Swarmhive Preview

I was working on Deadly Gardens: Swarmhive and ended up with an extra stat block.  The Swarmhive is a template that allows you to combine a plant creature and a swarm into one creature. I ended up with more content then will fit in my page count so I thought I would share the extra stat block here as a preview.  Deadly Gardens: Swarmhive will be available shortly with full information on the Swarmhive template.  Okay without further ado, here is the Swarmhive Quickwood.   Squirrel!

Swarmhive Quickwood
Were it not for the image of a sinister face peeking out from its dark gray bark, this would look like any other ragged oak tree, a small horde of squirrels line every branch.

SWARMHIVE QUICKWOOD CR 9
XP 6,400
N Huge plant (augmented animal)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision, oaksight, scent; Perception +21
Aura fear aura (variable distance, DC 20), swarm (squirrels, 15 ft., distraction DC 12)
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 7, flat-footed 19 (–1 Dex, +12 natural, –2 size)
hp 111 (13d8+53)
Fort +12, Ref +2, Will +5
Defensive Abilities spell absorption; Immune electricity, fire, plant traits; SR 19 (see spell absorption)
OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft.
Melee bite +14 (2d6+9), 3 roots +12 (1d6+4 plus pull),  swarm (1d6)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft. (60 ft. with root)
Special Attacks distraction (DC 12), pull (root, 10 ft.)
TACTICS
Swarm Stats squirrel swarm – N Tiny animal (swarm); Init +6; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8; AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12; hp 16; Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +2; Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.; Melee swarm (1d6); Special Attacks distraction (DC 12)
STATISTICS
Str 29, Dex 8, Con 21, Int 12, Wis 15, Cha 12
Base Atk +7; CMB +18; CMD 27 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Improved Initiative, Lunge, Multiattack, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Knowledge (nature) +11, Perception +21, Stealth +4 (+8 in forests); Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth in forests
Languages Common, Sylvan
ECOLOGY
Environment temperate forests
Organization solitary
Treasure standard
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Aura of  Squirrels (Ex)  The swarmhive is surrounded by a swarm of squirrels at all times. Creatures within this aura are treated as being within the space of a squirrel swarm, including taking damage from the swarm’s attack, distraction and any other special abilities or special attacks possessed by the swarm. The swarm cannot be dispersed while the swarmhive is alive but automatically disperses upon the death of the swarmhive.
Expel Swarm (Ex) As a standard action, the swarmhive can release a squirrel swarm from within its body. This functions as the vomit swarm spell except that the type of the swarm is a squirrel swarm and the swarmhive can move the swarm as a free action. The swarmhive can release up to three swarms per day in this manner.
Fear Aura (Su) A quickwood with stored magical energy can activate its fear aura as a standard action. The aura has a radius of 10 feet per spell level of the effect and lasts for 1 round (Will DC 20 negates). Creatures that fail their saving throws become panicked for 1 minute. The DC is Charisma-based and includes a +4 racial bonus.
Oaksight (Su) A quickwood may observe the area surrounding any oak tree within 360 feet as if using clairaudience/clairvoyance. It can use this ability on any number of oak trees in the area. Although the quickwood does not need line of sight to establish this link, if it does have a line of sight to even a single oak tree, it cannot be flanked.
Roots (Ex) A quickwood has dozens of long roots, but can only attack with up to three of them in any given round. If the quickwood uses its pull ability to pull a target within reach of its bite attack, it can immediately make a free bite attack with a +4 bonus on its attack roll against that target.
Spell Absorption (Su) If a quickwood’s spell resistance protects it from a magical effect, the creature absorbs that magical energy into its body. It can release this energy to activate its fear aura ability. While the plant is storing a spell, its SR decreases by 5. It can only store one spell at a time.
These carnivorous plants prize human and elven flesh but eat anything they manage to catch. Quickwoods typically explore an area, taking note of any oak trees, and then root themselves and wait for prey to wander by. They use their oaksight ability to maintain constant surveillance of their hunting grounds and send their roots out to drag likely prey back to them.

Note: the stats for the squirrel swarm are just a rat swarm with the move increased to 30 ft. and the disease special attack removed.