Monster Dossier

Stinkweed Shambler

Stinkweed Shambler Stinkweed shamblers are animate masses of foul vegetation that grow from necrotic soil where ghasts, disease-ridden zombies, or other...

Level 2

Traits

nesmallplant

Rules & statistics

Monster Profile

Perception

8

Senses

  • Name
    low-light vision

Languages

Languages
  • sylvan (can't speak any language)

Skills

Acrobatics
8
Intimidation
6
Stealth
8
Survival
6

Ability Mods

Str
2
Dex
4
Con
3
Int
-2
Wis
2
Cha
0

Defenses

Ac
18
Saving Throws
Fort
7
Ref
10
Will
8
Hp
  • Hp
    30
Weaknesses
  • Amount
    4
    Name
    fire

Speed

Walk
20
Climb
10

Attacks

  • Range
    Melee
    Traits
    • agile
    • finesse
    Name
    vine
    Attack
    11
    Damage
    1d8+2 bludgeoning
    Types
    • bludgeoning
  • Range
    Ranged
    Traits
    • range increment
    Name
    seedpod
    Attack
    11
    Damage
    2d4+2 bludgeoning
    Types
    • bludgeoning

Abilities

Mid
  • Traits
    • aura
    • olfactory
    Entries
    • 10 feet. A creature entering the aura or starting its turn in the aura must succeed at a 14 Fortitude save or become flat-footed for 1 round (and slowed|CRB|slowed 1 for 1 round on a critical failure). A creature that succeeds at its save is temporarily immune for 1 minute.
    Name
    Stench
  • Entries
    • The foul smell emitted by a stinkweed shambler becomes stronger when its leaves are crushed or burned. When a stinkweed shambler takes bludgeoning or fire damage, the DC for its Stench ability increases to 18 and its Stealth bonus decreases to +4. Both of these effects last for 1 minute.
    Name
    Stinky Leaves
Bot
  • Activity
    Number
    1
    Unit
    action
    Entries
    • The stinkweed shambler Stride||Strides up to half its Speed. This movement doesn't provoke reactions.
    Name
    Waving Weed
  • Entries
    • A stinkweed shambler ignores difficult terrain||3|terrain and greater difficult terrain||3|terrain from non-magical foliage.
    Name
    Woodland Stride

Background

Lore

Stinkweed Shambler

Stinkweed shamblers are animate masses of foul vegetation that grow from necrotic soil where ghasts, disease-ridden zombies, or other putrid undead creatures have fallen. At a site where numerous undead creatures have been destroyed, an infestation of up to a dozen stinkweed shamblers might arise. Such "rot-mates" work well together, sharing a preternatural coordination. Stinkweed shamblers grow quickly, initially appearing as fast-growing green shoots with light-green leaves but soon growing into a humanoid form that can pull itself free from the ground and slowly move about on its own. Stinkweed shamblers' leaves are the source of their unpleasant smell, which is most pungent when the leaves are crushed or squeezed. Stinkweed shamblers are covered with several small, white flowers, each of which grows into the shape of a tiny skull.

Stinkweed shamblers are nasty creatures, but their methods are uncomplicated. They like to capture and torment larger creatures such as livestock and humanoids. Aware that they aren't particularly strong and that their smell can give them away, stinkweed shamblers like to set simple traps such as deadfalls or pits. Their perverse fun ceases only when their prey has died from numerous injuries. Stinkweed shamblers don't consume their victims and in fact lack mouths; they gain all the sustenance they need from sunlight but also seem to derive some nutritional satisfaction from the pain that their torments engender.

Most stinkweed shamblers grow to be about 3 feet tall and weigh only 30 pounds.