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Gargantua Tuatara

by Jamie Baty

IM 36
Gargantuan Animal
Hit Dice: 24d8+192 (300 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armour Class: 19 (-4 size, +12 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +18/+43
Attack: Bite +27 melee (6d6 +13)
Full Attack: Bite +27 melee (6d6 +13) and 2 claw +22 melee (3d6 +6)
Space/Reach: 20 ft. /15 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Heatsense 60ft, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +22, Ref +14, Will +9
Abilities: Str 36, Dex 10, Con 26, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: Climb +17, Hide -4, Listen +3, Move Silently +5, Spot +3
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Track
Environment: Any land
Organisation: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: ---
Level Adjustment: ---

A Gargantua tuatara is a 32' long carnivore, resembling a cross between an iguana and a toad. It has an olive-coloured pebbly hide with white spikes along its back. It has been created by the Immortal Demogorgon to further her causes.

Combat
Gargantua tuataras are very aggressive and able to track down prey. Demogorgon will often use them to track down those interfering with her plots.

Improved Grab (Ex): If a Gargantua tuatara hits with its bite attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If the grapple succeeds, the Gargantua tuatara may attempt to swallow the victim whole in the next round. A Gargantua tuatara may only grab an opponent that is Large size or smaller.

Swallow Whole (Ex): A Gargantua tuatara can try to swallow a grappled opponent of up to two sizes smaller by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed creature takes 2d8+19 points of bludgeoning damage and 8 points of acid damage per round from the Gargantua horned chameleon's gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 30 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 16). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.
A Gargantua tuatara's gizzard can hold 1 large, 4 medium, 16 tiny, 64 diminutive or smaller opponents.

Heatsense (Ex): Gargantua tuataras have a special membrane which, when lowered over their eyes, make them sensitive to temperature changes, allowing them to "see" heat (or the lack of it) up to a range of 60 feet. This acts like the standard blindsense ability but is useless against creatures that do not generate their own heat (such as undead or constructs).

Skills: Gargantua tuataras receive a +4 racial bonus to Hide and Move Silently checks. *In forested or overgrown areas the Hide bonus improves to +8.