Copyright © 2002 by Bob Hall
Return to D&D®
| Thanks to Country Grrl who converted my Blazing Terror, Cellar Dweller, and Cinderling monsters monsters over to the 3rd edition. You can view more such converted creatures at the Creature Catalog web site. The background image is copyright © 1999 by Karen Nicholas from the Celtic Webart Page |
Contents
Templates
| Half-Incarnate | Incarnate | Mekanoid | Mimox |
| Two-Headed Creature |
Creatures
Arcanis Watcher
Medium-Size Magical Beast
| Hit Dice: | 1d10+2 (8 hp) |
| Initiative: | +2 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 40 ft. (good) |
| AC: | 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural) |
| Attacks: | Bite +3 melee |
| Damage: | Bite 1d6+2 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Qualities: | True sight |
| Saves: | Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +2 |
| Abilities: | Str 14, Dex 14, Con 15, Int 4, Wis 14, Cha 8 |
| Skills: | Jump +3, Listen +11, Spot +11, Wilderness Lore +7* |
| Feats: | Alertness |
| Climate/Terrain: | Subtropical grasslands or any settled area |
| Organization: | Solitary or pack (5-10) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 2-3 HD (Small); 4-6 HD (Medium-size) |
These peculiar creatures have been bred by wizards specifically for the purpose of serving as magical watchdogs. Physically they have the lower body of a kangaroo, with the head, neck, and paws of a wild dog. Their shaggy, mottled fur coat is a mixture of black, brown, yellow, and white markings. The senses of these creatures are exceptionally acute, being the equal of the most successful predatory animals. In addition, they are capable of detecting beings who would normally be concealed by magical means or by their ethereal state.
The arcanis originally served as a faithful pet and guardian in the tower of their wizard creators, but centuries later were frequently sold to wealthy merchants. Intended to serve as domesticated beasts, they generally do not reproduce well in the wilderness and can only thrive in selected environments. The arcanis reproduces as marsupial hermaphrodites, possessing the body parts of both a male and female.
Combat
The arcanis watcher is a faithful and courageous creature who defends its master with its strong bite. When it becomes aware of a threat it will begin barking loudly with a deep growl, often summoning more powerful guardians as a result.
True Sight (Su): This is identical with the true seeing spell as cast by a 10th-level cleric, except that it has personal range and always remains in effect.
Skills: The sharp sense of an arcanis watcher gives it a +4 racial bonus to Spot and Listen checks. *They also receive a +4 racial bonus to Wilderness Lore checks when tracking by scent.
Batreng
Tiny Beast
| Hit Dice: | 1/2d10+1 (7 hp) |
| Initiative: | +4 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 20 ft., fly 40 ft. (good) |
| AC: | 17 (+2 size, +4 Dex, +1 natural) |
| Attacks: | Bite +6 melee |
| Damage: | Bite 1d3-4 |
| Face/Reach: | 2 1/2 ft. by 2 1/2 ft./0 ft. |
| Saves: | Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +0 |
| Abilities: | Str 3, Dex 18, Con 13, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 12 |
| Skills: | Balance +7, Hide +15, Listen +5, Spot +7, Tumble +6 |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (bite) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Forest |
| Organization: | Solitary or troop (10-40) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1/4 |
| Treasure: | 50% coins |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 1-2HD (Small) |
Dark furred creatures about this size of a small monkey, these winged beasts thrive in the Forest. Their facial features are somewhat ape-like, with deep brown eyes, long ears, a flat nose, and pointed jaw. While on the ground, the batreng can travel upright using a slow, waddling gait. Once they take to the wing, however, they are quite agile flyers and can swoop and scramble through the heaviest growth.
The batreng possess an intense curiosity, and will investigate any unusual sounds or shiny objects. Many a merchant has cursed a Batreng who stole a silver ornament or glassy gem. Forest orcs have been known to domesticate batreng by capturing the young and crippling their wings before they learn to fly. These pathetic specimens lurk around the Orc camps, diving for scraps after a meal. They serve as sport for the cruel games of the Orc infants.
Combat
Batreng are non-predatory creatures and will only bite in self-defense or to drive hunters away from their breeding nests. Families of batreng organize themselves into a travelling formation, with scouts above and to the flanks, and the toughest males positioned in front where they can ward off any approaching foe. Lone batreng are much more cautious, and rarely leave cover when a predator is nearby.
Skills: A batreng receives a +4 racial bonus to Listen and Spot checks.
Beholderkin, Shaggy Beholder
Large Aberration
| Hit Dice: | 10d8 (45 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 30 ft., climb 30 ft. |
| AC: | 22 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +12 natural) |
| Attacks: | 4 tentacles +9 melee, eye rays +7 ranged touch |
| Damage: | Tentacle rake 1d4+3 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./10 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Eye rays, improved grab, beak bite 2d6+3 |
| Special Qualities: | All-around vision, anti-psionic cone, psionics, PR 25 |
| Saves: | Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +10 |
| Abilities: | Str 17, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 16, Wis 16, Cha 18 |
| Skills: | Balance +15*, Climb +25*, Concentration +2, Hide +4, Listen +9, Psicraft +11, Search +8, Spot +13 |
| Feats: | Alertness, Blind-Fight, Foe Hunter (illithid), Psychic Bastion, Shot on the Run |
| Climate/Terrain: | Underground |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 12 |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Usually chaotic good |
| Advancement: | 13-15 HD (Large); 16-32 HD (Huge) |
This bizarre offshoot of the beholder was created long ago by an unknown race for the specific purpose of combating the illithid. The mindset and powers of this potent creature were greatly modified from the original being, and as a result the shaggy beholder is an altogether different creature than it's namesake. As of yet it is still a relatively rare being in the world, and can only be found underground in selected locations. The effect of this creature on nearby illithid populations has been quite dramatic, however, and the only creature a mind flayer fears more is a dragon.
A shaggy beholder is a 6-foot-wide orb covered in a long, thick coat of multi-hued brown hair. Rather than an eye, the shaggy beholder has a vision pit through which it is still able to discern its surroundings with great clarity. Eight small vision pits on the ends of stalks peer out from the shorter mat of hair on the top of the orb. The long, hanging coat of shaggy hair disguises a mass of powerful furry tentacles attached to the underside. A formidable beaked mouth sits in the midst of these tentacles. Unlike a normal beholder, this creature is incapable of flying. Instead it uses the gripping pads on the ends of its tentacles to cling to walls and ceilings.
Combat
Shaggy beholders rarely attack without provocation, and normally only hunt for food or for their species enemy. They will put themselves at considerable risk in order to aid those who are attacked or enslaved by illithid, and will on occasion ally themselves with enemies of the mind flayers. When faced with multiple opponents their favorite tactic is to lower themselves into the midst of their enemies from above, then employ their rays to best effect. Against a single foe a shaggy beholder will attempt to attack from ambush, using up to four of its tentacles to tightly grasp the foe and then bite with its beak.
Eye Rays (Su): Each of the eight small vision pits can produce a psionic power once per round, even when the shaggy beholder is attacking physically or moving at full speed. The creature can aim all of its rays upward, but it can only aim up to three eye pits at targets into each of the other arcs. (Front, back, left, right, and down.) The remaining eye pits must aim in the other arcs or not at all. The shaggy beholder can maneuver its body each round to change which rays it can aim at an arc.
Each eye's effect resembles a psionic power activated by a 13th-level psion but follows the rules for a ray. All rays have a range of 150 feet and a save DC of 17.
Brain Lock: The target must succeed at a Will save or be affected as though by the psionic power. Shaggy beholders typically use this ray against psionically enslaved defenders of mind flayers in order to safely neutralize them during the battle.
Charm Monster: The target must suceed at a Will save or be affected as though by the psionic power. The shaggy beholder uses this ray to target weak-willed elements of the enemy.
Disintegrate: The target must suceed at a Fortitude save or be affected as though by the psionic power. The shaggy beholders enjoys using this ray against illithid leaders, who are susceptible to its destructive power.
Greater Domination: This works like the psionic power, except the subject can be of any size. The shaggy beholder uses this ray to create confusion in the ranks of an enemy, particularly among those guarding any illithids.
Fatal Attraction: The target must succeed at a Fortitude save or be affected as though by the psionic power. This ray is often targeted against fleeing opponents, or those it thinks will survive the fight.
Flaming Shroud: The target must succeed at a Reflex save or be affected as though by the psionic power. The shaggy beholder will use this ray against physically threatening targets it wants to destroy early in the fight, or to finish off wounded foes.
Power Turning: This works like the psionic power, but will only cause powers to rebound upon the target of the ray. If the eye is shifted to another foe, the power will no longer function against the previous target. This ray is typically aimed at any mind flayers among the enemy, particularly the individual whom the creature perceives as being the most dangerous.
Recall Agony: This works just like the spell, causing 9d6 points of damage. (Will half).
All-Around Vision (Ex): Shaggy beholders are excedingly alert, using all of their eye pits to constantly watch for dangers. They receive a +4 racial bonus to Spot and Search checks, and they can not be flanked.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the shaggy beholder must hit with a tentacle attack. If it gets a hold of a target of medium-size or smaller, it can bite with its powerful beak.
Beak Bite (Ex): A shaggy beholder that gets a hold bites with its beak into the opponents body. This bite automatically inflicts 2d6+3 points of damage.
Negate Psionics Cone (Su): A shaggy beholder's central vision pit continually produces a 100-foot negate psionics cone extending directly outward from the front of the creature. This functions as a negate psionics power within the cone area, as cast by a 12th level psion. All ongoing psionic powers within the cone are subject to negation every round, including the shaggy beholder's own eye rays. Once a round on its turn the shaggy beholder decides which way it will face and whether the negate psionics cone is active or not. (The shaggy beholder deactivates the cone by squeezing closed its central eye pit.)
Psionics (Sp): At will-conceal thoughts, dimensional
anchor, empathic transfer, missive, nondetection, sense psionics;
1/day-emulate power, lesser body adjustment. These abilities
are as the powers manifested by a 16th-level psion.
Attack/Defense Modes (Sp): At will-all/all.
Skills: Shaggy beholders receive a +12 racial bonus to Balance and Climb checks.
Shaggy Beholder Society
The shaggy beholder is normally a solitary creature that dwells exclusively beneath the earth. It is rarely to be found at a particular location for very long, relying on frequent changes in location to confuse its enemies. Rather than building an extensive base, it uses its disintegration power to create a series of well-camouflaged ambush ports at suitable locations in the tunnel ceilings. From these holes the creature waits for an opportune moment to strike at its prey passing beneath. It is a cunning, patient, and unpredictable creature that may allow weeks or months to pass between each attack.
Once the fear of its bizarre form is overcome, the shaggy beholder can prove to be a trustworthy ally and pleasant companion, especially to those whom it has rescued from slavery to the illithid. The creature will rarely have long-lasting friendships, however, as such may impair its ability to stalk its hereditary foe. The rare exception is the occasional closely-allied dragon, particularly those of the brass or copper variety.
Blazing Terror
Medium-Size Outsider (Cold)
| Hit Dice: | 3d8+3 (16 hp) |
| Initiative: | +6 (+2 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative) |
| Speed: | 40 ft. |
| AC: | 13 (+2 Dex, +1 natural) |
| Attacks: | Bite +5 melee |
| Damage: | Bite 1d8 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Leaping, screech, freezing touch, frenzy |
| Special Qualities: | Vulnerability, cold subtype |
| Saves: | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +3 |
| Abilities: | Str 11, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 8 |
| Skills: | Hide +5, Jump +12, Move Silently +6, Spot +3 |
| Feats: | Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse (bite) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any cold land |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 4 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Usually neutral |
| Advancement: | 4-6HD (Medium-Size), 7-9HD (Large) |
These snow-white creatures appear very similar to a Giant Lynx, but with a long serrated beak. It has a sleek, muscular body, with strong legs and unusually wide paws for moving across the top of snow. The tail is short and covered in a fuzz of crystalline spikes. Otherwise it is free of markings, and blends effortlessly into a snow or glacial background.
The blazing terror prefers a rugged icy environment where it can stealthily approach its prey. It can easily withstand extremely cold temperatures and is unaffected by wind chill. It can communicate in a harsh bark with its own kind and hungry groups of terrors occasionally hunt cooperatively to attack small herds. However, they generally prefer solitary nocturnal hunting when plentiful small game becomes available.
A blazing Terror cannot consume flesh that is not frozen and so will not generally hunt warm-blooded creatures for food. However, for reasons not fully understood a blazing terror hates any being from an ice-free environment. Thus it will attack anu warm-blooded creatures even though it has no desire to consume their flesh.
Combat
In contrast with most of the denizens of the ice elemental plane, the blazing terror moves with startling speed. It is a ferocious hunter that will relentlessly pursue its prey. However, the blazing terror prefers to leap on its prey from ambush, relying on speed and surprise.
Unlike the great cats, the blazing terror does not use its padded feet in combat other than to grasp its prey. Instead it uses a razor-sharp beak that is capable of sawing through most types of common armor.
Leaping (Ex): A blazing terror can leap up to 15 ft. forward and 5 ft. vertically from a stationary position. It can also safely drop from a height of 30 ft. without damage, and any fall is reduced by a like amount for the purpose of determining damage.
Screech (Su): If a blazing terror spends a full-round action screeching, all creatures within 15 feet must make a Fortitude save (DC 12) or be stunned for 1d3 rounds. This effect is not cumulative, but a separate saving throw must be made against each screech.
Freezing Touch (Su): The shiny flesh of a blazing terror appears to constantly emit blue flames that will inflict 1d4 points of freezing damage on contact with unprotected flesh. Cold-based creatures are not affected by this freezing damage.
Frenzy (Ex): The only thing that a blazing terror truly fears is to be trapped with no escape. Such a situation will force it to frenzy, and it will batter itself senseless trying to escape. Once released it will remain berserk for 2d6 rounds thereafter, attacking the nearest target until it is quite dead. During its rage, it as +4 Strength, +4 Constitution, +2 to Will saves, and -2 to AC. A blazing terror cannot end its frenzy on its own. It suffers no detrimental effects once it has left this frenzied state.
Vulnerability (Ex): If the temperature rises above freezing a blazing terror is subject to Heat Dangers (see page 86 if the Core Rulebook II.). Temperatures above 32F (0C) are considered 'very hot' conditions for the purposes of determining how the blazing terror is affected, whereas temperatures above 50F (10C) are considered 'extreme heat.' Temperatures above 80F (27C) are 'abysmal heat' for a blazing terror.
Cold Subtype: Immune to cold damage, and takes double damage from fire unless a saving throw for half damage is allowed, in which case it takes half damage on a success and double damage on a failure.
Skills: The leaping ability of a blazing terror gives it a +8 racial bonus to Jump checks.
Cellar Dweller
Small Monstrous Humanoid
| Hit Dice: | 4d8+4 (22 hp) |
| Initiative: | +7 (Dex, Improved Initiative) |
| Speed: | 40 ft. |
| AC: | 18 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +4 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 claws +4 melee, bite +2 melee |
| Damage: | Claw 1d2-2, bite 1d3-2 plus possible Strength drain |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Aura of terror, blinding gaze, weakening bite |
| Special Qualities: | Fast healing 1, shadow stride, self-sustenance, vulnerabilities |
| Saves: | Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +4 |
| Abilities: | Str 7, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 12 |
| Skills: | Hide +7, Intimidate +4, Listen +5, Move Silently +7, Search +1, Spot +7 |
| Feats: | Improved Initiative, Multiattack |
| Climate/Terrain: | Underground |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 6 |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Always chaotic evil |
| Advancement: | 5-12HD (Small) |
Also known as the bone crusher, the hideous cellar dweller is a creation of pure evil. The cellar dweller resembles a small ogre with olive flesh and sparkling white pupils. It dwells in the dark cramped spaces in the cellar and under furniture, waiting for an opportunity to slay innocents and spread mayhem.
This malevolent creature exists only to torment and consume other beings. It seems to have been created by an evil entity or perhaps a priest, and it does not seem to breed. Indeed it is almost never found in the company of its own kind.
Combat
A cellar dweller has a number of innate magical abilities that make it a highly dangerous foe despite its diminutive stature. Despite its all-consuming bloodthirsty nature, it has no need to consume food and can survive indefinitely in all but the most extreme environments.
Aura of Terror (Su): A cellar dweller constantly radiates an aura of terror, and each round everybody who comes within 5 ft. must make a Will save (DC 13) or be shaken for 1d4 rounds thereafter.
Blinding Gaze (Su): Staring into the eyes of this creature can cause temporary blindness. Any creature making eye contact with the sparkling crystal pupils of a cellar dweller must make a Fortitude save (DC 13) or be blinded for 2d6 rounds.
Weakening Bite (Su): The bite of the blackened fangs of this beast will cause a numbing weakness to quickly spread through the body. Any creature bitten by a cellar dweller must make a Fortitude save (DC 13) or suffer 1d4+1 points of temporary Strength loss.
Shadow Stride (Su): At will, a cellar dweller can teleport without error with the limitation that it can only teleport from one area of deep shadow to another. This ability is as the spell cast by a 10th level sorcerer.
Self-Sustenance (Su): A cellar dweller is completely immune to natural disease and never ages.
Vulnerabilities (Su): The cellar dweller suffers damage from holy water and can be temporarily cowed for 1d4 rounds by a successful turn undead by a cleric. Direct exposure to sunlight is lethal, and the cellar dweller will suffer 1d6 hit points per round as its flesh bubbles and burns.
Cinderling
Diminutive Elemental (Fire, Earth)
| Hit Dice: | 1/2d8 (2 hp) |
| Initiative: | +3 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (perfect) |
| AC: | 17 (+4 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural) |
| Attacks: | Slam +3 melee |
| Damage: | Slam 1d4-2 and 2 heat |
| Face/Reach: | 1/2 ft. by 1/2 ft./1/2 ft. |
| Special Qualities: | Heat Immunity |
| Saves: | Fort +2, Ref +5, Will -1 |
| Abilities: | Str 6, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 1, Wis 8, Cha 2 |
| Skills: | Hide +12, Spot +1 |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (slam) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any hot land and underground |
| Organization: | Pack (2-8) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1/2 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 1 HD (Tiny) |
Native to the plane of Lava, these faintly glowing, egg-shaped rocks fly in small packs looking for a warm place to nest. While at rest, they are all but indistinguishable from common rocks. When not in their native plane, cinderlings are commonly found near active lava tubes, hot springs, and other sources of geologic heat. Naturally, cool water or cold weather conditions can be quite lethal to these beings.
These creatures are the larval stage of an elemental creature. They grow to full size by consuming certain common and scarce minerals. Thus they spend much of their time slowly digging into the sides of rock faces, leaving small divots where they have tunneled. Any sources of copper, silver, and unusually pure silicon will immediately attract their attention.
Smashing apart the cooling corpse of a cinderling will reveal a lump of precious metal worth 1gp.
Combat
Their small size, combined with a swift, darting flight pattern, makes them especially difficult to strike. They will drive off anybody who disturbs their home by ramming the intruders with their scorching hot bodies.
Fire Subtype: Immune to fire damage and takes double damage from cold unless a saving throw is allowed, in which case they take double damage on a failure and normal damage on a success. Only heat sufficient to vaporize rocks will inflict fire damage against a cinderling.
Crawling Claw Weaver
Tiny Construct
| Hit Dice: | 2d10 (11 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 20 ft. |
| AC: | 19 (+2 size, +1 Dex, +6 natural) |
| Attacks: | Claw +3 melee |
| Damage: | Claw 1d4+1 |
| Face/Reach: | 2-1/2 ft. by 2-1/2 ft./0 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Smite fallen, weave spawn |
| Special Qualities: | Construct, immunities, SR 15 |
| Saves: | Fort +0, Ref +1, Will -1 |
| Abilities: | Str 12, Dex 13, Con -, Int -, Wis 8, Cha 5 |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary or pack (1-2 plus 4-24 crawling claws) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 3-4 HD (Tiny); 5-6 HD (Small) |
This construct is potent variant of the crawling claw that is also capable of creating more such diminutive constructs. They are created from the amputated left, front paw of a young dragon or other magical beast, then given artificial life by means of an Improved Crawling Claw spell. This spell is similar to the Create Crawling Claw spell described in the Monsters of Faerun supplement, except it will only create a single Weaver and has a level of Sor/Wiz 5.
Much like a crawling claw, a weaver propels itself by walking on their digits. They can also leap up to ten feet through the air by means of a violent spasm. Their senses are better than that of a normal crawling claw, but still somewhat poor. They are generally placed in locations where their weaving abilities will continue to produce more crawling claws to obey the command left by its master.
Combat
The weaver benefits from the tougher natural armor and more potent attacks of the creature from which it is created. It commonly attacks in the midst of a swarm of crawling claws that it has created, ganging up on single opponents rather than trying to attack all foes at once.
Smite Fallen (Ex): when attacking prone opponents, a weaver inflicts double damage.
Weave Spawn (Su): If the weaver severs the left hand from a humanoid body that has died within the last four days, it can create a new crawling claw once per day as if it had cast the create crawling claw spell. It requires a full minute to weave a crawling claw from the severed paw. The newly created crawling claw follows the same commands as given to the weaver.
Immunities (Ex): a weaver has no eyes and so is immune to gaze attacks.
Construct: Immune to mind-influencing effects, poison, disease, and similar effects. Never subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, energy drain, or death from massive damage.
Cricklangal
Large Elemental (Cold)
| Hit Dice: | 4d10+12 (30 hp) |
| Initiative: | -1 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 20 ft., burrow 10 ft. |
| AC: | 12 (-1 size, -1 Dex, +4 natural) |
| Attacks: | Slam +7 melee; or ice entangle +2 ranged; or 5 ice shards +2 ranged |
| Damage: | Slam 1d8+5 and 1d4 cold; ice shards 1d6 and 1 cold |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./10 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Damage reduction 5/heat, ice entangle, ice shards, intense cold, summon mephit |
| Special Qualities: | Cold subtype |
| Saves: | Fort +7, Ref +0, Will +1 |
| Abilities: | Str 20, Dex 8, Con 17, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 8 |
| Skills: | Climb +13, Intuit Direction +7, Spot +4 |
| Feats: | Point Blank Shot |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any cold land |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 5 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 5-7 HD (Large); 8-10 HD (Huge) |
A cricklangal resembles a crystalline stand of deep blue glacial ice. The bitterly cold nature of this being draws much of the heat from the surrounding air, instantly freezing liquids and creating a zone of deadly chill. They make a deep ice grinding noise whenever they move, making it nearly impossible for the cricklangal to sneak up on anyone with normal hearing. They can exist anywhere there is frozen water, although they prefer crevasses within deep glaciers. It is uncertain why they are drawn to this world from their native plane, unless they were summoned for some mysterious reason. They need little to sustain themselves, other than a very cold environment.
These ice elementals are normally non-aggressive beings, seeking only the crystalline ice on which they graze. These beings seem to gain whatever nutritional requirements they need to survive from pockets of minerals and gases caught within a glacial flow. These minerals form a beautiful rare crystal in the heart of a cricklangal that can be recovered if the being is slain. These crystals sparkle mysteriously in a rainbow of colors when they are turned about. The beautiful Ichlar Crystal is quite fragile and very rare, bringing 5-800gp from a reputable gem dealer.
Combat
Cricklangals attack by freezing their foes in a shell of bitterly cold ice. They can also blast shards of primordial ice at their foes, although by doing so they wound themselves. When all else fails they will pummel an opponent with their hard bodies. If the fight goes against them, they will sink their bodies into the nearest large volume of ice and tunnel their way to safety.
They are often hunted by ice-dwelling predators and so have evolved defenses against these attacks. As they view most encroaching intruders as potential threats, they will employ their unique combat abilities to delay or deter attackers until they can slowly and noisily make their way into safer ice.
Cold Subtype (Ex): Cold immunity; double damage from fire except on a successful save.
Ice Entangle (Ex): Three times a day a cricklangal can blast out dense clouds of frost crystals. On a successful ranged touch attack the cloud coalesces to immobilize a foe in a sheath of hard ice. The range is 20 feet, and the sheaths are permanent, nonmagical, and cannot be dispelled. The sheath has a thickness of 1 1/2 in., a hardness of 6, a total of 10 hp, and a break DC of 15. The bitter cold from the ice sheath inflicts 1d3 hp of freezing damage to the target each round.
Ice Shards (Ex): By contorting portions of its body, a cricklangal can create an explosion of five icy shards as a standard action. This attack has a range multiple of 20 feet. An ice shard threatens a critical hit on a natural attack roll of 19 or 20. Each time the creature launches a volley of Ice Shards it also suffers 1d6 hp of damage due to rupturing of its body.
Intense Cold (Ex): Cricklangal's bodies absorb almost all of the heat in the vicinity, producing an intense cold that freezes to the bone. Any free moisture within a 15-foot radius is immediately crystallized, including clouds of fog or vapor. Anybody who comes within reach of the Cricklangal takes 1d8 points of cold damage each round.
Summon Mephit (Sp): Once a day a cricklangal can attempt to summon 1-2 Ice Mephits with a 45% chance of success.
Skills: Cricklangals receive a -4 racial penalty to Listen and Move Silently checks while moving.
Cricklangal Society
The cricklangal is a solitary creature that does not need the company of its own kind or other beings. Only during mating season will they seek each other out. The eggs of a cricklangal resemble a beautiful blue crystal gem that is cold enough to instantly cause frostbite. They are laid in clutches of 3-5 eggs at the base of a deep glacial crevice and are difficult to distinguish from the surrounding ice.
They have developed a mutually beneficial arrangement with Ice mephits, and the later have partially domesticated the cricklangals. Thus the summoning abilities of the cricklangal is more like a dog barking a warning to alert and summon its master. They provide an efficient tunneling ability for the mephits, as well as a tough and potent ally. Without intending to the mephits have also selected for improved intelligence and more potent combat abilities among the cricklangal, although they have not yet bred out the solitary nature of this creature.
There yet remain wild cricklangal on the native ice elemental plane, but these are little more than dumb brutes that are much less of a threat to potential opponents.
Diva Ray
Medium-size Outsider
| Hit Dice: | 5d8+5 (28 hp) |
| Initiative: | +9 (+5 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative) |
| Speed: | fly 240 ft. (good) |
| AC: | 15 (Dex) |
| Attacks: | Staff +4 melee; or slam +4 melee |
| Damage: | Staff 1d6-1/1d6-1; slam 1d6-1 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Qualities: | Accelerated, eidetic memory |
| Saves: | Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +4 |
| Abilities: | Str 9, Dex 21, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 11, Cha 14 |
| Skills: | Craft (either sculpture or painting) +8, Hide +10, Knowledge (choose one) +11, Knowledge (choose one) +9, Knowledge (choose one) +6, Listen +4, Move Silently +14, Search +7, Spot +2 |
| Feats: | Fly-by Attack, Improved Initiative |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any temperate or warm land |
| Organization: | Solitary, flight (2-4), or flock (6-13) |
| Challenge Rating: | 3 |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Usually lawful good |
| Advancement: | 6-9 HD (Medium-size) |
These extra-planar creatures resemble a manta ray, with an elf-like head and two slender arms attached at the shoulders underneath their wings. The back of their wide wings is black, while the inside is an orange brown hue. Apart from their wings the body of a Diva Ray is covered in a light down of brown, black, and white hairs.
They live their lives in a furious rush of energy, moving about with great rapidity and expending themselves within the short span of a dozen years. During that time, however, they live what amounts to several human lifetimes. The diva ray is a nervous creature who is in constant motion. As a result they gain the equivalent of permanent haste and blur spells. They can also fly silently with great speed, and their enhanced metabolism makes them extremely agile.
Combat
They are capable of wielding weapons and defending themselves, but would prefer to avoid a fight by fleeing the scene. When defending their own or an important location, however, they can be quite courageous and fight with determined effectiveness. They are proficient with all simple weapons, but prefer bludgeoning weapons such as the club or staff.
Accelerated (Ex): A diva ray exists at a greatly accelerated pace compared to most beings. When they are not resting, this ability provides the same benefits as the blur and haste spells as cast by a 5th-level Sorcerer.
Eidetic memory (Ex): A diva ray can recall with great accuracy anything they have witnessed, including the contents of any literature they have read. They are immune to any effect that would cause them to forget something.
Diva Ray Society
These beings are not especially militant in nature, and prefer to spend their time in the pursuit of knowledge and artistic expression. They make excellent servants for tasks that require high intelligence, and are sometimes used as aids in great libraries. Their ability to recall almost anything they have seen or read allows them to quickly locate a manuscript even among an immense collection.
There are said to be an elite race of these beings, known as Prima Divas, which are non-servile and possess a more formidable array of abilities and lore. These boast exceptional arcane knowledge and formidable martial skills. Such beings have kept themselves remarkably well hidden among the planes, however, and those who claim to have witnessed their kind are few in numbers. As of this time their existence remains an unconfirmed rumor.
Eldraal
Large Elemental (Earth, Fire)
| Hit Dice: | 3d8+9 (23 hp) |
| Initiative: | +0 |
| Speed: | 20 ft., burrow 10 ft. |
| AC: | 19 (-1 size, +11 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 slams +4 melee |
| Damage: | Slam 1d8+3 + 1d6 heat |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./10 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Heat |
| Special Qualities: | Lava Healing, Fire subtype, Molten |
| Saves: | Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +1 |
| Abilities: | Str 16, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 13 |
| Skills: | Listen +8, Spot +8 |
| Feats: | Endurance |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 2 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 4-5 HD (Large); 6-8 HD (Huge) |
This servant being from the plane of lava is magically created to carry out the whims of its masters. It resembles little more than a big, shapeless blob of molten rock. An Eldraal lacks any will of its own and has only a modest intelligence. They are large, bulky, and clumsy creatures who are suited for little more than simple labor. In the prime material plane, however, these creatures can be very dangerous entities due to their magma bodies.
These creatures lack the will to form social connections with others of their kind. Only if an eldraal is set free and left to its own devices for many decades will it begin to form a self-awareness and an ability to interact with other creatures.
The eldraal obtains all its physical needs from contact with lava and prefers to dwell in a large pool of magma. They especially prefer fast flowing rock and will frolic in the intense heat when their masters do not command their labor.
The body of this creature constantly radiates a hot red glow, providing heat and illumination in the immediate vicinity. Their body is hot enough to boil water, and any moisture that strikes will instantly vaporize as steam. Although they dislike doing so, an eldraal can slowly pass through solid stone. This contact with solid stone causes damage, however, which must be recuperated by resting in a pool of lava. The Eldraal will begin to suffer physically in any region where water can condense, and will turn to solid rock when immersed in liquid water. Contact with fog or rain will also cause cold damage.
Combat
The eldraal are designed to perform physical labor for their lava elemental masters and they have no combat training. Nevertheless they do possess the means to defend themselves and they can prove formidable opponents when called upon to fight. They can form up to three limbs from their bodies that can stretch out to strike a foe. In addition to the physical damage caused by these rocky limbs, the impact leaves behind a piece of red-hot rock that continues to burn the struck location. They are able to draw energy directly from surrounding lava and soon regenerate any damage.
Fire Subtype (Ex): Fire immunity, double damage from cold except on a successful save.
Heat (Ex): The body of an eldraal is molten hot, so their unarmed attacks deal additional fire damage.
Lava Healing (Ex): While in contact with molten rock, an Eldraal receives fast healing 1.
Molten (Ex): Their glowing bodies provide normal illumination in a 15 ft. radius. While in contact with water, melting their way through solid rock, or in frigid surroundings, an eldraal suffers 2 hp of damage each round.
Flame Enzine
Tiny Elemental (Fire)
| Hit Dice: | 1/4d8 (1 hp) |
| Initiative: | +2 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 50 ft. |
| AC: | 15 (+2 size, +2 Dex, +1 natural) |
| Attacks: | Slam +4 melee |
| Damage: | Slam 1d4-5 and 1 fire |
| Face/Reach: | 2 1/2 ft. by 2 1/2 ft./0 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Burn, swarm |
| Special Qualities: | Elemental, fire subtype |
| Saves: | Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +1 |
| Abilities: | Str 1, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 10 |
| Skills: | Hide +10, Listen +2, Spot +2 |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (slam) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any hot, dry land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary, pack (2-9), or a swarm (10-100) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1/8 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 1/2 HD (small) |
These tiny elemental creatures resemble an unusually intense golden blue flame. They usually dance rapidly from place to place as a pack, rarely stopping in one spot for more than a second. There are no discernable features visible to normal sight within the flame, although beings with darkvision will be able to discern three cooler spots arranged in a triangle near the base. Flame enzines will never voluntarily leave their home plane, but they can be surprisingly at home in a cooler region such as the prime material plane.
Flame enzines are hardy elemental creatures and can live in relatively cool areas that are little favored by other beings from their plane. Indeed they are quite comfortable dwelling on the prime material plane, save for the unpleasant presence of moisture. They are relatively long-lived creatures, despite their small size, and are capable of reproducing well into old age. To breed, all they need is a ready source of combustible materials and a dry environment. They reproduce asexually, and have no gender.
The flame enzine can exist for long periods without food, but become ravenous when a combustible meal is nearby. They particularly enjoy stirring among the ashes of a fire looking for small kernels of unburned materials to consume. Enzines also enjoy basking in the warmth of an open flame. They have sometimes been known to accompany fire elementals when summoned to the prime material plane.
Combat
When alone the flame enzine is a meek creature, seeking only to preserve its existence. In larger numbers, however, the Enzine become more curious and aggressive, actively peeking and poking about their environment. They will never attack any creatures significantly larger than themselves, even when amongst a pack. If threatened, they will form a shifting, darting mass that makes it difficult to target individuals.
Burn (Ex): Those hit by the flame enzine's slam attack must succeed at a Reflex save at DC 9 or catch fire. (See Catching on Fire, page 86 in the Dungeon Master's Guide.) A burning creature can put out the flame with a move-equivalent action.
Creatures hitting a flame enzine with natural weapons or unarmed attacks take fire damage as though hit by the enzine's attack, and also catch fire unless they succeed at a Reflex save.
Fire Subtype (Ex): Fire immunity, double damage from cold except on a successful save. Due to their unusual resilience to cold, they gain a +2 bonus to this save. They suffer damage from exposure to water, automatically being stunned by fog or mist and are completely snuffed out when submerged.
Swarm (Ex): Every swarm of twenty flame enzines can be treated as a single medium-size fire elemental with 5 HD. Normal weapons will do only half their allotted damage against such a swarm, as there are gaps between the individual, fast-moving enzine. If the swarm loses more than half its total hit points, it will break apart into separate enzines with one appearing for every two remaining hit points.
Skills: A flame enzine gains a +8 bonus to its Jump skill. In a dark or poorly illuminated area a flame enzine is as noticable as a torch and so suffers a -12 penalty to its Hide skill.
Fluxbael
Large Elemental (Air)
| Hit Dice: | 2d8 (9 hp) |
| Initiative: | +4 (Dex) |
| Speed: | fly 60 ft. (perfect) |
| AC: | 13 (-1 size, +4 Dex) |
| Attacks: | Shock +4 melee |
| Damage: | Shock 1d6 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./10 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Lightning body, magnetic aura |
| Special Qualities: | Elemental, damage reduction 5/+1, immunities |
| Saves: | Fort +0, Ref +7, Will +1 |
| Abilities: | Str -, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 3, Wis 13, Cha 12 |
| Skills: | Listen +4, Spot +4 |
| Feats: | Weapon Focus (shock) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any mountainous land |
| Organization: | Solitary, Cluster (2-5), or Swarm (6-16) |
| Challenge Rating: | 2 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Usually neutral |
| Advancement: | 3-5 HD (Large) |
These mysterious extraplanar beings come from a dimension of pure lightning plasma. They have only been observed on the prime material plane when dry winds sweep up the steep mountain faces and create strong electrical disturbances. These strange lightning forms dance and cavort across the crags, leaving a trail of singed plants and magnetized iron scraps. They are formed spontaneously out of plasma and seem to have a life span of only a few days. They thrive on social activity among their own kind and appear to enjoy creating beautiful electrical displays in clustered formations.
The fluxbael possesses powerful magnetic and electrical abilities, and prefer to linger in regions where conditions are ripe for lightning storms. Something about the land about mountains allows these beings to move easily between the planes and take advantage of the heavily charged conditions along the bare mountains. They have few physical requirements, other than a dry and highly charged environment. The fluxbael seem to crave unusual gases that fluoresce when electrified. They have the ability to cross over to the prime material plane for short periods, and seem most likely to do so when the air is dry and heavily charged with ozone.
Combat
These beings are so utterly alien to our world that they do not comprehend the existence of natural life forms. Thus they perceive creatures merely as a chaotic phenomenon and do not purposefully set out to attack them. If some means could be found to communicate with these beings, they can usually be dissuaded from inflicting the damage that they unintentionally cause. Like a lightning drawn to a rod, fluxbael are attracted to sharp metallic objects in the vicinity. Thus they will move to investigate anybody wielding a sword and will manipulate the object with their magnetic aura ability.
Immunities (Ex): Fluxbael are completely immune to mind-influencing effects and lightning. They take half damage from cold or fire, with a successful saving throw reducing the damage to none.
Lightning Body (Ex): Creatures hitting a fluxbael with natural or conducting weapons or unarmed attacks take shock damage as though hit by the fluxbael's attack. Any electrical spells that strike a Fluxbael will heal the elemental at the rate of 1hp per 2hp of damage inflicted. Devices or spells intended to ward against electricity will also provide protection against the damage from a fluxbael.
If completely immersed in a body of water, a fluxbael will immediately expend itself in an electrical discharge that inflicts 4d6hp of damage to anything in contact with the same body of water within a 30 ft. radius. A Fortitude save (DC 10) will half this damage.
Magnetic Aura (Ex): Fluxbael are able to manipulate any electrically conducting object within a 20 ft. radius at will as the telekinesis spell cast by a 9th level Sorcerer.
Garnamond
Large Elemental (Earth)
| Hit Dice: | 6d8+18 (46 hp) |
| Initiative: | +0 |
| Speed: | 20 ft. |
| AC: | 19 (-1 size, +10 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 slams +8 melee |
| Damage: | Slam 1d8+5 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./10 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Breath weapon, improved grab |
| Special Qualities: | Division, fast healing 1 |
| Saves: | Fort +8, Ref +2, Will +8 |
| Abilities: | Str 21, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 11, Wis 22, Cha 16 |
| Skills: | Intuit Direction +9, Knowledge (local) +4, Knowledge (any one field) +2, Listen +16, Sense Motive +10, Spot +16 |
| Feats: | Weapon Focus (slam) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any underground |
| Organization: | Solitary or pair |
| Challenge Rating: | 5 |
| Treasure: | No coins; double goods (gems only); standard items |
| Alignment: | Usually neutral good |
| Advancement: | 7-14 HD (Large); 15-18 HD (Huge) |
In their rest mode these mineral creatures resemble a large cluster of clear quartz crystals wrapped around a darker base. The exception is a single, fist-sized golden gem that appears as if it had been cut by a master artisan. Originating from the mineral plane, these beings are the ever patient and resolute guardians of underground caverns of great beauty. They sit patiently year after year to ward magnificent rock gardens, beautiful limestone deposits, or other underground wonders.
A garnamond is an amorphous being made entirely of crystals. They move about by the rapid growth and shrinkage of their collective crystal body, reshaping themselves into the form needed for the current purpose. Thus they can shape themselves into the crude form of any creature or formation they desire. As they move about and reshape themselves, the collective reforming of the crystals creates a steady and pleasing tinkling sound.
Their crystalline body is normally clear white in hue, save for their large golden eye. However their color changes with their mood, ranging from an angry red to a blissful deep blue. They are capable of speaking after a fashion, although the words sound like the constant crunching of broken glass and can be difficult to understand. They can learn most languages and can master lore, although it would require a patient teacher since they study at a painfully slow rate. They are long-lived, however, and thus may have accumulated many unusual facts over the centuries.
As their primary duty is to the underground cavern that they ward, they will not be found wandering around in the underdark. However they are not overly zealous about their charge and will allow anybody to enter their domain and marvel at the wonders to be seen. The garamond is normally kindly and perhaps even slightly trusting by nature and does not view such intrusions with great suspicion. Indeed they take a distinct pleasure at seeing such visitors enjoy the vista and will even come to their aid if they are attacked by foul beings. Those who are familiar with a garnamond lair will often stop there during their travels, as they know they will be afforded significant protection while they rest.
Combat
While tolerant and even nonchalant about their sanctum, the garnamond takes its charge very seriously. Those individuals who appear ready to mar the environment or attack the body of the Garnamond will be quickly warned away by menacing postures and a crunching growl. Ignoring these warnings will bring down the full wrath of this mineral guardian. The Garnamond is sufficiently intelligent that it can discern which members of a group are threats to the cavern, and which are merely protecting themselves. The later will normally be given an opportunity to withdraw from the conflict, after the violators have been dealt with.
The body of the garnamond is exceptionally hard and resilient, allowing it to withstand all but the most powerful blows. It is also quite powerful and can bludgeon or knock down an opponent with appendages it creates for the purpose. The amorphous body of the garnamond allows it to wrap parts of itself around the limbs or weapons of an opponent, locking them tightly in place. The garnamond is not especially quick or agile, however, and moves with a lumbering gait.
If the normal attacks of the garnamond fail in their purpose, it can resort to more desperate methods. It can consume a portion of its body to produce a breath weapon consisting of many tiny fragments of razor sharp crystal. If these make contact with sensitive tissue such as the eyes or lungs, they can have a devastating effect.
The garnamond can also shatter itself into several smaller bodies and these can fight on independently. Each of these smaller bodies will fully regenerate any damage suffered by the parent Garnamond, and they receive an equal portion of the total hit points. Once the garnamond shatters itself in this manner, however, it begins its final death cycle and the bodies will gradually decay into small wriggling crystals. These crystal larvas will wriggle off into the surrounding rock, seeking a partner to merge and form a new garnamond body.
Breath Weapon (Su): Can breathe a cone of razor-sharp crystals in a cone 60 feet long once every five rounds. Anyone in the effect takes 6d6 damage (Reflex half DC 12), but the garnamond also takes one half (round down) of this damage.
Division (Ex): When seriously threatened, can divide into one small 1 HD creature per Hit Die originally possessed. These new creatures have full hit points regardless of the original creature's status. They lose the Fast Healing ability, instead losing 1 hit point per round. When they die, they release a number of small seed-crystals that, if under proper conditions, can merge with another to grow into a 6 HD garnamond in one year.
Gloom Fly
Diminutive Vermin
| Hit Dice: | 1/4d8 (1 hp) |
| Initiative: | +3 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (good) |
| AC: | 18 (+4 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural) |
| Attacks: | Bite +7 melee |
| Damage: | Bite 1d3-5 |
| Face/Reach: | 1 ft. by 1 ft./0 ft. |
| Special Qualities: | Gloom, vermin |
| Saves: | Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +0 |
| Abilities: | Str 1, Dex 16, Con 10, Int -, Wis 11, Cha 2 |
| Skills: | Hide +7, Intuit Direction +3, Spot +4 |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (bite) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any underground |
| Organization: | Swarm (21-40) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1/8 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | - |
This flying insect resembles a blend of a beetle and a dragonfly. It has a glistening, dark carapace patterned with hues of deep purple and forest green. The insect is about two inches long, with four semi-transparent veined wings and a long, segmented abdomen. The Gloom Fly commonly lingers over the scat of enchanted creatures, especially those that dwell in cool, underground caverns and tunnels. They form flying swarms that circle about in a dancing, shifting cloud.
When the gloom fly takes to the air it creates a low, humming sound with its rapidly beating wings. However it is more notable for the dark appendage at the end of its tail which it uses to create an area of gloom. The insect is magically able to absorb much of the light and warmth from the surrounding air, then emit the absorbed energy in pulses that can be seen by creatures with darkvision. These flashes are invisible to the unaided human eye, so all a person might see of the swarm is a shifting, amorphous cloud of gloomy darkness. Normal sight within this cloud is limited to only a few feet, and the air feels unusually chill and hums with a steady drone.
Combat
The gloom fly is otherwise comparatively harmless, although it can deliver a stinging bite if grabbed. However they will often cloak the presence of creatures in the midst of their swarm, hiding within the poor lighting and low humming sound. Intelligent creatures will sometimes linger in the darkness waiting for prey to wander into their reach.
Gloom (Su): Nebulous sphere of poor lighting in a five-foot radius sphere around each fly. The gloom obscures normal sight in a 5 ft. radius, but it has no effect on darkvision. Anything within the gloom has one-half concealment from attackers up to 5 ft. away (attacks by creatures with normal sight have a 20% miss chance). Beyond that distance any creatures within the gloom have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can not use normal sight to locate the target.)
Feats: The gloom fly gains the Weapon Finesse (bite) feat.
Hordling
Small Beast
| Hit Dice: | 1d10 (5 hp) |
| Initiative: | +0 |
| Speed: | 50 ft. |
| AC: | 15 (+1 size, +4 natural) |
| Attacks: | Bite +4 melee |
| Damage: | Bite 1d4+4 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Crushing bite, improved grab |
| Special Qualities: | Scent, stun immunity |
| Saves: | Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +1 |
| Abilities: | Str 16, Dex 11, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 1 |
| Skills: | Jump +5, Listen +2, Spot +2 |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land |
| Organization: | Solitary, pack (2-50), drove (50-200), or horde (200-1,000) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always chaotic evil |
| Advancement: | 2-3 HD (Medium-size) |
These howling, jabbering abominations were created in the heart of chaos and exist only to consume. Hordling packs relentlessly haunt the barren lands, looking for any creatures to eat, regardless of how small or pitiful a meal they may provide. As creatures go, hordlings are both revolting and terrifying to behold. Their tapered, fang-filled maws dominate their over-large heads. Small, beady eyes are set atop the head, with inadequate ear holes just behind. The body tapers from front to back, with powerful front shoulders and peculiarly small hammocks. Thick plates of cartilage along the back provide protection to the neck and back, favorite targets of rival hordlings. They are covered with a dark, spiny fur that is often tattered and covered in dirt. A pathetic looking tail, bearing a small tuft at the end, drags along behind the creature.
When their numbers grow too great for the land to support, the hordling instinctively form great hordes and advance out of their lands destroying all in their path. Insane beyond measure, these hordes will flow forth without stopping to feast or rest. They will not stop until they are all slain or have starved to death. Fortunately, major invasions of this type are quite rare, only happening every few centuries. More often their numbers are culled by constant wars between the packs.
Combat
The hordlings attack en masse, with the front ranks biting down to hold the prey while the rest of the pack dives in to tear off swaths of flesh.Crushing Bite (Ex): The bite of the hordling has a threat range of 18-20 and deals triple damage on a critical hit.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability a hordling must hit with a bite attack.
Karkadann
Huge Magical Beast
| Hit Dice: | 5d10+25 (52 hp) |
| Initiative: | +2 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 40 ft. |
| AC: | 13 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural) |
| Attacks: | Bite +10 melee, horn +5 melee |
| Damage: | Bite 2d6+7, horn 2d6+3 |
| Face/Reach: | 10 ft. by 20 ft./10 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Ferocious charge |
| Special Qualities: | Scent, detect poison |
| Saves: | Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +1 |
| Abilities: | Str 24, Dex 15, Con 21, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 11 |
| Skills: | Listen +6, Spot +6, Wilderness Lore +5 |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any hot land |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 5 |
| Treasure: | Magical horn |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 6-9 HD (Huge) |
This ferocious predator has a voracious appetite, and is much feared by all grazing animals. The karkadann resembles a huge, stag-like creature, with wolf-like features and a temperament to match. Also known as a karg, it lives a solitary life at the edges of deserts and hot, barren lands. Much like a unicorn, a karkadann bears a single horn in the center of its forehead. This horn is reputed to be very tough, and is sensitive to the presence of poison. One common myth concerning the karg is that it can be stilled by the presence of the ringdove bird, or by a young woman of pure virtue.
Combat
The karkadann charges with its horn then bites until its prey is dead. It will only hunt live creatures.
Detect Poison (Su): At will as the detect poison spell cast by a 5th-level cleric. If the horn is detached it can be used to cast detect poison up to three times per day. The horn has a market value of 3,000gp.
Ferocious Charge (Ex): When attacking exclusively with its horn using a charge action, the karkadann attacks at a base +10 melee and deals triple damage.
Lasa
Medium-size Outsider (good)
| Hit Dice: | 6d8+6 (33 hp) |
| Initiative: | +3 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (good) |
| AC: | 13 (+3 Dex) |
| Attacks: | Shortspear +5 melee |
| Damage: | Shortspear 1d8-1 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Spells, summon Lasa |
| Special Qualities: | Damage reduction 10/+1, ethereal jaunt, low-light vision |
| Saves: | Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +9 |
| Abilities: | Str 8, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 19, Cha 17 |
| Skills: | Concentration +4, Diplomacy +12, Gather Information +7, Heal +9, Hide +11, Knowledge (religion) +9, Listen +12, Move Silently +6, Sense Motive +7, Spellcraft +8, Spot +12 |
| Feats: | Alertness, Flyby attack |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary or troupe (3-6) |
| Challenge Rating: | 4 |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Always neutral good |
| Advancement: | 7-10 HD (Medium-size) |
These female guardian spirits resemble winged elves or nymphs. They inhabit the crypts of a gravesite that has been blessed by their patron goddess. A lasa is normally found on their home plane, where they engage in much play and frivolity. When tasked they are serious about their duty, however, and will tolerate no breech of a tomb they guard. If approached in a friendly manner, a lasa will freely talk about her duty, her goddess, or any other subject that interests her. She will be especially taken by any cleric of her goddess.
The lasa believe that looting a sanctified tomb is the worst crime that a mortal can commit, and will try her utmost to keep her ward safe from such evil beings. She will aid any beings that will help her in this duty. A lasa is a tireless guardian who requires no refreshments of any kind. She watches a gravesite for seven years before being replaced by another of her kind.
Combat
No lasa will willingly harm another being unless they intend to pillage a grave, for this is their sacred duty as guardians. The Lasa do not care for personal combat and will attempt to neutralize their foes by beguiling them or through the use of spells from above. They do not wear armor but use bucklers, clubs, short spears, and daggers.
Spells: A lasa can cast divine spells as a cleric of the level equal to their number of hit dice, gaining bonus spells for a high Wisdom score. The lasa domains are Good and Protection.
Immunities (Ex): Lasa are immune to disease, aging, fear, and sleep effects.
Summon Lasa (Sp): Once per day a lasa can attempt to summon another lasa with a 35% chance of success.
Ethereal Jaunt (Su): At will as the spell as cast by a 9th level Cleric.
Lenk
Huge Magical Beast
| Hit Dice: | 9d10+45 (95 hp) |
| Initiative: | +3 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 40 ft., glide 50 ft. |
| AC: | 13 (-2 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 claws +14/+9 melee; or bite +12/+7 ranged |
| Damage: | Claw 2d4+9; or 2d6+4 bite |
| Face/Reach: | 10 ft. by 20 ft./10 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Wing burst |
| Saves: | Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +6 |
| Abilities: | Str 28, Dex 16, Con 21, Int 5, Wis 16, Cha 12 |
| Skills: | Jump +14, Listen +10, Spot +10 |
| Feats: | Alertness, Multiattack |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any thinly wooded land |
| Organization: | Solitary or pair |
| Challenge Rating: | 7 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always Neutral |
| Advancement: | 10-12 HD (Large) |
A lenk is a giant, flightless bird known to inhabit certain thinly wooded wild lands. Undoubtedly a magical creation, this beast has the legs of a crane, the wings and body of a gull, and the head and beak of a hawk. When they can locate a spouse, the lenk are known to mate for life. The male builds a huge, covered nest from massive tree branches dragged far across the woods. The call of a lenk is a long, soulful cry that can carry a great distance on a peaceful day.
Combat
While unable to provide lift, the wings of a lenk can create a prodigious blast that can knock a full grown man off his feet, and enables the beast to glide quite respectable distances. Each long, gangly leg has four claws that can rend creature while the powerful beak tears it apart.
Wing Burst (Ex): As a full round action a Lenk can generate a blast of severe wind with its wings emanating outward in an area 20 ft. wide out to a distance of 60 ft. The burst has the same effects as a gust of wind spell cast by a 5th level wizard.
Mortslayer
Medium-size Undead
| Hit Dice: | 4d12 (26 hp) |
| Initiative: | +0 |
| Speed: | 30 ft. |
| AC: | 19 (+4 armor, +5 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 claws +8 melee |
| Damage: | Claw 1d4+4 and disruptive touch |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Spell-like abilities, disruptive touch |
| Special Qualities: | Undead, +2 turn resistance, damage reduction 5/+1, fast healing 1, immunities |
| Saves: | Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +6 |
| Abilities: | Str 16, Dex 10, Con -, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 5 |
| Skills: | Hide +4, Knowledge (undead) +7, Listen +5, Move Silently +5, Search +4, Spot +7 |
| Feats: | Iron Will |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 4 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Usually Lawful Good |
| Advancement: | 5-8 HD (Medium-size) 9-12 HD (Large) |
These beings are formed from the corpses of individuals who had fanatically dedicated their life to hunting undead. They appear vaguely as they did in real life, possessing a skeletal body filled in with the hallow earth from a graveyard and coated with blackened, dead moss. The mortslayer is incapable of vocalizations, emitting only a grating sound from their jaws.
The mortslayer retains sufficient sentience from its previous existence that it is able to continue its function of hunting down and slaying undead. However it lacks the creative abilities and potential for higher learning of a living being. The mortslayer has little understanding of its own undead state, believing that it is actually an elevated servant of some higher power that is dedicated to ridding the world of wandering or corrupt spirits. They are incapable of comprehending the irony of their own existance and its contradictory purpose. Mortslayer are solitary beings and will not accept aid unless it is directed at destroying undead.
Combat
Although they retain the knowledge of how to wield weapons, the mortslayer prefer to fight unarmed in order to use their power to disrupt undead opponents. However they often wear armor, typically an old and battered shirt of chain mail. The mixture of loam and bone that forms their body also makes them difficult to damage.
Disruptive Touch (Su): Claw attacks against undead always hit the target regardless of damage reduction. In addition, on a failed Will saving throw at DC 13 the undead is also disrupted for a round and is only able to take a partial action when it would normally be able to take a full action.
Immunities (Ex): A mortslayer is immune to negative energy attacks. Successful attempts to command a mortslayer will instead destroy it.
Undead: Immune to mind-influencing effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and disease. Not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, energy drain, or death from massive damage.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will-detect undead. 1/day-bless, protection from evil and sanctuary. These abilites are as the spells cast by a 4th level cleric (save DC 10 + spell level.)
Nemesis of the Braeth
Large Aberration
| Hit Dice: | 40d8+520 (700 hp) |
| Initiative: | +9 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 10 ft., 5 ft. burrow |
| AC: | 29 (-1 size, +9 Dex, +21 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 claws +44/... melee; and bite +42/... melee |
| Damage: | Claw 1d6+15 and poison; and bite 2d6+7 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Crushing mass, improved invisibility, life drain, poison |
| Special Qualities: | Cold and fire resistance 20, damage reduction 25/electric, immunities, nihilistic, psionics, regeneration 2, scent |
| Saves: | Fort +26, Ref +17, Will +27 |
| Abilities: | Str 40, Dex 18, Con 36, Int 15, Wis 21, Cha 14 |
| Skills: | Climb +18, Intuit Direction +8, Listen +23, Search +13, Spot +13, Wilderness Lore +14 |
| Feats: | Alertness, Ambidexterity, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Endurance, Power Attack, Great Cleave, Multiattack, Sunder, Track |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 22 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always chaotic evil |
| Advancement: | - |
This primordial slayer has lain dormant for millennia, awaiting the next call to go forth and extinguish more life. Few know of the existence of this nihilistic horror, and none that yet live know of his origins. Once set upon this task, he will relentlessly pursue his victim using all the powers and guile at his disposal, until he has extracted any remaining life force. Unless promptly given a new task, Nemesis with slay and destroy with wanton abandon.
When rendered visible, nemesis has a tapered, serpentine body, with four oversized arms, each tipped with two long, non-retractable force blades. His face is little more than a beaked mouth surrounded by tentacles, the inner side of which is covered in suction cups. Protruding wedges to either side of the head house the primary sense organs. A spiked fin runs from the back of the head to just past his armored torso, protecting the neck. The body is a dark metallic color, with a light gray sheen across the belly.
Combat
The nemesis will allow no distractions to prevent it from slaying its designated foe. Any living being that approaches the nemesis will find its life force being drained away. Anything that gets in the way of the slowly moving nemesis will be crushed underneath its metallic bulk. It will ruthlessly dismember the target with its deadly force blades, and will continue to slice the victim apart until little more than a pile of ground flesh remains. Those who escape with only minor injuries will still suffer from the potent toxin in its claws.
Crushing Mass (Ex): The nemesis has a compact body that has a density almost equal to that of lead. Anything caught in its 10 ft. wide path must succeed at a Reflex save (DC 44) or be crushed underneath for 5d6 damage. Beings with a movement rate at least half that of the nemesis can move out of the path as a free action. The nemesis will quickly smash any light structures that are not build to carry a weight of at least 20,000 lbs. Due to the extreme mass it automatically fails any Jump skill check.
Immunities (Ex): The nemesis is immune to energy drain, poison, sleep, disease, thirst, hunger, or death from massive damage. It has no need to breathe, so it can function equally well underwater or in a vacuum.
Improved Invisibility (Ex): The body of the Nemesis continually warps the light around it to produce an effect identical to an improved invisibility spell.
Life Drain (Su): The nemesis continually drains the life energy from any beings in the immediate area. Everything within a 20 ft. radius receives one negative level (Fort half DC 30). Within 10 ft. two negative levels are gained. (Fort half 30). This drain does no affect creatures immune to necromantic effects.
Nihilistic (Ex): Each hour the nemesis remains without a designated target, it must make an Int check at DC 20 or begin running amuck, destroying everything in sight and slaying whomever it meets. It will begin roving randomly, dealing death and destruction to whatever it finds.
Poison: Claw, Fortitude save (DC 42); initial damage 2d6 Constitution, secondary damage 2d4 Strength.
Psionics (Sp): At will-Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, Detect
Psionics, Dimensional Slide, Forced Mindlink; 1/day-Metafaculty,
Plane Shift. These abilities are as the powers manifested by a
19th-level Psion.
Attack/Defense Modes (Sp): Empty Mind, Thought Shield.
Regeneration (Ex): Electricity and exotic forms of radiation deal normal damage to a nemesis.
Nepalope
Large Magical Beast
| Hit Dice: | 4d8+8 (26 hp) |
| Initiative: | +2 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 50 ft. |
| AC: | 19 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +8 natural) |
| Attacks: | Butt +7 melee; 2 hooves +2 melee |
| Damage: | Butt 2d6+4, hoof 1d6+4 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Qualities: | Immunities, stone body, resistances |
| Saves: | Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +3 |
| Abilities: | Str 19, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 15 |
| Skills: | Balance +10, Jump +14, Listen +7, Profession (herding) +4, Spot +8 |
| Feats: | Alertness |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any mountainous land |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 2 |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Always lawful neutral |
| Advancement: | 5-9 HD (Large) |
This magnificent mythical being most closely resembles a giant mountain ram, with a pearly-white marble body, tough crystalline horns, diamond-hard hooves, and deep green crystals that serve as eyes. A long mane of silky, black fibers flows the full length down the creature's back. The legs of the nepalope are both powerful and nimble, allowing the beast to leap gracefully across the most hazardous terrain. The nepalope is able to communicate in the local tongue, so they sometimes talk with those they do not find threatening.
It is a legend among certain mountain tribes that a nepalope is a sacred, immortal being that guard a place of great power. The creatures are quite rare in most parts of the world, however, so few can attest to the truth of the matter.
Combat
The nepalope is not especially aggressive and will normally seek to avoid combat. Only if it is protecting a site will it attack an intruder who does not heed its warnings and steer clear. It attacks with its tough, crystalline horns or kicks the opponent with its hard hooves.
Immunities (Ex): Immune to disease, acid, electrical, and death effects.
Stone Body (Ex): As the body of the nepalope is formed of stone, stone-affecting spells or powers can target it.
Resistances (Ex): Absorbs the first 12 points of damage from heat or cold.
Skills: Nepalopes receive a +8 racial bonus to Balance and Jump checks.
Ollorog
Large Magical Beast
| Hit Dice: | 5d10+25 (52 hp) |
| Initiative: | +2 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 40 ft., burrow 10 ft. |
| AC: | 16 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +5 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 claws +10 melee; or bite +8 melee |
| Damage: | Claw 1d6+6; or bite 1d8+6 and paralysis |
| Face/Reach: | 10 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Poison, rend 2d4, cocoon |
| Special Qualities: | Light sensitivity, regeneration 3, scent |
| Saves: | Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +1 |
| Abilities: | Str 22, Dex 15, Con 21, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 4 |
| Skills: | Climb +12, Listen +7, Spot +7 |
| Feats: | Multiattack |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any temperate or warm land |
| Organization: | Solitary or gang (2-5) |
| Challenge Rating: | 6 |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Always chaotic evil |
| Advancement: | 7-9 HD (Large) |
These horrible creatures are a nightmare blend of a large monstrous spider and a troll. They are normally found in only a few rugged mountainous areas, but during their mating season they will rove about as packs in the lowlands. Ollorogs have the head, arms, and upper torso of a troll, and the body and six legs of a giant spider. On their face are the eight black eyes of a spider, with a fanged mouth surrounded by twitching, hairy mandibles. Their flesh is a mottled light gray hue with a splash of darker green spots down their back and across the abdomen. Ollorogs are slightly shorted than normal Trolls, but occupy a 12 ft. diameter area due to their six legs.
Ollorogs are highly sensitive to sunlight and so are usually found only at night. They have a powerful digging ability that allows them to tunnel through one foot of earth each round. If caught out in the open at dawn, they will use this ability to dig a hole in the ground and bury themselves until dusk.
All ollorog have a ravenous appetite and are constantly on the hunt for food during the night hours. Thus, because of their limited intelligence, they can be easily distracted by some food left behind by fleeing prey.
Ollorogs speak Giant.
Combat
Ollorogs prey on any and all creatures, using their swarming groups and a toxic bite to subdue their foe. They attack primarily with their front claws and a fanged mouth. The two large fangs are equipped with a paralyzing toxin. They can wrap victims in a silk cocoon that is tough enough to hold all but the most powerful foes.
Cocoon (Ex): Due to their merged form, the web silk of an ollorog is insufficiently strong to create a silk strand strong enough to support their own weight. Instead when the victim is paralyzed, the ollorog wraps it in a silk coccoon (Escape DC 20; Break DC 28; 10 hp). Wrapping a paralyzed victim requires a full minute of activity.
Light Sensitivity (Su): Ollorogs suffer a -1 penalty to attack rolls in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Paralysis (Ex): Those bitten by an ollorog must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 14) or be paralyzed by a toxin for 1d6+2 minutes.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire, cold, and acid deal normal damage to an ollorog. If an ollorog loses a limb or body part, the lost portion regrows after an hour. Severed members can not be reattached.
Rend (Ex): If an ollorog hits with both claw attacks, it latches onto the opponent's body and tears the flesh. This attack automatically deals an additional 2d4 points of damage.
Ollorog Society
Ollorogs prefer the mountainous heights or the safety of the subterranean depths. Ordinarily the males travel in small groups of one to four. During their infrequent mating season, however, they will wander the lowlands while traversing the distance to distant mountain habitats. These ollorog males rove the lands in swarming groups, ravishing the lowlands for any form of prey.
Female ollorog form packs with the eldest serving as their leader. These packs will drive away any males who are not rutting. Eligible males battle amongst themselves to determine the dominant male, and the winner mates with the entire pack. Due to their regenerative abilities, these battles can be long, drawn out affairs. But sooner or later one of the males will acknowledge the other as superior.
As the ollorogs are outcasts from their ancestral deities, they worship no god. Instead they follow a form of creator worship, a religious belief that provides no shamanistic magical benefits, but does provide some degree of cultural identity.
Pigmy Orc
Small Humanoid (Orc)
| Hit Dice: | 1/2d8 (2 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 20 ft. |
| AC: | 12 (+1 size, +1 Dex) |
| Attacks: | Club +2 melee; or sling +1 ranged |
| Damage: | Club 1d6+1; or sling 1d4 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Qualities: | Darkvision 60 ft., group regeneration, light sensitivity |
| Saves: | Fort +0, Ref +3, Will -1 |
| Abilities: | Str 12, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 6, Wis 9, Cha 8 |
| Skills: | Hide +5, Listen +4, Spot +4 |
| Feats: | Alertness |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land and underground |
| Organization: | Gang (2-4), squad (11-20) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1/2 |
| Treasure: | 50% standard |
| Alignment: | Always lawful evil |
| Advancement: | By character class |
These creatures are the diminutive offspring of orcs that have been cursed by the gods. They have the appearance of a dwarven orc with an ivory horn in the center of their scalp. Their flesh is blue in hue and they have little body hair. They are fierce and unyielding in nature but none too intelligent.
Combat
Pigmy orcs normally wield crude weapons, such as clubs, staffs, slings, or knives. Their leaders will sometimes have slightly better weapons and even wear some armor. While small in stature, they have an unusual regenerative quality that makes them tough, scrappy fighters. They can sometimes continue to battle after normal orcs would have fled the field.
Group Regeneration (Su): Any pigmy orc has a shared pool of regeneration hit points with any other nearby pigmy orcs. This pool is equal to 4hp per pigmy orc within a 100 ft. radius, and the points are drawn randomly from those within the radius. If a pigmy orc is damaged while points remain within this pool, any damage inflicted is treated as subdual damage. The horn of the wounded pigmy orc glows with a faint blue and it recovers 2hp per round from the available pool until fully healed. Once the pool is exhausted, pigmy orcs no longer regenerate and they suffer normal damage. The pool is recovered at the rate of 1hp per day for each pigmy orc.
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Pigmy orcs suffer a -1 penalty to attack rolls in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Pigmy Orc Society
At best these dull-witted beings have only a simple culture and dwell in the most primitive conditions. They are capable of building crude walls, scavenging for food, and making primitive clothes. They have no written language and they communicate through gestures and a series of grunts.
Orcs universally despise Pigmy Dwarves and will torment them for simple pleasure. As a result they have been driven to the most mediocre territory in the underground realm, dwelling among cramped caves and tunnels. They also have a fierce rivalry with Kobolds and the two will attack each other on sight.
The horns of the Pigmy orcs have a certain medicinal value that is known to some sages and herbalists. Each horn is worth 5gp if a buyer can be located.
Plasma Dog
Small Elemental (Fire)
| Hit Dice: | 1d8+2 (6 hp) |
| Initiative: | +4 (Dex) |
| Speed: | fly 40 ft. (good) |
| AC: | 15 (+1 size, +4 Dex) |
| Attacks: | Singe +6 melee; or spit +5 ranged |
| Damage: | Singe 1d4+1; or spit 1d3 fire |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Envelop, spit fire |
| Special Qualities: | Elemental, fire subtype, immunities, vulnerabilities |
| Saves: | Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +0 |
| Abilities: | Str 12, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 3, Wis 11, Cha 8 |
| Skills: | Hide +8, Listen +3, Spot +3 |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (singe) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any non-arctic land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary, Pair, or Pack (4-12) |
| Challenge Rating: | 2 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always Neutral |
| Advancement: | 2-4 HD (Small); 5-6 HD (Medium-size) |
These ravenous creatures from the elemental plane of fire resemble dogs that are composed entirely of golden orange flames. Where their head might be, however, exist only clawing fingers of red fire. They maneuver rapidly through the air and never seem to stand still for a moment.
The plasma dog is only at home in extremely hot conditions, and must linger in such an environment to survive. Temperatures cool enough for water to condense will soon kill a plasma dog. These creatures are quite social and are often found in a pack that often behaves like a group of wolves. There is always a pack leader and a hierarchy in such a group. The strongest individuals are expected to attack any enemies first, but always gain the best fuel and the right to breed with the slightly smaller females.
Plasma dogs will consume any form of flammable materials, including clothing and other equipment. Plasma dogs have an insatiable hunger and will hunt for fuel even in conditions they find uncomfortable. They have the ability to limit what they incinerate with their body, waiting instead to consume fuel through their mouths. Thus contact with a plasma dog dos not automatically ignite an object.
Combat
In many aspects they closely resemble their more powerful cousins. However the much quicker plasma dogs have the ability to fly and they can spit balls of flame. Fortunately they are relatively vulnerable creatures and easily slain if they can be hit. The primary form of attack for a plasma dog is to envelop their target with their body and consume it with heat. They can also spit a ball of red flames at nearby targets from above, although they normally do so only against targets they have reason to fear.
Spit Fire (Su): A plasma dog can spit a ball of flame inflicting 1d3 fire damage as a standard action. The attack has a range increment of 10 ft.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the plasma dog must hit with its slam attack. If it gets a hold, it can envelop.
Envelop (Ex): A plasma dog deals automatic heat damage with a successful grapple check.
Fire Subtype (Ex): Fire immunity, double damage from cold or water except on a successful save.
Immunities (Ex): Wood, stone, and other non-metallic weapons only do half-normal damage to a Plasma Dog.
Vulnerabilities (Ex): Temperatures below the sea level boiling point of water will inflict 1hp of damage per hour to a plasma dog. Exposure to temperatures below freezing will inflict 1hp of damage per minute. They will also suffer damage from strong winds, losing 1hp per round for each 5 mph above 25 mph. Complete immersion in water will automatically slay a Plasma Dog.
Rataga
Large Outsider (Evil, Lawful)
| Hit Dice: | 4d8+12 (30 hp) |
| Initiative: | +4 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 30 ft. |
| AC: | 21 (-1 size, +4 Dex, +8 natural) |
| Attacks: | +7 composite longbow ranged; or +9 bite melee |
| Damage: | Composite longbow (1d8, x3 crit.); or bite 1d8+5 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Spell-like abilities, stench, smite good, curve flight |
| Special Qualities: | Cold and fire resistance 10, damage reduction 5/+1, SR 8, immunities, rat empathy, scent |
| Saves: | Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +6 |
| Abilities: | Str 21, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 14, Cha 17 |
| Skills: | Climb +7, Hide +5, Intimidation +9, Knowledge (planes) +7, Listen +7, Move Silently +8, Search +5, Spot +9 |
| Feats: | Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (longbow) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary, team (2-5), or squad (6-10, and 11-20 dire rats) |
| Challenge Rating: | 5 |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Always lawful evil |
| Advancement: | 5-7 HD (Large); 8-10 HD (Huge) |
The rataga is a member of the elite personal bodyguard and retinue of a demon lord, and usually resides on the plane of pestilence. This fiend has a dark-brown serpentine lower body, a rat-like head and torso, and two hairy, humanoid arms. Rataga are sneaky warriors who regard themselves as the peak of rodent-kind, and expect no less than total subjugation and loyalty by their lessors.
The rataga have their own peculiar concept of honor, but they do hold the clan warrior code in the highest regard. They view fights to the death as contemptuous bravado, while fleeing the field of battle to strike another day is a righteous duty to their lord. They are a trickster race, but proudly faithful to their creed. The greatest heroes among the rataga boast loudly of triumphs won through surprise and cunning, while would-be champions who win battles through brute force combat are lambasted as fools.
Each of the rataga clans has a great bone cage structure, known as the Vilaster, formed from the remains of their defeated enemies. They wheel these creaking monstrosities proudly into battle, often placing the huge assemblage in plain sight to cow and mislead their foes. When opened the cage unleashes a tidal wave of vicious dire rats to lead the assault. On the rare occasions that the rataga takes captives they are carried home inside this cage. The rataga never take hostages, however, preferring instead to see defeated foes being bloodily consumed in a pit filled with ravenous rats.
Combat
The rataga prefers to fight from hiding, sending in his dire rat allies to directly attack the enemies. While his foes are occupied the Rataga relies on his skill with a bow and his ability to bend the flight of the missile to strike at foes from hiding. He will also use spell-like powers to further wear down opponents before closing for melee combat. In close combat his noxious odor will serve to weaken his foes at a key moment.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will-clairvoyance, death knell, entropic shield, ray of enfeeblement, shatter, speak with animals, and summon monster I (fiendish dire rat); 1/day- blindness/deafness, contagion, giant vermin, and poison. These abilities are as the spells cast by a 7th-level sorcerer (save DC 13 + spell level.)
Immunities (Ex): Rataga are completely immune to disease and the curse of lycanthropy.
Curve Flight (Su): Rataga is able to curve the flight path of any ranged attack they perform by up to ninety degrees. This change in flight path must occur within 15 ft. of the rataga.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the rataga can make a normal attack to deal +4 additional damage against a good foe.
Stench (Ex): A rataga constantly emits a vile odor that almost every creature finds sickening. All creatures (except rataga, wererats, dire rats, and normal rats) within 15 ft. of the rataga must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 14) or suffer 1d3 points of temporary Strength damage.
Rat Empathy (Ex): The rataga can communicate and empathize with normal and dire rats. They gain a +4 racial bonus to checks when influencing the animal's attitude and allows the communication of simple concepts and (if the animal is friendly) commands.
Sand Slime
Medium-size Ooze
| Hit Dice: | 2d10+14 (25 hp) |
| Initiative: | -5 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 15 ft. |
| AC: | 5 (-5 Dex) |
| Attacks: | Slam +1 melee |
| Damage: | Slam 1d6 and petrify |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Improved grab, petrify |
| Special Qualities: | Blindsight, fire immunity, ooze, camouflage, colony |
| Saves: | Fort +2, Ref -5, Will -3 |
| Abilities: | Str 11, Dex 1, Con 14, Int -, Wis 4, Cha 1 |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any underground |
| Organization: | Solitary or colony (2-20,000) |
| Challenge Rating: | 2 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Usually Neutral |
| Advancement: | 3-4 HD (Medium-size); 5-6 HD (Large) |
This mottled tan ooze resembles a mass of liquid stone. Due to its appearance it is often able to blend into the surrounding stone, appearing as a seam of sandstone. Individually these slimes exist only to consume living matter. They dwell deep underground in warm passages, sliding along tunnels or squeezing through narrow cracks in search of organic matter, whether alive or dead.
Combat
Sand slimes move slowly along passages, using their natural camouflage to ambush victims. It attacks any creature it encounters, seeking to smother the form with its mineral secretions. Once the target is hardened, the sand slime slowly will absorb the organic matter over the course of several days.
A sand slime replicates by forming buds that split off and form new sand slimes. As long as a bud remains within a five mile radius of its relatives, it forms part of a colony of slimes that can gain a collective intelligence. The slimes in the colony are linked together and operate as a single being. They can cooperate to attack foes or work for mysterious purposes of their own. Such a mind is utterly alien in nature, and it shares all the immunities of individual stone slimes.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the sand slime must hit with its slam attack. If it gets a hold it can petrify.
Petrify (Ex): A sand slime secretes an insidious mineral substance that immobilizes flesh. A target hit by a sand slime's melee attack must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 14) or suffer temporary 1d4 Dex damage. Whenever the dexterity of the target is dropped to zero by these secretions, the target becomes petrified as the flesh to stone spell cast by a 12th level sorcerer. However the process of petrification requires an hour to complete.
Blindsight (Ex): The slime's entire body is a primitive sensory organ that can ascertain prey by scent and vibration within 60 feet.
Ooze (Ex): Immune to mind-influencing effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and polymorphing. Not subject to critical hits.
Colony (Ex): The collective intelligence of a colony of related sand slimes is one point for each doubling of the numbers. A colony of two slimes has an Int of 1, four slimes has an Int of 2, eight slimes has an Int of 3, and so forth. As the collective intelligence increases the colony can coordinate its attacks and react to opponents.
Camouflage (Ex): A motionless sand slime has an effective hide skill of +12.
Scallion
Large Outsider (Earth)
| Hit Dice: | 7d8+70 (101 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 40 ft., burrow 15 ft. |
| AC: | 20 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +10 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 claws +10 melee, bite +8 melee |
| Damage: | Claw 1d8+4, bite 2d6+4 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft. (10 ft.) |
| Special Attacks: | Improved grab, rake 1d8+2 |
| Special Qualities: | Metalsight, electricity resistance 10, vulnerabilities |
| Saves: | Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +7 |
| Abilities: | Str 19, Dex 12, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 4 |
| Skills: | Climb +10, Intuit Direction +11, Listen +7, Move Silently +4, Spot +7 |
| Feats: | Blind-fight, Multiattack |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any underground |
| Organization: | Solitary, Pair, or Brood (2-5) |
| Challenge Rating: | 9 |
| Treasure: | Double gems only |
| Alignment: | Always Neutral |
| Advancement: | 8-13 HD (Huge) |
This beast has a smooth, pear-shaped torso, with six double-jointed legs, and a single, razor-sharp bronze talon at the end of each limb. The head is attached to a long, flexible pipe that emerges from the top of the torso. A large mouth in the head is filled with bristling spines of polished titanium that can eat through common metal ore like butter. A scallion is completely blind, but it can sense any traces of processed metals from a distance. Unfortunately, the scallion is a formidable opponent that will challenge even the best-equipped warriors.
The scallion exists only to consume rich ore veins found deep within the earth. It is completely lost outside its home plane, and considers the world to be a desert with only a few prime sources of metal. Processed ores, such as plate armor or steel swords, are a delicacy to the Scallion, and it will hunt down a group of well-armed fighters seeking only to consume their metal goods.
Combat
The scallion relies on senses other than sight to attack its foes, so it only suffers a blindness penalty when it is facing a foe that carries no metal. They can sense the presence of any refined metals within 60 ft. and will immediately seek them out. Their hunger is not easily sated and they will continue to seek out any remaining metal sources until they have consumed at least 40 lbs. in a one hour period.
It attacks by trying to pierce a foe with its front talons and then driving home the back four legs. A successful attack with both front legs will allow the Scallion to make four additional rake attacks. The head of the Scallion can also reach up to 10 ft. away to bite a foe.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the scallion must hit with both its claws. If it gets a hold, it can rake.
Metalsight (Ex): A scallion is blind but can sense the presence of any raw and processed metallic ores within 60 feet, even through intervening layers of rock or other solids. This sense can only be blocked by water or certain magical fields such as a wall of force. A creature is effectively invisible to the scallion if it is wearing no metal and has no metallic equipment or body parts.
Rake (Ex): A scallion that gets a hold can make four rake attacks (+8 melee) with its hind limbs for 1d8+2 damage each.
Vulnerabilities: A scallion that fails its saving throw against a cold-based attack is slowed as the slow spell cast by a 5th level Wizard. In temperatures below freezing the creature will become unusually stiff and its attacks receive a -4 penalty. Scallions take double damage from any liquid water-based attack, and is automatically shaken for 1d6 rounds whenever it contacts a large body of water. If a Scallion fails a saving throw against an electrical attack, it suffers rage as the emotion spell cast by a 7th level Wizard. In this state it will bite the nearest source of metal until it is fully consumed, regardless of the amount of damage suffered and the presence of other sources of metal.
Sea Giant
Gargantuan Giant
| Hit Dice: | 16d8+96 (168 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 (Dex) |
| Speed: | swim 50 ft. |
| AC: | 17 (-4 size, +1 Dex, +10 natural) |
| Attacks: | Gargantuan shortspear +17/+12/+7 melee; or gargantuan net +17/+12/+7 melee |
| Damage: | Gargantuan shortspear 2d8+9; or gargantuan net |
| Face/Reach: | 20 ft. by 20 ft./20 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Dominate animal |
| Special Qualities: | Water breathing |
| Saves: | Fort +16, Ref +6, Will +6 |
| Abilities: | Str 28, Dex 12, Con 23, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 9 |
| Skills: | Intuit Direction +3, Knowledge (underwater nature) +3, Listen +9 |
| Feats: | Exotic Weapon (net) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Underwater |
| Organization: | Solitary, gang (2-5), hunting/raiding party (6-9 plus 1-3 orca whale or 2-4 huge shark), or tribe (21-30) |
| Challenge Rating: | 13 |
| Treasure: | No coins; double goods; standard items |
| Alignment: | Usually lawful evil |
| Advancement: | By character class |
This enormous race of seafaring amphibians shares a common ancestor with the lizardmen. Some time in the distant past, however, they were changed into the largest of the common giant races. The hands of the sea giants are webbed, but capable of handling weapons and tools fashioned from coral. A spiked dorsal fin peaks at the rib cage, then runs the length of their back to the tail. The ocean water supports much of their vast bulk, and they are incapable of standing upright on dry land, even if they had legs instead of a vertical tail.
The tough, slick, dark-green hide of the sea giant provides considerable protection, and streamlines their movement through the water. Their eyes are slitted vertically much like a cat, and provide excellent vision underwater. They also have large, spiked ears that sense minute noises from passing fishes and other denizens of the depths.
Combat
Sea giants travel in small hunting parties to trap and slay large sea creatures, such as whales or giant sharks. They even gather orcas to join their hunt and round up the prey. Typically, a sea giant hunting party is armed with razor-sharp coral spears, and they employ a large net made from tough shark hide.
Dominate Animal (Su): Sea giants can use dominate animal 3 times per day as the spell cast by a 5th level Druid.
Water Breathing (Ex): Sea giants can breathe underwater indefinitely.
Skills: A sea giant gains a +8 racial bonus to Listen checks while underwater.
Sea Giant Society
The sea giant clans typically reside in clusters of underwater caves, surrounded by delightful gardens decorated by beautiful coral and many tropical fishes. The clans grow extensive fields of seaweed in the ocean shallows. They have some limited commerce with lizardmen, but usually avoid contact with any other surface dwellers. They are greatly feared and hated by other intelligent sea dwellers, which they enslave to work the farms.
There may be a rare offshoot of the sea giants who inhabit large, freshwater lakes. These are smaller than their sea-going cousins, and are not held in high regard by true sea giants. Even their cultures are quite divergent, with lake giants being said to be far more benevolent and sophisticated than the somewhat brutal sea giants. Most sea giants avoid unsalted water unless necessary, so the two races rarely meet.
Sharod
Large Elemental (Cold, Water)
| Hit Dice: | 6d8 (27 hp) |
| Initiative: | +2 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 30 ft. |
| AC: | 15 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +4 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 appendages +3 melee |
| Damage: | Appendage 1d8 and cold |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Cold |
| Special Qualities: | Cold subtype, fast healing 2, form weapons, immunities, khadol |
| Saves: | Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +2 |
| Abilities: | Str 11, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 7 |
| Skills: | Hide +4, Listen +6, Move Silently +9, Search +6, Spot +8 |
| Feats: | Lightning Reflexes |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any arctic land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary, gang (2-4), or pack (5-20) |
| Challenge Rating: | 4 |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Always lawful evil |
| Advancement: | By character class |
The body of the sharod consists of a thick, serpentine tail attached to a humanoid upper torso, head and two arms. Due to their appearance, these creatures have often been called an ice naga. Such a name is a misnomer, however, as they are purely an elemental being. Most of their body is composed of a blue, watery liquid that acts as a powerful anti-freeze. Even in the most extreme cold temperatures the liquid body of a sharod stays fluid. The body is held together by an icy skeletal structure that is clearly visible through their liquid form. This ice is tougher than bone and is very difficult to hit or damage.
The sharod like to draw certain nutrients from the bodies of their fallen foes. They usually allow the body to freeze and then dissolve the precious nutrients by wrapping it in their body.
Combat
The surprisingly quick sharod attacks with icy weapons they form at the end of their arms. All such weapons do 1d8hp of physical damage when they strike a foe, plus additional cold damage from each attack. The balance provided by heavy tail allows the sharod to perform an attack with each of their arms during the same round. When a Sharod is killed its body will collapse in a pool of blue slush, leaving only a hard, icy skeleton.
Cold (Ex): The body of the sharod generates intense cold, dealing an additional +2 damage with each hit. Creatures attacking a sharod unarmed or with natural weapons take cold damage each time their attacks hit.
Cold Subtype (Ex): Cold immunity; double damage from fire except on a successful save. The sharod dislikes bodies of liquid water and suffers 1hp of dissolving damage per round it is immersed.
Fast Healing (Ex): In temperatures below freezing the body of a sharod normally heals 2 points of damage per round. When it has lost more than half its total hit points, the slushy body will only heal 1 point of damage per round.
Form Weapons (Ex): While they appear unarmed, the sharod is able to form icy appendages at the end of their arms that serve as weapons. These appendages can be a sword, hammer, hook, or club. The ice weapons can be altered or repaired at will as a free action.
Immunities (Ex): Because they lack flesh or internal organs, they normally take only half damage from piercing or slashing weapons. Once a sharod has lost more than half its total hit points the body is sufficiently slushy that it takes full damage from slashing weapons.
Khadol (Ex): A mental tie known as the khadol allows each of the clutch members to know the position and physical health of its fellows. This tie can last for many years, although it usually only lasts into adulthood for the closest of siblings. The range of this ability is unlimited.
Sharod Society
The sharod forms an elite warrior force on the ice para-elemental plane. They are completely loyal to their current master and will fight until death to protect their ward. They normally form tight-knit clans that will defend each others honor to the last drop of their bodies. They are known to hold grudges for many generations, and it is not unknown for Sharod clans to eradicate each other over a "blood" feud. Sharod are cruel and ruthless warriors, and they gleefully enjoy tormenting their foes.
They reproduce by merging the bodies of a male and female and then splitting into a clutch of 5-8 hatchlings. Thus each hatchling has a memory of its ancestors stretching back many centuries.
Sharod Characters
A sharod's favored class is fighter. Most sharod leaders are fighters or warriors. Sharod clerics worship a lesser god of cold and winter and can choose any two of the following domains: evil, law, storm and water.
Silver Floater
Huge Aberration
| Hit Dice: | 2d8-4 (5 hp) |
| Initiative: | +3 (Dex) |
| Speed: | fly 30 ft. (clumsy) |
| AC: | 11 (-2 size, +3 Dex) |
| Attacks: | 4 lashes +1 melee |
| Damage: | Lash 1d6+2 and jolt |
| Face/Reach: | 10 ft. by 10 ft./15 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Jolt, swallow |
| Special Qualities: | Blindsight, electricity and cold resistance |
| Saves: | Fort -2, Ref +3, Will +4 |
| Abilities: | Str 15, Dex 16, Con 6, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 5 |
| Skills: | Listen +4, Spot +4 |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any wet or humid land |
| Organization: | Solitary or Colony (5-20) |
| Challenge Rating: | 2 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 3-5 HD (Huge) |
These huge, floating bags closely resemble a flying man o' war jellyfish. They typically dwell in moist environments that are free of large growths, such as clearings in a tropical forest or along rivers. They possess some maneuverability but are usually subject to the whims of the winds. Electric stinging cells on their outer sack protect them against birds and other flying predatory. Floaters sometimes hunt in packs, communicating via tiny electrical flashes.
Combat
Since they make no noise, floaters will often gain complete surprise for their strike. However, they are not well armored against attack, relying on their height and extension to remain out of reach of ground beasts. They hunt by floating over a target, then reaching down to lash at the victim with their flexible tendrils. The victim is repeatedly jolted with electric shocks, then drawn into the inner sack for digestion. Floaters only hunt for food, and will depart after capturing a live meal.
Blindsight (Ex): Silver floaters can "see" prey through their faint electrical emissions, allowing them to hunt in total darkness. This ability will not operate during rainfall, or if the creature is incorporeal or has electricity resistance or immunity.
Jolt (Ex): Creatures hit by a silver floater's lash attack, or creatures that hit the silver floater with a melee attack, must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 8) or be paralyzed for 2d4 rounds. This effect is cumulative.
Swallow (Ex): A silver floater can try to swallow a paralyzed opponent of Medium-size or smaller by making a successful grapple check. Once inside, the opponent takes 1d6 points of acid damage per round from the silver floater's digestive sack. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using claws or a Tiny or Small slashing weapon to deal enough damage to kill the silver floater.
Snoz
Large Aberration
| Hit Dice: | 6d8+12 (39 hp) |
| Initiative: | +7 (Dex, Improved Initiative) |
| Speed: | 5 ft., fly 30 ft. (good), swim 10 ft. |
| AC: | 18 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +6 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 snots +7 ranged touch, slam +0 melee |
| Damage: | Slam 1d4+1 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Snot, erupting pores, improved grab, constrict 1d4+1 |
| Special Qualities: | Immunities, blindsight, scent, fly |
| Saves: | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +7 |
| Abilities: | Str 12, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 4 |
| Skills: | Hide +12, Intuit Direction +7, Listen +4, Move Silently +10, Search +5 |
| Feats: | Improved Initiative |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any underground |
| Organization: | Solitary, Pair, or Cluster (2-5) |
| Challenge Rating: | 5 |
| Treasure: | No coins or goods; 50% items (alchemical or potion only) |
| Alignment: | Usually neutral |
| Advancement: | 7-8 HD (Large); 9-12 HD (Huge) |
(Note: this creature is primarily intended for campy-style adventures.) A snoz is an eight-foot-tall form that is shaped much like a large, humanoid nose. It has two large nasal cavities from which hang a tangle of quivering, hairy tendrils. The back of the snoz is covered by a dense mane of dark, shiny hair. The flesh of the snoz can range from a mottled dark gray to a uniform pale pinkish hue, and the form can vary from a wide flat nose to a long snout. The snoz is completely mute and it can only communicates with its own kind by emitting various scents. These scents will often linger in the air for days, allowing the snoz to leave simple messages.
Combat
Snoz are cautious creatures that prefer to avoid a foe unless they have the advantage. They are not physically powerful and rely on their unusual abilities to overcome their opponents. The snoz attempt to surprise their foes, striking without warning and keeping them off balance.
Blindsight (Ex): Snoz can ascertain all foes within 20 feet as a sighted creature would. Beyond that range, they treat all targets as totally concealed. Snoz are susceptible to scent-based attacks, and are affected normally by overpowering odors (such as stinking cloud or incense-heavy air). Negating a snoz's sense of smell effectively blinds the creature.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the snoz must hit with its slam attack. If it gets a hold, it can constrict using its hair tendrils.
Constrict (Ex): A snoz deals 1d4+1 damage with its hair tendrils on a successful grapple check against Medium-size or smaller creatures.
Erupting Pores (Su): Once per minute the pores along the front of the Snoz can emit a dense cloud of black powder. This fine material lingers in the air for 2d6 rounds, producing an effect identical a deeper darkness spell. A wind stronger than a light breeze will disperse the cloud after a full round.
Snot (Su): A snoz can project two globs of slimy mucus from their nasal openings. Medium-size or smaller targets struck by these globs must make a Reflex saving throw at DC 15 or be entangled. Theu globs have an Escape DC of 20; a Break DC of 25; and 10 hit points.
Flight (Ex): A snoz's body is naturally buoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a free action, at a speed of 30 ft. This buoyancy also grants it a permanent feather fall effect with personal range.
Immunities: Snoz are immune to gaze attacks, visual effects, illusions, and other attack forms that rely on sight.
Smoke Snake
Medium-Size Outsider (Air, Fire)
| Hit Dice: | 1d8+2 (6 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 (Dex) |
| Speed: | fly 15 ft. (good) |
| AC: | 11 (+1 Dex) |
| Attacks: | Singe +1 melee |
| Damage: | Singe 1d4 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Infiltrate |
| Special Qualities: | Chrysalis, Damage Reduction 10/cold, Smoke Body |
| Saves: | Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +3 |
| Abilities: | Str -, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 |
| Skills: | Hide +11, Listen +2, Spot +2 |
| Feats: | Toughness |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any woodlands |
| Organization: | Solitary or Cluster (2-5) |
| Challenge Rating: | 2 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 2-3 HD (Small) |
On their native plane of smoke these beings are very long, sinuous creatures that are noticeable only for their faint red hue. They commonly form small groups of intertwining snakes for defense against larger predators.
If they enter a harsh environment such as the prime material plane they will enter a chrysalis state. In this form they closely resemble a short, smooth piece of weathered driftwood. A traveler may find such a stick while out collecting firewood, then place it on a burning pile. Once in contact with an open flame, the smoke snake emerges from the chrysalis state and begins to take on its natural form - a serpentine creature made from smoke. However, this being will be very difficult to distinguish from the other smoke emerging from the fire, and therein lies the danger.
To lay its eggs, the smoke snake will now seek out a warm, sheltered place free from rain or other hazards. Often times, this will be the nostrils of a man or beast that is close to the fire. The Snake is relatively odorless, compared to normal smoke, and it may easy escape the notice of a sleeping victim when it enters the lungs. Once inside, the Snake begins to lay its wispy eggs, simultaneously causing the victim to choke and gag from lack of clean air.
Combat
The smoke snake attacks by burning the target with its hot body. It can also invade the lungs of a victim to gain shelter and lay its eggs. Those invaded in this manner are in for a very unpleasant time until the smoke snake is removed.
Chrysalis (Ex): As a full round action a smoke snake can enter a chrysalis state at will. While in this state the creature is indistinguishable from a small piece of firewood. It is immobile and has only a vague sense of its surroundings, eliminating its Dexterity score and reducing its Wisdom to 4. It can return to a smoke cloud as a full round action.
Fire Subtype (Ex): Fire immunity, double damage from cold except on a successful save.
Infiltrate (Ex): While in smoke form on a successful touch attack it can fully implant itself into the lungs of a physically substantial target. Each round thereafter the victim must make a Fortitude save at DC 15 or become nauseated for 1d6 rounds. They are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, and so on. The only action they can take is a single move, or move-equivalent action, per round. Once a minute the burning heat from the snake will inflict 1hp of subdual damage to the victim.
There are various magical means to remove the snake and its eggs from the lungs of the victim. The snake can be dismissed back to its native plane. It can also be compelled to leave by means of a charm monster or confusion spell. The victim can also become ethereal or change into a gaseous form, or they can use a spell of water breathing and submerge themselves. A cure disease spell will immediately kill the invader smoke snake.
Smoke Body (Ex): While in the form of a smoke cloud, a smoke snake can pass through small openings and always moves silently. It is all but invisible whenever it is inside a cloud of smoke from a fire, and receives the benefit of 100% concealment. While in this form it can attack gaseous or vaporous targets.
Skills: Smoke snakes receive a +8 racial bonus to Hide checks.
Sonic Nightmare
Small Elemental (Air)
| Hit Dice: | 2d8 (9 hp) |
| Initiative: | +4 (Dex) |
| Speed: | fly 30 ft. (good) |
| AC: | 15 (+1 size, +4 Dex) |
| Attacks: | Hum +4 melee |
| Damage: | Hum 1d4 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Fascinate, spell-like abilities |
| Special Qualities: | Acid, cold, and fire resistance 10; blindsight, elemental, immune to sonic energy |
| Saves: | Fort -1, Ref +7, Will +1 |
| Abilities: | Str 10, Dex 18, Con 9, Int 9, Wis 13, Cha 15 |
| Skills: | Hide +9, Intuit Direction +5, Listen +10, Move Silently +7, Perform (hum, sound mimicry) +9, Spot +5 |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (hum) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land or underground |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 2 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 3-5 HD (Small); 6-9 HD (Medium-size) |
The sonic is a being from the elemental plane of air that exists only as a complex soliton wave in the atmosphere. Other beings will see this entity only as a slight rippling effect in the air that emits a high-pitched warbling sound resembling vibrating crystal. The sonic is attracted to any new noises in the vicinity, and will close to investigate. While not overtly hostile, the sonic is mysteriously enraged by certain low frequency sounds and will relentlessly attack until it has damaged or destroyed the source of the noise.
The sonic nightmare is seemingly a natural elemental phenomenon, as these beings do not breed with each other and rarely interact. They seem to find each other's presence especially painful and will usually flee if another of their kind is present. The nightmare seems to have no material needs and will continue to sustain itself as long as an atmosphere is present.
A sonic nightmare is actually capable of learning a language and communicating if a means can be found to train it. The nature of a nightmare allows it to produce perfect musical tones, and it can produce beautiful, haunting musical patterns once it has been exposed to the concept of singing.
Combat
The primary attack of a sonic nightmare is a climbing hum that causes painful muscle contractions and a headache in its victims. It is able to focus this sonic blast in a narrow area that impacts like a physical blow. It can also produce various sonic-based effects intended to deter or harm potential threats. Note that a sonic nightmare can exist inside an area of magical silence, although it is unable to attack while silenced.
Blindsight (Ex): Sonic nightmares can sense their surroundings by emitting high-frequency sounds, inaudible to most other creatures, that allow them to locate objects and creatures within 120 feet. A silence spell negates this ability, effectively producing an area of darkness that the sound sense of the nightmare can not penetrate.
Fascinate (Ex): The sonic nightmare can fascinate a single creature with its humming ability in the same manner as a bard.
Spell-like Abilities: At will-ghost sound; 3/day-shatter, sound burst, ventriloquism; 1/day-shout.
Elemental: Immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, and stunning. Not subject to critical hits.
Skills: Sonic nightmares gain a +8 racial bonus to Listen checks, and a +4 racial bonus to sound-based Perform checks.
Spinar
Large Elemental (Air)
| Hit Dice: | 4d8+8 (26 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 (Dex) |
| Speed: | fly 30 ft. (good) |
| AC: | AC: 10 (-1 size, +1 Dex) |
| Attacks: | Shock +2 melee |
| Damage: | Shock 1d4 and disruption |
| Face/Reach: | 10 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Iron telekinesis, disruption |
| Special Qualities: | Magnetic sense, field form, elemental, metal sense, fieldless confusion |
| Saves: | Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1 |
| Abilities: | Str -, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 4, Wis 13, Cha 8 |
| Skills: | Intuit Direction +2, Listen +3, Spot +3 |
| Feats: | Flyby Attack |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land or underground |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 5 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 5-8 HD (Large) |
The spinar is a being drawn from the magnetic polarity of the quasi-elemental plane of lightning. The shape of a Spinar is roughly that of a torus, floating and wobbling in mid air with the central opening perpendicular to the ground. It is nearly invisible to sight, unless the observer is able to detect its magnetic effects. It can easily pass through most solid materials without effect, as long as there is even a weak magnetic field present that it can use to levitate. The spinar is particularly attracted to ferrous metals and will spend much of its time seeking such materials in an effort to return to its homeland.
Unless dislodged from its habitat by some means, it is content to bathe itself in a powerful magnetic field. If summoned from the field, it becomes confused and irrational, often moving at random and dragging along bits and pieces of iron and other ferrous materials it may find lying about. The only location where it can again find contentment is in the liquid metal core of a planet. This creature has little comprehension of the surface world, other than to know it is mostly barren of iron. The weak magnetic field at the surface confuses the directional sense of the spinar, so it seems to move without purpose.
The spinar seems to have a steadying effect on certain strong magnetic fields on the quasi-elemental plane of lightning. If they are dislodged from their natural place in this world all sorts of strange auroras and electrical effects occur in the vicinity. These beings neither provide sustenance for other beings nor consume life forms in their home plane.
Combat
Magnetic Sense (Ex): Spinars can sense the presence of any ferrous metals and magnetic fields through solid objects within 120 feet. This includes the field emitted by lightning-effect magic spells.
Disruption (Ex): Anyone hit by a spinar's shock attack must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 13) or be stunned for 1d4 rounds and suffer a point of temporary Dexterity damage due to severe neural disruption. Creatures hitting a spinar with metal weapons or unarmed attacks must also succeed the Fortitude save or be stunned and suffer temporary Dexterity damage. The effect of successive disruptions is cumulative upon the victim.
Field Form: Due to the purely magnetic nature of this being, it is normally invisible to the sense of sight. Its presence will only be sensed when it is manipulating metal or by the electrical discharge of its attack. It can pass through solid objects at will, and the jolt attack negates any non-metallic armor.
Iron Telekinesis (Ex): The spinar can manipulate any ferrous metals as per the telekinesis spell cast by a 10th level Sorcerer.
Fieldless Confusion: When not in the presence of a magnetic field, the spinar becomes confused as if affected by the arcane spell and behaves in an irrational manner until it locates a stabilizing field.
Elemental: Immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, and stunning. Not subject to critical hits.
Spine Worm
Medium-Size Beast
| Hit Dice: | 1d10+1 (6 hp) |
| Initiative: | +3 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 20 ft. |
| AC: | 17 (+3 Dex, +4 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 slams +4 melee |
| Damage: | Slam 1d3-1 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Constrict, improved grab |
| Special Qualities: | Immunities, scent |
| Saves: | Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +3 |
| Abilities: | Str 8, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 4, Wis 16, Cha 2 |
| Skills: | Hide +12, Listen +7, Spot +6 |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (spines) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any underground |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 1 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 2-3 HD (Medium-size); 4-5 HD (Large) |
The spine worm is an odd creature that has combines the physical features of a snake and a porcupine. It is almost completely covered in spines, giving it a hairy appearance. Because it lacks almost body pigment the spine worm is a pale pink in hue with only a slight brown tinge at the end of the longer quills.
Being native to the underground the spine worm is sightless and instead relies on its other senses to find prey. It has pit-like organs that provide darkvision to 60 ft. and both its olfactory and hearing senses are highly developed. The spine worm is not a good swimmer, and has a strong aversion to bodies of water.
The warm-blooded spine worm is constantly hungry and is always on the hunt for fresh prey. It aggressively stalks underground passages and caverns, striking at passing creatures from hiding places. When attacked by larger creatures, the spine worm expands its coating of quills and lashes its head and tail to jab its foes.
Combat
This creature attacks by wrapping itself around its prey then constricting to drive its spines into the body. Like a snake the spine worm can distend its mouth then ingests its prey whole. It is capable of swallowing creatures that are larger than its width, but will only rarely attack larger creatures. Its gullet is lined with several rows of teeth that allow it to rapidly grind up food and prevent the bulk from slowing it down.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the spine worm must hit with both its head and tail slam attacks. If it gets a hold it can constrict.
Constrict (Ex): A spine worm deals 1d6 points of spine damage with a successful grapple check against creatures no larger than its own size.
Immunities: Spine worms are immune to gaze attacks, visual effects, illusions, and other attack forms that rely on sight.
Stone Groll (Earth)
Small Beast
| Hit Dice: | 1/2d10 (5 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 50 ft. |
| AC: | 14 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +2 natural) |
| Attacks: | Bite +2 melee |
| Damage: | Bite 1d6+1 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Qualities: | Scent, water vulnerability |
| Saves: | Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +1 |
| Abilities: | Str 12, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 3, Wis 13, Cha 6 |
| Skills: | Climb +14, Hide +5, Listen +2, Spot +2 |
| Feats: | - |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any underground |
| Organization: | Bunch (2-5) or pack (6-20) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1/4 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 2-3 HD (Small) |
These furry, dark, egg-shaped creatures have small, slender limbs; large ears; beady red eyes; and a wide, drooling mouth filled with sharp, pointy teeth. They growl when approached and dart about with unusual speed. If they scent fear in their foes they are driven to a hunting frenzy. They will only eat fresh meat and any carcass more than two days old will be ignored after a brief smell.
Stone grolls normally live in a pack in caverns with large flat areas that are devoid of water. They form small packs in which a pecking order exists. The leaders are usually the strongest and most intelligent members of the pack, and determine whether to attack a particular foe. They utilize scouts to investigate areas ahead of the roving pack, and the yelps from these scouts will draw the immediate response from any grolls in the area.
Stone grolls can be tamed with some patience, although they are likely to revert to their wild ways given sufficient provocation.
Combat
Stone grolls attack with a bite of their powerful jaws. They like to overwhelm smaller prey with numbers by biting and dragging the victim to the ground. They also tend to run up walls at half their normal movement and surprise their prey by dropping on them from the ceiling. They rarely attack medium to large-sized creatures unless present in overwhelming numbers.
Water Vulnerability (Ex): Grolls suffer 1d4hp of damage per round that they are drenched or immersed in water. They are unable to swim and tend to sink like a stone.
Skills: Stone groll receive a +12 racial bonus to Climb checks.
Targ
Large Outsider
| Hit Dice: | 4d8+12 (30 hp) |
| Initiative: | +0 |
| Speed: | 30 ft., burrow 10 ft. |
| AC: | 21 (-1 size, +12 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 claws +9 melee |
| Damage: | Claw 1d6+5 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Chew, improved grab |
| Special Qualities: | Cold and fire resistance 10, scent |
| Saves: | Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +5 |
| Abilities: | Str 21, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 10 |
| Skills: | Climb +9, Hide +11, Intuit Direction +3, Listen +5, Spot +5 |
| Feats: | Endurance |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary or bunch (2-5) |
| Challenge Rating: | 4 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 5-8 HD (Huge) |
This beast inhabits the dark recesses of the nether planes, feeding off the carrion left by the demon hordes. Its formidable defenses consist of a tough, spiked carapace; eight stubby, taloned legs; and a beaked jaw wrapped by saw- toothed mandibles. The long talons allow the targ to cling to wall surfaces, or dig rapidly through soft earth. When a ready cave is not available, the targ excavates a den in the upper part of a wall from where it can hide until it spots a carcass it can drag back to its larval hatchlings. This creature is quite hardy, and can survive for lengthy periods without food or drink.
Combat
The targ attacks with its claws until it gains a good grasp of its victim, then it chews with its mandibles.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the targ must hit with both claw attacks. If it gets a hold, it can chew.
Chew (Ex): A targ that gets a hold can make a chew attack (+9 melee) with its mandibles for 1d8+5 points of damage.
Tree Shadow
Small Fey
| Hit Dice: | 1d6 (3 hp) |
| Initiative: | +2 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 40 ft. |
| AC: | 17 (+1 size, +4 Dex, +2 natural) |
| Attacks: | 2 claws +5 melee |
| Damage: | Claws 1d3-1 and wither |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Wither |
| Special Qualities: | Damage reduction 3/silver, fast healing 1, tree walk |
| Saves: | Fort +0, Ref +6, Will +3 |
| Abilities: | Str 8, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 4, Wis 13, Cha 16 |
| Skills: | Hide +11, Listen +3, Move Silently +6, Spot +3, Wilderness Lore +4 |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (claws) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any forest |
| Organization: | Solitary or pack (2-8) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral evil |
| Advancement: | 2-3 HD (Small) |
These dark, sinister forms dwell in the heart of a forest that has been twisted by evil sorcery. Born of the shy nature spirits that normally inhabit the woods, these beings have been tormented into near madness by the abominations perpetrated against their home. Now they lash out against any and all who invade their territory, including indigenous creatures and friends of the forest. A tree shadow usually inhabits the inky shadows at the base of a large tree. The dark, shadowy form resembles a mutilated fey creature made of wood, with two unblinking eyes that glow with a faint orange light.
Combat
Tree shadows silently stalk invaders through their native woods, sliding from tree to tree until a favorable opportunity allows the beast to strike. Tree shadows prefer to attack from hiding, waiting inside a tree until an opportune moment. They use their withering touch to then withdraw back into the wood, either to escape or to climb to the upper branches. Persistent intruders are often severely disfigured and left as a warning to others. The shadows are usually found alone, but will hunt in packs when many invaders are present.
Tree Walk (Su): A tree shadow can step into any normal tree as if it were incorporeal. They can also walk up through the interior of the tree at their normal movement rate. This ability will not function with a dead tree, a treant, or one in which a dryad dwells.
Wither (Su): The touch of a tree shadow can cause the flesh of a creature to brown and wither like an autumn leaf. The creature touched must succeed at a Fortitude save at DC 15 or suffer 1 point of temporary damage to their Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution. This ability has no effect on targets that are immune to necromantic effects.
Limitations: Tree shadows can not cross running water. They lose their fast healing ability when outside their native forest.
Umbra
Small Undead (Darkness)
| Hit Dice: | 1d12 (6 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 (Dex) |
| Speed: | fly 20 ft. (perfect) |
| AC: | 13 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +1 deflection) |
| Attacks: | Chill touch +1 melee |
| Damage: | Chill touch 1d4+1 and umbral mal |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Qualities: | Aversion to daylight, darkness, cold and fire immunity, undead, umbra weaknesses |
| Saves: | Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +2 |
| Abilities: | Str -, Dex 12, Con -, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 12 |
| Skills: | Hide +5, Listen +3, Move Silently +8, Spot +5 |
| Feats: | Flyby Attack |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any indoors or underground |
| Organization: | Solitary, gang (2-5), or swarm (6-11) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always chaotic evil |
| Advancement: | 2-4 HD (Medium-size) |
These nearly mindless, undead beings appear as a vaguely humanoid region of nebulous gloom. The area around the umbra is also dim as the negative aspect of their form abosrbs light energy. While they appear incorporeal they have a physical form composed of a dark cloud of ash remains. Because their form is somewhat structured they are not able to pass intact through small openings.
The umbra exists only as the ashes of a vengeful spirit. To create an umbra, a being must be affected by a geas or a lesser geas. The target must then be slain in a horribly painful manner. Finally the body is burned to ashes and magically animated by means of an animate dead spell. The umbra remains close to the location of its demise and will mindlessly attack any intruders. Once slain, the gloom vanishes and a cloud of dark gray ashes collapses to the floor.
Combat
The umbra attack by means of a chilling touch, which can invoke a chaotic negative energy state known as the umbral mal. They have a tendency to swarm an opponent, thus hindering their foe with a darkness ability. Umbras are vulnerable to wind and water, suffering disassociation when immersed or if exposed to strong air movements.
Aversion to Daylight (Ex): The umbra dislike sources of bright light. If exposed to natural daylight (not merely a daylight spell), they suffer a -4 morale penalty to all attack rolls.
Darkness (Su): When four or more umbras cluster within a 15 ft. radius, they form a region of impenetrable darkness. The effect is identical to a darkness spell cast by a 4th-level sorcerer. The umbras can still see clearly through their own darkness. Such clusters can overlap, producing overlapping spheres of darkness. A light spell used to dispel this darkness will immediately scatter the umbras outside the radius of illumination without provoking attacks of opportunity.
Umbral Mal (Su): If the target fails a Fortitude saving throw at DC 16, the touch of an umbra inflicts an umbral mal. Roll on the following table to determine the effect.
| 1d10 Roll |
Suffer Result |
Effect of the umbral mal |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Dread | The target is cowering with horror for one full round. |
| 3-4 | Blight | The target suffers from severe fatigue and is exhausted until he can get the required amount of rest. |
| 5 | Terror | The target is overtaken by visions of death and becomes panicked for 1d4 rounds. |
| 6 | Abyss | The target is overtaken by severe tremors and muscle spasms, suffering 2 points of temporary Dexterity damage. |
| 7-8 | Wrath | Target loses any Dex bonus to AC as he enters a berserk fighting frenzy. He can do nothing except perform an all out attack against the nearest opponent for a full round. |
| 9-0 | Folly | The target is wracked with dark humor and becomes stunned for a full round. |
Undead: Immune to mind-influencing effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and disease. Not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, energy drain, or death from massive damage.
Umbra Weaknesses: Entry into a body of water or the presence of a wind stronger than a breeze will inflict 1d4 hp of damage per round.
Virikas
Tiny Outsider (Chaotic, Evil)
| Hit Dice: | 1/2d8 (2 hp) |
| Initiative: | +3 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 20 ft. |
| AC: | 17 (+2 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural) |
| Attacks: | Bite +6 melee |
| Damage: | Bite 1d3-2 |
| Face/Reach: | 2-1/2 ft. by 2-1/2 ft./0 ft. |
| Special Qualities: | Damage reduction 2/silver, cold and fire resistance 20, scent, regeneration 1 |
| Saves: | Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +4 |
| Abilities: | Str 6, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 6 |
| Skills: | Hide +14, Move Silently +4 |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (bite) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any land and underground |
| Organization: | Swarm (10-40) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1/4 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always chaotic evil |
| Advancement: | - |
These diminutive, humanoid demons stand less than eighteen inches in height. Their flesh and hair is a flaming red hue, and their sharp fangs are constantly bloodstained. The demonic virikas enjoy preying on the sick and injured, and they attack in an excited, jabbering horde. Individually, the virikas are not much of a threat, but as a group they are even feared by other demons. They appear surrounded by a reddish mist resembling a cloud of blood.
Some believe burning flowers and incense can appease the virikas. In actuality they have a strong dislike of scented blossoms and will avoid areas heavy with flowers.
Combat
When given the opportunity they will attack from surprise, hiding from sight until an opportunity to strike presents itself. The virikas enjoy swarming foes, and rather than forming a line of battle will instead gang up against a few opponents. They will first attack those opponents who look the most vulnerable, avoiding tougher foes until the weaker party members have been cut down.
Regeneration (Ex): The virikas take normal damage from acid and from holy and blessed weapons.
Vugoo
Small Humanoid
| Hit Dice: | 1/2d8 (2 hp) |
| Initiative: | +0 |
| Speed: | 20 ft. |
| AC: | 12 (+1 size, +1 natural) |
| Attacks: | Hand axe -2 melee; or sling +0 ranged |
| Damage: | Hand axe 1d6-3; or sling 1d4 |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Qualities: | Darkvision 60 ft., light sensitivity, mind link |
| Saves: | Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +3 |
| Abilities: | Str 4, Dex 11, Con 10, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 6 |
| Skills: | Hide +7, Move Silently +2, Spot +5 |
| Feats: | Alertness |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any underground |
| Organization: | Gang (4-9), band (10-15), or tribe (16-100 plus 1 psion of 2nd-4th level per 32 adults) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1/6 |
| Treasure: | 50% standard |
| Alignment: | Always lawful neutral |
| Advancement: | By character class |
Physically, the vugoo is less than impressive. They have stooped shoulders, a protruding belly and short, knobby limbs. Their heads resemble a large, slightly curved bean, bending back over their scrawny, goitered neck. Although they wear little in the way of garb, other than a breach cloth, their tough, mud-colored flesh provides a measure of protection against wounds. The vugoo tribes live off roots, tubers, mushrooms, seeds, insects, and small game. They will consume just about anything they can readily catch.
Due to their unusual mental nature, when several vugoo from the same tribe are within 100 ft. of each other they are able to link mentally and increase their collective intelligence. On their own, they are very dull-witted creatures and barely able to employ the weapons they carry. As more vugoo gather together, however, they grow craftier and are able to employ improved tactics. In the presence of their entire tribe the vugoo can become very devious foes.
Combat
The vugoo are almost always to be found underground and they have adapted well to the darkness. Their weapons and armor is primitive, consisting of slings, flint-tipped axes, small spears, and knives. They sometimes wear animal hide wraps for protection, but they have never learned to make or employ shields. Their mental link allows them to coordinate attacks even when out of sight of each other and their enemies. They have no leaders as such, relying instead on rapid consensus to make decisions.
Light Sensitivity (Ex): Vugoo suffer a -1 penalty to attack rolls in daylight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
Mind Link (Ex): Due to their unusual mental nature, when several vugoo are within 100 ft. of each other they are able to link mentally and increase their collective intelligence. For each doubling of their numbers within the radius the intelligence of each vugoo increases by +2, up to a maximum of +10.
| Number of Vugoo |
Int. | Skills |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Hide +3, Move Silently +2, Spot +2 |
| 2-3 | 7 | Hide +4, Move Silently +2, Spot +2 |
| 4-7 | 9 | Hide +4, Move Silently +2, Spot +3 |
| 8-15 | 11 | Hide +4, Move Silently +2, Search +2, Spot +3 |
| 16-31 | 13 | Craft +2, Hide +4, Move Silently +2, Search +2, Spot +3 |
| 32+ | 15 | Craft +4, Hide +4, Move Silently +2, Search +3, Spot +3 |
They are also able to use this mind link as a form of telepathy to communicate silently with each other.
Vugoo Society
These diminutive creatures are almost always found gathered in small tribes within an underground mushroom forest. The vugoo live in hunter gatherer tribes, and the only reason they achieved that degree of sophistication is due to their ability to join mentally with their fellows. This ability makes them collectively smarter than the sum of their parts, and in turn makes them more formidable in battle than you would otherwise expect.
Typically the vugoo live in the shelter of a ring of mushrooms about a forest clearing. They know how to create fire and they can manufacture crude stone or bone tools and weapons. The crafts understood by Vugoo tribesmen include basketweaving, leatherworking, pottery, trapmaking, and weaving. Their religion is primitive, usually involving some simple burial rites and the ritual killing and eating of their foes to please their ancestor spirits. The vugoo are mute, and they lack any form of written language.
Vugoo Characters
A vugoo's favored class is warrior. Vugoo psions are relatively common, but depend on the collective intelligence of their clan to employ many of their abilities.
Vulcan Rat
Small Outsider (Fire)
| Hit Dice: | 1d8+1 (5 hp) |
| Initiative: | +3 (Dex) |
| Speed: | 30 ft. |
| AC: | 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural) |
| Attacks: | Bite +5 melee |
| Damage: | Bite 1d4-1 and smolder |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Death immolation, smolder |
| Special Qualities: | Fire subtype |
| Saves: | Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +3 |
| Abilities: | Str 8, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 12, Cha 3 |
| Skills: | Listen +3, Move Silently +4, Spot +3 |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (bite) |
| Climate/Terrain: | Any warm or hot land and underground |
| Organization: | Solitary or swarm (9-20) |
| Challenge Rating: | 1/2 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 2-3 HD (Small); 4-5 HD (Medium-size) |
Combat
Vulcan rats attack in a swarm, inflicting a multitude of smoldering bites that slowly consumes the victim. When slain a vulcan rat will be consumed in a flash of fire, leaving behind only ashes.
Death Immolation (Ex): When slain erupt into flames, inflicting 1d3 points of fire damage to anybody who performed an unarmed attack.
Fire Subtype (Ex): Fire immunity, double damage from cold except on successful save.
Smolder (Ex): The sticky black juice from the bite of the vulcan rat will smolder in the wound, inflicting an additional point of fire damage at the end of each round until the total damage is twice the amount of the original bite. The juice can be removed by immersing the wound in water for a full round.
Templates
The magical nature of incarnates allows them to crossbreed with virtually any creature. The offspring of the resulting unions, half-incarnates, are perfectly harmonized blends of creature traits. When incarnate beings from the realms of neutrality travel to the mortal realms they can sometimes become attracted to particularly representative mortals: whether human or ogre, elf or goblin.
The representatives of the neutral planes can appear in a great variety of forms, some of which mortals can find attractive despite their somewhat bestial appearance. Those whom the incarnate find appealing are always neutral and intelligent. The course of the pair always follows the path that nature intended for their species, whether a brief coupling or a lifetime of caring union.
Whatever the form, a half-incarnate has the pristine, untainted appearance of a natural origin. They have certain odd, beastly features that are out of place for a base creature of their kind, but these are healthy, flowing, and in harmony with the whole.
The half-incarnate is the very essence of a primordial, harmonic being, and takes an instant dislike of extreme views and unnatural imbalances. They usually find mortal society uncomfortable and often seek a life of wandering or natural solitude, while striving to maintain proper balance in the world.
Creating a Half-Incarnate
"Half-incarnate" is a template that can be added to any corporeal creature with an Intelligence of 4 or more and neutral alignment (referred to hereafter as the "base creature"). The creatures’ type changes to "outsider." It uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here. Roll on the following table to determine specific incarnate physical features.
| 1d100 | Half-Incarnate Physical Feature |
|---|---|
| 01-28 | Enhanced scent |
| 29-45 | Wings |
| 46-54 | Amphibious |
| 55-59 | Flexible wings |
| 60-67 | Two extra limbs |
| 68-77 | Bite attack |
| 78-80 | Bite and gore attack |
| 81-83 | Gore attack |
| 84-88 | Tail (slam) attack |
| 89-92 | Hoof (claw) attack |
| 93-00 | Roll twice on this table |
Speed: If the half-incarnate has wings it can fly at
twice the base creature's normal speed (good maneuverability).
If it is amphibious it can swim at the base creature's normal
speed.
AC: Natural armor improves by +1.
Attacks: If the half-incarnate has a bite, claw, gore,
or slam attack, these are gained as attack forms in addition
to the base creature's attacks if it does not have them already.
Half-incarnates with two extra limbs gain additional attacks
with those limbs.
Damage: If the half-incarnate has bite, claw, gore, or
slam attacks but the base creature does not, use the damage
values in the table below.
| Size | Bite Damage |
Claw Damage |
Gore Damage |
Slam Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine | 1 | - | 1 | - |
| Diminutive | 1d2 | 1 | 1d2 | - |
| Tiny | 1d3 | 1d2 | 1d3 | 1 |
| Small | 1d4 | 1d3 | 1d4 | 1d2 |
| Medium-size | 1d6 | 1d4 | 1d6 | 1d3 |
| Large | 1d8 | 1d6 | 1d8 | 1d4 |
| Huge | 2d6 | 1d8 | 2d6 | 1d6 |
| Gargantuan | 2d8 | 2d6 | 2d8 | 1d8 |
| Colossal | 4d6 | 2d8 | 4d6 | 2d6 |
Special Attacks: A half-incarnate retains all the special attacks of the base creature. Half-incarnates with an Intelligence or Wisdom score of 8 or higher possess the following spell-like abilities, using their level as the caster level, as specified in the table below. Unless otherwise indicated, the ability is usable once per day.
| Level | Abilities | Level | Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Entropic shield, magic fang 3/day | 11-12 | Find the path |
| 3-4 | Bull's strength, endurance | 13-14 | Regenerate, repulsion |
| 5-6 | Greater magic fang 3/day, water breathing | 15-16 | Spell turning |
| 7-8 | Death ward, freedom of movement | 17-18 | Summon nature's ally IX |
| 9-10 | True seeing | 19+ | Foresight |
Special Qualities: A half-incarnate has all the special
qualities of the base creature, plus low-light vision.
Half-incarnates are immune to acid, electricity, polymorph,
and turn to stone, and have disease and poison resistance 20.
If it has enhanced scent, it gains scent as a special quality.
If it has flexible limbs, it gains improved grab as a special
quality.
Saves: Same as the base creature
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows:
Str +4, Dex +4, Con +4, Int +2, Wis +4, Cha +2.
Skills: A half-incarnate has 8 skill points, plus its
Intelligence modifier, per Hit Dice. Treat skills from the
base creature's list as class skills and other skills as
cross-class. If the creature has a class, it gains skills for
class levels normally.
Feats: Half-incarnates have one feat for every four
levels, or the base creature's total of feats, whichever is
greater.
Climate/Terrain: Same as the base creature
Organization: Same as the base creature
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +1
Alignment: Always neutral
Treasure: Same as the base creature
Advancement: Same as the base creature
Half-Incarnate Characters
Half-incarnate humanoids often have a character class, favoring druids, barbarians, fighters, and clerics. Nonhumanoids are also sometimes rangers or druids. Half-incarnate clerics serve the neutral deities, such as the deities of nature.
Sample Half-Incarnate
This example uses a tiefling as the base creature.
Half-Incarnate/Half-Tiefling
Small Outsider (Neutral)
Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp)
Initiative: +3 (Dex)
Speed: 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
AC: 17 (+3 Dex, +3 studded leather, +1 small shield,
+1 natural)
Attacks: Light lance +4 melee; or javelin +4 ranged
Damage: Light lance 1d6+2; or javelin 1d6+2
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: Fire, cold, and electricity resistance
5; disease and poison resistance 20; immune to acid, electricity,
polymorph, and turn to stone; low-light vision
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +4
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 15, Cha 10
Skills: Bluff +2, Hide +7, Intuit Direction +4, Move
Silently +6, Pick Pocket +5
Feats: Weapon Finesse (light lance)
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Solitary or gang (2-4)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: By character class
This plane-touched being has physical qualities similar to a tiefling, with a mottled, pale green flesh that grows darker along the neck, spine and tail. The head is hairless and has a narrow mane of short, bristling spines. Forming a V-shape down the front chest is a set of gills. These are normally closed when the creature is on land, making the flesh appear almost seamless. The gills and a finned tail allow this being to be as at home in the water as it is on land. This being wears specially fitted armor that allows it to use its gills and tail underwater. The armor is as effective as normal studded leather, but costs double the normal amount to create.
In spite of its heritage this creature does not possess the disturbing aura of a typical tiefling, and in many ways appears as a magnificent natural being that is completely at home in the wilds.
Combat
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day-magic fang;
1/day-darkness, entropic shield. These abilities are as
the spells cast by a 1st-level sorcerer (save DC 10 + spell
level).
Skills: Half-Incarnate/Half-Tieflings receive a +2 bonus
to Bluff and Hide checks.
Incarnate creatures dwell in the nexus of the outer planes, realms of neutrality, although they resemble beings found on the Material Plane. They are clearly more capable and impressive than their earthly counterparts. Incarnate creatures are neither perfect nor flawed, yet they appear as the ultimate prototype for creatures of their kind. They possess a subtle radiant essence that gives the incarnate creature a naturally enchanted appearance. Incarnates can have a great variety of forms that are akin to the creatures on untold numbers of worlds.
Creating an Incarnate
"Incarnate" is a template that can be added to any corporal creature of neutral alignment (referred to hereafter as the "base creature".) Beasts or animals with this template become magical beasts, but otherwise the creature type is unchanged. An incarnate creature uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Special Attacks: An incarnate creature retains all the
special attacks of the base creature and also gains the
following.
Smite Imbalance (Su): Once per day the creature can make a
normal attack to deal additional damage equal to its HD total
(maximum of +20) against any fully non-neutral foe.
Special Qualities: An incarnate creature retains all the
special qualities of the base creature and also gains the
following:
- Acid and electricity resistance (see the table below).
- Immunity to polymorphing or turn to stone.
- Damage reduction (see the table below). SR equal to the double creature's HD (maximum 20).
| Hit Dice | Acid, Electricity Resistance |
Damage Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | 5 | - |
| 4-7 | 10 | 5/+1 |
| 8-11 | 15 | 5/+2 |
| 12+ | 20 | 10/+3 |
If the base creature already has one or more of these special qualities, use the better value.
Saves: Same as the base creature
Abilities: Same as the base creature, but Intelligence at
least 3.
Skills: Same as the base creature
Feats: Same as the base creature
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Same as the base creature
Challenge Rating: Up to 3 HD, as the base creature
4 HD to 7 HD, as base creature +1
8+ HD, as base creature +2
Treasure: Same as the base creature
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: Same as the base creature
Sample Incarnate
This example uses a sea lion as the base creature.
Incarnate Sea Lion
Large Magical beast
Hit Dice: 6d10+12 (30 hp)
Initiative: +1 (Dex)
Speed: swim 40 ft.
AC: 18 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +8 natural)
Attacks: 2 claws +9 melee, bite +7 melee
Damage: Claw 1d6+4, bite 1d8+2
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Rend 2d6+6, smite imbalance
Special Qualities: Acid and electricity resistance 10, immunity
to polymorphing and turn to stone, DR 5/+1, SR 12, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +3
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 12, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Listen +9, Spot +9
Feats: Alertness, Multiattack
Climate/Terrain: Temperate and warm aquatic
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pride (5-12)
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 7-9 HD (Large); 10-18 HD (Huge)
The incarnate sea lion closely resembles its namesake, but is more alert and it attacks with an almost unnatural silky smoothness. It is completely free of scars and defects, yet somehow appears well tested in battle.
Combat
Rend (Ex): An incarnate sea lion that hits with both claw attacks latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the flesh. This automatically deals an additional 2d6+6 points of damage.
A mekanoid is a metallic automaton that has been constructed in the likeness of a living creature. This device is powered by magic, but operates primarily through mechanical artifice. The power source is normally a set of magical crystals placed in a protected location within the body. These in turn drive the gears, drive shafts, pistons, cables, and other mechanisms that control the movements of the mekanoid. The automaton is controlled by a rudimentary command system that is capable of following simple instructions or reacting to changes. However the intelligence is mostly instinctive in nature.
The mekanoid is normally build to operate in a particular environment. If the base creature had a swimming speed, the mekanoid will also operate normally in water and is designed not to corrode due to leaks. The mekanoids that can fly do so in the same manner as the model creature, but will need to operate its wings much more rapidly in order to stay aloft.
If the base creature is able to emit a substance for a special purpose, the mekanoid can perform the same action. However the mekanoid must be specifically designed to supply this substance. It may have special ports where the special alchemical substances are restocked, or a magical mechanism that performs the same action.
Typically gnomish master artificers create a mekanoid, although other races are capable of learning the craft. Construction of a new mekanoid requires a successful Craft (artifice) skill check at DC 25 + CR of base creature. It also requires a suitably equipped laboratory, appropriate building materials, rare crystals, long periods of tinkering, and the assistance of highly skilled smithies and experts in the arcane. The required materials have a base cost 100gp plus 50gp times the CR rating of the base creature multiplied by itself. Thus a mekanoid modeled on a creature with a CR of 3 has a base cost of 100 + (50 x 3 x 3) = 550gp. Once a mekanoid has been constructed, duplicates can be built with a successful Craft (artifice) skill check at DC 15 + CR of base creature.
Creating a Mekanoid
"Mekanoid" is a template that can be applied to any animal, beast, giant, humanoid, monstrous humanoid, or vermin. The creatures' type changes to "construct". It uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Hit Dice: Use d10.
Speed: Same as the base creature.
AC: The base creature's natural armor rating improves by +2.
Attacks: A mekanoid retains all the attacks of the base creature
and also gains a slam attack if it didn't already have one.
Damage: Mekanoids have slam attacks. If the base creature does not
have this attack form, use the damage values in the in the table below.
Creatures with natural attacks retain their old damage ratings or use the
values below, whichever is better.
| Size | Damage |
|---|---|
| Fine | 1 |
| Diminutive | 1d2 |
| Tiny | 1d3 |
| Small | 1d4 |
| Medium-size | 1d6 |
| Large | 1d8 |
| Huge | 2d6 |
| Gargantuan | 2d8 |
| Colossal | 4d6 |
Special Attacks: A mekanoid loses any supernatural special
attacks of the base creature.
Special Qualities: A mekanoid gains all benefits of a construct. It
loses the scent ability, but gains Darkvision 60 ft.
Abilities: Modify from the base creature as follows: Str +2, Cha -2.
A mekanoid does not have a Con score, and the Int is set to 1.
Deterioration (Ex): Mekanoids require periodic maintenance or they
will begin to malfunction. If a mekanoid has not been regularly maintained,
roll on the following 1d10 on the following table to determine the type of
damage. Longer periods of poor maintenance will add further damage until
eventually the mekanoid eventually becomes inoperative.
| 1d10 | Type of Damage |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gear damage reduces all movement modes by 5 ft. |
| 2 | Faulty power regulator reduces Str -2. |
| 3 | A single, non-slam attack mode is lost. |
| 4 | A special attack form is broken. |
| 5 | A special quality has become inoperative. |
| 6 | Sensor damage reduces Wis score -5. |
| 7 | Corrosion damage reduces Dex -4. |
| 8 | Damage to command system reduces Initiative -2. |
| 9 | Fort save bonus reduced -2 due to internal system damage. |
| 10 | Broken panels reduce natural armor bonus to +1. |
If the base creature emits a substance as a special quality or attack,
then the mekanoid has a fixed number of charges to perform the same action.
Typically a mekanoid will be built with 50 charges of the required
substance. These charges will need to be periodically restocked, or the
mekanoid will be unable to use the special attack or quality.
Skills: Mekanoids lose any skills the base creature gained through
skill points. However the mekanoid retains any racial skill bonuses of the
base creature.
Feats: Mekanoids have no feats.
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature.
Treasure: None
Alignment: Neutral
Advancement: Same as the base creature
Sample Mekanoid
This example uses a medium-size viper snake as the base creature.
Mekanoid Viper
Medium-Size Construct
Hit Dice: 2d10 (11 hp)
Initiative: +3 (Dex)
Speed: 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
AC: 16 (+3 Dex, +5 natural)
Attacks: Bite +2 melee, slam -3 melee
Damage: Bite 1d4 and poison, slam 1d6
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft. (coiled)/5 ft.
Special Attacks: Poison
Special Qualities: Construct, deterioration
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +1
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 17, Con -, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 0
Climate/Terrain: Temperate and warm land, aquatic, and
underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: -
This marvel of gnomish engineering consists of a polished bronze skull attached to a series of jointed segments. The automaton wiggles along much like a serpent, with it's unblinking crystal eyes tracking any movements. Unlike a natural snake, this mechanism lacks any sense of scent. However it does possess darkvision out to 60 ft. The mekanoid possesses a rudimentary intelligence that is comparable to that of the native viper, but somebody familiar with the operation of this device can instruct it to perform simple tasks such as guarding a location or killing rodent pests.
Combat
These constructs attack with a poison bite. Within its serrated jaws are a pair of sharp steel needles that can pierce a boot or tough hide. The needles inject a toxic fluid stored in a bronze tank just behind the head. The tank holds a maximum of fifty doses of the poison, and must be periodically refilled if it is to retain its lethal bite.
Construct: Immune to mind-influencing effects, poison, disease,
and similar effects. Not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability
damage, energy drain, or death from massive damage.
Deterioration: Mekanoids require periodic maintenance or they will
begin to malfunction. The type of malfunction is randomly determined.
Longer periods of poor maintenance will add further damage until eventually
the mekanoid eventually becomes inoperative.
Poison (Ex): Bite, Fortitude save (DC 11); initial and secondary
damage 1d6 temporary Constitution. The mekanoid has 50 doses of venom in
a tank, and once empty the bite will have no toxic effect until the tank
is refilled.
The mimox is the metamorphosis of a spell caster into a new state of existence, and is the climax of a lifetime of study in the art of illusionary magic. Physically these illusionary beings take their form entirely out of shadow matter, which serves merely as a shell with which they interact with the surrounding world. Using this shell the mimox can project the appearance of any creature or being that it can conceive, and assume many of its physical abilities. The actual mind and life spirit of the mimox is housed in a flawless diamond vessel that must be carefully prepared through an extensive and difficult ritual.
A mimox can at will project himself into the real world from the diamond in a form identical to that produced by a shades spell. A shade form of a mimox must first coalesce no further than close range (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) from his diamond vessel, although it can journey beyond that range thereafter. There is no limit on the amount of time a Mimox can spend in this shadowy form. Maintaining the cohesion of a shade form beyond close range from the diamond is difficult, however, and the shade permanently loses 1hp per minute it is beyond range. If the mimox has the enlarge metamagical feat, however, the range of the shade form coalescence and cohesion is doubled.
Physically a mimox is identical to the illusionary creature produced by means of the shades spell. This shadow creature can attack and take damage in the same manner as the creature form it has assumed, but once slain the illusion vanishes from sight. When a shade is destroyed the mimox can immediately begin to generate a new form by summoning faint wisps of shadow matter. The Mimox can also choose to completely dispel its current form at any time and so gradually form a new shadow body.
A mimox will usually take extreme magical measures in order to protect the vessel and hide it from sight. As a result, physical measures on a par with those needed to destroy an artifact will often be required to shatter the diamond vessel and thus slay the mimox.
Typically it will require the new mimox some time to adjust to his new state and initially he will only be able to function normally in a shade form identical to his original body. In time, however, he will learn to master an increasing number of different forms. Over the course of a century a mimox will adapt to become virtually any known creature shape and ability. Some choose to take a levels in the rogue class, thus acquiring ranks in Disguise, Intimidation, Perform (acting), and other useful mimicry skills.
A mimox usually dwells within the quarters that they have constructed to house and hide their diamond vessel. These quarters are often located underground where they can be well protected by means of skillful illusions, traps, and other wards. The mimox may choose to have loyal companions and allies present, although such will rarely be trusted with the actual of its vessel.
Few mimox choose to travel far beyond the safety of their sanctum, as they will have more difficulty securing their gem housing. Instead they usually expect others to visit or correspond. The mimox may also make brief forays in its shade form by magical means using spells such as teleport or shadow walk.
A mimox will retain the goals and personality that they possessed when they were corporeal beings. However their reclusive lifestyle often turns a mimox eccentric and they can become much noted for their occasional bizarre behavior. Their powerful intelligence and extensive knowledge of magic makes them dangerous adversaries and few choose to challenge these beings.
Due to the immense age that a mimox can attain, they can possess magical knowledge that is unknown or has been forgotten in the surrounding regions. They are also known to develop unique and powerful forms of magic crafted over great periods of time. They will sometimes use this magic to reward others for performing a difficult task, or to encourage the loyalty of their few comrades.
Creating a Mimox
"Mimox" is a template that can be added to any humanoid creature provided it can create the required vessel (see The mimox's vessel, below.) The creatures' type changes to "aberration". It is able to assume the shadowy form of any creature, as described in the shades spell, and functions from the perspective of this creation. It uses all of the shadow creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted below.
Special Attacks: If the shadow form is able to produce the
necessary components, the mimox can cast any spell it has memorized
from the current location of the shade.
Special Qualities: A mimox retains all the character’s special
qualities and those listed below.
Shade Form (Sp): The mimox is located within a focus and is
unable to interact with the external environment in any manner,
including casting spells, except through the shade form. The mimox
can create a shade form at will by summoning faint wisps of shadow
matter. The new shade form is gradually built up at the rate of 1hp
per round, until 60% of the normal hit point total of the creature
is accumulated. Once the hit point total is fully generated these
wisps coalesce into the new shade, as created by the shades spell,
in the form desired by the mimox. The mimox fully possesses the
shade form and can control it as if that were her body, with all
the accompanying senses, abilities, and so forth. In addition the
shade form is immune to all mind-influencing effects. The mimox can
also choose to completely dispel its current form at any time. Only
if the shade form is dispelled can a new form be created.
Immunities (Ex): The mimox is immune to poison, paralysis,
disease, and necromantic effects.
Focus (Ex): If the focus containing the mimox is destroyed,
the mimox is immediately slain. The focus has a hardness of 20 and
30 hp. It requires a +4 weapon or better to damage, but can be
immediately destroyed by means of a properly phrased wish
spell.
Abilities: A mimox has no Strength, Dexterity, or
Constitution scores.
Skills: Same as the base creature
Feats: All feats of the base creature and the shade form
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Same as the base creature
Challenge Rating: Base creature +2
Treasure: Same as the base creature
Alignment: Same as the base creature
Advancement: Same as the base creature
Mimox Characters
The process of becoming a mimox can be undertaken by a character's own free will. The mimox retains all class abilities it had previously.
The Mimox's Vessel
A required step in becoming a mimox is acquiring and preparing a magic vessel in which to store the mind and soul. Unless the vessel is destroyed the mimox can immediately begin generating a new shade form whenever the current form is destroyed.
Each mimox must prepare its own vessel, which requires the Craft Wondrous Item feat. The character must be a sorcerer or wizard of at least 17th level. The vessel must be a flawless diamond worth at least 50,000gp, and requires an additional 25,000gp in materials and 12,500XP to prepare. The caster must cast enlarge, trap the soul, shades, wish, and permanency into the stone in order to complete the preparation.
When the spell is complete, the diamond vessel increases in size by 50% and begins to permanently glow with an eerie, flickering light. The caster now follows the lengthy and complex ritual formula required to become a mimox. The caster is then completely and permanently absorbed into the gemstone. Any magic items worn or used by the mimox will remain behind, but can potentially be used by the shade forms.
On rare occasions there are creatures born with two heads instead of the usual one. Among most species few of these survive to adulthood, and those who do are often shunned by their own kind. Once fully grown, however, their two heads make these beings unusually alert and watchful. They are often dangerous opponents, as their two heads allow them to attack using two weapons without hindrance. When born from an intelligent race the two-headed creatures can often find work as highly capable mercenary warriors, and they also make excellent guardians and scouts. Those two-headed creatures fortunate enough to find others of their kind are sometimes able to establish an entirely new race of two-headed beings.
The two-headed creature learns to use its two heads as one, so that the minds seemingly work in unison and what affects one will also affect the other. Nevertheless each of the heads can gain its own unique personality and the creature acts in most respects as congenitally joined twins. Often one of the heads will be the dominant member of the pair, and will initiate most of the actions and control the conversation of the creature. Less frequently such a creature may have heads that are often in disagreement with each other and the resulting beast will act clumsy, indecisive, and careless.
Creating a Two-Headed Creature
"Two-Headed" is a template that can be added to any creature that has a single head. A two-headed creature uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.Attacks: For each attack form or special attack of the base
creature that is specific to its head, such as a bite or a breath
weapon, it gains a second such attack.
Special Attacks: Two-headed creatures that employ weapons gain
the following special attack:
Superior Two-Weapon Fighting (Ex): Because each head can control
a separate limb, the two-headed creature does not suffer an attack or
damage penalty for attacking with two weapons.
Special Qualities: The two-headed creature gains a +2 bonus to all
saving throws to resist mind-affecting powers.
Skills: Same as the base creature, but the two heads give the
creature a +2 racial bonus to Listen, Spot, and Search checks.
Challenge Rating: As base creature +1
If for any reason the creature loses only one of its heads, it must make a Fortitude saving throw at DC 24 or be stunned for 2d6 minutes. It immediately loses all benefits of the two-headed creature template, and suffers a permanent loss of 1 Int and 1 Wis.
Sample Two-Headed Creature
Here is an example of a two-headed creature using an Orc as the base creature.
Two-Headed Orc
Medium-Size Humanoid
Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 20 ft. (scale mail); base 30 ft.
AC: 14 (+4 scale mail)
Attacks: Battleaxe +3 melee; or javelin +1 ranged
Damage: 2 Battleaxe 1d8+3; or javelin 1d6+2
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Superior two-weapon fighting
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., light sensitivity, +2 vs.
mind-affecting
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +0, Will -1
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 9, Wis 8, Cha 8
Skills: Listen +2, Spot +4, Search +1
Feats: Alertness
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Solitary or Gang (2-4)
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class
It is rare for a two-headed orc to survive to adulthood, and those who do so are relentlessly hunted down and slain by their own kind. However they occasionally find acceptance among those of mixed blood, where they can become highly capable warriors or dangerous barbarians. In rare occasions two-headed Orcs find others of their kind, but their offspring almost always prove to be normal Orcs.