Bugbear

See Also

Shadowland Monsters	Traykon Monsters
Divine Servants	Unique Monsters
From Beyond	Monster Templates
Creature Types

This ugly creature resembles a twisted shadow puppet’s silhouette, a wild thing of flared black and brown fur whose pelt juts out from its body at freakish angles. The crouching shadow’s ears are large and floppy, draping shoulder-length, adding to the creature’s unnatural shape. Its eyes are too big for its head. Tremendous milk-white ovals loom on either side of the thing’s wheezy pig-like nose. Its panting mouth is filled with bristly needle-teeth spiderwebbed in disgusting strands of yellowish saliva, all vibrating to the tune of its wheezing breath.

CR 2

XP 600
CE Medium humanoid (goblinoid)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +8

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 16 (+2 armor, +1 Dex, +3 natural, +1 shield)
hp 16 (3d8+3)
Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +1

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.
Melee morningstar +5 (1d8+3)
Ranged javelin +3 (1d6+3)

TACTICS

Before Combat Bugbears slink in shadow and behind closed doors. They revel in the look of terror on a foe’s face when they suddenly loom from the darkness, often with some horrible trophy in hand.

During Combat Bugbears do not enjoy protracted fighting and seek to down a foe and slip away as quickly and quietly as possible. They favor hit-and-run tactics when the situation allows, striking at the most vulnerable point or member of a group.

Morale A bugbear is not foolish enough to fight to the death, as that would preclude it from menacing others at a later date. It usually flees if reduced to 5 hit points.

STATISTICS

Str 16, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 9
Base Atk +2; CMB +5; CMD 16
Feats Intimidating Prowess, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Intimidate +7, Perception +8, Stealth +10; Racial Modifiers +4 Intimidate, +4 Stealth
SQ stalker
Languages Common, Goblin

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Stalker (Ex)

Perception and Stealth are always class skills for bugbears.

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate mountains
Organization solitary, pair, gang (3–6), or warband (7–12 plus 2 warriors of 1st level and 1 chieftain of 3rd–5th level)
Treasure NPC Gear (leather armor, light wooden shield, morningstar, 3 javelins, other treasure)

The bugbear is the largest of the goblinoid races, a lumbering brute that stands at least a head taller than most humans. They are loners, preferring to live and kill on their own rather than form tribes of their own kind, yet it isn't uncommon to find small bands of bugbears working together, or dwelling in goblin or hobgoblin tribes where they function as elite guards or executioners. Bugbears do not form large warrens like goblins or nations like hobgoblins; they prefer smaller-scale mayhem that lets them keep their favorite acts (murder and torture) on a more personal level. Humans are a bugbear’s favored prey, and most count the flesh of humanity as a dietary staple. Grisly trophies of ears or fingers are common bugbear decorations.

Bugbears, when they turn to religion, favor gods of murder and violence, with various demon lords being favorites.

A typical bugbear stands 7 feet in height and weighs 400 pounds.

Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (local) can learn more about bugbears. When a character makes a Knowledge (local) check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

Characters can also use Knowledge (nature) to determine this information, but the DCs are 5 higher

Knowledge (Local)

DC	Result
12	This muscular humanoid is a bugbear, the biggest and strongest of the common goblinoids. Bugbears speak Goblin and Common. This result also reveals all humanoid traits.
17	As well as being considerably stronger, healthier and more light footed than the average human, bugbears have an affinity for moving quietly despite their bulk. Combined with their natural darkvision, these qualities add up to a creature very well suited for raids on camp sites in the dead of night.
22	Bugbears tend to live in small tribal units, with the biggest and meanest of them the tribal leader by default. They tend to have but two goals in life: food and treasure, and a group of adventures would be considered a great source of both.