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Argus

CR 13.00 Aberration LN Gargantuan HD 13

This misshapen giant is covered in horns, tumorous tentacles, unsightly warts, and strange, staring eyes.

Description

An argus is an ancient creature related to the titans, transformed by a deity into a vigilant and restless sentry, usually as a punishment for some affront or rebellion. Within its hideous and misshapen body lies a lonely heart that craves music and beauty to comfort it in its forlorn and unending vigil. It might talk peaceably with visitors if they promise to sing songs or tell stories (and it believes its guests don't intend to harm it or steal what it guards). If insulted or mocked, an argus is quick to anger, dispatching foes so it can go back to brooding in peace.

An argus stands 25 feet tall and weighs 18,000 pounds.

Combat Stats

184 (13d8+126)

30, touch 12, flat-footed 28 (+2 Dex, +4 insight, +18 natural, –4 size)

Init

+12M

Speed

40 ft.

Fort

+10

Ref

Will

BAB

CMB

+27 (+31 grapple)

CMD

Melee: 2 claws +20 (3d6+14 plus grab), bite +19 (2d8+14)
Ranged: rock +8 (3d6+14)
Space: 20 ft.
Reach: 20 ft.
DR: 10/epic
Defensive Abilities: absolute readiness, rock catching
Aura: frightful presence (40 ft., DC 16)
Racial Modifiers: +8 on vision–based Perception checks

Ability Scores

str

+14

dex

con

int

wis

cha

Special Attacks

Accurate Strikes — An argus's attacks ignore the AC bonus granted to targets by any cover less than total cover, and the miss chance granted to targets by any concealment less than total concealment.

constrict (3d6+14)

Eye Gouge — If an argus rends or pins an opponent, as a swift action it can attempt a dirty trick maneuver to blind the target. If its combat maneuver check exceeds the DC by 10 or more, the opponent is permanently blinded.

Fascinating Gaze — A creature within 40 feet of an argus must succeed at a DC 16 Will saving throw or be fascinated for 5d6 rounds. If the creature has 4 or fewer Hit Dice, it is instead dazed for 5d6 rounds. An argus can't use this ability in the same round it uses frightful presence. The save DC is Charisma-based.

mythic power (6/day, surge +1d8)

rend (2 claws, 3d6+21)

rock throwing (200 ft.)

Feats

Alertness, Alertness, Mythic, Combat Reflexes, Combat Reflexes, Mythic, Improved Initiative, Improved Initiative, Mythic, Intimidating Prowess, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (true strike), Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Focus (claw)

Special Abilities

Universal Monster Rules

Grab

Grab (claws) Ex from Universal Monster Rule

If a creature with this special attack hits with the indicated attack (usually a claw or bite 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 to 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 combat maneuver 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 grab receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple. Unless otherwise noted, grab works only against opponents no larger than the same size category as the creature. If the creature can use grab on sizes other than the default, this is noted in the creature's Special Attacks line.

Constrict (3d6+14) Ex from Universal Monster Rule

A creature with this special attack can crush an opponent, dealing bludgeoning damage, when it makes a successful grapple check (in addition to any other effects caused by a successful check, including additional damage). The amount of damage is given in the creature's entry and is typically equal to the amount of damage caused by the creature's melee attack.

Rend (2 claws, 3d6+21) Ex from Universal Monster Rule

If it hits with two or more natural attacks in 1 round, a creature with the rend special attack can cause tremendous damage by latching onto the opponent's body and tearing flesh. This attack deals an additional amount of 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. The additional damage is usually equal to the damage caused by one of the attacks plus 1-1/2 times the creature's Strength bonus.

Rock Catching Ex from Universal Monster Rule

The creature (which must be of at least Large size) can catch Small, Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of similar shape). Once per round, a creature that would normally be hit by a rock can make a Reflex save to catch it as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a Medium one, and 25 for a Large one. (If the projectile provides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases by that amount.) The creature must be aware of the attack in order to make a rock catching attempt.

Rock Throwing (200 ft.) Ex from Universal Monster Rule

This creature is an accomplished rock thrower and has a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls with thrown rocks. The creature can hurl rocks up to two categories smaller than its size; for example, a Large hill giant can hurl Small rocks. A “rock” is any large, bulky, and relatively regularly shaped object made of any material with a hardness of at least 5. The creature can hurl the rock up to five range increments. The size of the range increment varies with the creature. Damage from a thrown rock is generally twice the creature's base slam damage plus 1-1/2 times its Strength bonus.

Special Abilities

Absolute Readiness from text

Accurate Strikes from text

An argus's attacks ignore the AC bonus granted to targets by any cover less than total cover, and the miss chance granted to targets by any concealment less than total concealment.

Eye Gouge from text

If an argus rends or pins an opponent, as a swift action it can attempt a dirty trick maneuver to blind the target. If its combat maneuver check exceeds the DC by 10 or more, the opponent is permanently blinded.

Fascinating Gaze from text

A creature within 40 feet of an argus must succeed at a DC 16 Will saving throw or be fascinated for 5d6 rounds. If the creature has 4 or fewer Hit Dice, it is instead dazed for 5d6 rounds. An argus can't use this ability in the same round it uses frightful presence. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Mythic Power (6/day, surge +1d8) from text

Feats, Traits & Items

Alertness from Feat

You get a +2 bonus on Perception and Sense Motive skill checks. If you have 10 or more ranks in one of these skills, the bonus increases to +4 for that skill.

Calculated: +2 Perception, +2 Sense Motive

Alertness, Mythic from Feat

The bonus on Perception and Sense Motive skill checks from Alertness increases by 2. In addition, you can expend one use of mythic power to treat a Perception or Sense Motive check as if you had rolled a natural 20. You must decide to use this ability before making the roll.

Combat Reflexes from Feat

You may make a number of additional attacks of opportunity per round equal to your Dexterity bonus. With this feat, you may also make attacks of opportunity while flat-footed.

Combat Reflexes, Mythic from Feat

You can make any number of additional attacks of opportunity per round. As a swift action, you can expend one use of mythic power to, until the start of your next turn, make attacks of opportunity against foes you've already made attacks of opportunity against this round if they provoke attacks of opportunity from you by moving.

Improved Initiative from Feat

You get a +4 bonus on initiative checks.

Calculated: +4 Initiative

Improved Initiative, Mythic from Feat

The bonus on initiative checks granted by Improved Initiative increases by an amount equal to your tier. This bonus stacks with the bonus from Improved Initiative. In addition, instead of rolling initiative, you can expend one use of mythic power to treat your roll as a natural 20.

Intimidating Prowess from Feat

Add your Strength modifier to Intimidate skill checks in addition to your Charisma modifier.

Quicken Spell-Like Ability (true strike) from Feat

Choose one of the creature's spell-like abilities, subject to the restrictions described in this feat. The creature can use the chosen spell-like ability as a quickened spell-like ability three times per day (or less, if the ability is normally usable only once or twice per day).

Using a quickened spell-like ability is a swift action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The creature can perform another action—including the use of another spell-like ability (but not another swift action)—in the same round that it uses a quickened spell-like ability. The creature may use only one quickened spell-like ability per round.

The creature can only select a spell-like ability duplicating a spell with a level less than or equal to 1/2 its caster level (round down) – 4. For a summary, see the table below.

A spell-like ability that duplicates a spell with a casting time greater than 1 full round cannot be quickened.

Skill Focus (Perception) from Feat

You get a +3 bonus on all checks involving the chosen skill. If you have 10 or more ranks in that skill, this bonus increases to +6.

Calculated: +3 Skill Bonus

Weapon Focus (claw) from Feat

You gain a +1 bonus on all attack rolls you make using the selected weapon.

Calculated: +1 Attack Bonus

Skills

Climb +24, Handle Animal +6, Intimidate +30, Knowledge (history) +10, Perception +29 (+37 on vision–based Perception checks), Sense Motive +23, Swim +24

Spells

spell-like abilities:

Constant—Arcane Sight, Constant—Detect Scrying, Constant—True Seeing (DC 16), At will—Arcane Eye, At will—Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, At will—Status (DC 12), At will—True Strike, 3/day—True Strike

Details

Type: Aberration
Alignment: LN
Size: Gargantuan
Environment: any land
Organization: solitary
Treasure: standard
Senses: all-around vision, arcane sight, darkvision 60 ft., detect scrying, limitless vision, mistsight, see in darkness, true seeing; Perception +29
Aura: frightful presence (40 ft., DC 16)
Languages: Aklo, Celestial, Common
Source: Bestiary 4

Rules