Ambush Predator. The bracken will only attack creatures that are surprised or that have attacked a creature in combat. If it is in combat and no hostile creature is surprised or has attacked another creature, it will attempt to flee combat, trying to move as far away from any hostile creatures as it can, and only using the dash action.
Prey Horder. The Bracken has a cavity in its chest where it can store up to one medium sized creature, two small sized creatures, or four tiny sized creatures. If it kills a creature outside of its lair, it will immediately store their body within its chest cavity and flee back to its nest, trying to move as far away from any hostile creatures as it can, and only using the dash action.
Multiattack. The Bracken makes two Claw attacks. One of these attacks can be replaced by Snap
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage. If the target is a medium or smaller creature, it must make a DC 17 Strength saving throw. On a failed save the target becomes grappled. A creature that is surprised has disadvantage on this saving throw
Snap. One creature grappled by the Bracken must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the Bracken snaps the target's neck, killing it instantly. on a successful save the target instead takes 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage. A creature that fails the saving throw but does not have a neck or does not require a neck to live instead takes 42 (12d6) bludgeoning damage
Description
The bracken is a plant creature that hunts in the darkness, seeking to sneak up on its prey and snap their neck. Bracken, being plants, do not actually require food to survive; they hunt purely for the pleasure of taking a life. Perturbingly, Bracken almost exclusively hunt humanoids. Bracken also have a strange habit of storing their prey within their lairs, which are usually built in caves or ruins as far from civilization as possible. Some have theorized that they do this to avoid the possibility of their prey being resurrected which would seem to indicate that they are far more intelligent than a simple plant-based ambush predator. While Bracken seem to take great pleasure in killing, they actually prefer to avoid confrontation and, if their prey successfully notices them before being ambushed, the Braken will usually flee and search for other prey instead. The Bracken is easily enraged if attacked, however.
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