Part 4 · Monsters & Creatures
Barkbeast
The creatures of the Shadow Isles gave up sentimentality long ago. They need to eat.
I was able to see this creature only once. Aboard a ship skirting the Shadow Isles, I quickly realized they fed on trees that were still alive, sucking out their sap like parasites.
Its movement is similar to a lizard’s, and it can quickly hide among trees and foliage. I confess I’d like to learn more about these creatures, but only once one is found far from those cursed isles.
Rewards
The wood from a Barkbeast’s body can be obtained by a creature with the Collector: Biologist or Collector: Lumberjack Craft; this wood carries part of the creature’s necrotic properties.
Crafting Items
The Bark of a Barkbeast can be used to craft some items, as described below:
- A creature with the Fletcher Craft can craft 20 Blowgun Darts, 20 Arrows, or 20 Bolts from a Barkbeast’s bark; this ammunition deals 1 additional Necrotic damage point, increased to 1d4 on critical hits.
- A creature with the Armorer Craft can craft 1 Buckler, 1 Light Shield, or 1 Heavy Shield from a Barkbeast’s bark; the crafted shield reduces any Poison damage taken by 1d4.
Barkbeast Statblock
Barkbeast
Plant - Undead, Small
- Senses
- Blindsight 15 feet. Passive Perception 10
- Speed
- 20 feet of walking and 20 feet of climbing
- Skills
- Athletics +0, Stealth +4, Intimidation +2
- Languages
- Sylvan (understands), Ochnun (understands)
Defenses
Saving Throws: Strength +0, Constitution +3.
Damage vulnerability. Slashing damage
Damage weakness. Fire damage.
Damage immunity. Poison damage.
Condition immunity. Prone, Unconscious, and Paralyzed.
Characteristics
False Appearance. While motionless, the Barkbeast is indistinguishable from an ordinary plant.
Empowerment. Whenever any creature is reduced to 0 hit points or dies within 10 feet of the Barkbeast, the Barkbeast gains 1 Soul token.
Empower Attack. The Barkbeast can spend its Soul tokens to make its attacks deal one additional Necrotic damage die for every 6 Soul tokens spent.
Empower Regeneration. The Barkbeast can consume Soul tokens to strengthen its regeneration, increasing the amount recovered by Will to Live by 1 for every 3 Soul tokens spent.
Necrotic Sap. The Barkbeast's sap has properties that rot those who come into contact with it. When it hits a creature with a melee or ranged attack roll, the Barkbeast deals 2 (1d4) additional Necrotic damage.
Will to Live. The Barkbeast has Regeneration of 1 hit point at the end of its turn.
Attacks
Claws. Melee Natural Weapon Attack, +5 to hit, 5 ft. reach, one target. On a hit, deals 5 (1d4+3) Slashing damage.
Bite. Melee Natural Weapon Attack, +0 to hit, 5 ft. reach, one target. On a hit, deals 5 (3d4-2) Piercing damage.
Epic Actions
The Barkbeast has 2 charges of epic actions, and can spend one of these charges to act. Only one action can be used at a time, at the end of another creature's turn. At the start of the Barkbeast's turn, the number of charges returns to 2
The Barkbeast can take an action and restore its reaction (if spent)
The Barkbeast can spend all or the rest of its movement
The Barkbeast can use 2 epic actions to make an additional attack with its reaction
The Barkbeast can repeat a Saving Throw against an effect affecting it
Cost. When the Barkbeast repeats its saving throw this way, it loses 1 hit point.
Runes
Runic Pulse: Onyx Pulse (regeneration 1 at the start of each turn, recovers 1d4 at the end of the round if it doesn't take damage).