Sleeping Willow

Before you stands a low willow tree with a wide trunk, its bent branches sway solemnly in the breeze.

Sleeping Willow (CR 10)

Huge Plant
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Initiative: +1
Senses: Low-Light Vision, Tremorsense 60 feet; Perception +11

Speed: 10 feet
Space: 15 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 23, touch 7, flat-footed 24 (-1 Dex, +16 natural, -2 size)
Hit Points: 104 (11d8+44 plus 11)
Saving Throws: Fort +11, Ref +2, Will +4
plant traits
Weaknesses: vulnerability to fire

Offense

Melee: 4 slams +15 (2d6+8 19-12/x2 plus Grab plus Constitution drain)
Reach: 15 feet

Special Attacks: sleep spores

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
26 (+8)	8 (-1)	19 (+4)	7 (-2)	12 (+1)	11 (+0)

Base Attack Bonus: +8
CMB +18
CMD 27

Feats: Cleave, Improved Critical (slam), Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness, Weapon Focus (slam),

Skills: Perception +11, Stealth +0 (+10 in forests)

• Racial Modifiers: +10 Stealth in forests

Languages:

Special Abilities

Constitution Drain (Su)

Any creature grabbed by a sleeping willow must make a successful DC 19 Fortitude save or take1d4 points of Constitution drain each round the hold is maintained as the sleeping willow drains the victim's body fluids. The sleeping willow heals 5 points of damage whenever it drains Constitution, gaining temporary hit points (if bonus hit points exceed the sleeping willows total). At Constitution 0, the creature dies and its body is absorbed by the sleeping willow's roots. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Sleep Spores (Ex)

As a standard action, a sleeping willow can eject a cloud of yellowish pollen from its body in a 30-foot spread. Affected creatures must make a successful DC 19 Will save or fall asleep for 10 minutes. There is no HD limit for this sleep effect. The save DC is

Constitution

-based.

Ecology

Environment: Temperate Forests
Organization: solitary or grove (2-5)
Treasure: standard


Sleeping willows are slow-moving, carnivorous plant creatures with evil dispositions. Most sleeping willows make their home among groves or areas of normal willow trees where they can use their natural appearance to their advantage. Though capable of movement, the sleeping willow only moves at night, so as not to be detected or seen. Once a hunting area becomes depopulated or scarce, the sleeping willow moves on to better hunting grounds where it takes root and repeats the above cycle of waiting, hunting, and moving on to a new location.

Sleeping willows do not collect treasure but the treasure from their past victims is often scattered about the base of the tree. Sleeping willows do not mind this, for they know that greedy treasure-seekers will be lured in by this and it makes catching a meal that much easier. A sleeping willow appears as a normal willow tree (and is often mistaken for such) standing 15 or more feet tall. Some species have been rumored to reach heights in excess of 30 feet. Its trunk is 2 feet or more in diameter and dark brown in color. From the trunk sprout branches that end in long drooping and graceful twigs. The sleeping willow is crowned with leaves of green or brownish-green.

A sleeping willow prefers to attack from ambush when potential prey wanders too close to it. Once prey is in range, the sleeping willow releases its spores and then attacks with its branches, grabbing its prey in its viselike grip. Grappled creatures are drained of their body fluids and absorbed by the tree. A grove of sleeping willows act in concert against multiple opponents, aiding one another when necessary until the opponents are slain or flee.

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.