Two-Headed Hound
Living in small packs in the deepest wilds of the Feywild, these Two-Headed Hounds are terrifying monsters that the seelie fey tell their children frightening tales of. Those who wander into the green depths of the Feywild sometimes find that the tales are no exaggeration. Occasionally, some of the wilder Fey will befriend a lone male of these creatures and accompany them through the wilds.
Standing almost as tall as a horse at their shoulders, these shaggy wolves bear two heads where most have one, each large enough to eat a child up in one bite.
Two-Headed Hound ✦ Level 16 Elite Soldier
Medium Fey Magical Beast ✦ XP 2,800
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Initiative +17 Senses Perception +8
HP 296; Bloodied 148
AC 34; Fortitude 30, Reflex 28, Will 30
Saving Throws +2
Action Points 1
Speed 8
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Powers
Bite ✦At-Will, Standard Action, Melee 2
melee basic
Attack: +21 vs. AC
Hit: 3d8 + 11 damage.
Horror of Tearing Teeth ✦At-Will, Standard Action
Effect: The hound makes two bite attacks.
Leaping Death ✦Encounter, Standard Action, Melee 2, Recharge 6
The hound hurls itself across the battlefield, knocking down and tearing those it lands on.
Special: The hound may make this attack as part of a charge.
Attack: +23 vs. Reflex against up to 4 targets
Hit: 3d6 + 8 and the target is slid 1 and knocked prone.
Overwatch ✦ At-Will, Minor Action, Melee 2
The hound’s heads look around, ready to take advantage of any opportunity to strike.
Effect: The Hound marks one or two targets within 2 squares. If those targets make an attack that does not include the Hound, the Hound may make an opportunity attack against that target.
Rending Counterattack ✦ Encounter, Immedeate Reaction
Special: Triggered when first bloodied.
Effect: the hound’s Leaping Death power recharges and the hound uses the Leaping Death attack as a free action. For the rest of the encounter, while still bloodied, the hound recieves a +2 to damage.
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Alignment neutral Languages Sylvan
Skills Athletics +20, Nature +13
Str 24 (+15) Dex 21 (+13) Wis 11 (+8)
Con 12 (+9) Int 10 (+8) Cha 21 (+13)
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Two-Headed Hound Lore
The following can be recalled about Two-Headed Hounds with the following Nature skill checks:
15: Two-Headed Hounds are dangerous predators from the depths of the feywild. Though some understand Sylvan, few choose to speak it.
20: Two-Headed Hounds prefer to leap upon their prey and knock them down, and become very dangerous when seriously hurt.
Posted in 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons, Creature by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Arc-Inquisitor Liodla
Arc-Inquisitor Liodla is the leader of the Shan’n’nur Inquisition. Many years ago he was a powerful wizard who lived at a temple of Boccob. When the An-Magus Crusade was declared by the High Pointiff of Heironeous and the knights of the Sword of Light began raiding the temples of Boccob. Liodla was captured and forced to convert and renounce the use of magic along with many other worshipers of Boccob. Too canny to die in the inquisition’s jails, Liodla emerged from the Sword of Light’s clutches an apparently zealous supporter of the Crusade.
Some time after his conversion Liodla approached Mikail Brightbrow, the leader of the Sword of Light, with an idea. He suggested that a cult to Heironeous be established. This cult could be composed of former mages, sanctified by Heironeous’s priests, and sworn to the eradication of non-sanctified arcane magic. He suggested that the cult be called the Shan’n’nur – from the Nimberlan Elvish tongue – which translates as “those who hate magic”. Liodla put forth a convincing argument at a time when the Sword of Light was meeting more organized resistance from the worshipers of Boccob, lead by their hated enemy Barael, and Mikail agreed.
Thus were the Shan’n’nur established. Liodla recruited some of his former comrades from the temples of Boccob, and through their use of magic helped the knights of the Sword of Light defeat those who resisted them in Boccob’s houses of worship. Among those captured the Shan’n’nur forced more conversions and their ranks grew.
Now that the An-Magus crusade is over the Shan’n’nur Inquisition polices magery in the counties of former Soguer and the middle kingdoms to the west. There is a sanctum of the Shan’n’nur Inquisition, as they are now known, in most major cities throughout the region. Whenever they find the use of magic they descend upon the practitioner and take them back to their temples to be purified either through conversion or death.
Throughout all of these events Liodla’s secret patron Graz’zt reveled in all of the anguish and betrayal. What no one knows even now is that Liodla is one of several simulacrum created by the wizard Alidol when he was First Mage of the Mage’s Guild of Soguer. When Alidol lost his powers during the Fall of Soguer his magical slaves gained their freedom and took their revenge upon him. They left him trapped in the Mage’s Guild tower in the ruins of Soguer and went their separate ways in the world. Like his original, Liodla’s soul is bound to Graz’zt in a dark pact and he has worked the Dark Prince’s will to this day.
Using Liodla in your game
The Arc-Inquisitor is a major villain. In the Heir of Soguer campaign he is the leader of the Inquisition, and as such leads forces who confront the players throughout the campaign.
After many social and martial confrontations throughout the campaign, one or several of the players with the arcane power source will be captured by the Inquisition and taken to their headquarters in Merton for cleansing – either by death or conversion.
At that point the players must either submit to the Inquisition’s regiment of drugs and enchantment, or face the tortures of the Inquisition’s pits – a very dramatic challenge. During the long conversion process Liodla will converse with the PCs many times, attempting to coerce them into converting by hook or by crook. Generally he plays the benevolent father-priest figure, offering the tortured player his love and protection if only they will renounce their former allies and gods, sign false confessions, and other repugnant acts. His goal is to break down their wills and make them his minions, and also to enjoy seeing them suffer as they betray the things they love.
The climax to the Inquisitor’s sub-plot would be a dramatic rescue & escape adventure, where the imprisoned must resist the tortures and deceit of the Inquisitors, and the rest of the party must find their comrade’s prison and break in to rescue them. Re-united the party would then confront Liodla and, if victorious, discover the secret of his demonic pacts.
Arc-Inquisitor Liodla ✦ Elite Level 20 Controller
medium construct humanoid (human simmalacrum)✦ XP 5,600
Initiative +12 Perception +11
HP 380; Bloodied 190
Healing Surges 2; Healing Surge Value 95
AC 36; Fortitude 31, Reflex 34, Will 35
Saving Throws +2
Speed 6
Action Points: 1
Powers
Eyebite Warlock (Fey) Attack 1
You glare at your enemy, and your eyes briefly gleam with brilliant colors. Your foe reels under your mental assault, and you vanish from his sight.
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Charm, Implement, Psychic
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: +25 vs. Will
Hit: 1d6 + 15 psychic damage, and you are invisible to the target until the start of your next turn.
Quickened Arcane Blast
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Force
Minor Action Close Blast 3
+25 vs Fort, 1d6 + 15 force damage, and the target is pushed 3 squares.
Killing Flames Warlock Attack 13
You use an enemy’s recent injury to fuel infernal flames and sear the foe.
Encounter + Arcane, Fire, Implement
Immediate Reaction Ranged 10
Trigger: An enemy within 10 squares of you becomes
bloodied
Target: The triggering enemy
Attack: +25 vs. Fortitude
Hit: 3d8 + 15 fire damage.
Infernal Pact: The damage ignores resistance to fire.
Vile Lightning (Infernal) Attack 17
Black lightning leaps from your hand and wracks your foe. The evil energy allows you to feed on his life essence.
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Healing, Implement
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: +25 vs. Fortitude
Hit: 3d6 + 15 damage, the target is weakened until the end of your next turn, and you can spend a healing surge.
Void Star Warlock Attack 19 – Recharge & use when bloodied
You summon a fragment of a dark star and hurl it at your foe, causing the creature’s flesh to slough away.
Daily. Arcane, Healing, Implement, Necrotic
Standard Action Ranged 1 0
Target: One creature
Attack: +23 vs. Reflex
Hit: 4d8 + 13 modifier necrotic damage. The target takes ongoing 10 necrotic damage, and whenever the target would regain hit points, you regain the hit points instead (save ends both).
Miss: Half damage, and ongoing 5 necrotic damage (save ends).
Summon Seducer – 20th level Attack
Daily – Minor Action (Minor sustain)
Liodla summons* a succubus that has Speed: 6, fly 6 and the following powers:
- Corrupting Touch (standard; at-will)
+25 vs. AC; 1d6 + Int. Modifier damage. - Dominate (standard; at-will) ✦ Charm
Ranged 5; +25 vs. Will; the target is dominated until the end of the succubus’s next turn. - Change Shape (minor; at-will) ✦ Polymorph
The succubus can alter its physical form to take on the appearance of any Medium humanoid, including a unique individual (see Change Shape, page 280).
* Per the summoning rules detailed in Arcane Power, p. 98.
Infuriating Elusiveness Warlock (Fey) Utility 16
You will yourself across the boundary between worlds, teleporting a short distance. When you appear from the Feywild, you are surrounded by a glamor of invisibility.
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Illusion, Teleportation
Move Action Personal
Effect: You become invisible and then teleport 4 squares.
The invisibility lasts until the start of your next turn.
Spell Betrayal (11th level) – Once a round, when you hit a target with an arcane power against whom you have combat advantage you deal an extra 1d8 damage.
Dark Charisma (11th level) – You gain a +2 vile bonus on Diplomacy and Bluff checks against evil creatures. This bonus increases to +4 at 21st level.
Spellstrike (16th level) – When you spend an action point to cast an arcane power at a foe who is engaged in melee or against whom you have combat advantage, you deal an additional 1d12 damage with the power.
Alignment evil Languages Common, Draconic, Elven, Abyssal, Promordial
Skills arcana + 23, bluff +21
Str 12 (+11) Dex 15 (+12) Wis 13 (+11)
Con 22 (+16) Int 23 (+16) Cha 26 (+18)
Equipment: Robes, Master’s Mask of the Shan’n’nur, Wand, Amulet, Dagger
Posted in 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons, Character, Creature and tagged subplot: the Shan'n'nur by Adam A. Thompson with 2 comments.
Thug Scurf
The first in a series of humanoid thugs that can be applied to any of the humanoid races. Place these creatures on windy roads between towns or in salty warehouse districts riddled with slippery docks, or even in dungeons as parties who are on their own looting raids.
Thug Scurf Level 6 Minion
Medium natural humanoid XP 63
Initiative +4 Senses Perception +3
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion.
AC 18; Fortitude 16, Reflex 14, Will 15
Speed 6
Powers
Short sword (standard; at-will) ✦ Weapon
+12 vs. AC; 6 damage.
Cut to Shreds
At-will ✦ Weapon
Immediate Reaction
The thug scurf receives an attack of opportunity whenever their allies make a critical hit.
Alignment Any Languages Common
Skills Acrobatics +8, Athletics +7, Endurance +5, Perception +8, Streetwise +10
Str 16 (+6) Dex 13 (+4) Wis 12 (+4)
Con 14 (+5) Int 10 (+3) Cha 13 (+4)
Equipment leather armor, short sword
Posted in 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons, Creature by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
April Contest: Dastardly Creatures
Use the month of April to create a dastardly creature, and you’ll win free copies of Claw/Claw/Bite and our inaugural issue of Tailslap. Entries are due on the last day of the month, at which point, our next contest will be announced.
Be creative. Be crazy. Enter as often as you’d like; no purchase necessary. Have fun with this. Email entries to clawclawbite@gmail.com.
Winners will be printed in CCB 18!
Entries may be printed in future issues of CCB or future collections released by Unicorn Rampant Publishing.
UPDATE (response to Comment #1): To help structure your entries, borrow a template from one of our recent creature entries, described in detail in the D20 SRD, or use the Pathfinder bestiary system, including an introduction, stat block, and a description in your entry.
Posted in Creature and tagged contest by Stephen Hilderbrand with 3 comments.
Dark Hounds of Sin
Dark Hounds of Sin wander the earth, tempting humans and their brothers with sin. Some take the forms of humans to lure their prey into dark alleys and private homes where they can strike.
There are different dog types for each sin, each of which embody a particular sin. Here is an example of a Dark Hound of Gluttony, who may be encountered at a banquet in the court of a castle.
Dark Hounds of Sin (Gluttony)
Size/Type: Medium Outsider (Evil, Extraplanar, Lawful)
Hit Dice: 16d8+32 (103 hp)
Initiative: +9
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 28 (+5 Dex, +10 natural, +3 hide armor), touch 13, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +16/+24
Attack: Bite +18 melee (1d10+5/19-20 plus 1d6 poison)
Full Attack: Bite +13 melee (1d10+5/19-20 plus 1d6 poison)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, poison bite, rend
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., protection from good, scent, vulnerability to water, shape shift
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +11, Will +12
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 21, Con 15, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 4
Skills: Intimidate +22, Jump +20, Listen +16, Spot +18, Survival +10*, Tumble +12
Feats: Alertness, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Outer Planes and urban environments
Organization: Solo
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always lawful evil
Advancement: 17-26 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: —
A typical hound of sin stands 5 feet high at the shoulder and weighs 140 pounds.
Hounds of sin are always encountered alone.
Shape Shift (Su): Three times a day, hounds of sin can shape shift into humanoid forms in order to tempt their humanoid prey.
Combat
Hounds of sin sneak up behind their prey, employing razor-sharp teeth to bite into and rend their opponents.
The natural weapons of hounds of sin are treated as evil-aligned and lawful-aligned for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Breath Weapon (Su): 10×10 area of noxious poison that quickly fills an area, dealing 2d6 poison damage, Fortitude DC 25 to negate. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Poison Bite (Su): Hounds of sin deal an extra 1d6 points of poison damage every time they bite an opponent, as if these bites are a poison weapon.
Skills
Hounds of sin have a +10 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks, which are commonly used.
*They also receive a +8 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent, due to their keen sense of smell.
Posted in Creature and tagged chaotic, extraplanar, outsider by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Suffering Souls
“Alas! how feeble is our faith! If a domestic animal, a little dog, falls into the fire, do you delay to draw it out? And see, your parents, benefactors, persons most dear to you, writhe in the flames of Purgatory, and you do not consider it your urgent duty to relieve them; you delay, you allow long days of suffering to pass for those poor souls, without making an effort to perform those good works which will release them from their pains.”
-Fr. Schouppe, from his book: Purgatory, pp. 238-239, 1893 Imprimatur
Suffering Souls
Medium Outsider (Neutral, Extraplanar, Incorporeal, Swarm)
Hit Dice: 4d8+3 (24 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+11 (+1 for each soul)
Attack: Swipe +5 melee
Full Attack: Swipe and Grapple
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Haunt, soul link
Special Qualities: Incorporeal, strong-willed, immunity to charm and sleep effects
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +7
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 11, Con 3, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 11
Skills: Climb +6
Feats: Improved Grapple
Environment: Hell, any haunted locale
Organization: Swarm
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: TN
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: None
Haunt (Su): Suffering souls haunt an area, trying to escape their torment on the Nine Planes of Hell. Creatures within a haunted area (usually a 400′ diameter circle) receive -1 penalties to all rolls.
Combat
Suffering souls swarm all who enter their unhallowed grounds. They will attack relentlessly until repelled, at which point they return to Purgatory until they are returned in an unending cycle to their place on the Prime Material Plane to haunt it evermore. The only way to free suffering souls from this torment is to travel to Hell to confront the devil that binds them.
Soul link (Su): When suffering souls make eye contact with a humanoid within 20′ for a full round, they establish a soul link with them. For the duration of the encounter, all damage they experience is also experienced by those whose souls are linked with them. When the encounter ends, the soul link lingers for multiple days, during which time the affected experience the torment of the suffering souls in Hell.
Posted in Creature and tagged planes of hell by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Abysm’s Dread Kraken
Deep beneath the waves of the oceans of Abysm, Demogorgon’s realm in the Abyss, lurks a creature of unfathomable might. Spawned and nurtured by the Sibilant Beast, Drigular is to a squid what Demogorgon is to a monkey. Drigular will rise to the surface at his master’s bidding to whelm and destroy intruders on Demogorgon’s waters.
Drigular
Size/Type: Colossal Magical Beast (Aquatic, evil, outsider)
Initiative: +4
Hit Dice: 44d10+484 (726 hp)
Armor Class: 28 (-8 size, +26 natural), touch 2, flat-footed 28
Damage Reduction: 10 / magic
Saves: Fort +35, Ref +22, Will +18
Resistances: cold & fire 20
Spell Resistance: 30
Speed: Swim 20 ft. (4 squares)
Attack: Tentacle +42 melee (4d6+22/19-20) with 10 point power attack
Full Attack: 2 tentacles +42 melee (4d6+26/19-20) and 6 arms +37 melee (1d8+18) and bite +37 melee (4d8+18) with 10 point power attack
Base Attack/Grapple: +44/+76 (+56 if not concentrating completely on a single target)
Space/Reach: 30 ft./ 20 ft. (90 ft. with tentacle, 45 ft. with arm)
Special Attacks: Improved grab, constrict 4d6+16 or 1d8+8, swallow whole, smite good (+20 damage 1/day)
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., ink cloud, jet, darkvision, spell-like abilities
Abilities: Str 42, Dex 10, Con 33, Int 21, Wis 20, Cha 20
Skills: Concentration +58, Diplomacy +7, Hide +0, Intimidate +32, Knowledge (geography) +30, Knowledge (nature) +25, Listen +51, Search +51, Sense Motive +34, Spot +51, Survival +5 (+7 following tracks), Use Magic Device +32
Feats: Blind-Fight, Combat Expertise, Improved Critical (tentacle), Improved Initiative, Improved Trip, Iron Will, Improved Natural Armor (x7), Power Attack
Environment: Abyssal Ocean
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 20
Treasure: Triple standard
Alignment: any evil
Advancement: 21-32 HD (Gargantuan); 33-60 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: —
Improved Grab (Ex)
To use this ability, the kraken must hit with an arm or tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.
Constrict (Ex)
A kraken deals automatic arm or tentacle damage with a successful grapple check.
Jet (Ex)
A kraken can jet backward once per round as a full-round action, at a speed of 280 feet. It must move in a straight line, but does not provoke attacks of opportunity while jetting.
Ink Cloud (Ex)
A kraken can emit a cloud of jet-black ink in an 80-foot spread once per minute as a free action. The cloud provides total concealment, which the kraken normally uses to escape a fight that is going badly. Creatures within the cloud are considered to be in darkness.
Spell-Like Abilities
at-will-deeper darkness, bestow curse, contagion, control weather, control winds, resist energy
3/day-dominate animal (DC 27 Will negates), insanity (DC 22 Will negates)
1/day— unholy aura (DC 23 Fort. or 1d6 strength damage when hit).
Caster level 17th. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Posted in 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons / d20 fantasy / Pathfinder, Creature and tagged aquatic subtype, evil subtype, magical beast by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Abyssal Headlesses
Created by Orcus from the corpses of Demogorgon’s subjects when he began reshaping Abysm to suit his will, these horrors now stalk the burning jungles of the 88th layer of the Abyss. They mindlessly kill all they encounter other than their own kind.
These horrible maimed wretches are as varied as the demons of the abyss in appearance, but all share the trait of having no head – just a bloody stump for a neck.
Abyssal Headless CR 15
CE size large monstrous humanoid (outsider, undead)
Init: +1 Senses: tremorsense 60 ft.
Languages: none
AC: 30 (+1 dex, +20 natural, -1 size) touch 10, flatfooted 16
HP: 199 (HD 30d12)
Immune: mind-effecting and illusions, fire, poison & electricity
Resist: 15 cold, acid & sonic
DC 15 / magic
Fort: +18 Ref: +9 Will: +13
MV: 40 feet
Attack: claw +28 (1d8+12) or greatclub +27 (2d8+18)
Full Attack: 2 claws +26 (1d8+12) or greatclub +27 / +22 / +17 (2d8+18)
Attack Options: improved grab, rend, combat reflexes
Space / Reach: 10 ft. / 10 ft.
Base Attack: +15 Grapple: +39
Abilities Str 34, Dex 10, Con -, Int -, Wis 14, Cha 6
SQ: tremorsense 90 feet, senseless, undead traits
SA: improved grab, rend
Feats: Improved Grapple, Weapon Focus (claws), Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Improved Natural Armor (7 times)
Skills: climb +46, jump +46
Rend (Ex): If a headless hits with both claw attacks it can automatically rend for 4d6+18 damage.
Improved Grab (Ex): If a headless hits with a claw attack it can start a grapple as a free action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once it establishes the grapple it can either attack with it’s claws at a -4 penalty or it can roll a grapple checks to deal claw damage.
Senseless (Ex): having no heads, these creatures are blind, deaf and dumb. Beyond the reaches of their tremorsense, they are not aware of their surroundings.
Posted in 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons / d20 fantasy / Pathfinder, Creature and tagged undead by Adam A. Thompson with 2 comments.
Burning Treant Husks
These eternally burning undead treants were created by Orcus when the Savage Tide was thwarted, Orcus became Prince of Demons, and he began to transform Abysm, the 88th layer of the Abyss, to his liking.
This blackened, shrieking, humanoid tree rushes toward you, its panicked expression back-lit by the blazing fire in its foliage.
Burning Treant Husks CR 15
CE size huge plant (outsider, undead)
Init: -1 Senses: darkvision
Languages:abyssal, common
Aura: creatures within 5 feet take 3d6 fire damage
AC: 29 (-2 size, -1 Dex, +22 natural), touch 7, flat-footed 27
HP: 187 (HD 28d12)
Immune: mind-effecting and illusions, fire, poison & electricity
Resist: 15 cold, acid & sonic
DC 15 / magic
Fort: +18 Ref: +9 Will: +11
SR: 20
MV: 30 feet
Attack: slam +32 (2d6+18)
Full Attack: 2 slams +30 (2d6+18) and 3d6 fire
Attack Options: trample 2d6+18 and 6d6 fire, (DC 32 Reflex for half damage)
Space / Reach: 15 ft. / 15 ft
Base Attack: +15 Grapple: +31
Abilities Str 37, Dex 8, Con -, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 12
SQ: plant traits, undead treaits
SA: trample
Skills: climb +46, jump +46
Posted in 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons / d20 fantasy / Pathfinder, Creature and tagged undead by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Whelmer of Ships
This part air, part water elemental is a powerful force, devouring ships on the open seas.
To visualize whelmers of ships, think pf a whirlpool with its complementary winds.
Whelmer of Ships
Size/Type: Huge Elemental (Air, Water, Extraplanar)
Hit Dice: 24d8+120 (228 hp)
Initiative: +15
Speed: Below-water portion: 30 ft. (6 squares), swim 120 ft. Above-water portion: Fly 100 ft. (perfect) (20 squares)
Armor Class: 27 (-2 size, +11 Dex, +8 natural), touch 19, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +18/+35
Attack: Slam +27 melee (2d10+9/19-20)
Full Attack: 2 slams +27 melee (2d10+9)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: Water mastery, drench, vortex
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/-, darkvision 60 ft., elemental traits
Saves: Fort +19, Ref +25, Will +10
Abilities: Str 28, Dex 33, Con 21, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 11
Skills: Listen +29, Spot +29
Feats: Alertness, Blind-Fight, Great Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Flyby Attack, Improved Critical (slam) Improved InitiativeB, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack, Weapon FinesseB
Environment: Storm Plane
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 14
Treasure: None
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: 25-48 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: —
Whelmers of ships speak Auran and Aquan, though they rarely choose to do so. A whelmer can’t venture out of the body of water from which it was conjured, and cannot be conjured into a body of water too small for it to fit into.
Whelmer of Ships Height Weight Whirlpool
Save DC Damage Height
Elder 40 ft. 24,000 lb. 34 2d8 10-60 ft.
Combat
Their rapid speed at the intersections of bodies of water and fast-moving air make them well-suited to battlefields beneath the waves where their whirlpools and heavy winds suddenly swell up behind its opponents.
Air Mastery (Ex): Airborne creatures take a -1 penalty on attack and damage rolls against a whelmer of ships.
Whirlwind (Su): The whelmer can transform itself into a whirlwind once every 10 minutes and remain in that form for up to 10 rounds. In this form, the whelmer can move partially along the surface of a body of water at its fly speed.
The whirlwind is 5 feet wide at the base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and up to 60 feet tall. The whelmer’s movement while in whirlwind form does not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the whelmer enters the space another creature occupies. Another creature might be caught in the whirlwind if it touches or enters the whirlwind, or if the whelmer moves into or through the creature’s space.
Creatures one or more size categories smaller than the whelmer might take damage when caught in the whirlwind (use the table from the air elemental) and may be lifted into the air. An affected creature must succeed on a Reflex save when it comes into contact with the whirlwind or take the indicated damage. It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked up bodily and held suspended in the powerful winds, automatically taking the indicated damage each round. A creature that can fly is allowed a Reflex save each round to escape the whirlwind. The creature still takes damage but can leave if the save is successful. The save DC is Strength based.
Additionally, creatures trapped underwater must make saves or begin drowning, as per the PHB.
Creatures trapped in the whirlwind cannot move except to go where the whelmer carries them or to escape the whirlwind.
Creatures caught in the whirlwind can otherwise act normally, but must succeed on a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell. Creatures caught in the whirlwind take a -4 penalty to Dexterity and a -2 penalty on attack rolls. The whelmer can have only as many creatures trapped inside the whirlwind at one time as will fit inside the whirlwind’s volume.
The whelmer can eject any carried creatures whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the whirlwind happens to be. A summoned whelmer always ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home plane.
Water Mastery (Ex): A whelmer gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls if both it and its opponent are touching water. If the opponent or the whelmer is touching the ground, the whelmer takes a -4 penalty on attack and damage rolls.
A whelmer can be a serious threat to a ship that crosses its path. A whelmer can easily overturn vessels up to 200′ in length. Ships over 200′ can be slowed to half speed.
Drench (Ex): The whelmer’s touch puts out torches, campfires, exposed lanterns, and other open flames of nonmagical origin if these are of Large size or smaller. The creature can dispel magical fire it touches as a dispel magic spell.
Vortex (Su): The whelmer can transform itself into a whirlpool once every 10 minutes, provided it is underwater, and remain in that form for up to 10 rounds. In vortex form, the whelmer can move through the water or along the bottom at its swim speed. The vortex is 5 feet wide at the base, up to 30 feet wide at the top, and 60 feet tall.
The whelmer’s movement while in vortex form does not provoke attacks of opportunity, even if the whelmer enters the space another creature occupies. Another creature might be caught in the vortex if it touches or enters the vortex, or if the whelmer moves into or through the creature’s space.
Creatures one or more size categories smaller than the whelmer might take damage when caught in the vortex and may be swept up by it. An affected creature must succeed on a Reflex save when it comes into contact with the vortex or take the indicated damage. It must also succeed on a second Reflex save or be picked up bodily and held suspended in the powerful currents, automatically taking damage each round. An affected creature is allowed a Reflex save each round to escape the vortex. The creature still takes damage, but can leave if the save is successful. The save DC is Strength-based.
Much like in the whirlpool form, creatures trapped in the vortex cannot move except to go where the whelmer carries them or to escape the whirlwind. Creatures caught in the whirlwind can otherwise act normally, but must make a Concentration check (DC 10 + spell level) to cast a spell. Creatures caught in the whirlwind take a -4 penalty to Dexterity and a -2 penalty on attack rolls. The whelmer can have only as many creatures trapped inside the vortex at one time as will fit inside the vortex’s volume.
The whelmer can eject any carried creatures whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the vortex happens to be. A summoned whelmer always ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home plane.
A whelmer in vortex form cannot make slam attacks and does not threaten the area around it.
Skills
A whelmer of ships has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
Image: The Shipwreck, Joseph Mallord William Turner, exhibited 1805
Posted in Creature and tagged air, elemental, water by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.