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Lurker Above

A black manta ray-like creature three times the size of a normal human flies toward you. Its body is black changing to gray on its inside or underbelly.

Lurker Above CR 7

XP 3,200
N Huge aberration
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +12

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 9, flat-footed 18 (+1 Dex, +10 natural, -2 size)
hp 95 (10d8+40)
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +9
Defensive Abilities amorphous; DR 10/slashing or piercing; Resist cold 10, fire 10
Weaknesses light sensitivity

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft., climb 5 ft., fly 40 ft. (poor)
Melee slam +15 (3d8+15 plus grab)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks constrict (3d6+15), smother

TACTICS

A lurker above waits for its prey, clinging to the ceiling, roof, or other such overhang. When prey passes beneath it, the lurker above drops from its hiding place and wraps itself around its prey.

STATISTICS

Str 30, Dex 12, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 9
Base Atk +7; CMB +19 (+23 grapple); CMD 31 (can't be tripped)
Feats Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception), Skill Focus (Stealth)
Skills Climb +23, Fly +1, Perception +12, Stealth +8 (+16 in rocky areas); Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth (+12 in rocky areas)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Smother (Ex)

When a lurker above grapples a target, it forms an airtight seal around its prey. A grappled target cannot speak or cast spells with verbal components and must hold its breath.

ECOLOGY

Environment underground
Organization solitary
Treasure standard

The lurker above is a subterranean carnivore that preys on any living creatures that enter its territory. These creatures are extremely territorial and are never encountered with others of their kind. Mating habits among lurkers is unknown to sages as no two of these creatures have ever been encountered together. A typical lurker above has a hunting territory of several square miles.

Variants

Lurker Below: The lurker below is an aquatic variety of lurker above that makes its lair in any body of water and in any climate (though it rarely lairs in extremely cold climates). Lurkers below are pale blue or black in color and are often mistaken for giant manta rays. Lurkers below cannot fly, but have a swim speed of 40 feet. They are otherwise identical to their land-based counterparts detailed above.

Section 15: Copyright Notice - Tome of Horrors Complete
Lurker Above from the Tome of Horrors Complete, Copyright 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., published and distributed by Frog God Games; Author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.