Library / Bestiary

Mudlord

CR 6.00 Outsider N Medium HD 9

This fluid creature's roughly humanoid form is composed entirely of thick gobbets of soggy, brown mud.

Description

Mudlords are agile creatures made of living mud. Some are natural elemental creatures, and others were created by long-term mixing of earth and magical water, such as by an enchanted fountain or pool leaking into the surrounding soil.

Regardless of their origin, mudlords are xenophobic and highly territorial. They avoid contact with humanoid creatures, and go to great lengths to ensure their mud-filled lairs are far from any humanoid settlements. If a group of humanoids settles too close to a mudlord enclave, the mudlords aggressively attempt to eradicate the humanoid infestation from their lands.

Because its natural form is a loose pile of mud and it can flatten itself even further, a common mudlord tactic is to blend in with a swamp, quicksand, or other depression in the earth (using its freeze ability to resemble a mud puddle) and wait for intruders to approach.

Among their own kind, mudlords are rambunctious and playful, engaging in wrestling matches, mud-throwing contests, and races. They have been known to ally with earth, mud, and water elementals, but consider themselves the superiors in these alliances because of their greater intelligence. Exceptional mudlords often become druids, oracles, or rangers, and are more tolerant of humanoids, often accepting tribute from tribes of boggards, goblins, or lizardfolk in exchange for truces. Some arise from contaminated sources (such as a demon imprisoned in water) and these might ally themselves with fiends, slimes, or other strange creatures.

A typical mudlord stands 7 feet tall and weighs 250 pounds.

Combat Stats

67 (9d10+18)

19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +6 natural)

Init

Speed

30 ft., swim 40 ft.

Fort

Ref

Will

BAB

CMB

+12

CMD

25 (can't be tripped)

Melee: 2 slams +13 (2d6+3 plus grab)
Ranged: mudball +12 touch (blindness)
DR: 10/magic
SR: 17
Defensive Abilities: amorphous

Ability Scores

str

dex

con

int

wis

cha

-2

Proficiencies

Weapons: Martial, Simple

Special Attacks

Engulf — A mudlord can engulf no more than one Medium or two Small or smaller creatures at a time.

smother

Special Qualities

compression

freeze (mud puddle)

Feats

Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Lunge, Skill Focus (Stealth), Weapon Focus (slam)

Special Abilities

Universal Monster Rules

Amorphous Ex from Universal Monster Rule

The creature's body is malleable and shapeless. It is immune to precision damage (like sneak attacks) and critical hits.

Compression Ex from Universal Monster Rule

The creature can move through an area as small as one-quarter its space without squeezing or one-eighth its space when squeezing.

Engulf Ex from Universal Monster Rule

The creature can engulf creatures in its path as part of a standard action. It cannot make other attacks during a round in which it engulfs. The creature merely has to move over its opponents, affecting as many as it can cover. Targeted creatures can make attacks of opportunity against the creature, but if they do so, they are not entitled to a saving throw against the engulf attack. Those who do not attempt attacks of opportunity can attempt a Reflex save to avoid being engulfed—on a success, they are pushed back or aside (target's choice) as the creature moves forward. Engulfed opponents gain the pinned condition, are in danger of suffocating, are trapped within the creature's body until they are no longer pinned, and may be subject to other special attacks from the creature. The save DC is Strength-based.

Freeze (mud puddle) Ex from Universal Monster Rule

The creature can hold itself so still it appears to be an inanimate object of the appropriate shape (a statue, patch of fungus, and so on). The creature can take 20 on its Stealth check to hide in plain sight as this kind of inanimate object.

Grab (slams) 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.

Special Abilities

Smother from text

Feats, Traits & Items

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.

Improved Initiative from Feat

You get a +4 bonus on initiative checks.

Calculated: +4 Initiative

Lunge from Feat

You can increase the reach of your melee attacks by 5 feet until the end of your turn by taking a –2 penalty to your AC until your next turn. You must decide to use this ability before any attacks are made.

Skill Focus (Stealth) 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 (slam) from Feat

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

Calculated: +1 Attack Bonus

Skills

Acrobatics +15, Climb +9, Escape Artist +15, Intimidate +10, Knowledge (planes) +6, Perception +13, Stealth +18, Swim +17

Details

Type: Outsider
Alignment: N
Size: Medium
Environment: temperate or warm marshes or underground
Organization: solitary, pair, or gang (3–12)
Treasure: standard
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft.; Perception +13
Languages: Terran
Source: Bestiary 4

Rules