Fantasy Monster: Knotmane

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Knotmane

A terrible bundle of matted hair reaching out with dirty braids.

CR 1; XP 400
NE Tiny undead

Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft.; Perception +4

Defense
AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+1 Dex, +2 size)
hp 16 (3d8+3)
Fort +2; Ref +2; Will +3

DR 2/slashing; Immune undead traits

Weakness vulnerable to fire

Offense
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.

Melee slam +4 (attach)

Space 2-1/2 ft; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks strangulate

Statistics
Str 10, Dex 13, Con —, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 13
Base Atk +2; CMB +3 (+7 maintaining grapple); CMD 11 (15 to escape its grapple, can't be tripped)

Feats Improved Initiative, Nimble Moves

Skills Acrobatics +3, Climb +8, Perception +4, Stealth +9

Ecology
Environment urban, ruins
Organization solitary, pair, or  or set of decorations (3–12)
Treasure incidental (occasionally old combs and other adornments worn in hair)

Special Abilities

Strangulate (Ex) A knotmane has +4 racial bonus to maintain its grapple. It deals 2d4 points of nonlethal damage when it maintains grapple. Creatures rendered unconscious by knotmane start to suffocate.

Knotmanes are animate tangles of hair that fell off dead or undead creatures—including but not limited to thick beards, barbarian braided scalps, and princely coiffures. Details of their behavior varies greatly between specimens, likely influenced by the psyche of the original owner of the hair—or maybe their inhibited selves, often presenting contradictory behaviors. Some are shy and curious, some are aloof and clingy, and yet others are friendly but unpredictable. All tend to be at least a bit murderous, though, trying to strangle people at random.

Occasionally, sapient corporeal undead deprived of hair by their very own state keep a knotmane or a couple as wigs or prop beards. Keeping knotmane familiar might be a growing fashion among those few liches that actually care about their appearance.

A knotmane is a suitable Improved Familiar for casters of 5th or higher level.

There is ongoing gossip of greater knotmanes that are fully sapient and capable of animating dead bodies or controlling minds of those who wear them as wigs.