Bloodbrush

This dried-out clump of thorny brush has torn free of its roots and seems to move not with the wind, but of its own volition.

Bloodbrush (CR 2)

Small Plant
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +0
Senses: Low-Light Vision; Perception +0

Speed: 30 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 13, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+2 natural, +1 size)
Hit Points: 26 (4d8+8)
Saving Throws: Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +1
All-Around Vision, barbs, flammable
Damage Reduction: 5/slashing
Immunity: plant traits
Weaknesses: vulnerability to fire

Offense

Melee: slam +6 (1d3+3 plus Grab)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: Grab (Medium), poison, Powerful Charge (slam, 2d4+3 plus Grab)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
14 (+2)	11 (+0)	15 (+2)	-	10 (+0)	1 (-5)

Base Attack Bonus: +3
CMB +4 (+8 Grapple)
CMD 14 (can't be tripped)

Feats:

Skills:

Languages:

Special Abilities

Barbs (Ex)

A creature that strikes a bloodbrush with a melee weapon, an unarmed strike, or a natural weapon takes 1d4 points of piercing damage and 1 point of bleed damage, and is exposed to the bloodbrush's poison. Any creature that attempts a combat maneuver or Escape Artist check against a bloodbrush also takes this barb damage, regardless of success. Melee weapons with reach do not endanger an attacker in this way. A grappled creature takes barb damage at the start of the bloodbrush's turn.

Flammable (Ex)

If a bloodbrush takes fire damage, it catches fire (Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook 444), but does not take damage for catching fire in the round it ignites. It takes 1d6 points of fire damage at the start of each turn unless it succeeds at a DC 15 Reflex save to extinguish the flame. A burning bloodbrush inflicts 1d6 points of fire damage with its barbs and slam attacks and to any creature that strikes it with a melee attack as its barbs ability.

Poison (Ex)

• Delivery: Barbs-injury
• Fortitude Save: 14
• Frequency: 1/round for 4 rounds
• Initial Effect: dazed 1 round
• Secondary Effect: dazed 1 round
• Saves: 1 save

This poison has no effect on creatures immune to mind-affecting effects.

Ecology

Environment: Cold or Temperate Plains
Organization: solitary, pair, or field (3-12)
Treasure: none


Though they resemble humble tumbleweed, bloodbrushes are animate and aggressive. Movement draws its attention, especially when accompanied by warmth and moisture. When it strikes prey, it latches on and delivers a sedating toxin through its barbs. Victims that succumb to this poison experience vivid hallucinations as the bloodbrush finishes them off. As much a drug as a poison, refined bloodbrush toxin commands a high price in the right circles. A single bloodbrush provides sufficient poison to refine 1d4 doses of bloodbrush extract (see page 23), and counts as the raw materials for the process.

Bloodbrush thorns deposit seeds, though the seeds germinate only in dead flesh. A single corpse sprouts 2d4 seedlings. After 3 months of growth, the now-mature and animate bloodbrush breaks free of its roots and rolls off in search of prey. Prior to this, an immature bloodbrush is neither animate nor toxic. A bloodbrush lives for up to 6 months after tearing free, and can survive 2 weeks between feedings. Despite its size, a mature bloodbrush plant weighs 5 pounds at most.

Kellids harvest the thorns of immature bloodbrushes. They grind the dried thorns, and brew the resulting powder as a tea with mild euphoric and fever-reducing properties. Harvesting the thorns and preparing the tea requires a successful DC 15 Survival check. Drinking this tea grants a +1 circumstance bonus on saves against an ongoing disease for 24 hours.

Particularly ingenious tribes, and even some members of the Technic League, cultivate bloodbrush in the shallowly buried corpses of their fallen enemies. When a farmed bloodbrush is near maturity, the grower places a sturdy wicker cage about it to prevent it from escaping. Such cages can be completely sealed and carried into battle or covertly placed in a rival settlement. When released, the captive bloodbrush tends to attack the nearest target, so using one as a weapon presents significant risks to the one who releases it.