Fantasy Monster: Pyrodendron

       

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Pyrodendron
A bulky, twisted tree with ashen-grey bark and red leaves. It moves around on a multiple overground roots.

CR 8; XP 4,800
N Huge Plant (fire)
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +2

Defense
AC 19, touch 12, flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, +8 natural, –2 size)
hp 104 (16d8+32)
Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +7

DR 5/slashing; Immune fire, plant traits

Weakness cold

Offense
Speed 20 ft.
Melee 4 slams +14 (1d8+4)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks hostile pyroforming

Statistics
Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int —, Wis 15, Cha 7
Base Atk +12; CMB +18; CMD 30 (can't be tripped)

Skills Perception +2

Ecology
Environment any hot (even if it wasn't hot before their introduction)
Organization solitary, patch (2–3), grove (4–10)
Treasure incidental

Hostile Pyroforming (Su) As a full-round action, a pyrodendron can project waves of intense heat that dry the land, melt snow and ice, and cause local vegetation to wither. Initial use of hostile pyroforming emanates in a 30-ft. radius spread centered on the pyrodendron. If the pyrodendron continues to use this ability on its following turns, the radius increases by 30 feet per turn, to a maximum of 120 ft. on the fourth and the following turns. The heat abates at the end of pyrodendron's turn following last use of this ability. Any creature ending its turn within an area of hostile pyroforming suffers 6d6 points of fire damage or half of it if it is within overlapping area of a lasting cold or water effect. Multiple overlaping hostile pyroforming zones don't increase the damage.

Pyrodendrons are an invasive tree species coming from a distant, volcanic world. They slowly scorch the surrounding land eliminating native vegetation and turning animals that haven't fled fast enough into soil-nourishing ashes. A few of them appear to be awakened (CR 9), with their hostile pyroforming ability causing roots to sprout all around, acting like entangle (DC 19).

A few fire dragons, devils, and volcanic druids might be currently trying to domesticate this plant, and turn it into a combination of garden ornament and air conditioning. Others think the presence of awakened pyrodendros might be a sign of an otherworldly invasion.