Lava Lizard

This massive lizard is dark cherry red with a pale yellow underbelly.

Lava Lizard (CR 8)

Large Magical Beast
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +5
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Low-Light Vision, Scent; Perception +11
Aura: heat (10 feet, DC 18)

Speed: 30 feet, Climb 20 feet, Swim 20 feet
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 20, touch 10, flat-footed 19 (+1 Dex, +10 natural, -1 size)
Hit Points: 94 (9d10+36 plus 9)
Saving Throws: Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +5
Immunity: fire
Energy Resistance: cold 20

Offense

Melee: bite +14 (3d8+7 plus burn)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: Burn (2d6, DC 18), heated flesh

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
21 (+5)	13 (+1)	19 (+4)	2 (-4)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)

Base Attack Bonus: +9
CMB +15
CMD 26 (30 vs. Trip)

Feats: Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness, Weapon Focus (bite)

Skills: Climb +18, Perception +11, Stealth +2, Swim +18

Languages:

Special Qualities: lava affinity

Special Abilities

Heat Aura (Ex)

A lava lizard radiates heat, and any creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of a lava lizard must succeed on a DC 18 Fortitude save or take 1d6 points of fire damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Heated Flesh (Ex)

Any metal weapon striking a lava lizard must succeed at a DC 18 Fortitude save or take 3d6 points of fire damage. Wooden weapons take double damage. Damage caused to weapons in this manner is not halved, but hardness does help prevent some of the damage dealt. Unarmed and natural attacks made against the lava lizard deal 2d6 points of fire damage to the attacker. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Lava Affinity (Ex)

A lava lizard can breathe and swim while submerged in lava and magma.

Ecology

Environment: Warm Mountains
Organization: solitary, pair, or band (3-8)
Treasure: none


Lava lizards make their lairs in or near active volcanoes, spending their days swimming in the boiling magma. These creatures have few predators, save for some red dragons and fire giants. Lava lizards prefer to hunt during the day and sustain themselves on a diet of large game animals or whatever happens to wander close to their lair. Most prey is killed and carried back to the lair to be devoured later. Lava lizards often store their prey in magma pools as they prefer high temperature food.

Lava lizards are about 10 feet long and weigh around 600 pounds. Their skin is always a shade of cherry red and their eyes are pale yellow. These creatures reproduce once per year on average with the female laying 4 to 6 large reddish eggs. These eggs are usually tucked away beneath a lava pool to not only incubate them, but also deter predators. Eggs hatch within 60 days and young reach maturity with 3 years. Lava lizards live about 100 years.

Lava lizards generally avoid combat unless provoked, threatened, or hunting. In combat they assault their prey with their bite attempting to incinerate it as quickly as possible. Lava lizards that are outmatched flee if possible, seeking refuge in nearby magma pools or lava tubes where most attackers dare not venture.