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Scythe Tree

This many-branched and twisted tree has few leaves on it. In the center of its trunk is a long, deep scar. Its roots are twisted and dark, blackened as if by fire.

Scythe Tree CR 6

XP 2,400
CE Huge plant
Init -1; Senses blindsight 30 ft., low-light vision; Perception +16

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 7, flat-footed 19 (-1 Dex, +12 natural, -2 size)
hp 67 (9d8+27)
Fort +9, Ref +4, Will +4
DR 10/slashing; Immune plant traits
Weaknesses vulnerability to fire

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.
Melee 3 branches +10 (2d4+6/19–20)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

Tactics The scythe tree uses Lunge to increase its reach on the first round of combat. It focuses its attacks on only one or two opponents, slicing them with Power Attack. Unused to strong resistance, the scythe tree fights until it is reduced to 13 hit points or fewer, at which point it tries to flee into the forest.

STATISTICS

Str 23, Dex 8, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 12
Base Atk +6; CMB +16; CMD 25 (can't be tripped)
Feats Cleave, Improved Critical (branches)B, Lightning Reflexes, Lunge, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Perception +16, Stealth +3 (+15 in forests); Racial Modifiers +12 Stealth in forests
Languages Sylvan, Treant

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Branches (Ex)

A scythe tree makes its primary attacks with its branches, which deal slashing damage and threaten a critical hit on a 19-20.

 ECOLOGY

Environment Temperate forests
Organization Solitary or grove (4-7)
Treasure Standard

Scythe trees are malevolent plant creatures found in heavily forested areas where they naturally blend in with normal trees. Scythe trees are carnivorous by nature and draw very little sustenance from sun, air, or water, preferring a diet of dryad or elf flesh. They use Stealth to catch wandering prey by surprise. The scythe tree is an intelligent plant but does little with its intellect other than devise new and cruel methods to torment its food once it has secured meals.

A scythe tree, on average, is 20 feet tall, but may reach or exceed heights of 30 feet. It weighs about 3,500 pounds and has a trunk diameter of 3 feet. Its bark is dark brown, shading darker as it nears the roots. What few leaves a scythe tree has are reddish-brown (and do not change color or fall out as the seasons change).

The branches of a scythe tree resemble wicked-curving scythes (this is where the tree gets its name). The scar that appears on the trunk is the tree’s mouth (it appears as a scar when closed). Scythe trees hate treants and dryads and attack both on sight (though a scythe tree usually only confronts a treant when it outnumbers it).

Section 15: Copyright Notice - Pathfinder 32: Rivers Run Red

Pathfinder 32: Rivers Run Red. Copyright 2010, Paizo Publishing LLC. Author: Rob McCreary

Scythe Tree from the Tome of Horrors, Copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene.