Monstrous Monday: Killer Spruce (D&D5E)

The next monster from Dragon #156's "Not Necessarily the Monstrous Compendium" is the dreaded Killer Spruce, by Hans Persson.

 

No one is quite certain where these strange plants come from. They grow in distant regions, less commonly travelled. It is evident that members of this species do not display and characteristics different from those of other spruce trees until they reach full mature growth, generally 20 to 30 feet tall. Then, their murderous impulses come to the fore.

Killer spruce are so called for their ability to animate their lower branches to attack nearby creatures. Although they seem to display a preference for attacking elves, they do not appear to possess any sort of sentience or even animal intelligence. When they detect creatures within reach, they attack by lashing their large boughs at the creature until it is dead, at which point the branches move the body to where its decay will nourish the tree. For this reason, occasionally incidental treasures may be found among the roots.

In some regions, these trees have taken over forests that blanket mountainsides, creating hazardous areas of evil reputation. Some believe druids cultivate copses of these trees to defend their secret places in the wilderness.

Killer Spruce

Huge plant, unaligned

Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 108 (8d12 + 56)
Speed 0 ft.
 
STR         DEX     CON       INT       WIS       CHA
23 (+6)    1 (–5)    24 (+7)    1 (–5)    3 (–4)    1 (–5)
 
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened, frightened
Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing
Senses blindsight 30 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 6
Languages —
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
 
False Appearance. While the killer spruce remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary spruce tree.

Multiple Branches. The killer spruce has six branches it can use to attack. Whenever the spruce takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its branches breaks off. If all its usable branches break off, the spruce cannot attack.

Actions

Multiattack. The killer spruce makes as many attacks as it has usable branches.
Branch. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 15 ft., one creature. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

Reactions

Retributive Fall. When the killer spruce is reduced to 0 hit points, it will attempt to fall on the one who struck the killing blow. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 20 ft., one creature. Hit: 20 (4d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage and the target must make a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone and restrained (escape DC 16).

Venomous Spruce

Some of these dangerous conifers (approximately one out of seven) exude a sap which acts as a weak venom. Replace the Branch attack of these spruces with the following:

Piercing Branch. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 15 ft., one creature. Hit: 11 (1d10 + 6) piercing damage and the target must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. Until this poison ends, the target is unconscious. Another creature can use an action to shake the target awake. Upon being awakened, the target is no longer poisoned.

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