Fantasy Monster: Ink Splotch

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Ink Splotch

A splash of ink-black jelly slithers around leaving a dark stain trail.

CR 2; XP 600
N Tiny Ooze

Init +2; Senses blind, blindsight 60 ft.; Perception +2

Defense
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 size)
hp 19 (3d8+6)
Fort +5; Ref +3; Will +3

Immune ooze traits

Weakness susceptible to water

Offense
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.

Melee lash +4 (2d4 plus blinding ink)

Ranged spit ink +6 touch (30 ft. range, blinding ink)

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

Special Attack blinding ink (DC 13)

Statistics
Str 10, Dex 14, Con 14, Int —, Wis 15, Cha 1
Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 12 (can't be tripped)

Skills Climb +8, Perception +2, Stealth +10

SQ flowing ink

Ecology
Environment ruins, urban
Organization solitary, pair, or mess (3—10)
Treasure standard (thick residue suitable for production of magic inks)

Special Abilities

Blinding Ink (Ex) A creature hit with an ink splotch's lash attack or a spit ranged touch attack becomes blinded until it takes a full-round action or two standard actions to clear their eyes (or single standard action and some clear water). A successful Reflex saving throw (DC 13) renders them dazzled for 1d4+1 rounds instead. Nonliving surfaces hit with either become permanently stained with ink until removed with erase or similar cleansing magic. The saving throw DC is Dexterity-based.

Flowing Ink (Ex) An ink splotch body is made of gelatinous substance that resembles thick ink and leaves stain of such as the creature moves. An ink splotch can be targeted with erase or purify food and water, becoming invisible for 1d4+1 rounds. It doesn't leave inky trail during that time. Incidentally, ink splotches are a bountiful source of ink for anyone willing to keep one around.

Susceptible To Water Ink splotches react to clear water as if it was acid, suffering 1d6 points of acid damage on contact, and 10d6 points of acid damage when immersed.

Ink splotches are a widespread but poorly know bane of libraries. Those little oozes feed on fungi, lichens, and minute vermin that infest books, cloth, papyrus, parchment, and paper, but they get little appreciation for that service, because, as their name suggest, they leave ink-like stains almost everywhere they move, especially on cloth, papyrus, parchment, and paper...

A single ink splotch might remain undetected for years, its traces being confused for spilt ink, but a group of them can cause immense damage to a collection of writings unless dealt with quickly. A few cunning saboteurs devised ways of bottling ink splotches and using them as living weapons against writings of all sorts–administrative records, judicial verdicts, books of law, theological volumes, royal decrees...

An ink splotch might be kept as an improved familiar (requires 3rd caster level). When trained and supervised, it can act as an infinite source of mundane ink, and produce approximately 1 gp worth of magical ink per week. It can also wreck havoc with books and scrolls if unchecked.