Grell (CR 3)

Medium Aberration
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Initiative: +2 (Dex); Senses: blindsight 60 ft., sightless, Listen +4, and Spot +4


AC: 16 (+2 Dex, +4 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 14
Hit Dice: 5d8+10 (32 hp)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +4
Speed: 5 ft., fly 30 ft. (perfect)
Space: 5 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with tentacle)
Base Attack +3; Grapple +14
Attack: Tentacle +5 melee or lightning lance +5 ranged touch
Full Attack: 10 tentacles +5 melee and bite +0 melee or lightning lance +5 ranged touch
Damage: Tentacles 1d4+1 plus paralyzation, bite 1d6, lightning lance 3d6 electricity
Special Attacks/Actions: Constrict 1d6+1, expert grappler, improved grab, paralysis
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 9
Special Qualities: flight, immunity to electricity, immunity to paralyzation
Feats: Flyby Attack; Weapon Finesse
Skills: Hide +8, Listen +4, Move Silently +8, and Spot +4
Advancement: 6-10 HD (Medium); 11-15 HD (Large); or by class
Climate/Terrain: Underground
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pack (3-7); or patrol (3-6 plus philosopher); or colony (20-40 grell plus 3-5 philosophers plus patriarch)
Treasure/Possessions: Standard (plus lightning lance)

Source: Lords of Madness

Constrict (Ex): On a successful grapple check, a grell deals 1d6+1 points of damage.

Expert Grappler (Ex): A grell that chooses to grapple with one tentacle and remain ungrappled itself takes a -10 penalty on its grapple checks instead of the normal -20 penalty.

Grell other than hatchlings have a +10 racial bonus on grapple checks. (Paralyzed foes automatically lose grapple checks.)

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a grell must hit an opponent of its size or smaller with a tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking attacks of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.

Paralysis (Ex): A grell's tentacles are lined with small spiny barbs, much like a squids. Any creature hit by a grell's tentacle must make a DC 10 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 2d4 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based and includes a -4 racial penalty.

Creatures struck by multiple tentacle attacks in the same round do not make multiple saving throws; instead, they make a single saving throw, but the DC increases by 1 for every additional tentacle that hit in the same round. For example, a creature hit by four of a grell's tentacle attacks must succeed on a single DC 13 Fortitude save to avoid paralysis, instead of four DC 10 saving throws.

Blindsight (Ex): A grell is blind, but it maneuvers and fights as well as a sighted creature by using scent and vibration to ascertain its surroundings. This ability enables it to discern objects and creatures within 60 feet. The grell does not need to make Spot or Listen checks to notice creatures within range of its blindsight.

Flight (Ex): A grell's body is unusually buoyant. The creature continuously produces an effect like that of the fly spell, which it can use to move at a speed of 30 feet (perfect maneuverability). This buoyancy also grants the grell a permanent feather fall effect with personal range.

Sightless (Ex): A grell is immune to gaze attacks, visual effects, illusions, and other attack forms that rely on sight.

Skills: A grell gains a +2 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks.

In melee combat, a grell can attack as many foes as it can reach, using as many of its tentacles as it wishes against any single opponent. It uses its bite only against paralyzed prey or as a last resort.

An opponent can attack a grell's tentacles with a sunder attempt as if they were weapons. A grell's tentacles have 5 hit points each. If a grell is currently grappling a target with the tentacle that is being attacked, it uses another limb to make its attack of opportunity against the opponent making the sunder attempt. Severing one of a grell's tentacles deals 2 points of damage to the creature. The creature regrows severed tentacles in 1d6 days.

Grell that belong to a nest or colony might be armed with lightning lances. Feral grell do not make or use any weapons, relying on their own natural armament.