Cave Leech

This large, bloated creature has a flattened, semi-translucent body of sickly yellow. Eight whip-like tentacles protrude from the monster's front, near its head. Hundreds of smaller tentacles line its body and seem to aid in locomotion. Its mouth is rounded and ringed with dozens of needle-like teeth.

Cave Leech (CR 6)

Medium Magical Beast
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +4
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Low-Light Vision, Tremorsense 60 feet; Perception +7

Speed: 40 feet, Swim 30 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16 (+6 natural)
Hit Points: 76 (8d10+24 plus 8)
Saving Throws: Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +3
Damage Reduction: 10/piercing or slashing

Offense

Melee: 8 tentacles +11 (1d4+2 plus Grab), bite +10 (1d6+2 plus Grab and blood drain)
Reach: 5 feet (10 feet with tentacles)

Special Attacks: Blood Drain (1d4 Con), Constrict (1d4+2)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
15 (+2)	11 (+0)	17 (+3)	3 (-4)	12 (+1)	6 (-2)

Base Attack Bonus: +8
CMB +10 (+14 Grapple)
CMD 20 (can't be tripped)

Feats: Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Stealth), Toughness, Weapon Focus (Tentacle)

Skills: Perception +7, Stealth +10, Swim +14

Languages:

Special Abilities

NONE

Ecology

Environment: Underground
Organization: solitary or pack (2-5)
Treasure: none


Though not aquatic creatures, cave leeches are often found lairing near underground rivers, lakes, and streams. They are aggressive creatures whose sole purpose seems to be to kill and devour any living creature that stumbles into their territory. Cave leeches often lair with others of their kind. Food is not shared among them, so each leech is effectively on its own when hunting prey. Quarrels over prey sometimes erupt between cave leeches lairing together; these disputes end when one of the leeches backs down or is driven away.

An adult cave leech measures about 8 feet long and its whip-like tentacles are each about 6 feet long. Cave leeches are often mistaken for ordinary giant leeches, especially when at rest because the creature folds its tentacles back against its body. They also do this when waiting to strike.

When a meal comes within range, the cave leech fires a tentacle out and attempts to grab its target. Grabbed prey is pulled in to the cave leech's mouth and bitten by its horrible teeth. Living creatures trapped by its tentacles are held and bitten, the leech draining blood with its bite.

A victim that is completely drained of blood becomes a dried, rotting husk and its body is cast aside. Foes killed by its bite attack are often dragged to the cave leech's lair and fed to the young or drained of blood over several days. A cave leech sometimes uses the rotting husks of its victims to line its lair.

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.