Twigjack

This tiny, vaguely humanoid creature seems to be made completely of bundles of sticks wound with thorny vines.

Twigjack (CR 3)

Tiny Fey
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Initiative: +3
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Low-Light Vision; Perception +10

Speed: 30 feet
Space: 2-1/2 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 17, touch 15, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +2 size)
Hit Points: 27 (5d6+10)
Saving Throws: Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +6
Weaknesses: vulnerability to fire

Offense

Melee: spear +3 (1d4-1/x3) or 2 claws +7 (1d4-1)
Reach: 0 feet (5 feet with spear)

Special Attacks: sneak attack +2d6, splinterspray

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
8 (-1)	16 (+3)	15 (+2)	11 (+0)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)

Base Attack Bonus: +2
CMB +3
CMD 12

Feats: Agile Maneuvers, Skill Focus (Stealth), Weapon Finesse

Skills: Acrobatics +11, Climb +7, Disable Device +8, Knowledge (nature) +8, Perception +10, Stealth +22

Languages: Common, Sylvan

Special Qualities: bramble jump, woodland stride

Special Abilities

Bramble Jump (Su)

A twigjack can travel short distances between brambles, shrubs, or thickets as if via dimension door as part of a move action. The twigjack must begin and end this movement while in an area of at least light undergrowth. The twigjack can travel in this manner up to 60 feet per day. This movement must be used in 10-foot increments and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Splinterspray (Ex)

A twigjack can eject a barrage of splinters and brambles from its body three times per day as a standard action. This effect creates a 15-foot conical burst of jagged splinters, dealing 4d6 points of piercing damage to all creatures in the area. A DC 14 Reflex saving throw halves this damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Ecology

Environment: Temperate Forests
Organization: solitary, pair, or gang (3-8)
Treasure: standard


Deep in old-growth forests, twigjacks spend their time tormenting intruders and wreaking havoc on settlers. Maladjusted protectors of the wood, these malicious fey constantly threaten any attempts to civilize the wild.

Twigjacks delight in breaking wagon wheels from expansionists' caravans, snapping hunters' bows, and sabotaging isolated cabins and villages. Although they possess a keen intellect, few creatures, even other fey, can tolerate these twig-born creatures for long. Treants especially find twigjacks bothersome, and resent any suggestion that they are related.

Equally, twigjacks resent being considered plants, and are proud of their fey heritage. Twigjacks sometimes go out of their way to impress dryads, an effort that is rebuffed almost every time. But some spriggans, quicklings, and other evil fey associate with twigjacks, and while goblins fear and distrust the creatures, bugbears often bully them into service.

Gnarled sticks bundled by vines and brambles form a twigjack's entire body. Atop its head, a mossy growth not unlike hair sprouts. The creature's eyes appear as vacant dark knotholes, and its mouth is just a canyon of splintered and broken sticks bisecting its face. Leaves and sprigs of new growth randomly sprout from the creature's body.