Talus Flow

Large elemental, neutral evil

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 102 (12d10 + 36)
Speed 30 ft., climb 10 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
17 (+3)	10 (+0)	16 (+3)	5 (–3)	12 (+1)	5 (–3)

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +2
Damage Vulnerabilities thunder
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, unconscious
Senses darkvision 30 ft., tremorsense 120 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Terran
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

SPECIAL TRAITS

• False Appearance. While the talus flow remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal pile of rocks, pebbles, and scree.
• Landslide. If the talus flow moves at least 15 feet before entering a creature’s space, the creature must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or be forced prone. If the target is prone, the talus flow can make one Slam attack against it as a bonus action.
• Scree Form. The talus flow can enter a hostile creature’s space and stop there. The talus flow can move through a space as narrow as 3 inches wide without squeezing. The talus flow’s space is difficult terrain. When a creature starts its turn in the talus flow’s space, it must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or be forced prone.
• Stone Camouflage. The talus flow has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The talus flow makes two Slam attacks. If both attacks hit a Medium or smaller target, the target is grappled (escape DC 13).
• Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
• Grind. The talus flow grinds its form over one creature in its space or that is grappled by it. The target must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The talus flow regains hp equal to half the damage taken, if the creature is not a Construct or Undead.

ABOUT

This mass of scree and gravel causes the ground to rumble as it advances steadily up the slope in defiance of gravity. When elemental spirits of earth become trapped on the Material Plane, they break down, weakened by the loss of connection to elemental power. Eventually, they crumble to oblivion, but a few of these earth elementals cling to life even after they’ve crumbled, holding the scattered stones and gravel of their beings together through sheer force of will. With the loss of one source of power, they seek another, feeding on the life blood of living creatures. Such corrupted elementals haunt lonely mountainsides and rocky coastlines, conserving their power, only coming to life when a potential meal strays too close.

Earthen Ambush. A talus flow attempts to take prey by surprise, lying still on a slope of scree and letting creatures move into its vicinity or sliding slowly downslope into attack range, behaving like a natural rockslide until it is close. Once prey is within range, the talus flow becomes a grinding, rumbling engine of destruction.

Objects of Worship. Some remote humanoid communities provide a nearby talus flow with blood sacrifices; sometimes these offerings still live. The talus flow receives a regular supply of energy, while the humanoids gain a protector, or at least remain unscathed. A talus flow receiving such regular offerings can occasionally rebuild itself, becoming a more powerful—but still blood-starved—elemental.