Let's Read the Dark Sun Creature Catalog: Cactus
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Cacti are an important part of the Athasian ecosystem, and their natural water collection mechanisms are often vital to allow people to survive in its deserts. But in Dark Sun, sometimes the cactus drinks you.
This entry presents two D&D Plant Monsters with that Darker and Sunnier edge to them.
Zombie Cactus
One of the most prized cactus species in Athas is the Flowering Oasis Cactus, a beautiful plant whose sweet fruit can instantly satisfy someone’s hunger or thirst. Finding one of those out in the desert can be a real lifesaver.
The Zombie Cactus takes advantage of this by looking exactly like a Flowering Oasis Cactus to draw its victims in. Its fruit is just as sweet, but it’s filled with mind-affecting poison nectar that dominates those who eat it. If the victim is too wary to eat, the cactus can release a cloud of spores that has the same effect before uncoiling its tendrils to deal with anyone still free. People killed while under the cactus’ influence immediately raise as zombie cactus thralls.
All of this is way too evil to be a coincidence. Sages believe zombie cacti are an engineered bioweapon, the work of slavers employing psychic powers and defiling magic. The creatures proved too uncontrollable to be used as tools, and enough escaped their creators to take root in the wild.
The Numbers
Zombie Cacti are Large Natural Magical Beasts with the Plant tag. Yes, they’re intelligent. They’re also Level 11 Elite Lurkers with 182 HP, Tremorsense 10, and a ground speed of 2 with Earth Walk. Yes, they’re ambulatory.
You’ll usually find the cactus in its Innocuous Form, which is nearly identical to a flowering oasis cactus (Nature DC 27 to notice the difference). It can do nothing in this state except assume its true form as a minor action. While disguised, the cactus has Resist 15 all and Regeneration 5. Wearing the disguise again takes a standard action.
A disguised cactus is still dangerous because of its Poison Fruit, described as a passive trait. It will have between four and eight of these, which can be eaten by another character as a minor action. Anyone who eats them is dominated by the cactus (save ends). A dominated victim who is reduced to 0 HP can no longer save against this. Note there’s no attack roll here - eat the fruit, get dominated, period.
Once the jig is up, the cactus uncoils and releases a cloud of Dominating Spores (close burst 3 vs. will), which has the same effect as the fruit on a hit. The burst also creates a spore-filled zone that inflicts -5 to saves against zombie cactus domination for a turn. This power recharges when the cactus uses Innocuous Form, giving us our “lurker loop” (breathe out, breathe in).
Once enough people are dominated, the cactus will use its Tendrils, which do standard damage and an additional ongoing 10 necrotic (save ends) if the target is dominated by the cactus. Lashing Tendrils lets it attack two different targets with this attack.
When someone dominated by the cactus dies, they become a Zombie Cactus Thrall at the start of their next turn. This zombie is a Level 11 Minion Brute. It can Slam and Grab for the same amount of damage, but it prefers the later because it can pull grabbed targets along with itself when it moves (probably closer to the cactus). When it drops to 0 HP, it releases a Spore Burst in a Close Burst 1 that has the same attack bonus and effects as the cactus’ cloud!
If the PCs want to resurrect a victim of the cactus, they must destroy the corresponding thrall first. After that, the usual rituals can be applied.
Hunter Cactus
These aren’t engineered bioweapons. They’re “merely” fast, aggressive predators that pose as innocent plants and use their venomous spines to drain the blood of their prey.
A Hunter Cactus is a Large Natural Magical Beast with the Plant tag, and a Level 12 Lurker with 82 HP. It has Tremorsense 20 and a ground speed of six.
When the hunter cactus stands still, it takes a DC28 Nature check to realize it’s not a mundane plant. It will probably begin its attack with a Spine Burst (close burst 3 vs. Reflex, recharge 5+). It deals no damage right away, but inflicts 20 ongoing poison damage and blindness (save ends both)! From then on it will use its Feeding Spine on any blinded creatures, damaging and grabbing them on a hit. It can grab up to two creatures this way. A minor action lets it sustain all grabs and auto-damage the grabbed creatures.
Fortunately, the cactus cannot run away with grabbed creatures, so it will stand its ground and fight any remaining foes with Slams that deal standard damage and ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends). If the cactus is hit while it has a creature grabbed, the Psychic Feedback reaction deals psychic damage to the victim equal to the damage the cactus just took.
Encounters and Final Impressions
Zombie cacti are found in the wild alone or in pairs, surrounded by thralls who rise up to fight when the cactus reveals itself. Note they are magical beasts, and therefore capable of forming alliances with other creatures. Commonly, that will be a wild predator who they train to draw victims to the cactus so they can share the spoils. Sometimes other people will coerce a zombie cactus into service, a fate it will always try to escape.
Hunter cacti are more amenable to cooperation with humanoids, who can easily train them to attack only designated targets in exchange for a regular supply of food. In these cases they will be found alongside other guardians.
These are neat, and very nasty. Cactus drinks you indeed.