Thirstily he drank to fuel his rage! (PEACH)

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Swellhorse



You come near the warm waters where a pod of hippos lounge, when you hear a snort and a large male wades to the land's edge, staring at you agressively. Abruptly the water level drops several feet as the hippo swells to an unimaginable size...

Large Magical Beast (water)
Hit Dice: 8d10+40 (84 hp)
Initiative: -1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), swim 40 ft.
Armor Class: 14 (-1 dex, +6 natural, -1 size), touch 8, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+19
Attack: Bite +14 melee (2d6+10)
Full Attack: Bite +14 melee (2d6+10)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Great bloat, trampling charge
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., hold breath, low-light vision, rivervein, scent
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +5, Will +4
Abilities: Str 24, Dex 9, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 8
Skills: Listen +8, Spot +7, Swim +15
Feats: Improved Bullrush, Improved Overrun, Power Attack
Environment: Warm Forest (aquatic)
Organization: Solitary or Herd (1 swellhorse and 10-15 hippopotami)
Challenge Rating: 10
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Large), 17-24 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: -

Swellhorses are rare creatures born in the midst of a normal herd of hippos without any hint at abnormalities. Once they mature they soon become the dominant male, literally crushing any that challenge it as it swells to enormous size for combat.

Many say that the swellhorse grows with these odd powers from the result of being conceived in waters possessed of residual magic, while others claim the spirits of the river itself blesses the mother so that she will birth a mighty protecter.

Swellhorses appear as a normal hippopotamus, though generally of unusual size and strength. Once one matures however its skin takes on a transluscent tone and its tiny eyes become like pools of liquid silver. Though all hippopotami enjoy the water, a swellhorse rarely, if ever, willingly leaves it, doing so only to combat those that would threaten its herd.

A swellhorse stands some six feet at the shoulder and weighs from 4,000 to 7,000 lbs while in normal form.

Combat
A swellhorse is far more terroritorial than even normal hippopotami, and will challenge any creature that approaches with open mouth and a roar. If this does not scare it off the swellhorse enlarges enormously to initiate combat. Though normally vegetarian a swellhorse will often eat the remains of its victims.

Great Bloat (Su): As a full round action that provokes an attack of opportunity the dominant male swellhorse, while in a body of water, may soak up an enormous ammount of liquid directly into itself, swelling up enormously as it advances two size categories. The following changes apply as long as the swellhorse holds its breath (using the constitution modifier before its bloating).

SZ Gargantuan; HD 16d10+144 (232 hp); Init -1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 18 (-1 dex, +13 natural, -4 size), touch 5, flat-footed 18; BA/Grp +16/+43; Atk bite +27 melee (3d8+22); Space/Reach 20 ft./15 ft.; SV Fort +19, Ref +8, Will +7; Str 40, Con 28, Dex 7
Feats: Awesome Blow, Diehard, Improved Bullrush, Improved Overrun, Power Attack, Snatch
Skills: Listen +12, Spot +11, Swim +23

Once the great bloat wears off the water streams back out of the swellhorse, leaving it Fatigued. A second use while Fatigued results in Exhaustion. For every use while Exhausted the Swellhorse takes 1d4 constitution damage.

If a swellhorse soaks up salt-water instead of its accostomed fresh it becomes maddened and gains the ability to rage. It gains an additional +6 bonus to strenth and constitution while bloated that stacks with its other enhancements. Once the rage wears off however it may not use its bloat ability for 24 hours.

Hold Breath (Ex): A swellhorse can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 8 x its Constitution score before it risks drowning.

Rivervein (Su): While in contact with a source of water a swellhorse is immune to bleeding, even from wounding weapons, as the water sustains and replenishes.

Trampling Charge (Ex): As a full round action while bloated a swellhorse can charge multiple foes, making an overrun attack against every creature that occupies the space it travels through. If the swellhorse knock its opponent prone with the overrun, it automatically deals 2d6+20 points of damage. The save DC is Strength-based.

Skills: An swellhorse has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.