Backahast (3.5e Monster)
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| Backahast | |
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| Size/Type: | Large Fey (Aquatic, Water) |
| Hit Dice: | 9d6+75 (106 hp) |
| Initiative: | +7 |
| Speed: | 50 ft, swim 50 ft |
| Armor Class: | 21 (+7 dex, +5 natural, -1 size), touch 16, flat-footed 14 |
| Base Attack/Grapple: | +4/+14 |
| Attack: | +1 Bite +11 melee (1d8+7 plus disease, 20/x2) or Hoof +9 (1d6+4 plus disease, 20/x2) |
| Full Attack: | +1 Bite +11 melee (1d8+7 plus disease, 20/x2) and Two Hooves +9 (1d6+4 plus disease, 20/x2) |
| Space/Reach: | 10 ft/5 ft |
| Special Attacks: | Breath Weapon, Compel Rider, Disease, SLAs |
| Special Qualities: | Alter Self, Amphibious, Aquatic Healing, DR 6/cold iron, Immunities, Low-Light Vision, Resist Cold/Electricity 6 |
| Saves: | Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +9 |
| Abilities: | Str 22, Dex 24, Con 22, Int 13, Wis 17, Cha 21 |
| Skills: | Concentration +18, Hide +15/19 underwater, Jump +18, Move Silently +19, Spot +15, Swim +26, Tumble +19 |
| Feats: | Spring AttackB, Born Tough, Multiattack, Weapon Finesse, Enhanced Weaponry |
| Environment: | Cold Swamps, Coastlines |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 7 |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Usually Neutral Evil |
| Advancement: | 10-18 HD (Large), 19-27 HD (Huge) |
| Level Adjustment: | - |
The beautiful woman dips under the surface of the water as you draw near. With the sound of thundering hooves and crashing waves, a sickly pale green horse covered in kelp and debris arises in her place.
The mythological creatures of the kelpie, a shapeshifting sea horse, and the nuckelavee, a vicious diseased water horse fey are sometimes confused for each other, but it seems that this confused mix of the two monsters actually exists in the form of the backahast. Exhibiting traits of both, it is believed it may be the result of a kelpie (or perhaps a normal horse) succumbing to a nuckelavee's mortasheen disease but transforming instead of dying, making a dreadful fey abomination in its place.
The backahast is itself a shapeshifting fey water horse who attempts to trick people nearby lakes and rivers, either through seductive humanoid appearances or under the guise of a helpful but wild horse. Either by drawing them near shore or by convincing them to come for a ride and then traveling to shore, they bring them into the water to drown and murder. It is believed, beyond simple madness, that such an act infuses the water with their dying essence which they actually feed upon as sustenance.
The natural state of a backahast is a pale green horse whose fur and male are composed of kelp and other aquatic grasses. It's mouth teams with mortasheen, the supernatural disease associated with nuckelavees. The backahast speaks Common, Aquan, and Sylvan.
Combat
A backahast seeks to ambush their prey, getting them separated from groups or leading them to environmentally compromising situations. It combines spell-like abilities with Spring Attack to deny any full attacks upon it, and retreats into the water when wounded.
The waters a backahast lives in look pure and clean, but are often secretly bitter and diseased. Fortunately for anyone downstream, whatever toxin the backahast emits must break down and dilute itself outside of the immediate area.
Alter Self (Su): The backahast can take the form of any humanoid or any horse under 5 HD, as if using alter self at will. Coming into contact with cold iron causes the backahest to revert involuntarily.
Amphibious (Ex): Although backahasts are aquatic, they can survive indefinitely on land.
Aquatic Healing (Su): When standing in water, a backahast can recover it's HD in hp as a move action.
Breath Weapon (Su): A cone of foul diseased water that burns flesh like acid. 4d6 acid damage in a 30 ft cone, with a Reflex save for half damage and a Fortitude save against mortasheen (see Disease), DC 20. The save DC is Constitution based.
Compel Rider (Su): If the backahast is ridden, the rider is subject to a compulsion. If they try to dismount, they must make a Will save DC 19 or be unable to do so. They may make only one save each round. This is a mind-affecting compulsion effect. The save DC is Charisma based.
Disease (Su): Mortasheen: Contact, DC 20 Fortitude save. Incubation time: 1 minute. Target takes 1d4 Con damage and is fatigued. Two consecutive successful saving throws ends the disease. When exposed they only need to make one save each round. The save DC is Constitution based.
Immunities (Ex): A backahast is immune to disease and poison.
Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): At will-create water, galea's drenching orb (1st level, DC 16); 2/day-charm person (DC 16), control water, diminish plants, dry ray, obscuring mist; 1/day-cloudburstSpC, kelpstrandSpC. Caster level 7th, the DCs are Charisma based.
Skills: A backahast gains a +4 bonus to Hide checks made underwater.
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