Great Caretaker

As old as the forest, this humanoid tree of titanic proportions has an elf-like face and a songbird’s voice.

Great Caretaker CR 15

XP 51,200
NG Colossal plant
Init +10; Senses low-light vision; Perception +32; Aura aura of tree command (120 ft., DC 23)

DEFENSE

AC 29, touch 8, flat-footed 23 (+6 Dex, +21 natural, –8 size)
hp 243 (18d8+144); fast healing 15
Fort +19; Ref +14; Will +17
Defensive Abilities hardness 5; Immune electricity, plant traits; Resist fire 10
Weaknesses vulnerable to axes

OFFENSE

Speed 60 ft., climb 60 ft.
Melee 2 slams +20 (4d6+15/19–20)
Space 30 ft.; Reach 30 ft.
Special Attacks dwarven hatred
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 13th; concentration +17)

At willcall lightning (DC 17), entangle, neutralize poison, plant growth, tree shape, tree stride, warp wood (DC 16)
3/daycall lightning storm (DC 19), quickened warp wood (DC 16)
1/dayregenerate, transmute metal to wood
1/weekliveoak, reincarnate

STATISTICS

Str 41, Dex 22, Con 26, Int 16, Wis 32, Cha 18
Base Atk +13; CMB +36; CMD 52
Feats Awesome Blow, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (slam), Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack (–4/+8), Quicken Spell-Like Ability (warp wood), Snatch, Toughness
Skills Acrobatics +6 (+18 when jumping), Climb +23, Disguise +22 (+38 when appearing like a tree), Heal +32, Knowledge (nature) +24, Perception +32, Stealth +11; Racial Modifiers +16 Disguise when appearing like a tree
Languages Common, Elven, Orc, Sylvan
SQ healing sap

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Aura of Tree Command (Su)

A great caretaker is never helpless when in a forest. A great caretaker can command any tree and plant creature within 120 feet. An awakened tree or other intelligent plant can attempt a DC 23 Will save to resist this ability. The save DC is Charisma-based. Any trees commanded by this ability are treated as mindless treants with no Intelligence score and no movement speed.

Dwarven Hatred (Ex)

A great caretaker knows how dwarves fight and how best to kill them. A great caretaker gains a +4 dodge bonus to its Armor Class and a +4 competence bonus to attack and damage rolls against creatures with the dwarf subtype. This bonus to Armor Class is lost when a great caretaker is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC.

Healing Sap (Ex)

Once every 1d4 rounds, a great caretaker can cover a wound on a living creature with sap from its body. The sap cures 2d8 points of damage. When a great caretaker uses this ability, it loses its fast healing ability until it can use this ability again. Healing from this ability does not deal damage to undead creatures.

Skilled (Ex)

A great caretaker treats Heal and Knowledge (nature) as class skills.

Vulnerable to Axes (Ex)

Weapons from the axes weapon group (see the fighter’s weapon training ability in the Pathfinder Core Rulebook) deal 1-1/2 times their normal damage against a great caretaker.

ECOLOGY

Environment any ancient forest
Organization solitary, pair
Treasure standard

In the same way a dryad is tied to the life force of an ancient tree, a great caretaker guards over primordial forests, where the tree trunks are as thick as houses. Typically goodnatured, a great caretaker tends to all the plants, plant creatures, and animals in its forest. Humanoids and other intelligent creatures that live in peace with nature are respected by a great caretaker.

A great caretaker detests the continual encroachment of civilization upon the woodlands most of all. Although it does not mind an occasional tree being cut down to build a lone cottage or a small village, it strongly opposes deforestation on large scales and woodcutters who do not replace the trees they cut down with new saplings. A great caretaker will use the whole of its ability to put an end to these murderous practices.

A great caretaker typically sees elves, gnomes and fey, as well as druids, as close allies. Even orcs that hunt for food instead of sport are seen as friends to a great caretaker. However, a great caretaker views tree-hating dwarves with suspicion at best and as abominations at worst and knows to dispatch axe-wielding dwarves as swiftly as possible when provoked.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Book of Beasts: Legendary Foes © 2013, Jon Brazer Enterprises; Authors Dale C. McCoy, Jr, Richard Moore, Editor Kevin Morris

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