Shadow Hunter Hatchling

The shadow hunter is a great, dark serpent that dwells in deep caverns beneath the earth, where it hunts dark elves and other Medium to Large sized creatures. An adult specimen is over 40 ft. long and nearly 5 ft. thick in its midsection. In bright light it can be seen to be covered with non-reflective black scales, and its underbelly is the dark red of clotted blood. Shadow hunters have the supernatural ability to blend in with shadows, both to protect themselves and to stalk and ambush prey. Unlike normal snakes, shadow hunters often work in groups of two or three to corner prey in passages.

Shadow Hunter Hatchling (CR 2)

Medium Magical Beast
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +1
Senses: Darkvision 30 feet, Low-Light Vision, Scent, Tremorsense 30 feet; Perception +9

Speed: 20 feet, Climb 10 feet, Swim 20 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 13, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+1 Dex, +2 natural)
Hit Points: 22 (3d10+3)
Saving Throws: Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +1
shadowblend

Offense

Melee: bite +6 (1d4+4 plus poison plus Grab)
Reach: 5 feet

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
16 (+3)	13 (+1)	12 (+1)	5 (-3)	10 (+0)	3 (-4)

Base Attack Bonus: +3
CMB +6 (+10 to Grapple)
CMD 17 (can't be tripped)

Feats: Ability Focus (Poison), Skill Focus (Perception)

Skills: Climb +11, Perception +7, Stealth +6 (+16 in dimly lit & unlit areas), Swim +11

• Racial Modifiers: +10 racial bonus on Stealth checks in areas of dim or no light.

Languages:

Special Qualities: hunt by Scent

Special Abilities

Poison (Ex)

Bite-injury; save DC 14 Fort; frequency 1/ round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Constitution damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Hunt by Scent (Ex)

Shadow hunters are expert at tracking prey through the dim warrens where they dwell. They can track using their Perception skill in place of Survival.

Shadowblend (Su)

In areas of dim and no light, shadow hunters gain improved concealment; there is a 40% miss chance when attacking one in such conditions.

Ecology

Environment: Underground
Organization: solitary, or nest (5-8 hatchlings)
Treasure: standard


Shadow hunters generally prefer to hunt in networks of twisting passages that allow them to move around their intended prey, or even approach it from multiple directions. They are particularly fond of elf flesh, but eats any Small to Large creature as long as it is living, organic, and animal-based (i.e., not a plant or fungus).

When they attack, they prefer to strike and envenom their prey, holding on and chewing the poison into their opponent until it stops struggling. If there is more than one foe present, they do not try to grab their prey, preferring to strike at those that threaten it, retreating if need be to return later to consume their hopefully dead prey.

Credit Originally appearing in Rappan Athuk Reloaded (© Necromancer Games, 2006)