Deadly Mandrake

This creature appears as a tiny humanoid, brownish-green in color with a large flowering plant growing from its head.

Deadly Mandrake (CR 2)

Tiny Plant
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +4
Senses: Low-Light Vision, Tremorsense 60 feet; Perception +7

Speed: 30 feet, Burrow 10 feet
Space: 1/2 foot

Defense

Armor Class: 17, touch 16, flat-footed 13 (+4 Dex, +1 natural, +2 size)
Hit Points: 16 (3d8+3)
Saving Throws: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +2
Damage Reduction: 5/cold iron
Immunity: plant traits
Spell Resistance: 13

Offense

Melee: 2 claws +8 (1d2-2)
Reach: 0 feet

Special Attacks: death scream

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th):

• At Will- Dancing Lights, Ghost Sound (DC 13), Prestidigitation (DC 13)
  
  
• 3/day- Confusion, Lesser (DC 14), Hypnotism (DC 14)
  
  
• 1/day- Hallucinatory Terrain (DC 17), Sleep (DC 14)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
6 (-2)	18 (+4)	13 (+1)	10 (+0)	13 (+1)	16 (+3)

Base Attack Bonus: +2
CMB +4
CMD 12

Feats: Alertness, Weapon Finesse

Skills: Acrobatics +5, Escape Artist +5, Knowledge (nature) +1, Perception +7, Perform (sing) +4, Sense Motive +3, Stealth +16 (+24 in vegetation)

• Racial Modifiers: +8 in vegetation

Languages: Common, Sylvan

Special Abilities

Death Scream (Su)

Once per minute, a deadly mandrake may scream as a full-round action. The scream lasts until the beginning of its next turn. All creatures within 40 feet of the deadly mandrake when it begins its scream, as well as those that end their turn within the area, must succeed on a DC 14 Fortitude save. (This save is only required once per scream.) Creatures under the effects of a fear effect take a -2 penalty on this save. Creatures that make their save are sickened for 1d2 rounds. Those that fail their save take 20 points of damage. If a screaming mandrake is damaged during a scream, it must make a Will save (DC 15 + damage taken) to maintain the scream; otherwise it ends. This is a sonic death effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Ecology

Environment: Temperate Forests
Organization: solitary or grove (2-6)
Treasure: standard


Deadly mandrakes are mischievous plant creatures believed to be part plant and part fey. They relish in playing tricks on those passing through their domain. These tricks are always more playful than harmful, at least to the deadly mandrake. Most such tricks take the form of lights or weird sounds meant to distract and confuse travelers. Deadly mandrakes sustain themselves on a diet of tree bark, leaves, and berries, and are most active during the day. At night they burrow into the ground to rest. Often times, a deadly mandrake burrows just far enough into the ground to cover its body, leaving the flower on top of its head exposed. Little else is known of these creatures thus far.

Deadly mandrakes, despite their name, are generally inoffensive unless disturbed. If disturbed or forced into battle, deadly mandrakes use their death scream immediately in an attempt to end the confrontation as quickly as possible. Creatures that resist are subjected to sleep, lesser confusion, or hypnotism. They can attack with their claws if needed, but rarely do so.

Any deadly mandrake killed has a 1% chance of returning in 1d4 days as a mandragora. If the deadly mandrake's body is doused with demon ichor (from a demon CR 6 or above), or a deadly mandrake is killed by a demon CR 6 or above, the chance rises to 10%. Using a deadly mandrake in the alchemical creation of a mandragora lowers the Craft (alchemy) DC from 25 to 20. (See the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 2 \"Mandragora\", for details on the mandragora and the creation of a mandragora.)