Why, that's a Sextuple-Finned Scintillating Hammerhead Fish!

The final comments are in from last week's "Weekly What the Heck". The result is the sextuple-finned scintillating hammerhead fish, a creature that swims through the earth and is considered a tasty snack by the bulette.

I'd like to thank Ripper and Scott (with special thanks to Ripper for the name) for their ideas, all of which have been mashed together to create:

Sextuple-Finned Hammerhead Fish

Generally harmless, these elemental earth creatures can become dangerous when frightened by predators, lashing out at anything nearby.

Level 8 Lurker

Sextuple-Finned Hammerhead Fish

XP 350

Medium elemental beast (earth)

Initiative +11 Senses Perception +9; tremorsense 10
HP 71; Bloodied 35
AC 22; Fortitude 19, Reflex 19, Will 21
Speed 2, burrow 8

mSlam (standard; at-will)

+13 vs. AC; 2d6 + 3 damage.

MEarthcrest Charge (standard; at-will)

Before it attacks, the sextuple-finned hammerhead fish can burrow up to its speed and make a running long jump (as a free action) without provoking opportunity attacks; +14 vs. AC; 2d6 + 6 damage.

CEarthshock (standard; recharge 6)

Close burst 2; +11 vs. Fortitude; 1d8 + 5 damage, and the target is pushed 1 square and knocked prone.

Alignment Unaligned Languages -
Skills Athletics +12, Stealth +12
Str 17 (+7) Dex 17 (+7) Wis 20 (+9)
Con 17 (+7) Int 2 (+0) Cha 16 (+7)

Sextuple-Finned Hammerhead Fish Tactics

A sextuple-finned hammerhead fish goaded into battle will flail about madly, using earthshock as often as possible but otherwise leaping from target to target with earthcrest charge.

Level 17 Controller

Sextuple-Finned Scintillating Hammerhead Fish

XP 1,600

Medium elemental beast (earth)

Initiative +13 Senses Perception +15; tremorsense 10
HP 165; Bloodied 82
AC 31; Fortitude 28, Reflex 28, Will 30
Speed 2, burrow 8

mSlam (standard; at-will)

+22 vs. AC; 2d8 + 5 damage.

MEarthcrest Charge (standard; at-will)

Before it attacks, the sextuple-finned hammerhead fish can burrow up to its speed and make a running long jump (as a free action) without provoking opportunity attacks; +23 vs. AC; 2d8 + 8 damage.

CEarthshock (standard; recharge 6)

Close burst 2; +20 vs. Fortitude; 1d10 + 7 damage, and the target is pushed 2 squares and knocked prone.

CScintillating Burst (standard; recharge 5 6) * Radiant

Close burst 3; sextuple-finned scintillating hammerhead fish are immune; +19 vs. Fortitude; 3d8 radiant damage, and the target is dazed (save ends).

Alignment Unaligned Languages -
Skills Athletics +18, Stealth +18
Str 21 (+13) Dex 21 (+13) Wis 24 (+15)
Con 21 (+13) Int 2 (+4) Cha 18 (+12)

Sextuple-Finned Scintillating Hammerhead Fish Tactics

A sextuple-finned scintillating hammerhead fish uses the same tactics as a sextuple-finned hammerhead fish, with the addition of preferring scintillating burst over earthshock when both are available.

Sextuple-Finned Hammerhead Fish Lore

A character knows the following information with a successful Arcana check.
DC 15: The sextuple-finned hammerhead fish "swims" through earth, leaving no tunnel behind, and congregates in schools. Its greatest natural predator is of course the bulette, or "land shark".

Encounter Groups

Sextuple-finned hammerhead fishs are often found in small schools. They are usually only dangerous when fleeing a predator.

Level 9 Encounter (XP 2,200)
* 4 sextuple-finned hammerhead fish (level 8 lurker)
* 1 bulette (level 9 elite skirmisher)

Level 18 Encounter (XP 10,400)
* 4 sextuple-finned scintillating hammerhead fish (level 17 controller)
* 1 dire bulette (level 18 elite skirmisher)

I feel like I should write some kind of "Ecology of the Bulette" post where these guys play a prominent part. Some Steve Irwin-style D&D naturalist is out in the field...
"That rumbling is the approach of the bulette, or land shark. Sounds like a big one, must be quite a beauty. Here she comes, let's see WAIT, WHAT ARE THESE THINGS? AGH, THE LIGHT, IT BURNS!"
Nature check - success. Arcana check - FAIL.