Cave Crawler

A bone-white humanoid creature huddles naked before you. It seems to be roughly the size of a gnome, with frighteningly gnomish features save for pupil-less eyes and elongated forearms ending in long-fingered claws. Its feet also seem very long with long, segmented toes that end in wicked talons. It hisses like a feral cat before lunging at you with primal .

Cave Crawler
 CR ?

XP ?
CE Small aberration
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +7

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 12 (+4 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 16 (3d8+3)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +6; +1 vs. Illusions

Defensive Abilities Defensive Training

Weakness light blindness

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee 2 claws +6 (1d4+4 plus grab)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks Rake (2 talons +2, 1d4+4 plus armor rending), rend (claws, 1d4+6) grab (Large), favored enemies (dragon, humanoid (reptilian)) +2, hatred

STATISTICS

Str 18, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 6, Wis 17, Cha 9
Base Atk +2; CMB +6 (+10 grappling); CMD 19
Feats Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Stealth)
Skills Climb +18, Stealth +17, Survival +11 Racial Modifiers +8 on Climb and Survival. Can always take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed and threatened.
Languages Common, gnome, sylvan.
SQ quickness, scent, acute senses, hatred

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Quickness (Su)

A Cave Crawler is supernaturally quick. It can take an extra move action during its turn each round.

Armor Rending (Ex)

A cave crawlers hooked talons were designed to shred the scales off large reptiles. However, they work just as well at shredding armor of all kinds as well. Any creature struck by a talon attack has their armor damaged as well as themselves. If the damage renders the armor "broken", then enough damage has been dealt that the significant protector of the armor is literally stripped off. In addition, if the target only has natural armor left, that is reduced by 1d4 for every attack, and DR is reduced by 1 for every attack (even if the attack didn't deal damage). This damage is healed in the same way as ability damage.

Defensive Training (Ex)

Cave Crawlers get a +4 dodge bonus to AC against giants due to special training received as gnomes.

Hatred (Ex)

Cave Crawlers receive a +1 bonus on attack rolls against humanoids of the reptilian and goblinoid subtypes due to special training received as gnomes.

Acute Senses (Ex)

Cave Crawlers receive a +4 bonus on perception due to exceedingly acute senses.


ECOLOGY

Environment any underground
Organization solitary, pair, clutch (3–8), pack (5-12), or hive (12-20)
Treasure incidental

Hundreds of years ago a crazed gnomish wizard created what he believed to be the perfect race agile, strong, and ferocious. These Cave Crawlers were savage and uncontrollable. Their creator was forced to flee and the Cave Crawlers overran the city.

Today, Cave Crawlers can be found in most deep, dark spaces. They rove in packs, and have a rudimentary culture. No prey is too large for a pack of Crawlers they swarm desired prey and rip through their defenses. Cave Crawlers are patient they stalk their prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, They are naturally stealthy, perceptive, and persistent.

Their preferred method of travel is climbing. They feel safer clinging to the rock face than being exposed on the ground below. This leaves them in the ideal position to drop down on their prey. Cave Crawlers skitter along, their sharp claws and long arms allow them to use handholds that other races could not.

Cave Crawlers view kobolds and dragons as their primary targets. They have a deep-rooted hatred stemming from their creation. They will actively hunt for groups of kobolds and dragons are seen as a choice morsel when presenting to a perspective mate. Crawlers enjoy tormeting dragon-worshipping kobolds by slaughtering and devouring the dragon before turning on the kobolds.

(Maybe something about a leader-type? Name it "Khan"? Advanced Cave Crawlers with..?)

Cave Crawlers fear bright lights. Many go their whole lives with out seeing the upper world. They prefer the pitch darkness of their caves. Trespassers bringing light into a Crawlers territory can cause the entire colony to take measures to extinguish the light. Travelers foolish enough to pass through without light also make easy targets. In fact, passing through their territory at all is considered a foolish idea by anyone acquainted with the creatures.

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