Monster: Winter-Shell

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Winter-Shell

An enormous tortoise made of glacial ice.

CR 12; XP 19,200
N Colossal Outsider (cold, elemental)
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +31

Defense
AC 27, touch 2, flat-footed 27 (+25 natural, —8 size)
hp 171 (18d10+72)
Fort +13; Ref +8; Will +15
Defensive Abilities steam cloud; DR 20/adamantine and magic; Immune daze, cold, elemental traits, stagger, slow
Weakness vulnerable to fire

Offense
Speed 30 ft., burrow 30 ft. (snow and ice only); lumbering
Melee bite +20 (3d6+10 and grab), 2 stomps +20 (2d6+10 and trip)
Space 30 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (bite 15 ft.)
Special Attacks fast swallow, freezing breath (DC 23, 10d6 cold, entangled), swallow whole (6d6 cold, AC 22, 16 hp, hardness 8), trample (2d6+15, DC 29)


Statistics
Str 30, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 1, Wis 17, Cha 3
Base Atk +18; CMB +36 (+40 grapple); CMD 46 (50 vs. trip)
Feats Blind-Fight, Diehard, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Greater Vital Strike, Improved Vital Strike, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception), Vital Strike
Skills Perception +31

Ecology
Environment arctic, mountain glaciers
Organization solitary
Treasure standard

Special Abilities

Freezing Breath (Su) A winter-shell can breathe a 60-ft. cone of freezing steam, dealing 10d6 points of cold damage and freezing the affected creatures to the ground (acting as entangled). A successful Fortitude saving throw (DC 23) halves the damage and leaves the creatures entangled for single round without being stuck to the ground. Frozen creatures can free or be freed by 10 points of fire damage, or a Strength or Escape Artist check (DC 23). The saving throw DC is Constitution-based.

Lumbering (Ex) A mighty winter-shell moves through difficult terrain and minor obstacles without problems, and it cannot be dazed, entangled, slowed, or staggered, or have its movement impaired.

Steam Cloud (Su) When a winter-shell is struck with acid, electricity, or fire damage, parts of its icy shell evaporate quickly, dealing half of the received damage to all creatures within 60 feet spread. Until the beginning of winter-shell's next turn, all the creatures within the cloud have concealment.


Winter-shells are ancient ice elementals that live among glaciers and arctic zones. They tend to aggressively protect their territories, and are occasionally hunted for beautiful pearls and exotic looking ice formations that can be sometimes salvaged from their bodies—both due to their aesthetic and magical value.