Steam Bear

Steam Bear CR 8

XP 4,800
N Huge animal (aquatic)
Init +0 Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +19

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 8, flat-footed 18 (+10 natural, -2 size)
hp 126 (12d8+72)
Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +8
Immune cold; Resist fire 10

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft., swim 30 ft.
Melee two +15 claws (1d12+8 slashing plus grab, 20/x2) plus +15 bite (1d10+8 piercing plus 1d4 fire, 20/x2)
Special Attacks steam geyser breath weapon (every 1d4+1 rounds, 40 ft. line, 6d6 fire, Ref DC 19 half)

STATISTICS

Str 26, Dex 11, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 18, Cha 11
Base Atk +9; CMB +19; CMD 29 (33 vs. bull rush and trip)
Feats Cleave, Great Fortitude, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Skill Focus (swim), Toughness
Skills Perception +19, Survival +19, Swim +36
SQ amphibious, ferocity

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Steaming Heat (Ex)

The steam bear’s fire damage takes the form of superheated steam, and functions normally underwater.

Venting Wounds (Ex)

A layer of superheated blood and fat just beneath the steam bear’s thick hide both insulates the great beast from the biting cold of its arctic home, and provides a potent defense against other predators native to the tundra. Anyone who damages the steam bear with a natural weapon, unarmed strike or light melee weapon suffers 1d6 points of fire damage (Ref DC 19 none).

ECOLOGY

Environment cold deserts and aquatic
Organization solitary, pair or family group (two adults plus 3d6 young), larger groups consisting of multiple families are possible only where prey is extremely abundant
Treasure none

Steam bears are powerful apex predators perfectly adapted to the arctic cold. Intense chemical reactions in their gut superheat their bodily fluids. A thin layer of boiling, pressurized blood and fat acts as insulation as the creature dives beneath the ice floes. Steam bears are phenomenal swimmers, able to seal their respiratory systems and run off internal oxygen for hours. Hunters debate whether the creature is deadlier above or below the waves.

Steam bears have a strong resemblance to the ordinary animals which inspired their name. The “steam” portion of their common name comes not only from their boiling blubber layer, but from the gout of flesh-scalding steam they can blast from an opening just above their snout. Steam bears use this geyser to bring down whales and other great sea-beasts, to battle for reproductive dominance, or for spectacular waterspout displays that seem to serve no real purpose. Some are even clever enough to use this boiling stream to selectively weaken portions of their glacial home to create pit traps for their prey, or carve out simple lairs for their brood.

The breath in the creature’s mouth and sinuses is superheated by the boiler in its guts: the steam bear poaches flesh as it tears away at it.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Nemesis Unleashed Volume II. Copyright 2019, Otherverse Games. Author: Chris A. Field

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