Goathead Leshy

Family: Leshy

Huge plant (leshy), neutral

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
HP 81 (18d6+18)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
17 (+3)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)	10 (+0)	15 (+2)	13 (+1)

Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +3
Skills Athletics +5, Perception +4, Stealth +4
Senses darkvision, passive Perception 20
Languages Common, Druidic, Sylvan
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Plant Speech. vines
• Plant Form. Small goathead vine
• Verdant Burst. When the Goathead leshy dies, a burst of primal energy explodes from its body, restoring 18 (4d8) hit points to each plant creature 30-foot radius. This area immediately fills with goathead vines and burrs, requiring a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw to move through these squares, which count as difficult terrain. On a failed save, a creature falls prone. If the terrain is not viable for goathead vines, they wither after 24 hours.
• Ram. If the Goathead leshy uses its action to Dash and moves more than 30 feet on its turn and ends its movement within 5 feet of another creature, it can make a Horns attack and, on a hit, knock the target prone.
• Burred Body. The Goathead leshy is covered in sharp burrs. A creature that attempts to grapple the leshy takes 3 (1d6) piercing damage on the first turn and an additional 2 (1d4) piercing damage on subsequent turns where the leshy is grappled.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The Goathead leshy attacks two times as an action, once with its Horns and once with its Vines attack.
• Horns. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8+3) bludgeoning damage.
• Vines. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) slashing damage. On a hit, the target is grappled (escape DC 14).
• Shed Burrs. The Goathead leshy shakes violently, flinging burrs in all directions. Each square in a 15-foot radius becomes covered in goathead burrs for 1 minute. The ground in this area requires a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw to move through the space. On a failed save, a creature is knocked prone.

ABOUT

Goatheads have been causing problems for thousands of years – its Latin name, tribulus, was even used as the word for caltrops by the Romans.

Other titles have included devil’s thorn and puncture vine, for rather obvious reasons. Still, the leshy prefers “goathead”, and often comes in the form of a goat-like creature. This rather aggressive leshy will fiercely defend its territory, so just remember that if you mess with the goat, you get the horns!

A hardy vine, the goathead is an invasive weed that can be difficult to get rid of. Its seeds can live for years before germinating, and it thrives in dry conditions, easily out-competing more delicate, native plants. If that was not bad enough, its fruit forms sharp burs, each with up to four spines. These spines are sharp and tough, able to puncture skin, shoes, and even bike tires!

The danger posed by these vines has led some to try and eradicate the goathead entirely, but this stubborn plant rarely goes down without a fight!