Each round the Boulderlash May either take 3 Lashing Grasp attacks or use it's Rolling Death action to attack.
Lashing Grasp. The creature lashes out with vines from the growth upon its back attempting to grasp its prey.
Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 30/30 ft., 1 target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) Bludgeoning damage.
If hit the creature must make a DC19 DEX Saving throw or become restrained. Whilst restrained the creature will continue to take 1d4+3 Bludgeoning damage at the start of each of their turns. The Creature may make use their action to attempt breaking free of the vine with a DC19 STR Check or attack the vine itself.
If a Creature is already restrained by a vine the Boulderlash may instead use one of its lashing grasps to drag the creature 5 ft toward its position. If the creature is already within 5ft it may be pulled under the boulderlash so that it may attempt to crush the creature (Bonus Action).
Each Vine has 14hp with AC12. Successful attacks that restrain players will remain, with new vines extending on each round. This means that the number of vines currently restraining players may increase round by round if not dealt with, though the creature may never use more than 3 of these vines with its action, even if only used to drag restrained creatures.
Rolling Death (Recharge on 5/6).The creature rolls 50ft forward in a straight line with a path 15ft in width. Any creature in the path of the Boulderlash must make a DC19 DEX Saving throw to avoid being impacted. On a failed save the creature takes 4d12 + 10 bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone.
Any creature currently restrained by the Boulderlashes vines must make a DC19 STR Saving throw or be dragged behind the creature taking 1d4 bludgeoning damage for every 5ft Dragged. Succeeding on this saving throw breaks free from the vine.
The Boulderlash may roll through or over small objects, ground cover and tree’s. Large objects such as Large Tree’s, Heavy stone walls or the like will stop the Boulderlash short in its path.
Crush (Bonus Action). If the Boulderlash is able to drag a restrained creature under its mass (shared space) then it may attempt to drop on the creature crushing it with a Bonus Action. The target creature must make a DC15 Constitution Saving throw, taking 5d10 +5 [Bludgeoning] Damage on a failed save or half damage on a successful saving throw.
Attack of Opportunity. The creature may make 1 Lashing Grasp attack as a reaction if an attack of opportunity is provoked by a creature attempting to move out of the immediate radius of the Boulderlash (5ft).
Description
The Boulderlash is a hulking earth elemental comprised primarily of stone with an often large plant-like growth on its top and back. It is an ambush predator that masquerades as a bush or rocky outcrop, partially burying itself into topsoil it awaits its prey.
Having no teeth or claws the Boulderlash relies upon its vines to grasp and pull prey in so that it may crush and grind them into a thick paste, usually against another rocky or hard surface, not unlike the action of a giant mortar and pestle. The Boulderlash will then consume the remains by licking or sucking the remaining "paste" from the hard surface.
Boulderlashes are rarely known to have a den or lair, instead prefering to nomadically traverse large swathes of territory. Adventurers should be wary if they come accross large rocks with unusually smooth surfaces, often discoloured that have been used by a Boulderlash to grind their prey.
DM Notes: (Disclaimer - Version 1, still requires significant play testing for balance)
The Boulderlash is designed to be a highly defensive creature that creates a battle of attrition for players. The Vines HP is independent from the creatures HP for this reason as the players are forced to waste attacks and action economy on managing vines in each round of combat rather than directly damaging the creature.
Vine Damage is extremely minimal and may lull players into a false sense of security. If they ignore the vines the crush or rolling death actions may quickly develop panic amongst the party. Particularly if rolling death simutaneously hits and drags multiple players.
The creature is best played in a grinding style (pun intended) with its limited movement, high defence, grasping vines and reasonable burst damage. The players can easily out position the creature but there is constant tension as they are drawn toward it through repeated vine lashing. Directly killing the creature through burst damage is a risky double edged sword as ignoring the vines could be quickly fatal to the party.
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