Monster Preview: Brine Fiend

Medium Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 3d8+12 (hp 25)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
AC: 16 (+2 Dex, +4 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: Claw +6 melee (1d4 +3)
Full Attack: 2 claws +6 melee, bite +4 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: - Blindsense, fast healing 1
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +5
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 8
Skills: Listen +5, Spot +5
Feats: Multiattack, Toughness

Environment: Temperate and warm marsh
Organization: Solitary, Brood (4-10)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: 4 HD (Medium-size); 5-8 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: -

Brine fiends are one of the most renowned monsters in the Accordlands. These beasts stand at approximately 8 feet, and weigh up to 1,000 pounds. Their body mass is up to three times as thick as that of a fully grown human male. They have long clawed hands capable of dexterously manipulating objects, and extremely thick hide. They are vaguely humanoid, pugnacious, reptilian, and completely feral. Their webbed feet allow them to move through water and over marshy terrain with ease.

A brine fiend is not, in fact, a fiend at all – no Abyssal taint has ever been found on one – but is rather a twisted monster of the deepest swamps and marshes. The thick hide of a brine fiend is orange in color, mottled and covered in silt or algae. Their underside is a lighter cream or yellow color, ribbed with a thick skeleton that protrudes somewhat beneath the creature’s hide. A brine fiend has no nose, or sense of smell, but uses its exceptionally keen hearing and eyesight to pick out prey. It has thick, sharp claws on both forefeet and rear, as well as a long, clubbed tail similar to a hide and bone flail (this tail is not used for combat, but rather to aid the brine fiend in maintaining its balance in its home environs). Horns cover its head and neck, and are often the target of poacher’s interest: the longer horns, if in good condition, can sell for over 300 gp each, and most brine fiends - barring accident, injury, or congenital defect - have four such bony protrusions.

Brine fiends are not intelligent, nor do they have a language or a culture. Despite their opposable thumbs, which grants them the ability to manipulate objects with relative ease, they lack the intelligence needed to create or utilize even the simplest tools. They have well known hunting patterns and nest and hunt as a pack. A group of brine fiends hunts the same area, using tactics similar to wolves to bring down prey. They live for approximately 30 years, and have a three year mating cycle that generally produces one or two young. Brine fiends are not monogamous, but are rather like herd animals, with one dominant male taking care of four to ten females and any attendant offspring. Younger males, those less than five years old, are allowed to remain with the group and help protect the lair. However, when these creatures reach sexual maturity, the alpha male forces the young male out of the territory.

Brine fiend Lairs are often underwater, as the creatures are somewhat amphibious, and always in marshy, swampy territory. They contain little in the way of treasure. Brine fiend hunting habits dictate that fallen prey is consumed on the spot, rather than returned to the lair, and any treasure accumulated during a hunt is left where it falls.

When hunting, a brine fiend pack release a series of gargling cries to both communicate with other pack members and intimidate prey. Ideally, the prospective meal flees this frightening cacophony. Invariably, the pack pursues, exhausting its prey before falling to the attack. A brine fiend hunting pack always consists of the alpha male and any females not currently pregnant, while younger male brine fiends remain at the den to care for any young. Once a hunting pack brings down its prey (and the hunters have themselves consumed their share of meat), it strips off chunks of meat to return to the lair and feed those who did not join the hunt.

Combat

Although brine fiends aren’t intelligent, they are extremely effective killers and dangerous opponents. They are physically suited to fight in marshy terrain, and enjoy the thrill of combat and the hunt. Often, before combat, the hunting party runs its prey for up to a full day, exhausting the unfortunate creatures. Once a battle has joined, however, a brine fiend pack fights until it is victorious or dead. The only exception to this rule would be young, or females pregnant with young – both of whom flee immediately if attacked, and fight only if cornered.  Generally, a pack does not attack a group of humanoids unless their victims are outnumbered, injured or otherwise handicapped. The instincts that rule them are similar to those that prohibit wild animals from tangling with men. That said, if victory - and a subsequent meal - is likely, these creatures do not hesitate. They generally focus their attacks on one victim until he is brought down, then move on to the next opponent. Only if the pack loses a significant number - about half - does the alpha male consider retreat, and even then the fleeing creatures attempt to carry off any kills for a later feast.