Fantasy Monster: Invader Tree

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Invader Tree

A young but robust tree moving closer on its roots.

CR 2; XP 600
N Medium Plant

Init +1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +6

Defense
AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+1 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 22 (4d8+4)
Fort +5; Ref +2; Will +2

DR 2/slashing; Immune plant traits

Offense
Speed 20 ft.

Melee 2 slams +4 (1d6+1)

Statistics
Str 12, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 5
Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 15 (20 vs. trip and forced move)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Nimble Moves

Skills Perception +6, Stealth +6 (+26 pretending to be an immobile tree)

SQ seeding

Ecology
Environment forest, plains
Organization solitary, pair, or grove (3–20)
Treasure standard

Special Abilities

Seeding (Ex) Resting invader tree tends to leave seeds or sprouts will quickly grow into saplings over the next few weeks. Within months it will grow to a Small size, and after a year it might grow into a Medium tree that might or might not pull its roots and become a new invader tree itself. Each year, an invader tree might produce 1d4 new invader trees (or more in particularly fertile or wild regions) and many times as much mundane trees. They drop their full load of seeds when they are felled, unless the area where they died is carefully sifted afterwards. They also seem to spread seeds of bushes, mosses, and other forest plants and fungi alongside the trees.

Invader trees are insidious enemies, vanguards of wilderness slowly encroaching over fields and grasslands, spreading forests wherever they go. As they grow older and larger, they become more active, turning from spreaders of forests to their defenders, consolidating and fortifying the presence of established woods.

Occasionally, invader trees show higher degree of sapience, but majority are no smarter than animals.

Large invader trees (CR 4) are at least 10 years old with 6 HD, AC 17, 45 hp, Fort +8, Ref +2, Will +3, and attack with 2 slams +6 (1d8+3). As they age they might grow to Huge size (CR 6), with 8 HD, AC 18, 76 hp, Fort +11, Ref +1, Will +3, and attack with 2 slams +10 (2d6+5).