Cactus Leshy

I'm currently preparing for a new Pathfinder campaign that will start in a desert frontier setting. The druids of this region are very different from those in other lands, so I'll be using the desert druid archetype (Advanced Player's Guide 99) and other means to distinguish them from their forest-dwelling brethren. Inspired by my children's obsession with Pokemon, and my family's recent introduction to HabitRPG (which also has plant companions), I decided to create a new type of leshy more suited to this hot, arid environment. See Bestiary 3 176 for general information on leshies.

LESHY, CACTUS

This small plant person is covered with thickly ridged skin and innumerable sharp spines.

CACTUS LESHY (CR 2)

XP 600
N Small plant (leshy, shapechanger)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +6

Defense
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d8+4)
Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +2
Defensive Abilities spines; Immune electricity, sonic, plant traits

Offense
Speed 20 ft.
Melee 2 claws +2 (1d3)
Ranged needle +4 (1 plus staggered)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +6)
Constant--pass without trace

Statistics
Str 10, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 14
Base Atk +1; CMB +0; CMD 11
Feats Combat Reflexes
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +5 (+9 in deserts), Survival +3 (+7 in deserts); Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth and Survival in deserts
Languages Druidic, Sylvan; plantspeech (cacti)
SQ change shape (Small cactus; tree shape), verdant burst

Ecology

Environment any desert

Organization solitary or patch (2-16)

Treasure standard

Special Abilities

Needle (Ex) A cactus leshy can fire a needle from its body as a standard action. This attack has a range increment of 10 feet. If it hits, the attack deals 1 point of piercing damage (this damage is not modified by Strength). Anyone struck by a needle must succeed at a DC 13 Fortitude save or be staggered for 1 round from the intense pain of the wound.

Spines (Ex) Any creature attacking a cactus leshy with a light or one-handed weapons, natural weapons, or an unarmed strike takes 1d2 points of piercing damage. A creature that grapples a cactus leshy takes 1d6 points of piercing damage each round it does so.

In desert lands, leshies prefer to manifest in hardy bodies cultivated from rare species of cacti and other succulents, which allow the spirit's vessel to better survive the harsh environment. These creatures act as guardians of desert flora and fauna, working to maintain the often fragile balance of life in these arid regions. Cactus leshies tend to be suspicious and irritable towards strangers, but those who manage to overcome their prickly demeanors find them to be excellent wilderness guides, skilled at navigating trackless wastes and locating water sources.

Spellcasters among the saguaroi (see Bestiary 4) grow cactus leshies to the exclusion of all other types. Non-druids who encounter the two races together often mistake the leshies for juvenile cactus-folk, which typically annoys the leshies but amuses the saguaroi.

Growing a Cactus Leshy

A cactus leshy grows best in sandy soil in bright sunlight. Proper watering of the growing leshy is essential, so that it can begin storing water in its tissues as a reserve against the long dry periods common to its environment. A cactus leshy constantly grows new needles to replace those lost in combat.

CACTUS LESHY

CL 8th; Price 2,500 gp

Ritual

Requirements Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks, plant growth, thorn body (Advanced Player's Guide 248), summon nature's ally II; Skill Knowledge (nature) DC 14; Cost 1,250 gp