Monster Monday: Ammit - The Deadliest Egyptian Chimera

Today's Monster Monday is the Ammit, a soul-devouring creature from Ancient Egyptian mythology with the head of a crocodile, the forequarters of a lion, and the hindquarters of a hippopotamus - the three deadliest creatures in Egypt.

Photographed by the British Museum, via Wikimedia

The artist didn't know what a hippo looked like sitting down, so he was just like, "F*** it - stubby legs"

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2015 Jonah Bomgaars.
Ammit            CR 6

XP 2,400

CE Large magical beast

Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, deathwatch; Perception +9

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 18 (+9 natural, +1 Dex, -1 size)

hp 68 (8d10+24)

Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +3

SR 14; Immune Fire

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.

Melee bite +12 (1d8+5 plus grab), 2 claws +12 (1d6+5)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks capsize, death roll (1d8+7 plus trip), devour soul, pounce, rake (2 claws +12, 1d6+5), trample (1d6+7, DC 19)

STATISTICS

Str 20, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 4

Base Atk +8; CMB +14 (+18 grapple); CMD 25 (29 vs. trip)

Feats Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception), Vital Strike

Skills Acrobatics +6, Perception +9, Stealth +6 (+16 in water or undergrowth), Swim +18; Racial Modifiers +10 Stealth in water or undergrowth, +8 Swim

SQ hold breath, unholy weapons

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Capsize (Ex)

An ammit can overturn a boat of its size or Smaller by ramming it as a charge attack and making a CMB check. The DC of this check is 25 or the result of the boat captain’s Profession (sailor) check, whichever is higher.

Death Roll (Ex)

When grappling a foe of its size or smaller, an ammit can perform a death roll upon making a successful grapple check. As it clings to its foe, it tucks in its legs and rolls rapidly, twisting and wrenching its victim. The ammit inflicts its bite damage and knocks the creature prone. If successful, the ammit maintains its grapple.

Devour Soul (Su)

As a full-round action, an ammit can devour the soul of one dead creature, ripping out and eating its heart.  The ammit can also perform this as a free action following a successful coup de grace.  A creature whose soul has been devoured in this way can only be raised by a limited wish, wish, miracle, or true resurrection, and then only if the ammit that devoured the soul has been killed.  

Hold Breath (Ex)

An ammit can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 times its Constitution score before it risks drowning.

Unholy Weapons (Su)

An ammit’s attacks count as magic and evil for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. 

ECOLOGY

Environment warm plains, rivers, and marshes

Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3–12)

Treasure none

An ammit is a hideous, hulking creature with the head of a crocodile, forequarters of a lion, and hindquarters of a hippopotamus - the three deadliest animals in the desert rivers and warm marshes the ammit inhabits.  Some believe they were created by mad mage-priests of the ancient river pharaohs, others that they were sent by the gods as a constant reminder of the inevitability of death.  Either way, these tough and brutal killing machines are the scourge of the living.

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I'm really surprised this hadn't been statted up yet.  There aren't enough Ancient Egyptian monsters out there.  Heck, the first one that jumps to mind is a mummy, and the idea of a mummy as a monster is entirely the product of early 20th century Egyptomania and the film industry.  The Ancient Egyptians would have never thought of a mummy as an evil monster - they had plenty of other terrifying beasts to deal with.  Some of which had hippopotamus butts.

via Wikimedia

-your cardiophagous d20 despot