Violet Fungus
Violet Fungus (CR 8)
Of the many vegetable horrors that inhabit the wilds, ruins, and dungeons of the world, violet fungus is one of the most feared and hated.
The reason is two-fold:
First, violet fungi are incredibly poisonous. Their spores infest the area around them whenever they are disturbed, and the touch of their bilious flesh is anathema. Their heavy vine-tentacles are long, covered in needle-sharp thorns, and dripping with flesh-eating enzymes.
Second, violet fungi seem to be...sentient. It is a dim, slow, vegetable consciousness, but it is, indeed, an awareness. It is alien and calculating, and it holds deadly intentions for anything that is not plant. All other orders of life are enemy to the violet fungi, and the vile growths have the means to ensure that all their enemies perish.
GENERAL
CR 8 Hit Dice 12
XP 4,800
Ne, Medium, Plant
Init +4; Senses tremorsense 60ft, Perception +12
DEFENSE
AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21 (+6 dex, +11 armor)
hp 125
Fort +11, Ref +7, Will +7 <swap as needed; only one strong save>
Aura: Spore Cloud
SR: - Special Defenses: -
Immunities:
- poison
- sleep
- polymorph, paralysis, stunning
Note that since violet fungi have an Int score, they are susceptible to mind-affected effects.
Weaknesses: -
OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft.
Space / Reach: 5 ft. / 10 ft.
Single Melee Tendril Whip +14 (2d8/x2) + Rot Poison
Full Melee 2x Tendril Whip +14 (2d8/x2)
Ranged None, but see Spore Cloud
Special Attacks Spore Cloud
Action Points 0
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 9
Base Atk +8; CMB +15; CMD 28
Feats None
Skills None
Languages Slough, Vegepygmy
SPECIAL ABILITIES
- Spore Cloud
Spore cloud is an aura which activates at the beginning of the second round of combat. It may affect any creatures within 30 feet of the violet fungus, at the beginning of the fungi's turn. Spore cloud is dispersed by a violet fungi's actions in combat, and is spread unevenly, far and wide, with the plant's dim intelligence seeking to cause enemies farthest away the most harm. As a result, the enemy creature that is furthest away from a violet fungus is the only one that is affected each round. If there are more than one enemies all equally far away, they are all affected. Creatures affected by Spore Cloud take 2d6 of acid damage and must make a DC18 saving throw or be affected by Rot Poison.
- Rot Poison
A creature struck by a violet fungus's tentacle whip attack or spore cloud must succeed on a DC 18 Fortitude save or the flesh around the point of contact, or their face, swiftly begins to rot away, exposing raw bone with shocking swiftness. This hideous affliction causes 1d4 points of Strength damage and 1d4 points of Constitution damage. This is a poison effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.
TREASURE
sell value of approximately 3,250 gp
COMBAT TACTICS
Violet Fungi are quite stupid, but for a plant, they are positive geniuses. They will seek to grow where there is plenty of carrion to nourish them, and as such can be found haunting water holes, paths to springs, salt licks, game trails, and the like. They prefer to melee their hated mobile enemies to death, and will move steadily to the attack, trusting to their spore cloud to drive plenty of foes within reach of their deadly tentacles. Once foes are killed, they feast. They do not have or use much in the way of tactics, but it is common for violet fungi to make deals with other monstrous creatures to serve as guards, in return for fertilizer, water, and spore beds. In such cases, violet fungi are often paired with shriekers.
Shriekers and violet fungi make a deadly garden indeed, and if found together, approach with caution!