Bulette Pup
Bulette Pup (CR 9)
Bulette Pups are the Henchmen for the terrible Bulettes. It is possible to meet a Bulette Pup without a Bulette, using them as a standalone monster, but referees should emphasize that where there are Pups, there are likely to be adults.
Juvenile Bulettes are horrific monsters all by themselves, but their jealous parents won't let them leave their sight until the lesser fiends are able to fight their way clear. As a result, nearly all Bulette Pups are encountered while their parent is nearby.
As terrible as the Bulette Pup is, most adventurers who have fought a Bulette barely mention the lesser monster.
Because Bulettes are just that nasty.
Even though they are large, armored, and deadly monstrosities, Bulette Pups are overshadowed by their terrible parents in every way, and as a result are little remarked in adventurers circles.
During battle, any time the parent is close to the Pup, the Pup will attack with frenzied strength as it seeks to impress its parent. Pups will deliberately maneuver to try and fight close enough to their parent to gain this benefit, as they try to show their parent that they are ready to "leave the nest," as it were.
General
CR 9 Hit Dice 14
XP 6,400
NE Large Monstrous Beast
Init +4; Senses darkvision 120ft, tremorsense 60ft, Perception +14
Defense
AC 28, touch 18, flat-footed 22 (+5 armor, +6 dex, +5 natural, +2 deflection)
hp 160
Fort +12, Ref +8, Will +8
Aura: -
SR: -
Special Defenses: -
Immunities: -
Weaknesses: -
Offense
Speed 40 ft., Burrow 40ft, Earth Glide 10 ft.
Space / Reach: 10 ft. / 5 ft.
Single Melee Savage Bite +16 (2d8+8/x2)
Full Melee Savage Bite +16 (2d8+8/x2), 2x Claws +16 (2d6+1/x2)
Ranged -
Special Attacks Show Off, Break For It!
Action Points 0
Statistics
Str 22, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 4, Wis 13, Cha 6
Base Atk +9; CMB +15; Maneuver Defense: 25
Feats -
Skills -
Languages -
Special Abilities
- Break for It! (Ex)
If the Bulette is killed (after its Resurgence) while the Bulette Pup is still alive, as an immediate triggered reaction the Bulette Pup burrows away and vanishes, finally free of the tyranny of its monstrous parent. However, if a Bulette Pup uses its Break For It power, it is NOT considered to be defeated, and does NOT grant experience or treasure.
- Show Off (Ex)
Any time the Bulette Pup is in the Bulette's threatened area, the Bulette Pup gains +4 damage with all its attacks as it seeks to impress the greater monster — and avoid getting a swat for slacking off...
Treasure
sell value of approximately 4,000 gp
Combat Tactics
Bulette Pups have only two interests when in a fight with their parental monstrosities:
- Impress their parent Bulette
- Escape!
Bulette Pups will try to stay close to the Bulette to gain the Showoff bonus, and will attack savagely while they do. If at all possible they will try to gain full attacks, although given how mobile the adult Bulette is, that isn't always possible
Aside from that, as soon as the adult Bulette is killed or flees, they leave instantly, with no hesitation. However, since an escaped Bulette Pup just means another adult Bulette soon, if the players allow a Bulette Pup to escape this way it is NOT a victory and grants no rewards. So, this gives players a hard choice: Concentrate on the Bulette to shorten the battle, or concentrate on the pups to maximize their rewards.