| Notes |
This patch of vines is ornamented with beautiful crimson and violet flowers, the petals of which seem to bear tiny faces.
Known for their potent—and ultimately deadly—scent, xtabays are a floral hazard to the unwary. As fast-spreading as ivy, a xtabay’s vines are sturdy and adaptive, making the plant a potential threat nearly everywhere—from gardens to wells to forest groves.
Attractive flowers blossom from the vines of xtabays, emitting the spores that mean a slow death for their victims. The strange, face-like patterns that grow on the petals are disturbing but seem to have no real function. Hermits or other reclusive types have been known to surround their territory with xtabays, warding off pesky creatures and adventurers alike. Instances of xtabays of larger-than-usual size have also been reported. These massive plants possess tendrils as thick as tree limbs and flowers that can fell even the hardiest of warriors with their overwhelming perfume. Underground, xtabays thrive in the wet, dark environment, covering the walls and floors of entire caverns and anaesthetising whole dens of subterranean creatures.
Nomadic plants, xtabays traverse large expanses of land until they sense nearby life, at which point they lie dormant and take on the guise of harmless flowers while releasing their deceptive aroma. Once a creature is subdued, the beast-like plant wastes no time in devouring it, disregarding creatures unaffected by its aroma. Because of their carnivorous nature, xtabays only rarely run short on nutrients, consuming the entirety of a victim’s body over the course of several days following the initial process of draining its blood. Xtabays are able to devour creatures thanks to their lengthy roots, which produce a corrosive acid that breaks down and absorbs flesh and bone. They only use their root last is attacked.
Tremor Sense
The creature is capable of sensing minute vibrations in the surrounding earth to a range 18 metres (60 ft). This ability is common to subterranean predators.
Immune to acid
Devour
While a creature is under the effects of a xtabay’s soporific pollen, the plant may, as an action, occupy the same space as the sleeping creature and slowly sap the life from it. Every round the xtabay uses this ability, the affected creature must make a hard END save or take 1d2 Con damage. This feeding is curiously painless, and normally isn’t enough to waken a foe put to sleep by the plant. Each round this feeding continues, the sleeping victim can attempt a new Will save to awaken.
Soporific Pollen
As an action, a xtabay can release sleep-inducing pollen into the air around it. Each creature within a 10-ft.-radius burst centred on the xtabay must make a hard WIL save or fall asleep for 1d3 minutes. A xtabay has only enough pollen for one burst per 24 hours. A creature put to sleep by this pollen can be awakened by vigorously shaking the sleeper (an action) or by damaging it. This is a poison sleep effect so can effect elves. |
Encounter Generator
