| Hit Dice: | 9d8+54 (94 hp) |
| Initiative: | +3 |
| Speed: | 40 ft. (8 squares) |
| Armor Class: | 21 (−1 size, +3 Dex, +5 natural armor, +4 deflection), touch 16, flat-footed 18 |
| Base Attack/Grapple: | +6/+18 |
| Attack: | Tentacle +14 melee (1d8+8) |
| Full Attack: | 4 tentacles +14 melee (1d8+8) and 1 bite +8 melee (1d6+4) |
| Space/Reach: | 10 ft./10 ft. (tentacle up to 15 ft.) |
| Special Attacks: | Constrict, improved grab |
| Special Qualities: | Darkvision 60 ft., fast healing 5, lifeleech aura, spell-strengthened hide |
| Saves: | Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +12 |
| Abilities: | Str 27, Dex 16, Con 23, Int 7, Wis 18, Cha 8 |
| Skills: | Hide +3, Jump +12, Listen +10, Spot +10; racial bonuses |
| Feats: | Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Weapon Focus (tentacle) |
| Environment: | Underground |
| Organization: | Solitary, pair, or cluster (3–4) |
| Challenge Rating: | 8 |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Usually neutral evil |
| Advancement: | 10–12 HD (Large); 13–22 HD (Huge) ♊ |
| Level Adjustment: | — |
This creature looks like a bloated ovoid supported by three stocky legs. A vinelike eyestalk rises about 2 feet above its bloated body, and four thick tentacles extend from its sides. The creature’s horrid mouth extends around the entire front half of its body and holds multiple rows of jagged teeth. The creature’s rough hide twists and contorts over its strange form, seemingly infused with a horrid energy of its own.
Like the more common otyugh, the lifeleech otyugh is a grotesque subterranean monster that lurks within heaps of refuse. Warped by arcane magic to thwart the healing power of divine spellcasters, a lifeleech otyugh feeds on the energy of nearby healing spells.
Like other otyughs, a lifeleech otyugh spends most of its time within its lair. It keeps the lair filled with refuse and carrion, and it covers itself in this vile stuff.
Evil divine spellcasters have realized that lifeleech otyughs can make efficient and deadly companions. Such evil clerics realize that even when they save their precious healing magic for themselves, the lifeleech otyugh can still gain the benefit of their healing. A typical lifeleech otyugh is 8 feet in diameter and weighs 700 pounds.
Lifeleech otyughs speak Common.
Although less capable mentally than the average human, lifeleech otyughs possess a cruel cunning that serves them well in combat situations. Knowing that their ability to absorb healing magic takes many by surprise, lifeleech otyughs often seek to wound divine spellcasters early in an encounter.
Constrict (Ex): A lifeleech otyugh deals automatic tentacle damage with a successful grapple check.
Spell-Strengthened Hide (Su): The sickly gray skin of a lifeleech otyugh has been infused with magical energy. This strange energy grants a lifeleech otyugh a +4 deflection bonus to its Armor Class.
Lifeleech Aura (Su): Whenever a spell or spell-like ability with the healing descriptor is used on a creature within 60 feet of a lifeleech otyugh, the otyugh gains the benefit of the healing spell as if it had been one of the spell’s targets. If a healing spell cast within 60 feet of a lifeleech otyugh would grant it enough hit points to exceed its full normal total, it gains the remaining hit points as temporary hit points. A lifeleech otyugh can’t have more temporary hit points from its lifeleech aura than its full normal hit point total. Temporary hit points gained in this manner last for 1 hour.
This ability affects spell completion and spell trigger items (such as scrolls, staffs, and wands), but not other magic items.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a lifeleech otyugh must hit with its tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking attacks of opportunity.
Skills: A lifeleech otyugh has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened. A lifeleech otyugh gains a +8 racial bonus on Hide checks when in its lair, due to its natural coloration.
Lifeleech otyughs are most commonly found in Droaam, where the Daughters of Sora Kell and their humanoid minions use them as guardians and mounts. The origins of the lifeleech otyugh trace all the way back to the great Empire of Dhakaan, and Dhakaani wizardry is widely accused of creating these monstrosities.
Source: Monster Manual III, page 119.