Hogweed gets its name both from its general shape and its favored growing conditions. When at rest a hogweed bush is an ugly plant full of thorny branches, sparse yellow leaves, and small sepia flowers. However, when roused it charges on four cumbersome branches, its ‘head’ a tangle of the thickest, most-barbed tangles reminiscent of boar tusks. The bush isn’t carnivorous, despite folktales claiming otherwise, just ill-tempered. It grows best when its roots are planted deep into pig, hog or boar waste. Because of this, hogweed is a constant ban of pig-farmers or where wild boars are prevalent.

Blinding Pollen. If a plant that can get as riled up and violent as a wild boar wasn’t bad enough, exposure to hogweed pollen can blind an animal. Its sepia flowers are laced with the potent agitatent for much of the year, the way petals are shaped stores the dust as it is formed. When confronted with an animal it can’t easily drive off or kill, the hogshead violently shakes and fills the air around it with the stinging pollen. Some skilled alchemists cultivate ‘domesticated’ hogsweed and harvest the pollen for blinding powers and potions; though more than a few have been trampled to death by their crop.

Hogweed

large plant, unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)

Hit Points 34 (4d12+8)

Speed 30ft

Str 14 Dex 11 Con 14 Int 2 Wis 7 Cha 3

Condition Immunities exhausted, frightened

Senses darkvision 30ft, passive Perception 8

Languages -

Challenge 1 (200 XP)

False Appearance:

While the hogweed remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal shrub.

Charge:

If the hogweed moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a bramble attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 6 (2d6) slashing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Actions

Bramble Bash:

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+3) 10 (2d6 + 2) slashing damage. If the target is a creature it must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the end of its next turn.

Blinding Pollen (Recharge 6):

Creatures within 20ft of the hogsweed must make a DC 12 Constitution save or be blinded for 1 minute. At the end of each turn the creature may repeat the save, the effect ending on success.