Image
©
Matthew Meyer. See more at yokai.com
[Probably my nerdiest moment in the Year of Yokai was looking up traditional Japanese units of measurement to determine how much area a dorotabō
should ward. Its domain is one chō, if you’re curious]
Dorotabō
As if growing from the muddy ground, the head and torso of a skeletal
humanoid bursts forth. One of its eye sockets is empty, and the other
glares balefully.
Due to their grotesque appearance, many believe the specters known as
dorotabō to member among the undead. They are in fact a form of kami,
devoted to protecting the sanctity and the productivity of agricultural
land. Most dorotabō keep as their ward a rice paddy, although some dwell
in orchards or fields of other grains. When a dorotabō is pleased, they
are rarely seen—their effects felt only by the reduction of pests and
the high yields of crops. When a field guarded by a dorotabō is tended
by a slothful or profligate farmer, however, they make their displeasure
known with appearances intended to either shame owners into improving
their performance or frighten them into leaving and selling the land to
someone more worthy.
Dorotabō CR 4
XP 1,200
LN Medium outsider (kami, native)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +10
Aura frightful presence (DC 14, 30 ft.)
Defense
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +4 natural)
hp 47 (5d10+20)
Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +6
DR 5/cold iron and bludgeoning; Immune bleed, mind-influencing effects, petrification, polymorph; SR 15
Offense
Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee 2 claws +8 (1d4+3)
Ranged mudball +6 touch (entangle)
Spell-like Abilities CL 5th, concentration +7
At will—speak with plants
3/day—fog cloud, quench (DC 15), soften earth and stone
1/day—plant growth
Statistics
Str 17, Dex 13, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 14
Base Atk +5; CMB +8; CMD 19 (cannot be tripped)
Feats Lightning Reflexes, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Skills Intimidate +10, Knowledge (local) +8, Perception +10, Stealth +9, Survival +10, Swim +19
Languages Common, Sylvan
SQ merge with ward, ward (cultivated land of 2.5 acres or smaller)
Ecology
Environment agricultural land
Organization solitary, pair or coalition (3-6)
Treasure standard
Special Abilities
Mudball (Ex) As a standard action, a dorotabō can throw a lump of
mud at an opponent within 30 feet. A creature struck by this mud is
entangled for 5 rounds, and must succeed a DC 16 Fortitude save or be
sickened for 1 round. At least a gallon of water washes off the mud and
ends the entangled effect. The save DC is Constitution based.
The Creature Codex 