Ghargatula (CR 16)
Huge Outsider (Baatezu, Evil, Extraplanar, and Lawful)
Alignment: Always lawful evil
Initiative: +6 (+2 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative); Senses: scent, Listen +24, and Spot +24
Languages: Telepathy 100 ft.
AC: 20 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +9 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 18
Hit Dice: 24d8+288 (396 hp); DR: DR 25/magic
Fort +26, Ref +16, Will +16
Speed: 50 ft.
Space: 10 ft./15 ft.
Base Attack +24; Grapple +28
Attack: Bite +36 melee and 2 claws +31 melee and tail stinger +31 melee
Full Attack: Bite +36 melee and 2 claws +31 melee and tail stinger +31 melee
Damage: Bite 5d8+14, claw 3d6+7, tail stinger 2d6+7 plus poison
Special Attacks: Improved grab, poison, swallow whole
Abilities: Str 39, Dex 14, Con 35, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Baatezu traits, regeneration 10, SR 25, summon baatezu
Feats: Cleave; Combat Reflexes; Great Cleave; Improved Initiative; Iron Will; Lightning Reflexes; Power Attack
Skills: Climb +38, Intimidate +24, Jump +38, Listen +24, Move Silently +26, and Spot +24
Advancement: 25-36 HD (Huge)
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Solitary
Treasure/Possessions: None
Source:
Book of Vile Darkness
These terrors, likely to be mistaken for fiendish dinosaurs, either wander about the warmer layers of hell, killing anything that they find (even other devils), or they are employed as guardians in important palaces and cathedrals on that dark plane.
A ghargatula stands 25 feet tall and has a tail 15 feet long. It has terrible claws, and its tail ends in a wicked stinger black with venom -- but the ghargatulas massive mouths is its most striking feature. Filled with many rows of teeth the size of daggers and short swords, a ghargatula's maw could engulf a human in a single bite. Its flesh is jagged and dark, almost craggy, like the terrible wastelands in hell where it lives.
Ghargatulas speak Infernal.
Combat
Ghargatulas do not possess the magical abilities of other baatezu, other than a weak attempt at summoning. Instead, they are straightforward, extremely ferocious combatants that use their terrible natural weapons to great effect.
Improved Grab (Ex): If a ghargatula hits a Large at smaller opponent with a bite attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity (grapple bonus +46). If it successfully grabs a creature that it can also swallow whole (see below), it can attempt to do so in the next round. The ghargatula has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use its jaws to hold the opponent (--20 penalty on grapple check, but the ghargatula is not considered grappled). In either case, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals bite damage.
Swallow Whole (Ex): A ghargatula can try to swallow a Medium-size or smaller opponent that is already in its mouth by making a successful grapple check (grapple bonus +46). The swallowed creature takes 2d8+8 points of crushing damage per round and 8 points of acid damage from the ghargatula's innards. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using claws or a Small or Tiny slashing points of damage to the innards (AC 20). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must again cut its own way out. The ghargatula's innards can hold 2 Medium-size, 8 Small, 32 Tiny, or 128 Diminutive or smaller opponents.
Poison (Ex): Each successful tail stinger attack delivers a ghargatula's poison (Fort DC 34). The initial and secondary damage is the same (2d6 points of Dexterity damage).
Baatezu Traits: A ghargatula can communicate telepathically with any creature within 100 feet that has a language. In addition, it can see perfectly in darkness of any kind, even that created by a deeper darkness spell. A ghargatula is immune to fire and poison, and it has acid resistance 20 and cold resistance 20.
Regeneration (Ex): A ghargatula takes normal damage from holy and blessed weapons of at least +2 enhancement.
Scent (Ex): A ghargatula can detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell.
Outsider Traits: A devil has darkvision (60-foot range). It cannot be raised or resurrected.
Summon Baatezu (Sp): Once per day a ghargatula can attempt to summon 1 cornugon with a 25% chance of success. Summoned creatures automatically return whence they came after 1 hour. A baatezu that has just been summoned cannot use its own summon ability for 1 hour. Most baatezu do not use their summon ability lightly, since it leaves them beholden to the summoned creatures. In general, they use it only when necessary to gain victory or to save their own lives.