Soil Snake

Huge construct, unaligned

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 115 (11d12 + 44)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
21 (+5)	10 (+0)	18 (+4)	6 (–2)	12 (+0)	5 (–3)

Skills Perception +2, Stealth +2
Damage Resistances fire
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages understands the languages of its creator but can’t speak
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Construct Nature. The soil snake doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.
• Grassland Camouflage. The soil snake has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in grassland terrain.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The soil snake makes one Bite attack and one Tail Whip attack.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage.
• Tail Whip. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
• Charging Swallow. The soil snake partially submerges in the ground and slithers forward, scooping up soil and creatures as it goes. The soil snake moves up to 30 feet in a straight line and can move through the space of any Medium or smaller creature. The first time it enters a creature’s space during this move, that creature must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 14 (4d6) bludgeoning damage and is buried, as it is swallowed, bounced through the hollow inside of the soil snake, and deposited back in its space under a pile of soil. On a success, a creature takes half the damage and isn’t buried. A buried creature is restrained and unable to breathe or stand up. A creature, including the buried creature, can take its action to free the buried creature by succeeding on a DC 14 Strength check.
• Soil Blast (Recharge 5–6). The soil snake expels soil in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 18 (4d8) bludgeoning damage and is forced prone. On a success, a creature takes half the damage and isn’t forced prone.

ABOUT

A great serpentine creature rises from the ground, its striped hide blending with the tall grass around it. The long body is braced with bands of green bronze. The same verdigris-coated metal frames its head, forming jaws that open impossibly wide.

Created by a coalition of druids and wizards, soil snakes are unusual constructs designed to smother wildfires in grasslands. They can travel swiftly, moving overland or burrowing beneath the surface, and can move quite stealthily to avoid spooking local wildlife or drawing unwanted attention. When they find a wildfire, the soil snake works first to contain the blaze, then to extinguish it. With its high rate of speed and ability to intake soil, the snake digs fire breaks to stop the spread of the fire. It then expels soil to smother the flames.

Autonomous Protectors. Soil snakes are created with a limited intellect that allows them to work autonomously. They can find and fight fires without needing oversight. If they discover creatures setting fires, they strive to kill or drive off arsonists using their firefighting abilities.

Durable Design. A soil snake is made of thick leather stretched over a bronze framework. The leather is treated with special dyes that blend in with its grassland surroundings as well as making it difficult to burn.