Fear EaterA distressingly humanoid face and stubby arms grow from this maggotlike creature’s body.Fear Eater CR 5Source Occult Bestiary pg. 27
XP 1,600
NE Medium fey
Init +10; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +12DefenseAC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (+6 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 52 (8d6+24)
Fort +5, Ref +12, Will +7
DR 5/cold iron; Immune disease, fearOffenseSpeed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee 2 claws +10 (1d6+2 plus anxiety spores)
Special Attacks anxiety spores, dread burst, fungal snare
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th, concentration +7)
At will—cause fear (DC 13), dancing lights
3/day—faerie fire, paranoiaOA (DC 14)
1/day—fear, feather fallStatisticsStr 14, Dex 22, Con 17, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 15
Base Atk +4; CMB +6; CMD 22 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +17, Climb +21, Intimidate +10, Perception +12, Sense Motive +12, Stealth +17; Racial Modifiers +8 Climb
Languages Aklo, UndercommonEcologyEnvironment any underground
Organization solitary, pair, or band (3–6)
Treasure standardSpecial AbilitiesAnxiety Spores (Ex) Any creature struck by the fear eater’s claws must succeed at a DC 17 Fortitude saving throw or be infected with anxiety spores, which cause nervousness and muscle tremors.
Anxiety Spores: Disease—injury; save Fort DC 17; onset 1 round; frequency 1/minute; effect cumulative –1 penalty on saving throws against emotion-manipulating effects (maximum –5); cure 2 consecutive saves
Dread Burst (Su) As a standard action, a fear eater can cause mushrooms to erupt from any creature within 30 feet already infected with its anxiety spores. The targeted creature takes 1d6 points of Charisma damage (Fortitude DC 17 negates) as the growing spores siphon away her emotions. If the affected creature is currently shaken, frightened, or panicked, any creature within 10 feet gains the same condition for 1d4 rounds (Will DC 17 negates). This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The save DCs are Charisma-based.
Fungal Snare (Ex) Once every 1d4 rounds, a fear eater can spew a fungal mass up to 30 feet, which explodes and coats all creatures within a 10-foot-radius burst with sticky filaments. Creatures other than fear eaters are entangled (Reflex DC 17 negates). An entangled creature can attempt to break free with a successful DC 14 Strength or Escape Artist check as a move action. The save DC is Charisma-based.DescriptionThese malicious fey prowl the darkest corners of the world, inspiring terror to fertilize the curious fungal fruits that sustain them. Fear eaters tend vast gardens of luminescent mushrooms that grow upon the bound, cringing bodies of their captives. The mushrooms drain emotions from the creatures fertilizing them, and their spores cause spikes of fear in their hosts, which spur the mushrooms to grow even larger. Many such gardens can be found in the stalactite-city known as the Court of Ether, for its dark fey inhabitants crave the piquant misery contained in the mushrooms and consider them a delicacy to be used in only the most bizarre culinary delights. Despite their role in production of these despair-laced luxuries, fear eaters are welcome only on the margins of most fey societies, and most fey rulers prefer to purchase their specialities through intermediaries rather than be seen associating with fear eaters directly.
Fear eaters are interested only in breeding the perfect mushrooms, and can be dangerous opponents when hunting new fertilizer or protecting their crops. The average fear eater is 8 feet long and weighs 400 pounds.
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