Sea Urchin, Black Spot

The spines of this sizable sea urchin bristle, revealing a strange, multipart beak gnashing in their midst.

Black Spot Urchin CR 1/2

XP 200
NE Tiny magical beast (aquatic)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +0

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +2 natural, +2 size)
hp 5 (1d10)
Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +0
Defensive Abilities stability; Immune mind-affecting effects; Resist cold 5

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee bite +4 (1d3â5), spines â2 (1d2â5 plus curse)
Space 2 1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks leaping charge

STATISTICS

Str 1, Dex 13, Con 10, Int â, Wis 10, Cha 15
Base Atk +1; CMB +0; CMD 5 (13 vs. bull rush or trip)
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +9, Swim +3; Racial Modifiers +8 Acrobatics
Languages none
SQ amphibious

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Curse (Su)

Instead of poison, the spines of black spot urchins bear what is for some a minor annoyance, but for sailors nearly a death sentence. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Spinesâinjury; save Fort DC 13; onset 1 round; frequency constant; effect target takes a â10 penalty on Swim checks and cannot hold its breath. If forced underwater, the target must save each round or drown.

Leaping Charge (Ex)

A black spot urchin ignores rough terrain and gaps less than 10 feet wide when charging. Additionally, its charges do no provoke attacks of opportunity.

Spines (Ex)

A black spot’s spines can swivel to face any approaching creature. Any creature that attacks a black spot urchin with an unarmed strike or a natural attack is automatically attacked by the black spot’s spines as an immediate action. If the spines hit, they can curse the target as well.

Stability (Ex)

All giant urchins and similar creaturesâlike black spotsâreceive a +8 bonus to CMD when resisting a bull rush or trip attempt.

Environment temperate or warm oceans or coastlines
Organization solitary, pair, or cluster (2â5)
Treasure none

Though not actually intelligent, black spots are terrifyingly adept at locating prey and potential threats, leaping forth from tide pools in great bounds to skewer their victims. However, the true danger of a black spot urchin comes not from its gnashing, star-shaped beak or its needle-pointed spines, but rather from its weird magical nature.

Instead of simply poisoning those it punctures, a black spot urchin in fact curses them, inhibiting their ability to swim. How exactly black spots came by such a strange ability and what they gain from drowning their victims days or even years after first encountering them are anyone’s guess, but sailors stung by one of the beasts often refuse to go to sea again for fear of their lives.

A black spot urchin is typically several feet in diameter, but is mostly made of its long spines and so weighs only a few pounds.