Cutlass Spider (PAP15)

This spiderlike creature seems to be made entirely out of weapons and splintered planks, its legs ending in curved blades.

Cutlass Spider CR 6

XP 2,400
N Large construct
Init +3; Senses all-around vision, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +9

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +7 natural, -1 size)
hp 74 (8d10+30)
Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +8
Immune construct traits; DR 5/adamantine

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee 2 legs +12 (2d8+5), bite +12 (1d8+5)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks collapse, weapon thief

STATISTICS

Str 20, Dex 16, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 1
Base Atk +8; CMB +14; CMD 27
Feats Improved Disarm, Power Attack
Skills Climb +18, Stealth +13 (when collapsed), Perception +9; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +8 Climb, +8 Stealth A cutlass spider has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. A cutlass spider gains a +8 racial bonus on Stealth checks when using its collapse ability. This bonus increases to +12 when collapsed amid trash and other debris.
SQ shared enchantment
Languages Common

SPECIAL ABILITIES

All-Around Vision (Ex)

A cutlass spider can see through the blades that makes up its body as if they were eyes, providing a +4 racial bonus on Perception checks. A cutlass spider can’t be flanked.

Collapse (Su)

As a full-round action, a cutlass spider may withdraw the magical energy holding its body together and fall into a heap of blades and wooden pieces. Any creature occupying a square adjacent to a cutlass spider must make a DC 14 Reflex save or take 2d6+5 points of damage. The save DC is Dexterity-based. A collapsed cutlass spider may reform itself as a standard action.

Shared Enhancement (Su)

Should a cutlass spider have a magical weapon incorporated into its body (either given to it by its creator or stolen through the use of its weapon thief ability), it shares the weapon’s enhancement bonus and special abilities with all of its natural attacks. The construct only benefits from the abilities of the highest-value magical weapon incorporated into its body. For example, a cutlass spider that disarms an opponent, stealing his +1 flaming short sword, gains a +1 enhancement bonus and the effects of the flaming weapon special ability on its leg and bite attacks. Should the cutlass spider later disarm a +3 holy quarterstaff, the effects of the cheaper short sword are replaced, granting the creature’s legs and bite a +3 enhancement bonus and the holy special ability.

Weapon Thief (Ex)

A cutlass spider that disarms an opponent incorporates the disarmed weapon into its body. The weapon cannot be retrieved until the cutlass spider is destroyed.

Berserk (Ex)

When a cutlass spider enters combat, there is a cumulative 1% chance each round that its animating energies malfunction and the construct goes berserk. The uncontrolled construct goes on a rampage, attacking the nearest living creature or smashing some object smaller than itself if no creature is within reach, then moving on to spread more destruction. Once a cutlass spider goes berserk, no known method can reestablish control.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary
Treasure none

Intelligent Cutlass Spiders

Cutlass spiders have a unique interaction with intelligent magical weapons as a side effect of their weapon thief and shared enhancement abilities. If a cutlass spider steals an intelligent magic weapon with a gp value higher than any other magic weapon it currently possesses, the construct immediately collapses. It spends 1 round inert, after which it reforms free from the commands of its master, now fully controlled by the newly subsumed intelligent magic weapon. If the intelligent magic weapon is not the highest value weapon in the cutlass spider’s body, there is no special effect. Should a cutlass spider controlled by a weapon’s intelligence add a new non-intelligent weapon of higher value then the intelligent weapon to its body, the intelligent weapon’s consciousness is repressed and the construct collapses, remaining an inert pile of weapons until reactivated by its creator. Although an exceedingly rare occurrence, there are multiple documented cases wherein magical weapons have gained control of cutlass spider bodies.

Cutlass Spider Creation

A cutlass spider is an amalgam of weapons worked into a cage-like frame of wood or metal. They are crafted from 1,000 pounds of wood or metal and covered with dozens of weapons and oils distilled from urchins and crustaceans costing at least 400 gp. Assembling the body requires a DC 13 Craft (weaponsmithing) check.

There are two arcane methods—of varying reliability—for creating cutlass spiders, the differing formulas being known as the Principal Design and Crafter’s Gamble.

The Principal Design requires the following elements: CL 8th; Craft Construct, geas/quest, keen edge, limited wish, caster must be at least 8th level; Price 18,000 gp; Cost 9,000 gp.

Crafter’s Gamble requires the following elements, but leaves the construct with the berserk special quality: CL 7th; Craft Construct, geas/quest, keen edge, limited wish, caster must be at least 7th level; Price 16,000 gp; Cost 8,000 gp.

Berserk (Ex)

When a cutlass spider enters combat, there is a cumulative 1% chance each round that its animating energies malfunction and the construct goes berserk. The uncontrolled construct goes on a rampage, attacking the nearest living creature or smashing some object smaller than itself if no creature is within reach, then moving on to spread more destruction. Once a cutlass spider goes berserk, no known method can reestablish control.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder 15: The Armageddon Echo. Copyright 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn

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