Mastiff of Kyuss* (CR 3)

Medium Undead
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Initiative: +2 (Dex); Senses: darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent, Listen +6, and Spot +6
Languages: Abyssal


AC: 19 (+2 Dex, +7 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 17
Hit Dice: 2d12 (13 hp); DR: 5/silver
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +2
Speed: 40 ft.
Space: 5 ft./5 ft.
Base Attack +1; Grapple +3
Attack: Melee bite +5 or worm +5 touch, Ranged worm +3 touch
Full Attack: Melee bite +5 or worm +5 touch, Ranged worm +3 touch
Damage: Bite 1d6+6 plus worm plus Kyuss gift, worm - special
Special Attacks/Actions: Smite good 1/day (+2 damage against good foes), create spawn, fear aura (DC 13, 40-ft. radius)
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 15, Con -, Int 5, Wis 14, Cha 8
Special Qualities: fast healing 5; undead traits, Resist cold 5, fire 5; SR 7, infested skin, turn resistance +3, Favored spawn of Kyuss fiendish riding dog
Feats: Alertness; Improved Unarmed Strike; Track
Skills: Jump +10, Listen +6, Spot +6, Survival +2 (+6 when tracking by scent), and Swim +5
Advancement: -
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organization: Solitary or pack (1d6)
Treasure/Possessions: None

Source: Dragon #336

Create Spawn (Su): Once per round as a free action, a spawn of Kyuss can transfer a worm from its own body to that of an opponent.

Fear Aura (Su): A mastiff of Kyuss continuously radiates a fear effect. All creatures within a 40-foot radius must make a DC 13 Will save or be affected as if by the spell fear. Any creature that makes a successful saving throw against the effect cannot be affected again by the fear aura of the mastiff of Kyuss for 24 hours.

Smite Good (Su): Once per day a mastiff of Kyuss can make a normal melee attack to deal 2 extra points of damage against a good foe.

Infested Skin (Su): A mastiff of Kyuss is so infested with worms that any creature that strikes it with an unarmed strike, natural weapon, or light weapon must make a Reflex save or a Kyuss worm is transferred to the attacker's body. Any creature that shares the same square of the mastiff (such as might occur during a grapple, bull rush, or Tumble check) must make a Reflex save to avoid the same fate.

Possessions: masterwork spiked studded leather barding

Mastiffs of Kyuss are barely-thinking killers, slaves to the wills of their masters. Their method of combat varies greatly depending on their commands, using their create spawn ability, fighting alongside pack mates, or avoiding confrontations depending on their orders' dictates. Mastiffs without instructions, however, know only the compulsion to spread their god's taint and seek to use their create spawn ability as often as possible.

Plague-spreading hunters and harbingers of the demigod of worms, mastiffs of Kyuss stalk the enemies of their master's favored servants. Tireless and riddled with deadly Kyuss worms, a single mastiff might range over hundreds of miles, inevitably striking a single target with precision or seeding its god's ruinous corruption throughout an entire offending town.