Leech, Giant

A parasite ballooned to monstrous proportions undulates in the muck, its circular maw a spiral of teeth.

Giant Leech

CR 2

XP 600

N Medium vermin (aquatic)

Init +1; Senses blindsight 30 ft., scent; Perception +0

Defense

AC 11, touch 11, flat-footed 10 (+1 Dex)

hp 19 (3d8+6)

Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1

Immune mind-affecting effects

Weaknesses susceptible to salt

Offense

Speed 5 ft., swim 20 ft.

Melee bite +2 (1d6 plus attach)

Special Attacks blood drain

Statistics

Str 11, Dex 12, Con 14, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1

Base Atk +2; CMB +2 (+10 when attached); CMD 13 (can’t be tripped)

Skills Stealth +1 (+9 in swamps), Swim +8; Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth in swamps

SQ amphibious

Ecology

Environmenttemperate or warm marshes

Organization cluster, pair, or brood (3–6)

Treasure none

Special Abilities

Attach (Ex) When a giant leech hits with a bite attack, it latches onto its target and automatically grapples. The giant leech loses its Dexterity bonus to AC and has an AC of 10, but holds on with great tenacity and automatically inflicts bite damage each round. A giant leech has a +8 racial bonus to maintain its grapple on a foe once it is attached. An attached giant leech can be struck with a weapon or grappled itself—if its prey manages to win a grapple check or Escape Artist check against it, the giant leech is removed.

Blood Drain (Ex) A giant leech drains blood at the end of each turn it is attached, inflicting 1 point of Strength and Constitution damage.

Susceptible to Salt (Ex) A handful of salt burns a giant leech as if it were a flask of acid, causing 1d6 points of damage per use.

These invertebrate parasitic relatives of the worm lurk in stagnant or slow-moving water, waiting for a suitable host.

Leech Swarm

A mass of wriggling black creatures each the size of a man’s finger stirs the stagnant water before enveloping its victim.

Leech Swarm

CR 4

XP 1,200

N Diminutive vermin (aquatic, swarm)

Init +4; Senses blindsight 30 ft.; Perception +0

Defense

AC 18, touch 18, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +4 size)

hp 39 (6d8+12)

Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +2

Immune mind-affecting effects, swarm traits, weapon damage

Weaknesses susceptible to salt (see giant leech)

Offense

Speed 5 ft., swim 30 ft.

Melee swarm (2d6 plus poison)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks blood drain, distraction (DC 15)

Statistics

Str 1, Dex 18, Con 15, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2

Base Atk +4; CMB—; CMD

Skills Stealth +16 (+24 in swamps), Swim +12; Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth in swamps, uses Dexterity to modify Swim checks

Ecology

Environmenttemperate or warm marshes

Organization solitary, pair, or infestation (3–6 swarms)

Treasure none

Special Abilities

Blood Drain (Ex) Any living creature that begins its turn with a leech swarm in its space is drained of its blood and takes 1d3 points of Str and Con damage.

Poison (Ex) Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/round for 2 rounds; effect 1d4 Dexterity drain; cure 1 save.

This horrifying cloud of ravenous, blood-draining parasites eschews the stealth of a lone leech’s methods in favor of swift and merciless feeding.