Argopelter

The elusive, reclusive argopelters consider themselves the natural guardians of the ancient forests in which they dwell, places such as the Redwood Forest, White Mountain, and the Calaveras Big Trees. Argopelters do not get along well with dryads, treants, druids, or other beings that defend the wildwoods. Such beings find argopelters to be dangerous nuisances, but often cede territory to them since the argopelters are both motivated and capable of protecting their woods. Argopelters often cross between this and the First World at places where the planar boundaries grow thin, although no one knows from which world they came. This may explain their legendary territoriality, since the ancient woods in which they lair often contain portals between the worlds. Argopelters hate most humanoids, although they tolerate gnomes. They especially despise lumberjacks and woodcutters and will go out of their way to ambush anyone carrying an axe or cut wood. Many a logger has been found with his skull crushed by a ‘fallen limb.’ An argopelter’s wiry arms are strong and highly flexible. The creature uses them for both movement, brachiating through the trees, and attack, flinging tree branches with deadly accuracy. An argopelter’s pebbly hide camouflages it perfectly against tree bark. It has a lithe frame but stumpy legs. An argopelter stands about three feet high and weighs around 60 pounds. 

Originally Posted by Charlie Bell of the Paizo forums.

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From a nearby tree, a monkey-faced creature coils a heavy stick in its whip-like arms, taking aim with beady black eyes.

Argopelter CR 4

XP 1,200 CN Small fey Init +5; Senses greensight, low-light vision; Perception +16

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (+5 Dexterity, +1 natural, +1 size) hp 36 (8d6+8) Fort +3, Ref +11, Will +8 DR 5/cold iron

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., climb 30 ft. Melee slam +7 (1d4+2) Ranged branch +11 (1d8+3) Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. Special Attacks branch throwing (40 ft.), sneak attack +2d6 Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th; concentration +8) Constant – greensight (Rival Guide), pass without trace 1/day – tree stride

Statistics

Strength 15, Dexterity 20, Constitution 13, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 14, Charisma 11 Base Atk +4; CMB +5; CMD 20 Feats Deadly Aim, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Skill Focus (Perception) Skills Acrobatics +16, Climb +21, Knowledge (nature) +10, Perception +16, Stealth +20 (+28 in forested areas); Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth in forested areas Languages Sylvan SQ brachiator

Ecology

Environment any forest Organization solitary, pair, or gaggle (3-7) Treasure standard

Special Abilities

Brachiator (Ex) An argopelter travels by swinging through the trees on its wiry arms. An argopelter suffers no penalty to Acrobatics and Stealth checks due to undergrowth or difficult terrain in forested areas. Whenever it is climbing, an argopelter is counted as having a running start when making Acrobatics checks to jump, and uses its climb speed rather than its land speed to determine its bonus or penalty to Acrobatics checks made to jump. Branch Throwing (Ex) An argopelter hurls tree limbs with cannon-like force. An argopelter has a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls with thrown branches, sticks, or similar pieces of wood. The creature can hurl irregularly-shaped tree branches of up to Small size. In forested areas, an argopelter has an effectively unlimited supply of branches available. An argopelter can pick up and ready a branch as a free action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. An argopelter’s thrown branches have a range increment of 40 feet and deal 1d8 points of bludgeoning damage plus 1 1/2 times the creature’s Strength bonus. An argopelter can throw branches up to five range increments.