# Shivhad >[!rimg]+ > ![[Placeholder2.png]] > >[!debug]+ *Roughly spiderlike in shape, this huge monster is almost 40 feet in height, its spherical body raised high above the ground on its eight spiny legs. Three long, grasping claws and six slavering jaws on rubbery tentacles dangle from its body, and its body is dotted with small black eyes that glare with hatred.* <div class="grid-container"><div class="MON">Shivhad</div> <div class="CR">CR 21 (409,600 XP)</div> <div class="SOU">Frostburn pg. 152</div> <div class="SYS">Dungeons & Dragons 3.5</div></div> CE Gargantuan Aberration (cold) **Init** +2 **Senses** darkvision 60 ft.; **Perception** +29 **Aura** cold (60 ft., 3d6 cold) #### defense **AC** 35, 9 touch, 32 flat-footed (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +26 natural, -4 size) **hp** 252 (24d8+144) **Fort** +14, **Refl** +12, **Will** +16 **Feint** 30, **Demoralize** 36 **DR** 15/epic; **SR** 32 **Defensive Abilities** healed by cold **Immune** cold **Weakness** vulnerable to fire #### offense **Speed** 40 ft., burrow 40 ft., climb 40 ft. **Melee** 6 bites +26 (4d6+11 plus 2 ability drain/19-20), 3 claws +23 (2d8+5) **Space** 20 ft., **Reach** 15 ft. **Special Attacks** crush #### statistics **Str** 32, **Dex** 15, **Con** 23, **Int** 21, **Wis** 14, **Cha** 12 **BAB** +18, **CMB** +28, **CMD** 41, **TA** +25, **RTA** +16 **Feats** [[Combat Expertise]], [[Dodge]], [[Improved Critical]] (bite), [[Improved Natural Attack]] (bite), [[Improved Natural Attack]] (Claw), [[Lightning Reflexes]], [[Mobility]], [[Multiattack]], [[Power Attack]], [[Spring Attack]], [[Vital Strike]], [[Weapon Focus]] (bite) **Skills** Acrobatics +29, Climb +46, Escape Artist +29, Intimidate +28, Knowledge (arcana) +29, Knowledge (geography) +29, Perception +29, Spellcraft +32, Stealth +23 **Languages** All **SQ** glacier bond #### special abilities ### Ability Drain (Su) Any creature struck by a shivhad's bite must succeed at a DC 28 Fortitude save or take 2 points of drain to each ability score. A shivhad gains 5 temporary hit points whenever it drains ability scores. Temporary hit points gained in this way last for up to 1 hour. The save DC is Constitution-based. ### Cold Aura (Su) A shivhad radiates an aura of extreme cold. At the start of shivhad's turn, any creature within 60 feet takes 3d6 points of cold damage. This aura extinguishes non-magical flames in its area as well. ### Crush (Ex) A flying hunting horror can land on foes as a standard action, and then use its massive bulk to crush them. This attack is effective only against creatures three or more size categories smaller than the shivhad (Medium for most hunting horrors), and affects as many creatures as fit in the shivhad’s space. Any creature in the affected area must succeed at a DC 28 Reflex saving throw or be pinned, automatically taking 4d6+18 points of bludgeoning damage each round it is pinned. If the shivhad chooses to maintain the pin, it must succeed at a combat maneuver check as normal. The save DC is Constitution-based. ### Glacier Bond (Su) A shivhad has a mystical bond with its home glacier. As long as it remains on this glacier, it can determine the exact location of any living creatures in contact with the glacier, up to a range of 10 miles. This knowledge grants it a +6 insight bonus to its Armor Class and Reflex saving throws against any opponent who is also in contact with its glacier, and allows the shivhad to pinpoint otherwise hidden or invisible targets with ease. ### Healed by Cold (Su) Shivhad take no damage from cold. Instead, any cold attack used against a shivad heals 1 point of damage for every 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise deal. A shivhad cannot heal itself using this ability. #### tactics A shivhad makes full use of its feats in combat. Against single foes, it usually uses a Spring Attack tactic: burrowing up close to the victim, attacking with a bite, and then burrowing down into the ice out of reach. When presented with more than six foes, a shivhad enjoys wading into their midst, perhaps making a crush attack. A shivhad usually uses the Combat Expertise feat, as well; it rarely encounters creatures that it has difficulty hitting. #### ecology **Terrain** Cold mountains **Organization** Standard **Treasure** Double **Advancement** 25–48 HD (Gargantuan); 49–72 HD (Colossal) Only the largest white dragons can challenge the massive and terrible shivhad when it comes to establishing territory. Thankfully, shivhads are quite rare, and they spend much of their time sleeping underneath their chosen glaciers. A shivhad is a spiderlike creature with eight spiny legs and a round body it carries high off the ground. Between the creature’s legs extend long tentacles, three to a side, and each one is tipped with a slavering maw filled with sharklike teeth. Three long, grasping claws on multijointed arms dangle from its belly, and a number of savage black eyes stare out from random points on its chitinous body. Shivhads are incredibly intelligent, although their motives are alien to most other creatures. They do not seem to be driven to reproduce or expand their territories. They subjugate local tribes of intelligent creatures (often frost giants or ogres), using their might to establish themselves almost as deities to these creatures. All they demand of their minions is the sacrifice of at least one intelligent being per week; such sacrifices are brought out to the shivhad’s glacier and left alone for the creature to stalk, torment, and eventually eat. A shivhad has an uncanny knowledge of languages and can speak all the tongues native to its area. A shivhad that acquires additional languages speaks them perfectly, without any trace of accent. When a shivhad speaks, it does so from all six of its mouths, creating a booming presence that is difficult to ignore.