Monster Monday: Abominable Snowman, the Dread Yeti

It probably doesn't surprise you, dear reader, to know that in times of hot and sunny weather, your humble d20 despot seeks shelter indoors with heavy curtains drawn across every window. To help cool things off, today's Monster Monday is the abominable snowman, or dread yeti. Much larger and more powerful than your standard yeti, these beasts have been known to lay waste to entire mountain settlements single-handedly. They call upon tremendous strength and an elemental connection to the cold, and their frightful roar can leave even the stoutest adventurer paralyzed with fear and scoured by ice crystals.

I created the abominable snowman for part 3 of my holiday mini-adventure series, which I did not have the creative energy to finish and publish last holiday season (I do still intend to finish it). This creature is not just a Huge-sized yeti: it can also throw rocks and chunks of ice like a giant, the yeti's fear gaze-attack has been traded for a roar that can paralyze its targets with fear, and it also gains a breath weapon that deals cold and sonic damage (so it can still be effective against smart adventurers who magically bundle up against cold damage). This CR 9 monster is designed to pose a higher-level threat than the existing yeti.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.

This huge beast, covered with shaggy white fur, unleashes a bone-chilling roar as it crashes toward you.

Yeti, Dread (Abominable Snowman)        CR 9

XP 6,400

N Huge monstrous humanoid (cold)

Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +15

Aura frightful presence (30 ft., DC 17)

DEFENSE

AC 22, touch 8, flat-footed 22 (+14 natural, -2 size)

hp 114 (12d10+48)

Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +10

Defensive Abilities cold, rock catching

Immune cold; Vulnerable fire

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

Melee 2 claws +17 (1d8+7 plus 1d6 cold) and bite +15 (2d6+3 plus 1d6 cold)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

Ranged rock +10/+5 (1d8+10 plus 1d6 cold) 180ft.

Special Attacks breath weapon (20 ft. cone, 5d6 cold and sonic damage, Reflex DC 20 for half, useable once every 1d4 rounds), rend (2 claws, 1d6+10 plus 1d6 cold), rock throwing 180 ft.

STATISTICS

Str 25, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 11, Wis 14, Cha 13

Base Atk +12; CMB +21; CMD 31

Feats Cleave, Great Fortitude, Intimidating Prowess, Multiattack, Power Attack, Vital Strike

Skills Climb +22, Intimidate +23, Perception +15, Stealth +11 (+19 in snow), Survival +15; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth (+12 in snow)

Languages Aklo

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Breath Weapon (Su)

A dread yeti can let out a powerful, chilling shout as a standard action once every 1d4 rounds. This intense blast of cold-infused sound deals 5d6 points of damage to all within a 20 foot cone; half the damage is cold damage, the other half is sonic. Those within the blast can make a DC 20 Reflex save for half damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Cold (Su)

A dread yeti’s body generates intense cold, dealing 1d6 points of cold damage to any creature that contacts it with a natural attack or unarmed strike, or whenever it hits a foe.  The supernatural cold even lingers on projectiles that the dread yeti throws. 

Frightful Presence (Ex)

As a free action, a dread yeti can let out a fearsome roar and activate its frightful presence.  All creatures within 30 ft. with fewer than 12 HD must make a DC 17 Will save or stand paralyzed with fear for 1 round, or 1d4 rounds if it has 4 HD or fewer.  The save DC is Charisma-based. 

ECOLOGY

Environment cold mountains

Organization solitary

Treasure standard

A creature shrouded in mystery and rumor, the rare and terrible abominable snowman - or dread yeti - is truly a sight to behold.  Towering 20 feet tall and weighing in at 1,500 pounds, a dread yeti is a hulking mountain brute.  They are creatures of isolation, rarely encountering others of their kind.  They typically make their lairs high in desolate mountain caves where they spend most of their time in hibernation, waking occasionally to go down the mountain and gorge themselves on yaks and any other meat source they can find, even other yetis.  Predation of herds often puts them at odds with human populations.  In their isolation, dread yetis are even more prone to madness than their lesser kin.  In a bout of mad rage, a dread yeti can lay waste to an entire mountain settlement, further cementing their abominable reputation. 

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Short post this week as I am heading out to visit family across the mountains. It's the summer, so I think the passes should be pretty clear of abominable snowmen, but wish me luck! Also wish me luck that I can get back on top of things and start posting more than just Monster Mondays; I know you want this blog to return to its former glory, and I am working on it, even though it kind of seems like I'm not. 

-your bumbling d20 despot