Monster: Scorpiodile

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Scorpiodile
This monstrosity has a head and a body of a crocodile, a pair of weird, puffy forearms, six short legs, and a flexible tail ending with a stinger.

CR 9; XP 6,400
N Large Magical Beast
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +17

Defense
AC 23, touch 11, flat-footed 21 (+2 Dex, +12 natural, –1 size)
hp 126 (12d10+60)
Fort +12, Ref +12, Will +8
Defensive Abilities primal mind; Immune fear, pain

Offense
Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., swim 40 ft.
Melee bite +19 (1d8+8/19–20 plus grab) and sting +19 (1d8+8 plus poison)
Ranged web-slinger +13 touch (entangle)
Special Attacks constrict (1d8+8)

Statistics
Str 26, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 1, Wis 15, Cha 7
Base Atk +12; CMB +21 (+25 grab); CMD 33 (41 vs. trip)
Feats Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Toughness
Skills Perception +17, Swim +14
SQ hold breath

Ecology
Environment warm deserts, swamps, and rivers
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure incidental shiny trinkets

Hold Breath (Ex) A scorpiodile can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 times its Constitution score.

Poison (Ex) Sting—injury; save Fort DC 20; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Strength damage; cure 1 save. The save is Constitution-based.

Primal Mind (Ex) A scorpiodile's mind is a primitive one, making the creature immune to fear and pain effects, and quite difficult to control with any finesse. Using a mind-affecting effects on a scorpiodile to make it do anything more complex than attack a visible creature, or to prevent it from eating anything that smells like food, forces a new Will saving throw against the controlling effect. A successful saving throw renders the scorpiodile confused for 1d4+1 rounds, and it keeps attacking its controller instead of harming oneself on results of 51-75.

Web-Slinger (Ex) A scorpiodile has two forearms ending in web-glands that can shoot strong, sticky webbing with a range of 60 feet as a ranged touch attack. A creature hit with the webbing becomes entangled, and on a failed Reflex saving throw (DC 18) gets stuck to the surface it is standing on. The web dries and falls apart in 2d4 rounds and the creature stuck can free itself with a successful Strength check (DC 18). The saving throw DC is Dexterity-based.


Scorpiodiles name doesn't give them full justice, for they have qualities not only of crocodiles and scorpions, but also of spiders. It is not quite clear what mad god created those beasts, though evil deities of desert are often considered obvious suspects. Wherever was the reason for their creation, the scorpiodiles came out as voracious, almost mindless monsters driven only by primal instincts of hunting and feeding. Thankfully, they have problem with suppressing those instincts even for mating, keeping their numbers mercifully small. When gorged on meat, they tend to nap lazily, until disturbed or getting hungry again.