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Gumberoo

Gumberoo
Image © Richard Svennson. Accessed at the “It’s Something” wikia here

In the depths of North American forests, the elusive Gumberoo emerges as a creature of captivating mystery. Resembling a black bear in size but shrouded in rarity, its sleek, hairless form boasts an ebony hide, smooth as leather, adorned only by a distinctive bushy beard and formidable eyebrows. Scattered along the coastal stretch from Washington State to California, Gumberoos carve their sanctuaries within the hollowed remnants of ancient cedar trees.

Yet, it is their extraordinary resilience that defines them—bullets and arrows are futile against their hide, a testament to its remarkable elasticity. Attacking one proves perilous, as projectiles are more likely to ricochet back on the assailant than harm the invincible creature. However, lurking beneath this seeming invulnerability is a singular vulnerability—fire. Gumberoos, highly combustible, are shrouded in rarity, a consequence of their explosive fate when touched by even the slightest flame.

Despite their permanent hunger, they are infrequent foragers, venturing from their nests to feast in staggering proportions. Legends speak of their insatiable appetite, capable of devouring an entire horse in one sitting. Astonishingly, this colossal feast distends their stomachs, yet it endures such gluttony without apparent discomfort. As enigmatic denizens of the forest, the Gumberoo remains both a symbol of impervious might and an explosive secret hidden within the depths of ancient woodlands.


  • Gumberoo
  • Gumberoo

Large monstrosity, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 168 (16d10 + 80)
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.


STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
20 (+5)14 (+2)20 (+5)2 (-4)12 (+1)8 (-1)

Skills Athletics +8, Perception +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages


Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)


Elastic Hide. The Gumberoo’s tough hide grants it resistance to piercing, slashing, and bludgeoning damage from nonmagical attacks.

Bullet Ricochet. When the Gumberoo is targeted by a ranged weapon attack, there’s a 50% chance the attack ricochets back toward the attacker. The attacker must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, the attacker takes half the damage of the original attack.

Explosive Vulnerability. If the Gumberoo takes fire damage, it must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or explode, dealing 6d10 fire damage in a 20-foot radius. On a successful save, the damage is halved.


ACTIONS

Multiattack. The Gumberoo makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.

Feast of Gluttony (Recharge 5-6). It makes a bite attack against a creature it is grappling. On a hit, the target takes an additional 21 (3d8 + 5) piercing damage, and the Gumberoo regains hit points equal to half the damage dealt.


REACTIONS

Deflecting Resilience. When the Gumberoo is hit by a ranged spell attack, it can use its reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll.


LEGENDARY ACTIONS

The Gumberoo can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Gumberoo regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Ricocheting Strike. It makes a claw attack.

Explosive Burst (Costs 2 Actions). It releases a burst of explosive energy, causing all creatures within 15 feet to make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 4d10 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.

Lurching into view is a swollen bear-like creature. Its shiny hide is black in color and almost completely lacking in hair.

Taken from the Creature Codex

Bizarre denizens of the deepest woods, gumberoos are irascible and violent predators with remarkable defensive abilities. It’s skin is tough and rubbery, allowing it to deflect nearly any blow and bounce projectiles right back at their source. Their entire bodies are filled with lighter-than-air gas which it generates through digestion.

The energy needed to perform this magical metabolism is immense, causing gumberoos to need a constant source of fuel. It is said one can consume an entire horse, bones and all, in a single meal. This need for energy means that gumberoos are usually on the move, seeking new sources of prey.

They fear neither man nor beast and sometimes wander directly into human settlements looking for food. Despite their immense size, they are quite light and capable of leaping incredible distances. The gas that gives them these powers is flammable; fire is the most reliable way to kill a gumberoo.

Gumberoo            CR 9
XP 6,400

N Large aberration
Init +6; Senses low-light vision, Perception+11, scent

Defense

AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 17(-1 size, +2 Dex, +8 natural)
hp 102 (12d8+48)
Fort 
+8, Ref +8, Will +9
DR 10/-
Defensive Abilities 
reflective skin; Immune fear
Vulnerable 
fire

Offense

Speed 30 ft
Melee 
2 claws +17 (2d6+8), bite +16 (1d8+8)
Space 
10 ft.; Reach5 ft.
Special Attacks 
bounce, death throes, rend (2 claws, 2d6+12)

Statistics

Str 26, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 9
Base Attack +12; CMB +21; CMD 33 (37 trip)
Feats 
Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative,Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills 
Acrobatics +9 (+29 jumping), Climb +15, Perception +11; Racial Modifiers +20 to Acrobatics made to jump
SQ 
ferocity,leap

Ecology

Environment cold and temperate forests
Organization 
solitary
Treasure 
none

Special Attacks

Bounce (Ex) as a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity, a gumberoo can launch itself into the air, move up to twice its land speed and land on top of an opponent with incredible force. The target of this attack can choose to make a DC 24 Reflex save to take half damage from the attack, or make an attack of opportunity at a -4 penalty. The victim of a bounce attack takes 2d8+12 points of damage and must succeed a DC 24 Fortitude save or be stunned for 1 round. The save DC is Strength-based.

Death Throes (Su) when a gumberoo is slain, its body explodes with tremendous force, dealing 6d6 points of bludgeoning damage to all creatures in a 20 foot radius (Reflex DC 20 half). The save DC is Constitution based.

Leap (Ex) It does not halve the distance traveled on a standing long jump. If a gumberoo makes a long jump with a running start, it gains a +4 bonus on the Acrobatics check.

Reflective Skin (Su) Its hide grants it remarkable protection against ranged attacks. Any ranged weapon attack that does not bypass a gumberoo’s damage reduction is reflected back at its attacker, using the same attack roll.

Any ray or ranged touch attack spell, spell-like or supernatural ability that strikes a gumberoo is reflected back at its attacker, using the same attack roll. Any spell, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability that deals fire damage deals damage to the gumberoo as normal and does not reflect. A ranged weapon that deals fire damage, such as a +1 flaming arrow or a flask of alchemist’s fire, does not reflect, although base damage is still reduced by the gumberoo’s damage reduction.

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