Peluda

This long-necked dragon has steamy breath, a lashing tail, and a back covered in hundreds of quills.

Peluda CR 10

XP 9,600

NE Large dragon

Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +16

Defense

AC 24, touch 10, flat-footed 23 (+1 Dex, +14 natural, –1 size)

hp 126 (11d12+55)

Fort +14, Ref +8, Will +11

Defensive Abilities ferocity, quills DR 5/magic; Immune fire, paralysis, sleep; SR 21

Weaknesses vulnerable tail

Offense

Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.

Melee bite +18 (2d6+8), 2 claws +18 (1d6+8), tail slap +13 (3d6+4 plus poison)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks breath weapon (50-ft. line, 6d6 fire damage, Reflex DC 20 half, usable every 1d4 rounds), poison, quill barrage

Statistics

Str 27, Dex 12, Con 21, Int 6, Wis 15, Cha 12

Base Atk +11; CMB +20 (+22 bull rush); CMD 31 (33 vs. bull rush, 35 vs. trip)

Feats Awesome Blow, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Power Attack

Skills Climb +12, Intimidate +15, Perception +16, Stealth +10, Swim +30

Languages Draconic

Ecology

Environment temperate marshes or plains

Organization solitary or pair

Treasure double

Special Abilities

Poison (Ex) Quill—injury; save Fort DC 20; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Quill Barrage (Ex) Three times per day, a peluda can fire dozens of spearlike barbs in all directions. All creatures within 15 feet take 6d6 points of piercing damage (Reflex DC 20 half) and are subject to its poison quills. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Quills (Ex) A peluda's back and tail are covered in sharp black quills. A creature that strikes a peluda with a melee weapon, an unarmed attack, or a natural weapon takes 1d6 points of piercing damage from the peluda's quills and risks being poisoned. Weapons with reach do not endanger an attacker in this way. Any creature that grapples a peluda takes 3d6 points of piercing damage and risks being poisoned on its turn each round.

Vulnerable Tail (Su) A peluda is vulnerable to attacks against its tail. Any attack that is not an attempt to sever the peluda's tail (including area attacks or attacks that cause piercing or bludgeoning damage) affects its body. To sever the tail, an opponent must target the tail and attempt a sunder combat maneuver with a slashing weapon. The tail is considered a separate weapon with hardness 5 and hit points equal to the peluda's HD. The opponent must deal enough damage on a single blow to reduce the tail's hit points to 0 or fewer. If the tail is severed, the peluda can no longer attack with it and takes 2d6 points of bleed damage each round.

Peludas loathe all weak, fragile creatures smaller than themselves, especially humanoids. Some hunt in nearby farmlands before returning to their own lairs. Some are worshipped as gods by lizardfolk or other swamp creatures, though a peluda's short temper means it may eat its devotees if affronted.

A typical peluda is 15 feet long and weighs 300 pounds.