Regeneration. The Scarecrow Cactus regains 5 hit points at the start of its turn. If it takes cold, fire, or necrotic damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the Scarecrow Cactus next turn. The Scarecrow Cactus dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.
Thorny Body. At the start of its turn, the Scarecrow Cactus deals 2 (1d4) piercing damage to any creature grappling it.
Numb Footed. Cutting the Cactus Down at it's graying, calcified base does not harm the cactus, stop its flailing if ignited and igniting if not. A PC can make a Strength or Athletics check DC 15-17 to chop the cactus down.
Dormant/Ignited. The Scarecrow Cactus has different actions and abilities when it is and is not lit on fire. [D] [I] After the cactus ignites, it burns until its HP reaches 0 from damage or at the end of its 5th to 20th turn burning (number of turns dependent on the size of the cactus).
Dormant
Lightning Rod. During a storm, the Cactus has a chance to get struck by lightning. at the start of its turn, roll a percentile die. Lightning strikes the cactus under 30 on the dice, the number raises every turn it is not struck by 5 up to under 75 on the dice. When struck, any creature grappled by the cactus takes 2d8 lightning damage. The cactus then ignites using stats from Volatile Jelly.
Volatile Jelly. When the cactus takes Lightning, Fire or struck with a metal object over 5 damage, the cactus explo A des in a 15ft radius centered on itself. Creatures within the radius make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, take 2d10+4 fire damage, half on a success. The Scarecrow Catcus is now ignited.
Ignited
Burning Oil. After igniting, the catcus releases any grapples creature and covers anything that touches the cactus with a burning oil. A creature covered in oil will take 4(1d4+2) fire damage at the end of their turn unless they or another creature spends an action putting out the flames. Water spreads the oil.
Panicked Flailing. Every turn the cactus is ignited it hurls 1d6+1 Burning globs. Choose two Creatures and 3-5 un occupied spaces within a 60ft radius from the catcus. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, Reach 60ft, two targets. Hit: 8(1d10+2) fire damage, and the creature is covered in burning oil.
The other Globs land in a 5ft unoccupied space. The space becomes covered in a sticky, burning ooze, making the space difficult terrain. A creature that Enters the space or begins their turn in the space takes 4(1d4+2) fire damage and must make a DC 10 strength saving throw or be grappled by the sludge. A stuck creature can try to succeed another roll using an action to try and break free.
Sticki Poki. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., two adjacent squares. Hit: 10 (2d8 + 2) piercing damage. On hit, targets make a DC 13 strength saving throw. on a fail save the Target is grappled and restrained, on a success the target takes
Dormant
React to Stimuli. The Scarecrow Cactus does not attack on its turn. Instead, the cactus takes a reaction after every attack made against it (Ranged or melee, up to three a round). Use the melee attack Sticki Poki for this reaction in the direction of the attack.
Description
Land Anemone
Through name and appearance would make one fairly confident this was a plant in the cactus family, the Scarecrow Cactus has been found to be more closely related to the sea anemone. Distinguished by the dense arm off shoots alternating up and down to cover a wide surface area, and its noticeably white color at the top of its main stock.
Storm Chasers
The Scarecrow Cactus was first discovered in the grasslands of the Great Expanse about 50 miles off the southern coast. While initially stumped as to why they were not found in more dry environment like traditional cacti, more mapping from archivist expeditions chart out how generations of these follow areas that most frequent lightning storms. Further studies also show the areas where the cacti are plentiful are soils and air rich in copper, iron, nitrogen and sulfur.
Deceptively Carnivorous
One aspect of the Scarecrow Cactus that frightens archivists from further study is its catalyst necessity during its asexual reproduction. With high concentrations of nitrogen and sulfur in its body, it begins to pool the iron and copper collected from the soil into the top of its main stock. Researchers notice this begins when the vibrations of thunder or rain is felt. This process inevitably results in at least a few cacti getting struck by lightning, in which the struck ones burst into flames and takes on a very different appearance and attitude. As the tough an Velcro like exterior melts in to a burning, gelatinous oil in which the seeds of the cactus can be seen.
The ignited phase of its reproduction is the catalyst needed for the seeds to grow. Once the cactus ignites it begins flailing its stocks and arms wildly, the force of which will sling globs of itself, filled with seeds, out in all directions. This generally leads to a chain reaction where other cactus close by ignite as a result of them getting struck by another's burning seed glob. These seed globs will stick to all kinds of natural surfaces and creatures. The seeds themselves are barbed and carnivorous, only germinating when their glob sticks to a creature. creatures struck by the burning glob slowly gets burned and eaten as the glob slowly melts them into a nutrient rich slime for the seeds.
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