Bitter Tree
Bitter Tree CR 10
XP 9,600
NE Huge plant
Init +13; Senses low-light vision, tremorsense 30 ft.; Perception +14
Defense
AC 24, touch 18, flat-footed 15 (+9 Dex, +6 natural, –1 size)
hp 126 (12d8+60)
Fort +14, Ref +13, Will +8
DR 10/slashing; Immune plant traits, critical hits.
Weaknesses vulnerable to fire
Offense
Speed 5 ft.
Melee 4 Slams +16 (1d8+6/19–20)
Space 10 ft., Reach 10 ft.
Psychic Magic (CL 9th; concentration +12)
At will—Detect Psychic Significance, Detect Magic, Bleed (DC13), Mending, Prestidigitation, Virtue, Mage Hand, Telekinetic Projectile
6/day— Charm Person (DC16), Detect Thoughts (DC14), Confusion, Lesser (DC16), Hypnotism (DC16), Telempathic Projection(DC16).
6/day—Adhesive Blood (DC15), Instigate Psychic Duel (DC15), Euphoric Cloud(DC17), Hidden Presence (DC17)
6/day—Imbue With Addiction (DC16), Mental Barrier II, Web(DC16), Mind Thrust III
4/day—Id Insinuation III(DC19), Charm Monster(DC19)
Special Attacks Charm, Corruption
Statistics
Str 23, Dex 8, Con 20, Int 12, Wis 15, Cha 17
Base Atk +9; CMB +16; CMD 35 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Improved Critical (Slam), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Spell Focus (Enchantment), Coaxing Spell, Greater Spell Focus (Enchantment)
Skills Climb +14, Perception +14, Stealth +17, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +7
Languages Aklo (cannot speak)
SQ freeze
Ecology
Environment temperate forests
Organization solitary
Treasure incidental
Special Abilities
Charm. A creature that eats the fruit of the bitter tree, or drinks a brew fermented from the fruit, three times within a week must make a DC 19 will saving throw. On a failure, the creature is charmed by the tree. A creature that goes one week without eating or drinking of the tree’s fruit may repeat the saving throw. The tree cannot speak and does not directly give orders, but all those charmed by it, whether from the fruit or from its spells, feel compelled to eat of the fruit, to defend the tree, and to either corrupt or kill others.
Corruption. A creature that remains charmed by the tree for one month shifts their alignment to evil, and their type becomes fiend.
Old Bark. The bitter tree is immune to critical hits
Description
A withered, twisted old tree bearing fruit that looks vaguely like human heads howling in pain, ghastly in appearance but succulent and sweet.
The most dangerous aspect of a bitter tree is the veritable armies of creatures it has charmed, but even alone it is formidable. It will tend to use its spells to confuse and isolate foes, then use its arsenal of enchantments to get creatures to eat of its fruit.
Ghastly Fruit. These foul things slowly corrupt all other flora in their area, until they are the only source of edible fruit. Creatures who eat of the bitter tree’s fruit are themselves corrupted, gradually turning into infernals under the sway of the tree, and protecting it with their own lives.
Dark Overlords. Bitter trees usually rule over dark glades in remote forests, but bitter trees might take over a village, perhaps as the result of a transplanted sapling, turning its inhabitants into slaves and the village itself into a death-trap for travelers.
Corrupting Brew. Some druids have learned to brew a potent fermented liquor from bitter tree fruit. They spread their brew, which retains the corrupting power of the fruit itself, to unsuspecting victims, and will also use it in dark rituals to willingly corrupt themselves.