Gourd Leshy

Superstition and love of rituals run deep in gourd leshys. They do their best to exactly reproduce what worked before with every trivial activity, and change seemingly random details when attempting tasks they previously failed. Gourd leshys collect random odds and ends as good luck charms, ranging from polished stones to bird feathers to tarnished coins. Credulous to a fault, gourd leshys believe nearly anything they hear from those they trust. However, their admittedly hollow heads still hold memories, and a gourd leshy betrayed rarely forgets. As gourd leshys aren’t particularly strong, they often fight dirty. One favorite trick is to wait for an enemy to come within striking distance while in gourd form so that they can assume their true form and make a sneak attack in the same round.

Stats

Gourd Leshy (CR1; 400XP)

N Small plant (leshy, shapechanger). Init +2.

Senses

Darkvision (60ft), Low-light vision; Perception +4.

Defense

AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+2 Dex, +1 size)
hp 9 (1d8+5)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +0
Immune Electricity, sonic, and plant traits (all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms), paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep, and stun).

Offense

Speed 20 ft.
Melee slam -1 (1d3-2 plus ensnare)
Ranged seed +3 (1 plus ensnare)

Special Attacks

Ensnare The seeds and slam attack of a gourd leshy entangle the target in vines for 2d4 rounds unless the target makes a DC 12 Reflex save. The target can attempt to burst these entangling vines before the duration expires with a DC 12 Strength check as a full-round action. The save and burst DCs are Constitution-based.
Seed A gourd leshy can hurl its seeds as a ranged attack. If it hits, this attack deals 1 point of damage (this damage is not modified by Strength) and affects the target with the gourd leshy’s ensnare ability. This attack has a 10-foot range increment. With tangles of leafy vines for limbs and a carved gourd for a head, gourd leshys present a rather comical appearance. Intimately connected with the harvest season, gourd leshys see to the health and sustainable harvest of crops, especially vegetables and grains.
Sneak attack +1d6 whenever the target is denied it dexterity bonus, or when the gourd flanks its target.

Spell-Like Abilities

(CL 2nd; concentration +4)
Constant—pass without trace

Statistics

Str 6, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 15
Base Atk +0; CMB -3; CMD 9

Feats

Toughness

Skills

Perception +4, Stealth +6 (+10 in plants and undergrowth), Survival +0 (+4 in plants and undergrowth)

Languages

Druidic, Sylvan; Plantspeech (gourd)

Special Qualities

Change shape (Small gourd; tree shape)
Keepsake Gourd leshys can pop off the top of their heads and store a single Fine-sized object such as a dagger or potion inside. While within the leshy’s head, the item is warded by nondetection. In addition, after 24 hours, the item within is cleaned and polished, and, if damaged, repaired as if by a mending spell. Both spell effects have a caster level equal to twice the leshy’s Hit Dice (CL 2nd for most gourd leshys).
Verdant burst When slain, a fungus leshy explodes in a burst of fertile energies. All plant creatures within 30 feet of the slain leshy regain hit 1d8 points.

Encompassed species

• Leshy

Languages spoken

• Plantspeech

Growing a Gourd Leshy

Gourd leshys grow best in small vegetable patches or in sunny meadows. Carving eyes and a mouth into a growing gourd leshy’s “face” is an important part of the growth ritual, for neglecting to do this robs the gourd leshy of its ability to see or speak. The exact nature and appearance of a gourd leshy’s features can vary wildly between individuals.
CL 6th; Price 1,500 gp

Ritual Requirements

Cost 750 gp

Skillset

Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks

Spells

entangle, plant growth, summon nature’s ally II

Skill check

Knowledge (nature) DC 13