Hangman Tree
CR 7, NE Huge Plant
Senses: Perception 11, Blindsight 60Without using visual senses this creature can sense creatures and objects around it. In addition, invisibility and other forms of cover are useless. Within range of the creature's blindsight, it doesn't need to make a perception check to locate a creature, but automatically detects it.
Speed: 10 ft. Skills: Stealth -2
Languages: Sylvan
Ability Scores: Str 25 (+16), Dex 8 (+2), Con 23 (+15), Int 7 (+1), Wis 12 (+4), Cha 10 (+3)
INIT: +3 CP: +6 HP: 84 (8d8+48) SA: -- DC: 20
AC: 20 Touch: 7 Flat-footed: 20 [-1 Dodge, +13 Natural, -2 Size]
SR: 20 Vulnerable: Electricity 3 Resistant: -- Bypass: --
Immunity: Poison, Psychic Effect Immunity: Enchantment Spells, Illusions, Mental Effects, Paralysis, Polymorph, Sleep, Stun, Suffocation, Starvation
Strangle (ex) - A target grappled by this creature cannot speak or cast spells with verbal components.
Attacks
- Melee (Natural) - 3 x vines +11 (1d6+7 plus grab and pull). Reach: 15 ft. Pull - On a successful attack, this creature may make a free grapple check. If successful, the target is grappled and is pulled 5 feet closer. Any round where a creature starts its turn grappled, it automatically is pulled 5 feet closer. Target creatures must be the same size or smaller than it. Constrict - Each time the Hangman Tree successfully hits an opponent, it can make a grapple check as a free action to see if it holds its opponent. If successful, the creature is grappled. On any successful grapple check (including this initial one) the target automatically takes bludgeoning damage equal to the damage typically dealt by this attack.
Swallow Whole (ex) - When a Hangman Tree has an opponent grappled at the beginning of its turn (no larger than one size smaller), it can attempt a grapple check to swallow him. Swallowed foes take double damage (half from the bite and half from constriction). Standard damage (bludgeoning) recurs automatically each round. Swallowed creatures are considered grappled (the creature is not). They can escape by climbing out of the creature's gullet (successful grapple check), or by cutting their way out with a L or VL weapon. If you cut your way out, the Hangman Tree is unable to swallow another creature whole against until the wound heals.
Environment: temperate forests
Organization: None
Treasure: standard
This sinister tree looms above a field strewn with bones. Numerous leafy vines, their tips looped into nooses, hang from its branches.
The hangman tree prefers to lie in wait near remote forest tracks and game trails, waiting for victims to wander by. These carnivorous plants are incredibly patient, and can wait for months in a single location for food to approach. When prey does draw near, the tree's vines lash like striking snakes. The tree often uses its pull ability to hoist grappled foes 10 to 15 feet in the air so that they are out of reach of allies while they slowly strangle. The tree generally only swallows one foe whole at a time, letting its other captured victims dangle and ripen until it is ready to feed on them. A hangman tree is 30 feet tall and weighs 12,000 pounds.
Close inspection reveals a scar-like marking on the lower part of the trunk of this tree; this is where undigested creatures or gear is expelled after digestion. Hidden among the hangman tree's branches and leaves are its rope-like appendages that it uses to trap its prey. The hangman tree attacks by dropping its noose-like appendages around prey and yanking victims upwards. Trapped prey is held until it dies or is dropped into the hangman's trunk where it is digested.
