are similar to animals but can have Intelligence scores higher than 2 (in which case the magical beast knows at least one language, but can’t necessarily speak). Magical beasts usually have supernatural or extraordinary abilities, but are sometimes merely bizarre in appearance or habits. A magical beast has the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Magical beasts breathe, eat, and sleep.

     A swarm is a collection of Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creatures that acts as a single creature. A swarm has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A swarm makes saving throws as a single creature. A single swarm occupies a square (if it is made up of nonflying creatures) or a cube (of flying creatures) 10 feet on a side, but its reach is 0 feet, like its component creatures. In order to attack, it moves into an opponent’s space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it crawls all over its prey. A swarm can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the swarm provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A swarm can move through cracks or holes large enough for its component creatures.
     A swarm of Tiny creatures consists of 300 nonflying creatures or 1,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Diminutive creatures consists of 1,500 nonflying creatures or 5,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Fine creatures consists of 10,000 creatures, whether they are flying or not. Swarms of nonflying creatures include many more creatures than could normally fit in a 10-foot square based on their normal space, because creatures in a swarm are packed tightly together and generally crawl over each other and their prey when moving or attacking. Larger swarms are represented by multiples of single swarms. The area occupied by a large swarm is completely shapeable, though the swarm usually remains in contiguous squares.

 Init +16M/–4, dual initiative; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +24

 Dual Initiative (Ex) This creature gets two turns each round, one on its initiative count and another on its initiative count – 20. For example, if the monster’s initiative is 23, for its first turn it could make a full attack (and take a 5 foot step) at initiative 23, and for its second turn at initiative 3 it could take a move action and cast a spell. This allows the monster to perform two actions per round that normally take an entire round, such as using a summon monster spell. For the purposes of spells and effects that have a duration of a round or longer or trigger at the beginning of the creature’s round or the start of its turn (such as saving throws against ongoing effects or taking bleed damage), only the creature’s first turn each round counts toward such durations.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

     A creature with low-light vision can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of dim light. It retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

 DEFENSE 

 AC 31, touch 23, flat-footed 26 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 natural, +8 size) 

 hp 216 (21d10+101); fast healing 5 

 Fast Healing (Ex) This creature regains hit points swiftly, usually 1 or more per round, as given in the creature’s entry. Except as noted below, fast healing is just like natural healing. Fast healing does not restore hit points lost from starvation, suffocation, or thirst, nor does it allow a creature to regrow lost body parts. Unless otherwise stated, it does not allow lost body parts to be reattached. Fast healing continues to function (even at negative hit points) until a creature dies, at which point the effects of fast healing end immediately.

 Fort +15, Ref +18, Will +13; second save 

 Defensive Abilities reform, swarm traits, unstoppable; DR 10/epic; Immune mind-affecting effects, weapon damage 

     A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
     A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
     Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds, such as those created by a gust of wind spell. For  purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

     A creature with DR ignores damage from most weapons and natural attacks. Wounds heal immediately, or the weapon bounces off harmlessly (in either case, the opponent knows the attack was ineffective). The creature takes normal damage from energy attacks (even nonmagical ones), spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities. A certain kind of weapon can sometimes damage the creature normally, as noted below. 
     The entry indicates the amount of damage ignored and the type of weapon that negates the ability. 
     Some monsters are vulnerable to piercing, bludgeoning, or slashing damage. Others are vulnerable to certain materials, such as adamantine, alchemical silver, or cold-forged iron. Attacks from weapons that are not of the correct type or made of the correct material have their damage reduced, although a high enhancement bonus can overcome some forms of damage reduction. 
     Some monsters are vulnerable to magic weapons. Any weapon with at least a +1 magical enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls overcomes the damage reduction of these monsters. Such creatures’ natural weapons (but not their attacks with weapons) are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. 
     A few very powerful monsters are vulnerable only to epic weapons—that is, magic weapons with at least a +6 enhancement bonus. Such creatures’ natural weapons are also treated as epic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. 
     Some monsters are vulnerable to good-, evil-, chaotically, or lawfully aligned weapons. When a cleric or inquisitor casts align weapon, affected weapons might gain one or more of these properties, and certain magic weapons have these properties as well. A creature with an alignment subtype (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful) can overcome this type of damage reduction with its natural weapons and weapons it wields as if the weapons or natural weapons had an alignment (or alignments) that matched the subtype(s) of the creature. 
     When a damage reduction entry has a — after the slash, no weapon negates the damage reduction. 
     A few creatures are harmed by more than one kind of weapon. A weapon that inflicts damage of either type overcomes this damage reduction. 
     A few other creatures require combinations of different types of attacks to overcome their damage reduction, and a weapon must be both types to overcome this type of damage reduction. A weapon that is only one type is still subject to damage reduction.

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE 

 Speed 10 ft., climb 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (good) 

     A creature with a Climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at it's land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a -5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

     A creature with a Fly speed can cease or resume flight as a free action on their turn. Without making a check, a flying creature can remain flying at the end of its turn so long as it moves a distance greater than half its speed. It can also turn up to 45 degrees during its turn by sacrificing 5 feet of movement, can rise at half speed at an angle of 45 degrees (ignoring the penalty for diagonal movement), and can descend at any angle at normal speed. At the beginning of their turn a flying creature can move in a different direction than they did previously without needing a Fly check.
     A creature with a natural fly speed receives a bonus (or penalty) on Fly skill checks depending on its maneuverability:
 • Clumsy –8
 • Poor –4
 • Average +0
 • Good +4
 • Perfect +8
     Creatures without a maneuverability rating are assumed to have average maneuverability and take no penalty on Fly checks. These modifiers are already included in the creature’s statblock.

 Melee swarm (5d6 plus 5d6 blight, devour, and distraction) 

 Swarm Attack (Ex) Creatures with the Swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. 
     A swarm’s attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, or other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, blood drain, poison, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.
     Swarms do not threaten creatures, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy.

 Space 20 ft.; Reach 0 ft. 

 Special Attacks devour, distraction (DC 23), mythic power  (8/day, surge +1d10) 

 Distraction (Ex) This creature can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Con modifier) negates the effect.
     Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.

 Mythic Power (Su) The Mythic monster can draw upon a wellspring of power to accomplish amazing deeds and cheat fate. Each day, it can expend a number of uses of Mythic Power equal to its Mythic Rank. This amount is its maximum amount of Mythic Power. If an ability allows it to regain Mythic Power, it can never gain more than this amount. The monster automatically has the Surge ability, and can use this Mythic Power to activate it. It may have other abilities that rely on Mythic Power.

 Surge (Su) This creature can call upon its Mythic Power to overcome difficult challenges. It can expend one use of Mythic Power to increase any d20 roll it just made by rolling a die and adding it to the result. Using this ability is an immediate action taken after the original roll is made and the results are revealed. The bonus die depends on the creature’s Mythic Rank. The monster can use this ability even if it’s mindless or of animal-level intelligence.

 STATISTICS 

 Str 6, Dex 19, Con 12, Int 5, Wis 18, Cha 9 

 Base Atk +21; CMB —; CMD — 

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Ability Focus (distraction), DodgeM, Extra Mythic PowerM, Great Fortitude, Improved InitiativeM, Improved Lightning Reflexes, Iron Will, Lightning ReflexesM, Lightning Stance, Skill Focus (Fly), Skill Focus (Perception), Wind Stance

 Skills Climb +12, Fly +35, Perception +24 

 Languages Abyssal (can’t speak) 

 SQ multiply (locust swarm with the devour ability) 

 ECOLOGY 

 Environment any 

 Organization solitary or brood (plague swarm plus 1–100 spawn) 

 Treasure none 

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Blight (Su) Plague swarms deal additional untyped damage equal to their standard swarm damage. This damage originates from divine power, similar to the spell flame strike. A plague swarm’s damage counts as magic and epic for the purposes of bypassing damage reduction.

 Devour (Ex) A locust plague swarm devours everything in its path. Its swarm attack damages all unattended objects and all attended items that are not magical. Each round, the locusts also damage one attended magic item worn or carried by each creature damaged by the swarm. Each round, the swarm can affect only one magic item per creature, even with its dual initiative. If a creature possesses more than one attended magic item, use the table for items affected by magical attacks to determine which magic item the swarm targets. The locusts’ powerful jaws count as adamantine for the purpose of bypassing DR and bypass all hardness less than 20.

 Multiply (Ex) Plague swarms spawn at an incredible rate. Once per minute, a plague swarm can produce a new swarm of the type listed in its stat block as full-round action. When the plague swarm is not in combat, it typically uses this ability once per minute. If the plague swarm is destroyed, all of the swarms that it spawned also disperse.

 Reform (Su) A locust plague swarm is truly destroyed only if it devours a good-aligned minor artifact or holy relic.

Bat Plague Swarm

Myriad gleaming eyes pierce the twilight. They engulf the horizon in a frenzied dance of wings, foreshadowing darkness and dread.

Sent down by vengeful deities to avenge sins hidden under the cloak of night, plague swarms of bats take to the skies in breathtaking numbers. These nocturnal terrors shroud entire towns in impenetrable darkness, their high-pitched shrieks echoing warnings of impending doom. Conventional deterrents prove futile, as these winged messengers carry with them a divine might, making them nearly invulnerable to harm. Their vast numbers and rapid reproduction have led many to believe that they are an endless curse, destined to darken the skies until the offending city is brought to its knees. Even the bravest of hearts tremble under their shadow, reminded of the relentless and fervent dedication these creatures have in exacting divine wrath.

 CR 17/MR 8 XP 102,400 

 NE Diminutive magical beast (mythic, swarm) 

     Magical Beasts are similar to animals but can have Intelligence scores higher than 2 (in which case the magical beast knows at least one language, but can’t necessarily speak). Magical beasts usually have supernatural or extraordinary abilities, but are sometimes merely bizarre in appearance or habits. A magical beast has the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
   • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
   • Proficient with no armor.
   • Magical beasts breathe, eat, and sleep.

     A swarm is a collection of Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creatures that acts as a single creature. A swarm has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A swarm makes saving throws as a single creature. A single swarm occupies a square (if it is made up of nonflying creatures) or a cube (of flying creatures) 10 feet on a side, but its reach is 0 feet, like its component creatures. In order to attack, it moves into an opponent’s space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it crawls all over its prey. A swarm can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the swarm provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A swarm can move through cracks or holes large enough for its component creatures.
     A swarm of Tiny creatures consists of 300 nonflying creatures or 1,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Diminutive creatures consists of 1,500 nonflying creatures or 5,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Fine creatures consists of 10,000 creatures, whether they are flying or not. Swarms of nonflying creatures include many more creatures than could normally fit in a 10-foot square based on their normal space, because creatures in a swarm are packed tightly together and generally crawl over each other and their prey when moving or attacking. Larger swarms are represented by multiples of single swarms. The area occupied by a large swarm is completely shapeable, though the swarm usually remains in contiguous squares.

 Init +19M/–1, dual initiative; Senses blindsense 100 ft., darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +34

 Dual Initiative (Ex) This creature gets two turns each round, one on its initiative count and another on its initiative count – 20. For example, if the monster’s initiative is 23, for its first turn it could make a full attack (and take a 5 foot step) at initiative 23, and for its second turn at initiative 3 it could take a move action and cast a spell. This allows the monster to perform two actions per round that normally take an entire round, such as using a summon monster spell. For the purposes of spells and effects that have a duration of a round or longer or trigger at the beginning of the creature’s round or the start of its turn (such as saving throws against ongoing effects or taking bleed damage), only the creature’s first turn each round counts toward such durations.

     Using extraordinary nonvisual senses, such as acute smell or hearing, a creature with blindsense notices things it cannot see. The creature usually does not need to make Perception checks to pinpoint the location of a creature within range of its blindsense ability, provided that it has line of effect to that creature. Any opponent the creature cannot see still has total concealment against the creature with blindsense, and the creature still has the normal miss chance when attacking foes that have concealment. Visibility still affects the movement of a creature with blindsense. A creature with blindsense is still denied its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class against attacks from creatures it cannot see.

     Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified. Darkvision is black-and-white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow creatures to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

     A creature with low-light vision can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of dim light. It retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

 DEFENSE 

 AC 32, touch 24, flat-footed 24 (+7 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 natural, +2 profane, +4 size) 

 hp 279 (21d10+164); fast healing 10 

 Fast Healing (Ex) This creature regains hit points swiftly, usually 1 or more per round, as given in the creature’s entry. Except as noted below, fast healing is just like natural healing. Fast healing does not restore hit points lost from starvation, suffocation, or thirst, nor does it allow a creature to regrow lost body parts. Unless otherwise stated, it does not allow lost body parts to be reattached. Fast healing continues to function (even at negative hit points) until a creature dies, at which point the effects of fast healing end immediately.

 Fort +18, Ref +21, Will +13; second save 

 Defensive Abilities profane protection, swarm traits, unstoppable; DR 10/epic; Immune weapon damage 

     A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
     A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
     Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds, such as those created by a gust of wind spell. For  purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

     A creature with DR ignores damage from most weapons and natural attacks. Wounds heal immediately, or the weapon bounces off harmlessly (in either case, the opponent knows the attack was ineffective). The creature takes normal damage from energy attacks (even nonmagical ones), spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities. A certain kind of weapon can sometimes damage the creature normally, as noted below. 
     The entry indicates the amount of damage ignored and the type of weapon that negates the ability. 
     Some monsters are vulnerable to piercing, bludgeoning, or slashing damage. Others are vulnerable to certain materials, such as adamantine, alchemical silver, or cold-forged iron. Attacks from weapons that are not of the correct type or made of the correct material have their damage reduced, although a high enhancement bonus can overcome some forms of damage reduction. 
     Some monsters are vulnerable to magic weapons. Any weapon with at least a +1 magical enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls overcomes the damage reduction of these monsters. Such creatures’ natural weapons (but not their attacks with weapons) are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. 
     A few very powerful monsters are vulnerable only to epic weapons—that is, magic weapons with at least a +6 enhancement bonus. Such creatures’ natural weapons are also treated as epic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. 
     Some monsters are vulnerable to good-, evil-, chaotically, or lawfully aligned weapons. When a cleric or inquisitor casts align weapon, affected weapons might gain one or more of these properties, and certain magic weapons have these properties as well. A creature with an alignment subtype (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful) can overcome this type of damage reduction with its natural weapons and weapons it wields as if the weapons or natural weapons had an alignment (or alignments) that matched the subtype(s) of the creature. 
     When a damage reduction entry has a — after the slash, no weapon negates the damage reduction. 
     A few creatures are harmed by more than one kind of weapon. A weapon that inflicts damage of either type overcomes this damage reduction. 
     A few other creatures require combinations of different types of attacks to overcome their damage reduction, and a weapon must be both types to overcome this type of damage reduction. A weapon that is only one type is still subject to damage reduction.

     A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.

 OFFENSE 

 Speed 5 ft., fly 40 ft. (good) 

     A creature with a Fly speed can cease or resume flight as a free action on their turn. Without making a check, a flying creature can remain flying at the end of its turn so long as it moves a distance greater than half its speed. It can also turn up to 45 degrees during its turn by sacrificing 5 feet of movement, can rise at half speed at an angle of 45 degrees (ignoring the penalty for diagonal movement), and can descend at any angle at normal speed. At the beginning of their turn a flying creature can move in a different direction than they did previously without needing a Fly check.
     A creature with a natural fly speed receives a bonus (or penalty) on Fly skill checks depending on its maneuverability:
 • Clumsy –8
 • Poor –4
 • Average +0
 • Good +4
 • Perfect +8
     Creatures without a maneuverability rating are assumed to have average maneuverability and take no penalty on Fly checks. These modifiers are already included in the creature’s statblock.

 Melee swarm (5d6 plus 5d6 blight, distraction, and soul bleed) 

 Swarm Attack (Ex) Creatures with the Swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. 
     A swarm’s attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, or other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, blood drain, poison, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.
     Swarms do not threaten creatures, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy.

 Space 20 ft.; Reach 0 ft. 

 Special Attacks create spawn, distraction (DC 26), mythic power  (8/day, surge +1d10), soul bleed 

 Bleed (Ex) This creature causes wounds that continue to bleed, inflicting additional damage each round at the start of the affected creature’s turn. The amount of damage each round is determined in the creature’s entry.
     A creature that is taking bleed damage takes the listed amount of damage at the beginning of its turn. If bleed damage is expressed as a die roll the damage is rerolled for each round. Bleeding can be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or through the application of any spell that cures hit point damage (even if the bleed is ability damage). Some bleed effects cause ability damage or even ability drain. Bleed effects do not stack with each other unless they deal different kinds of damage. When two or more bleed effects deal the same kind of damage, take the worse effect. In this case, ability drain is worse than ability damage.

 Distraction (Ex) This creature can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Con modifier) negates the effect.
     Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.

 Mythic Power (Su) The Mythic monster can draw upon a wellspring of power to accomplish amazing deeds and cheat fate. Each day, it can expend a number of uses of Mythic Power equal to its Mythic Rank. This amount is its maximum amount of Mythic Power. If an ability allows it to regain Mythic Power, it can never gain more than this amount. The monster automatically has the Surge ability, and can use this Mythic Power to activate it. It may have other abilities that rely on Mythic Power.

 Surge (Su) This creature can call upon its Mythic Power to overcome difficult challenges. It can expend one use of Mythic Power to increase any d20 roll it just made by rolling a die and adding it to the result. Using this ability is an immediate action taken after the original roll is made and the results are revealed. The bonus die depends on the creature’s Mythic Rank. The monster can use this ability even if it’s mindless or of animal-level intelligence.

 STATISTICS 

 Str 6, Dex 25, Con 18, Int 11, Wis 18, Cha 9 

 Base Atk +21; CMB —; CMD — 

     When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
     When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target’s Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
     If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target’s CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.

 Feats Ability Focus (distraction), Ability Focus (soul bleed), DodgeM, Extra Mythic PowerM, Great Fortitude, Improved InitiativeM, Iron Will, Lightning ReflexesM, Lightning Stance, Skill Focus (Fly), Skill Focus (Perception), Wind Stance 

 Skills Fly +37, Perception +34, Stealth +32 

 Languages Common 

 SQ multiply (bat swarm with soul bleed [Fort DC 11]) 

 ECOLOGY 

 Environment any 

 Organization solitary or brood (plague swarm plus 1–100 spawn) 

 Treasure none 

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

 Blight (Su) Plague swarms deal additional untyped damage equal to their standard swarm damage. This damage originates from divine power, similar to the spell flame strike. A plague swarm’s damage counts as magic and epic for the purposes of bypassing damage reduction.

 Create Spawn (Su) A humanoid creature who dies from a bat plague swarm’s soul bleed ability rises from death as a vampire in 1d4 days. This vampire is under the command of the swarm, and remains enslaved until the swarm is destroyed. The swarm can have enslaved spawn whose Hit Dice total no more than twice its own; any spawn it creates that would exceed this limit become free-willed undead.

 Multiply (Ex) Plague swarms spawn at an incredible rate. Once per minute, a plague swarm can produce a new swarm of the type listed in its stat block as full-round action. When the plague swarm is not in combat, it typically uses this ability once per minute. If the plague swarm is destroyed, all of the swarms that it spawned also disperse.

 Profane Protection (Su) A bat plague swarm gains a +2 profane bonus to its Armor Class from its divine creator.

 Reform (Su) A bat plague swarm is truly destroyed only if it is dispersed in the area of a hallow spell.

 Soul Bleed (Su) A creature that takes damage from a bat plague swarm begins to bleed from its body and its soul. Each round, a creature under the effects of soul bleed takes 1d4 points of Constitution bleed damage and gains 1 negative level. A creature affected by soul bleed can’t be healed by magical healing from a non-mythic source. A mythic caster can attempt a DC 24 caster level check to heal a creature under the effects of soul bleed. If the caster succeeds, the soul bleed ends. Otherwise, any creature can end a soul bleed effect with a successful DC 35 Heal check. Twenty-four hours after a creature takes negative levels from soul bleed, it must attempt a separate DC 26 Fortitude save for each negative level. If it succeeds at a save, that negative level is removed. If it fails, that negative level becomes permanent. The save DC is Constitution-based.