Xaarb

Source: Starfinder #8: Escape from the Prison Moon

CR: 5 XP: 1,600

N Medium magical (beast)

Init.: +3 Senses: blindsense (scent), darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision Perception: +11

Defense

HP: 72

EAC: 17 KAC: 19

Fort: +9 Ref: +9 Will: +4

Offense

Speed: 40 ft., climb 20 ft.

Melee: slam +15 (1d6+10 B) or bite +15 (1d6+10 P plus swallow whole)

Ranged: frostbite-class zero pistol +12 (1d6+5 C; critical staggered [DC 15]) or screamer grenade I +11 (explode [15 ft., 1d10 So plus deafened 1d4 minutes, DC 15])

Offensive Abilities: oversized maw, swallow whole (1d6+10 A, EAC 17, KAC 15, 18 HP)

Statistics

Str: +5 Dex: +3 Con: +2 Wis: -2 Int: +0 Cha: +0

Skills: Athletics +11 (+19 to climb), Intimidate +16, Physical Science +11

Languages: Azlanti, Vesk, Xaarb (can’t speak any language)

Gear: frostbite-class zero pistol with 1 battery (20 charges), screamer grenades I (2)

Ecology

Environment: any (Arybus system)

Organization: solitary, pair, crew (3–12), or squadron (13–30)

Special Abilities

<p><b>Oversized Maw (Ex)</b> A xaarb can use its swallow whole ability on creatures up to its own size.</p>

Description

Xaarbs are a surprisingly vicious predator race from the binary star system of Arybus. At first glance, a xaarb appears to be an innocuous spherical lump of short, dark fur. Xaarbs have large eyes and four stout appendages, which they use to alternate between walking on all fours and standing upright. When frightened or riled, however, xaarbs can open their massive mouths to reveal jaws that take up most of their bodies, filled with long, pointy teeth.

Xaarb society is based entirely on physical dominance over other xaarbs—or anyone else they encounter. Xaarbs who have established supremacy over others can demand both obedience and tribute from their lessers, which is the expected method of gaining wealth and status; having to bargain or pay for something is considered an unspeakable shame. Only wars against other sapient species in Arybus allowed the xaarbs to stay united enough to become a starfaring race. Xaarbs eventually conquered their star system, but when interstellar travel via the Drift opened up the rest of the galaxy, xaarbs found themselves encountering—and outmatched by—both the Veskarium and the Azlanti Star Empire. This sobering paradigm shift shattered xaarb culture into three major factions. “Lesser” xaarbs accept that the vesk and Azlanti are dominant over them, and dutifully serve those races. “Greater” xaarbs muster their forces in order to some day conquer the other empires and reassert xaarb authority. “Unspoken” xaarbs—the most scattered of the species—feel that xaarb society has proven insufficient and now attempt to assimilate into and cooperate with other cultures. Unspoken xaarbs are considered the most reasonable of their kind by outside races, though their instinctual need to assert dominance at all occasionally surfaces.