Scalathrax

These slippery, scaly horrors dwell in remote cave networks in the Darklands, preferring to nest in narrow fissures. When on the hunt, they flick barbs from their long legs, or spray down their foes with a clear, toxic oil. The same oil coats the scalathrax's body, all of which is quite flammable—whether it's coating a victim or the scalathrax itself.

While a scalathrax appears feral, it's more intelligent than it seems and is capable of speaking in a wet, slithery voice. The vast majority of scalathraxes are foul-tempered and quick to anger, and most of them enjoy killing. It's possible to forge an alliance with a scalathrax, but doing so requires either constant bribes of new creatures to kill or a particularly intimidating personality—scalathraxes often respect bullies, seeing in them a mirror of their own cruel values.

**Recall Knowledge - Aberration (Occultism)**: DC 21

**Unspecific Lore**: DC 19

**Specific Lore**: DC 16

## Scalathrax Creature 4

Uncommon NE Medium Aberration

**Source** *Pathfinder #163: Ruins of Gauntlight pg. 86*

Perception +11; darkvision

**Languages** Undercommon

**Skills** Acrobatics +11, Athletics +11, Stealth +13

Str +3, Dex +5, Con +3, Int -2, Wis +3, Cha +0

**AC** 21; Fort +11, Ref +13, Will +9

**HP** 60; **Resistances** poison 5; **Weaknesses** fire 5

**Oily Scales** A scalathrax constantly sweats a glistening oil that makes it exceptionally slick. It treats the results of Acrobatics checks to Squeeze or of any skill check to Escape as one degree of success greater than the rolled result. A scalathrax loses this benefit for 1 minute after it takes any amount of fire damage.

**Speed** 25 feet, climb 25 feet

**Melee**  jaws +13 [+8/+3] (finesse), **Damage** 2d8+5 piercing plus scalathrax venom**Ranged**  leg quill +13 [+8/+3] (range increment 20 feet), **Damage** 2d4+5 piercing**Scalathrax Venom** (poison) **Saving Throw** **Fortitude** DC 21; **Maximum Duration** 6 rounds; **Stage 1** clumsy 1 (1 round); **Stage 2** clumsy 1 and slowed 1 (1 round); **Stage 3** clumsy 1 and slowed 2 (1 round)**Spray Toxic Oil**  (conjuration, primal) The scalathrax disgorges a gout of toxic oil from its mouth in a 15-foot cone. Creatures in the area must attempt a DC 21 Reflex save. The scalathrax can't use Toxic Oil Spray again for 1d4 rounds.

**Critical Success** The creature is unaffected.

**Success** The creature takes 1d8 poison damage.

**Failure** The creature takes 2d8 poison damage. For 1 minute, the creature gains weakness to fire 5, and whenever the creature critically fails with an attack roll with a wielded weapon, it drops the weapon.

**Critical Failure** As failure, but 4d8 poison damage.

### Scalathrax Oil

Scalathrax oil is a valuable alchemical component, but it's difficult to harvest and preserve. By spending 10 minutes and succeeding at a DC 21 Crafting check, a character can extract 1 Bulk of scalathrax oil worth 20 gp from a recently killed scalathrax. If scalathrax oil is used to Craft an alchemical item that deals fire damage or would benefit from the slippery quality of the oil, the crafter gains a +1 item bonus to their Crafting check. Scalathrax oil can be used as lantern oil, though it's often considered too valuable for such a mundane use.