Executioner’s Hood

This bag-shaped creature is dark gray, with two darker splotches that look like eyeholes in a hood. Inside its opening, pale tentacles writhe and teeth coated in viscous slime gnash.

Executioner’s Hood CR 2

XP 600
N Tiny aberration
Init +1; Senses blindsense 10 ft., darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +8

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+1 Dex, +3 natural, +2 size)
hp 11 (2d8+2)
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +4
Defensive Abilities amorphous; Immune sleep effects
Weaknesses light sensitivity, susceptible to alcohol

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft., climb 5 ft.
Melee slam +3 (1d4 plus grab)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks constrict (1d4), engulfing drop, strangle

STATISTICS

Str 10, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 3, Wis 13, Cha 9
Base Atk +1; CMB +0 (+4 grapple); CMD 10 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Climb +8, Perception +8, Stealth +13

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Engulfing Drop (Ex)

Though it is a Tiny monster, the hood can drop onto the head of a Medium or smaller creature and make a slam attack as a standard action. If the hood’s attack succeeds, it can immediately attempt a grapple check against the target, and if successful, the executioner’s hood can constrict.

Strangle (Ex)

A grappling executioner’s hood entirely covers its opponent’s head with an airtight grip. A creature that is grappled by the hood cannot speak or cast spells with verbal components and must hold its breath (see Suffocation), unless it doesn’t speak or breathe through its head. Any attacks against the hood deal half damage to the hood and the other half to the creature that it’s strangling.

Susceptible to Alcohol (Ex)

Strong alcohol harms the hood. Every quart poured on it deals 1 point of damage. Four quarts of alcohol incapacitates it and forces it to release a grappled target.

ECOLOGY

Environment any underground
Organization solitary
Treasure standard

These young rays are shaped roughly like hoods (hence their name), and drag themselves awkwardly about with their thin tentacles. Once an executioner’s hood finds a suitable hunting ground, usually a cavern or dungeon room, it hauls itself up to a high perch and hangs there, disguising itself as an irregular stone formation or a strange bit of masonry on a dungeon wall. When suitable prey walks beneath it, the young lurking ray drops, attempting to engulf the creature’s head and suffocate it, after which the ray can slowly dissolve the meat at its leisure.

Executioner’s hoods are hatched from eggs laid by trappers. They stay with the mother for a month, then leave to hunt for themselves.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 4 © 2013, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, Savannah Broadway, Ross Byers, Adam Daigle, Tim Hitchcock, Tracy Hurley, James Jacobs, Matt James, Rob McCreary, Jason Nelson, Tom Phillips, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Tork Shaw, and Russ Taylor.

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