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Leech, Giant

by Travis Laney

Small Vermin [Aquatic]

Hit Dice: 6d8 (28 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 10' (Swim 30')
Armor Class: 13 (+1 size, +2 Dex)
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+5*
Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d6-2 and blood drain)
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d6-2 and blood drain)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5ft.
Special Attacks: Blood drain, improved grab
Special Qualities: Tremorsense 60', vermin traits
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 5, Dex 15, Con 10, Int --, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: Climb +10, Hide +14, Spot +4
Feats: Weapon Finesse (B)
Environment: Warm marshes
Organization: Solitary or colony (2-4)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Neutral
Advancement: 6-8 HD (Small), 9-12 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: --

A giant leech is a loathsome swamp-dwelling worm about 3'-4' long. It attacks with its sucker-like mouth. If it hits, it then holds on and sucks blood from its opponent. A giant leech must be killed to be removed from a live victim. If the victim dies, the leech drops off and hides while it digests its meal.2

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the giant leech must hit with its bite 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 suck blood.

Suck Blood (Ex): A giant leech drains blood, dealing 1d6 points of Constitution damage in any round when it begins its turn attached to a victim. Once it has dealt 6 points of Constitution damage, it detaches and swims or crawls away to digest the meal. If its victim dies before the giant leech's appetite has been sated, the leech detaches and seeks a new target.

*Grapple (Ex): Giant leeches have a +8 racial bonus to all grapple checks made to establish a hold on a bitten creature.

The giant leech first appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons Expert Rulebook, by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson (1983).

This 3.5 Edition conversion is (c) 2007 by Travis Laney

1.    Cook, D., 1983. The Master of the Desert Nomads. Random House, Inc.

2.    Gygax, G. and Arneson, D., 1983. Dungeons & Dragons Expert Rulebook. Random House, Inc.

3.    Allston, A. 1991. Rules Cyclopedia. Random House, Inc.