This template is Open Game Content.
Bog bodies are the undead, mummified remains of people garotted and thrown into marshes as a sacrifice to dark gods. There they lie for decades, sometimes centuries; until some force motivates them to seek revenge on the living. The process of mummification in a peat marsh causes the skin to turn tough and leathery, while the bones liquefy, giving the creature a floppy, almost boneless aspect. This gives the bog body arms that behave like tentacles, capable of entangling its victims and generally making its life a misery.
CREATING A BOG BODY
Bog body
is an acquired template that can be added to any giant, humanoid or monstrous humanoid that has flesh and a skeletal structure of some type (referred to hereafter as the base creature
). The creature's type changes to undead
, but it keeps any subtype the base creature may have had. It uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Hit Dice: Drop any Hit Dice from class levels (to a minimum of 1), double the number of Hit Dice left, and raise them to d12s.
Speed: If the base creature can fly, its maneuverability rating drops to clumsy.
AC: Natural armour increases by a number based on the bog body's size.
| Size | AC bonus |
|---|---|
| Tiny or smaller | +1 |
| Small | +2 |
| Medium | +4 |
| Large | +6 |
| Huge | +8 |
| Gargantuan | +10 |
| Colossal | +12 |
Base Attack: A bog body has a base attack bonus equal to ½ its Hit Dice.
Attacks: A bog body retains all the natural weapons, manufactured weapon attacks, and weapon proficiencies of the base creature. A bog body also gains a slam attack.
Damage: Natural and manufactured weapons deal damage normally. A slam attack deals damage depending on the bog body’s size. (Use the base creature’s slam damage if it’s better.)
| Size | Damage |
|---|---|
| Fine | 1 |
| Diminutive | 1d2 |
| Tiny | 1d3 |
| Small | 1d4 |
| Medium | 1d6 |
| Large | 1d8 |
| Huge | 2d6 |
| Gargantuan | 2d8 |
| Colossal | 4d6 |
Special Attacks: A bog body retains none of the base creature’s special attacks. It gains the following attacks instead:
- Constrict (Ex): A bog body deals slam damage with a successful grapple check. Because it seizes its victim by the neck, a creature in the bog body’s grasp cannot speak or cast spells with verbal components.
- Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a bog body must hit an opponent with a slam attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict. Bog bodies receive a +4 racial bonus on grapple checks.
- Trip (Ex): A bog body that hits with a slam attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+8 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the bog body.
Special Qualities: A bog body loses most special qualities of the base creature. It retains any extraordinary special qualities that improve its melee or ranged attacks, and gains the quality listed below:
- Damage Reduction (Su): Bog bodies are flexible and rubbery, gaining damage reduction 5/piercing.
Saves: Base save bonuses are Fort +1/3 HD, Ref +1/3 HD, and Will ½ HD + 2.
Abilities: A bog body’s Strength increases by +4; its Dexterity increases by +2; it has no Constitution or Intelligence score; and its Wisdom and Charisma change to 10.
Skills: A bog body has no skills.
Feats: A bog body loses all feats of the base creature and gains Improved Initiative.
Climate/Terrain: Temperate marshes.
Organization: Any.
Challenge Rating: Depends on Hit Dice, as follows.
| Hit Dice | Challenge Rating |
|---|---|
| ½ | ½ |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 6 | 4 |
| 8-10 | 6 |
| 12-14 | 7 |
| 15-16 | 8 |
| 18-20 | 9 |
Treasure: Standard.
Alignment: Always neutral evil.
Advancement: As base creature, but double Hit Dice (maximum 20), or — if the base creature advances by character class.
Level Adjustment: —.