Sawdust Slough

A cloud of fine dust particles hangs in the air around this seething mass of sawdust and wood shavings.

Sawdust Slough (CR 4)

Large Plant
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: -1
Senses: Low-Light Vision, Tremorsense 60 feet; Perception -5
Aura: choking chaff (5 feet, DC 18)

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

Defense

Armor Class: 12, touch 8, flat-footed 12 (-1 Dex, +4 natural, -1 size)
Hit Points: 57 (6d8+30)
Saving Throws: Fort +10, Ref +1, Will -3
Amorphous
Damage Reduction: 5/-
Immunity: plant traits
Weaknesses: vulnerability to fire

Offense

Melee: slam +7 (1d6+6)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: Engulf (DC 17, 1d6+6 bludgeoning plus choking chaff)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
18 (+4)	8 (-1)	21 (+5)	-	1 (-5)	1 (-5)

Base Attack Bonus: +4
CMB +9
CMD 18 (can't be tripped)

Feats:

Skills: Climb +12

Languages:

Special Qualities: flammable

Special Abilities

Choking Chaff (Ex)

A sawdust slough constantly releases particles of plant matter that form a cloud of choking dust around it. Creatures beginning their turns adjacent to a sawdust slough are coated with this dust, revealing invisible creatures (as glitterdust, though without any of that spell's other effects) and dazzling creatures as long as they remain adjacent to it and for 1d3 rounds thereafter. In addition, creatures that breathe that begin their turns adjacent to the sawdust slough are sickened for the same duration (Fortitude DC 18 negates). Creatures that hold their breath before being exposed to the choking chaff aura are immune to the sickening effect for as long as they hold their breath. The save DC is Constitution-based. A sawdust slough's choking chaff aura is burned off when it takes fire damage, and does not become active again until the end of the sawdust slough's next turn.

Flammable (Ex)

Sawdust sloughs and the particulate cloud surrounding them are highly flammable, causing any damaging flame around them to flare up in gouts of fire. Any creature adjacent to a sawdust slough (including creatures engulfed by it) when it takes fire damage must succeed at a DC 18 Reflex save or take half as much fire damage as that dealt to the sawdust slough. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Ecology

Environment: Temperate Forest
Organization: solitary, pair, or cascade (3-6)
Treasure: standard


The vast forests of Andoran have long been prime timberlands, logged and exploited for centuries as crucial resources in Andoran's efforts to establish itself as a great naval and shipbuilding power. Rather than seek to work in balance with the forests, many logging groups have clear-cut vast sections of woodland, and such depredations have not been without consequence.

As the blood of fey guardians is spilled and spirits of ancient plants and wild places are destroyed, the wild power sometimes weaves itself into the sawdust and shavings left behind by loggers, spawning mindlessly destructive masses of detritus called sawdust sloughs. These creatures are drawn to loud noises and vibrations, especially metallic sounds such as chopping and sawing. They savagely attack loggers and mills, engulfing and suffocating all creatures they encounter and grinding their flesh into bloody paste.