Warden of Caverns and Burrows
CREATURE 22The Connected Depths
As much as air currents flow through the skies, and the oceans connect the waters of world, the caverns and depths connect to each other as well, via several means. Underground flows of lava create tunnels and passages. Water's erosion also forms cave systems out of the stone.
Tremorsense allows a monster to feel the vibrations through a solid surface caused by movement. It is an imprecise sense with a limited range (listed in the ability). Tremorsense functions only if the monster is on the same surface as the subject, and only if the subject is moving along (or burrowing through) the surface.
A monster with darkvision can see perfectly well in areas of darkness and dim light, though such vision is in black and white only. Some forms of magical darkness, such as a 4th-rank Darkness spell, block normal darkvision. A monster with Greater Darkvision, however, can see through even these forms of magical darkness.
Though the Wardens of the Wild do not speak in words, they can communicate complex concepts flawlessly and wordlessly with any animal, beast, plant, or other creature of the natural world through prolonged eye contact. Sapient creatures with strong ties to the natural world, such as animal instinct barbarians or druids who speak the Wildsong, can somewhat understand a Warden of the Wild, though the meaning can be vague.
A Warden of the Wild's horned crown commands respect from wild creatures. Wild creatures native to a warden's biome automatically improve their attitude toward it by one step (up to friendly) and typically do not take hostile actions towards each other while in the warden's presence.
The warden draws out a stream of lava, then jumps off the solidifying mass as it cools. The warden Leaps up to twice their Speed. When they land, the force of the impact deals 6d12 bludgeoning damage to all creatures within a 15-foot emanation with a DC 42 basic Fortitude save. On a critical failure, the creature is also pushed 10 feet away from the warden.
Rapidly cooling obsidian clings to the target's body and stiffens around their limbs. The target must attempt a DC 42 Reflex save. On a failure, the target is Immobilized until they Escape. On a critical failure, the target is Off-Guard for as long as they remain immobilized.
The warden screeches with a resonant call that tears apart earth and stone. They create a 10-foot-square, 50-foot-deep pit in earthen material or stone within 60 feet.
The Warden of Caverns and Burrows clings to surfaces with their segmented feet. They do not need to use a hand to hold on to walls or ceilings.