Frightful Fridays! Quadropticat

Hello, and welcome to this week's Frightful Fridays! I'm at GenCon when this posts, but I didn't want to use that as an excuse for not putting up a monster this week. This one is courtesy of Drejk (whose blog can be found here: http://shaperofworlds.blogspot.com/), and it went in an unusual direction for me. I hit upon the idea of a lawful fey creature that helps enforce treaties or confirms that dealings with mortals are on the up and up, and a four-eyed cat seemed like a strangely appropriate creature for such a task.

I hope you enjoy the quadropticat, and I'll see you next time with another monster. As always, thanks for reading!

This sweet kitty can be found here

Quadropticat      CR 3

XP 800

LN Tiny fey

Init +3; Senses low-light vision, see invisibility; Perception +17

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +2 insight, +2 size)

hp 27 (5d6+10)

Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5

Defensive Abilities throw off darkness

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee bite +6 (1d4+2), 2 claws +6 (1d3+2)

Space 2½ ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks insightful combat

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; concentration +7)

   Constant—see invisibility

   1/day—discern lies (DC 16)

   1/week—vision

STATISTICS

Str 2, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 15

Base Atk +2; CMB +9 (+11 dirty trick); CMD 11 (13 vs. dirty trick, 15 vs. trip)

Feats Combat Expertise, Footslasher, Improved Dirty Trick

Skills Acrobatics +11, Appraise +7, Bluff +10 (+18 to pass secret messages), Escape Artist +11, Perception +17, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +7, Stealth +19; Racial Modifiers +8 Bluff to pass secret messages, +8 Perception, +8 Sense Motive

Languages Catfolk, Common, Sylvan

SQ pierce the veil

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Insightful Combat (Su) A quadropicat adds its Intelligence modifier to attack and damage rolls in place of its Strength modifier. It also gains an insight bonus to AC equal to its Intelligence modifier. It loses the benefits of this ability if it is blind.

Pierce the Veil (Su) A quadropticat does not suffer a miss chance from concealment. It also benefits from a constant see invisiblity. It loses the benefits of this ability if it is blind.

Throw off Darkness (Su) As an immediate action, a blind quadropticat can attempt a new saving throw at the end of its turn to negate the blinded condition as the result of a spell or effect. This is in addition to saving throws it can make to shake off a spell or effect that causes blindness, such as glitterdust.

Quadropticats have their origins in planes of law, where their ancestors served as impartial arbiters of contracts between planar beings as well as between outsiders and mortals. Due to a retrospectively bad deal brokered by quadropticats that resulted in the slaughter of numerous inevitables, for which the quadropticats were unfairly blamed, the powers of the lawful planes exiled the creatures to the Material Plane. Their unusual appearance prevented them from acceptance in most communities, but the fey found them intriguing and took them in.

Quadropticats, now fully fey creatures, serve the same purpose for the fey that they did in the planes of law. Their insightfulness allows them to read other creatures, so they prove valuable in ensuring both parties in a contract or treaty are honest. This is essential among the mostly capricious fey, who seek to break deals with little provocation. While quadropticats have no means to enforce these deals, their array of abilities make it difficult for a dishonest party to enter into an agreement that they intend to break later.

Strangely, despite their lawful natures and their usefulness in enforcing lawful dealings, quadropticats are nasty and unfair combatants. They seem to take pleasure in employing underhanded techniques, such as throwing dirt in an opponent’s eyes or slashing an opponent’s Achilles tendon, and take any advantage available against their foes.

Quadropticats who prefer not to deal with fey and their intrigues travel and often attach themselves to adventuring groups that can get past their weird natures. Adventuring quadropticats are fond of catfolk, perhaps because of their similar appearance, and catfolk reciprocate the attention.

Frightful Fridays! Assassin Squirrel

Hello and welcome to a new edition of Frightful Fridays! This week's monster is courtesy of Owen K.C. Stephens who posted a link to a "vampire" squirrel on his Facebook page, and then Craig Johnston alerted me to it. Since I've done a couple of vampire creatures recently, but I really wanted to do something with this squirrel, I decided to make it an insanely effective assassin instead. It might be fun to have your low-level characters stroll through a park and witness an ostensibly harmless squirrel leap up and rip out an NPC's throat before scampering off with the victim's necklace.

I hope you enjoy the assassin squirrel, and I will try to have a monster ready to go for next Friday while I'm at GenCon. Thanks for reading!

Read more about this lovely little guy here

“I say, is that squirrel carrying a crossbACK!”

Assassin Squirrel      CR 15

XP 51,200

NE Tiny magical beast

Init +13; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +26

DEFENSE

AC 32, touch 32, flat-footed 22 (+9 Dex, +1 dodge, +10 insight, +2 size)

hp 171 (18d10+72)

Fort +15, Ref +20, Will +11

Defensive Abilities defensive roll, improved evasion, improved uncanny dodge; Immune poison

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., climb 40 ft.

Melee bite +29 (1d6+9), 2 claws +29 (1d4+9)

Ranged +3 stalking light crossbow +28 (1d4+3/19–20)

Space 2½ ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks death attack, dexterous killer, poisonous blood, sneak attack +9d6

STATISTICS

Str 2, Dex 29, Con 18, Int 23, Wis 21, Cha 12

Base Atk +18; CMB +25 (+27 steal); CMD 42 (44 vs. steal, 46 vs. trip)

Feats Combat Expertise, Deadly Aim, Deceitful, Dodge, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Improved Steal, Mobility, Weapon Finesse

Skills Acrobatics +25, Bluff +31, Climb +19, Disable Device +20, Disguise +23, Escape Artist +25, Knowledge (local) +24, Perception +26, Sleight of Hand +20, Stealth +29; Racial Modifiers +8 Bluff

Languages Common, Elven, Gnome, Halfling, Undercommon (can’t speak)

SQ fast stealth, fast tumble, hide in plain sight

Gear +3 stalking light crossbow, crossbow bolts (20), bag of holding (type I)

ECOLOGY

Environment any land

Organization solitary

Treasure double (gear plus gems and jewels)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Death Attack (Ex) An assassin squirrel must study a potential victim for 3 rounds (spending a standard action each round). If it then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack reduces the victim to –1 hp, if it fails a DC 25 Fortitude. If the saving throw succeeds, the attack still deals normal sneak attack damage. The squirrel must make the death attack within 3 rounds of completing its 3 rounds of study. The save DC is Intelligence-based.

Defensive Roll (Ex) Once per day, when an assassin squirrel would be reduced to 0 or fewer hit points by damage in combat, it can attempt to roll with the damage. If it succeeds at a Reflex save (DC equals damage dealt), it only takes half damage from the strike; otherwise, it takes full damage. It must be aware of the attack to use this ability, and it cannot use the ability if it is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC.

Dexterous Killer (Ex) An assassin squirrel adds its Dexterity modifier to damage done by its natural weapons.

Fast Stealth (Ex) An assassin squirrel can move at full speed using the Stealth skill without penalty.

Fast Tumble (Ex) An assassin squirrel does not add 10 to the DC of an Acrobatics check when using the skill at full speed to move through a threated square without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Hide in Plain Sight (Ex) An assassin squirrel can use the Stealth skill even while being observed. As long as it is within 10 feet of some sort of shadow, it can hide itself from view in the open without having anything to actually hide behind. However, it cannot hide in its own shadow.

Poisonous Blood (Ex) An assassin squirrel’s blood is toxic sludge. A creature that successfully bites the squirrel poisons itself. As a full round action, the squirrel can deal 1 point of damage to itself to create enough poison to coat its claws (or 10 crossbow bolts), requiring an additional standard action to apply. The poison persists for 1 hour before becoming useless, and it is only good for one successful attack.

Assassin Squirrel Poison—injury or ingested; save Fort DC 23; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Con; cure 2 consecutive saves.

Unassuming killers, assassin squirrels have cultivated their inconspicuousness as they find a suitable victim. They have razor-sharp teeth and claws that inflict grievous wounds, and they add the devastating ability to find vital organs to rend when they strike. Finally, their blood is naturally toxic, allowing them to bleed themselves to coat their weapons with poison.

Assassin squirrels are thankfully rare, and only go on their hunts once a year. They always take a trophy from their victims, typically a small, shiny item, but they have been known to take ears or fingers from difficult-to-kill prey. The most common theory about these squirrels is that fey nobles employ them to assassinate dangerous mortals, or other fey as part of their internecine squabbles. This would explain the equipment possessed by the squirrels, since they do not seem to have any other means of producing it. Other beings can employ the assassins, but the price is steep, usually no less than 10,000 gp for a target.

Assassin squirrels have very short lifespans, with most specimens living no more than twenty years. However, they are potent killers from a month after they are born until they die. Infant assassin squirrels are left to their own devices shortly after their births and must learn to kill to survive. Often, a young assassin squirrel’s first target is one of its parents.

Frightful Fridays! Amorphosaurus Rex

Hello, and welcome to a new Frightful Fridays! (slightly delayed) My friend, Dave Mallon brought this image to my attention, and I ran with the idea of an aberration that does its own gene splicing. What looks like a simple encounter should become frightening when the dinosaur flashes octopus tentacles that grab and squish PCs. For extra fun, send this monster at metagaming players expecting to fight a CR 9 tyrannosaurus rex.

I hope you enjoy the amorphosaurus rex, and I'll be back next time with a new monster. Thanks for reading!

What hath abnature wrought? Original found here.

This smallish, green-skinned tyrannosaurus extrudes a pair of tentacles from its back.

Amorphosaurus Rex      CR 14

XP 38,400

CN Huge aberration

Init –2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 30, touch 6, flat-footed 30 (–2 Dex, +24 natural, –2 size)

hp 210 (20d8+120); fast healing 2

Fort +12, Ref +4, Will +12

Defensive Abilities adaptive resistance, amorphous; DR 10/cold iron; Immune acid, polymorph; Resist cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft., swim 80 ft.

Melee bite +23 (4d6+15/19–20 plus grab), 2 tentacles +22 (2d8+5)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

Special Attacks constrict (2d8+10), swallow whole (2d8+10, AC 22, 21 hp)

STATISTICS

Str 31, Dex 6, Con 22, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 10

Base Atk +15; CMB +27 (+29 bull rush and overrun, +31, +29 overrun); CMD 35 (37 vs. bull rush and overrun)

Feats Awesome Blow, Dazzling Display, Diehard, Endurance, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Overrun, Multiattack, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (tentacle)

Skills Intimidate +15, Perception +11, Swim +18

ECOLOGY

Environment any

Organization solitary or pair

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Adaptive Resistance (Su) When an amorphosaurus rex takes energy damage greater than its current resistance, the value increases by 5 for subsequent energy damage (for example, if a spell deals 7 points of fire damage, it takes 2 points of damage, and then its resist fire increases to 10). This increased resistance lasts for an hour after it takes damage.

Related to chaos beasts and gibbering mouthers, proto-amorphosaurus rexes had a similarly unstable form. Unlike those creatures, the amorphosaurus rexes instinctively locked in on the alpha predator at the time and their outward appearance permanently changed. However, they retained rudimentary shapeshifting abilities, allowing them to generate decidedly non-dinosaur features, with octopus tentacles as their weapons of choice. Their internal organs constantly shift, making it impossible to harm them by damaging an internal organ. Their weird biology allows them to heal wounds rapidly as well. Finally, they have a modicum of protection from elemental damage, and this protection increases as they are exposed to it.

While the tyrannosaurus rex is the typical form taken by amorphosaurus rexes, variants include sharks and bears. Regardless of the shape they “fix” on, they always have an incongruous feature (tentacles, whip-like tails, fanged mouths within mouths, etc.) that mark them out as unnatural.

Frightful Fridays! Ghost-Hunting Bat

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of Frightful Fridays! The ghost-hunting bat, based on the Honduran Ghost Bat, is not exactly frightful, unless you happen to be playing an undead creature, but I figured that the spate of undead (plus the nasty dobhar chú from last week) needed a little balance. So, these little guys will be very helpful to PCs in a ghast- and vampire-infested campaign, or they will make great opponents against evil characters who happen to be ghasts, vampires, or the like.

I hope you enjoy the ghost-hunting bat, and I'll be back next time with another monster. Thanks for reading!

Ghost-hunting bats resting after a successful hunt

This snowy white bat flits about while turning its ears to-and-fro in search of something unseen.

Ghost-Hunting Bat      CR 2

XP 600

NG Tiny magical beast

Init +3; Senses blindsense 50 ft., darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +8

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 15, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +2 size)

hp 19 (3d10+3)

Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +3

Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4

OFFENSE

Speed 5 ft., fly 50 ft. (good)

Melee bite +8 (1d3–4 plus drain inhibitor)

Space 2½ ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks channel positive energy (4/day, 2d6, DC 14), part the veil, raze undead

STATISTICS

Str 2, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 15, Cha 13

Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 10

Feats Improved Channel, Turn Undead, Weapon Finesse

Skills Fly +11, Perception +8 (+16 to locate undead or notice disguises used by undead), Stealth +11; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception to locate undead or notice disguises used by undead

ECOLOGY

Environment any land

Organization solitary, pair, or purge (3­–16)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Drain Inhibitor (Su) If a ghost-hunting bat deals damage to an undead creature, the target must attempt a DC 12 Will save. If it fails, it cannot use any ability that damages or drains attributes or levels through a negative energy effect until the beginning of the bat's next turn. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Part the Veil (Su) A ghost-hunting bat can unleash a cry as a standard action that causes all incorporeal undead within 30 feet that fail a DC 12 Will save to lose the benefits of incorporeality until the beginning of the bat's next turn. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Raze Undead (Su) When a ghost-hunting bat attacks an undead creature, it adds its Dexterity modifier to damage instead of its Strength modifier, and its bite counts as a magical weapon.

Bats seem naturally drawn to dark places, and undead creatures sometimes bend bats to their will to attack their foes. Ghost-hunting bats are also drawn to evil locations, but they are anathema to the undead and are implacable foes to the creatures. In natural settings, they gather in large groups to hunt undead. Their evolved abilities make them surprisingly effective against their chosen prey.

Good-aligned clerics and others who despise the undead attract ghost-hunting bats, which may come to the rescue for characters having a difficult time in combat with undead. A good character who has the Improved Familiar feat and 7 total levels in spellcasting classes can gain a ghost-hunting bat as a familiar.

Frightful Fridays! Dobhar Chú

Hello and welcome to a new installment of Frightful Fridays! Now that I'm done with *shudder* vampire clowns, I'm switching to something a little more mundane: a killer "water hound" that combines the adorableness of the otter with the attitude of a movie monster shark. Also, as I discovered when I read up on this guy, it eventually becomes a creature similar to the Loch Ness Monster when it "grows up." Fun stuff!

I hope you enjoy the dobhar chú, and I'll see you next time with a different monster. Thanks for reading!

This adorable monster and other sea monsters can be found here

This creature looks like a cross between a dog and an otter; its otter-like head is broad and flesh-rending teeth fill its mouth.

Dobhar Chú      CR 3

XP 800

NE Medium magical beast (aquatic)

Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +5

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +2 natural)

hp 32 (4d10+16)

Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +2

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., swim 80 ft.

Melee bite +6 (2d6+3 plus grab)

Special Attacks blood drain (1d2 Constitution), haunting screech, revenge seeker

STATISTICS

Str 15, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 4, Wis 12, Cha 9

Base Atk +4; CMB +6 (+10 grapple); CMD 19 (23 vs. trip)

Feats Diehard, Endurance

Skills Intimidate +9, Perception +5, Swim +14; Racial Modifiers +8 Intimidate

ECOLOGY

Environment any water

Organization solitary or pair

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Haunting Screech (Su) Once per day as a swift action, a dobhar chú can unleash a horrifying scream. Creatures within 30 feet of the dobhar chú must succeed at a DC 11 Will save to avoid becoming shaken for 1d6 rounds. This is a sonic, mind-affecting, fear effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

When a dobhar chú dies, it sounds a similar screech that does not induce fear in opponents, but instead alerts its mate to the creature(s) responsible for its death. Its mate can hear the scream up to 1 mile away, even while underwater.

Revenge Seeker (Su) A dobhar chú that hears its mate's death cry enters into a rage. It gains +2 Constitution and +2 Strength, and takes a –2 penalty to its AC. Additionally, it benefits from locate creature for 1 hour, allowing it to find the creature that dealt the killing blow to its mate. This rage lasts for 1 hour or until its target is dead, whichever is shorter. The dobhar chú cannot end its rage voluntarily.

Dobhar chú are nasty creatures that menace even highly traveled waterways. They are voracious creatures that will kill and eat any living animal, but they prefer to attack humanoids who are unused to the water. The otter-like creatures use their unearthly shrieks to unnerve prey and relentlessly attack afterwards. Killing a dobhar chú does not end the threat, as the dying creature emits another shriek to call its mate, which enters into a frenzy wherein it gains the uncanny ability to find the one who delivered the killing blow.

Dobhar chú have a lifespan of roughly 20 years, but their aggressive natures usually cause them to die much earlier. While the creatures cannot become animal companions, they sometimes ally with evil aquatic druids, rangers, or hunters for protection, especially if it has lost its mate. Legend holds that a dobhar chú reaching its natural lifespan transforms into an elasmosaurus, and, in this form, the creature can truly terrorize visitors to its watery domain.

Frightful Fridays! Vampire Clown

Hello, and welcome to another edition of Frightful Fridays! This is the third of three monsters whose images my friend Patrick provided. I loathe clowns, so this was an extra challenging monster to work on, but I hope I channeled that intense dislike into a nasty undead creature. One that can create more of the same clowns...shudder.

I hope you enjoy these awful, awful monsters, and I'll be back next time with something cheerier (maybe a spider that has spiders for limbs, for example). Thanks for reading!

GAH!!!!!!!!

“Dying is easy; comedy is hard.”

Vampire Clown      CR 10
XP 9,600
CE Medium undead
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +16

DEFENSE
AC 24, touch 16, flat-footed 18 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 natural)
hp 142 (15d8+75)
Fort +10, Ref +10, Will +12
DR 10/magic or silver; Immune undead traits; Resist cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10
Weaknesses pain of emotions, vulnerable to sonic

OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.; spider climb
Melee bite +10 (1d8–1 plus energy drain), 2 claws +10 (1d6­–1)
Special Attacks bardic performance, create spawn, energy drain (2 levels, DC 22)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th; concentration +20)
   Constant—spider climb
   At will—hideous laughter (DC 19)
   3/day—quickened hideous laughter, refine improvised weapon, shocking grasp
   1/day—summon monster IV
STATISTICS

Str 9, Dex 20, Con —, Int 15, Wis 16, Cha 21
Base Atk +11; CMB +10 (+12 trip); CMD 26 (28 vs. trip)
Feats Catch Off-Guard, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Trip, Improvised Weapon Mastery, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (hideous laughter), Skill Focus (Perform [comedy]), Throw Anything
Skills Acrobatics +15 (+19 to jump), Disguise +23, Escape Artist +15, Knowledge (local) +12, Perception +16, Perform (comedy) +26, Sleight of Hand +15, Stealth +18
Languages Common, Gnome
SQ compression, laughter of the damned

ECOLOGY

Environment any land

Organization solitary or alley (2–12)

Treasure incidental
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Bardic Performance (Su) A vampire clown may use bardic performance as a 15th-level bard, and can only use fascinate (5 targets, DC 22).
Create Spawn (Su) A creature that dies as a result of a vampire clown’s energy drain rises 24 hours later as a vampire clown, under the command of the clown that created it for 1 year and 1 day or until the siring clown’s death, after which it becomes free-willed.
Energy Drain (Su) A vampire clown can only drain levels from a creature under the effect of the clown’s hideous laughter.
Laughter of the Damned (Su) A humanoid creature does not benefit from the +4 bonus to its save against hideous laughter by being a different type than the vampire clown. Additionally, the save DC for a vampire clown’s hideous laughter includes a +2 racial bonus.

Pain of Emotions (Su) A vampire clown loses its immunity to mind-affecting effects with respect to spells and effects with the emotion descriptor. It does not suffer the normal effects of such spells and effects when it fails its save; instead, it takes 1d6 points of damage per spell level.

Legend tells that the first vampire clown was an unpopular circus performer who rose in unlife after spending a number of bitter years destitute, homeless, and unloved. When he died, he vowed to bring smiles to people even if it killed them. During the year following his death, towns visited by the clown’s former circus troupe dealt with puzzling murders where the victims had rictus grins and whose bodies disappeared a day later. Eventually, a powerful priestess figured out that the murders and disappearances were the work of undead creatures, and she gathered a group to destroy the abominations. Unfortunately, some of the vampire clowns escaped to spread their forlorn brand of humor elsewhere.

Strangely, the need to make others laugh drives vampire clowns. Unlike typical vampires, they can operate during the day, and perform on street corners in an attempt to delight onlookers. Despite their ability to blend into society and their considerable practice with comedic performances, there is something off about their attempts at entertainment. Those who do not react with laughter mark themselves as targets for vampire clowns, who stalk their victims at night and use magic to force them to laugh. While victims suffer from this uncontrollable laughter, the clowns drain them of energy and, in the process, create terrifying progeny.

In order to protect themselves from attack, vampire clowns learn to use their props as weapons and know how to summon fiendish bears or tigers, usually dressed up in garish costumes.

Frightful Fridays! Infused Spirit

Hello, and welcome to a late Frightful Fridays! This week's entry continues the run of undead creatures requested by Patrick. During the discussion about this monster, our mutual friend Paris, suggested the name "infused spirit" and the idea that it has positive energy, rather than fire. I spun that off a little bit so that it retained its negative energy, but it also absorbed an incredible amount of positive energy (in its second former life) that revived it and made it hunger for more.

I hope you enjoy the infused spirit, and I'll be back next time with a new monster from Patrick's list. Thanks for reading!

This ghostly figure wears ancient armor and carries a shield and spear; its body trails off into a swirl of light and dark energy.

Infused Spirit      CR 9
XP 6,400
NE Medium undead
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., deathwatch; Perception +20
DEFENSE
AC 23, touch 17, flat-footed 16 (+6 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural)
hp 119 (14d8+56)
Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +12
Immune positive energy, undead traits; Resist cold 10
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)
Melee +1 grayflame shortspear +18/+13 (1d6+8), or touch +18 (life siphon)
Special Attacks channel negative energy (7/day, 7d6, DC 21), life siphon

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 14th; concentration +18)

   Constant--deathwatch
STATISTICS
Str 25, Dex 23, Con —, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 18
Base Atk +10; CMB +17; CMD 34 (can't be tripped)
Feats Cleave, Cleaving Finish[UC], Command Undead, Dodge, Furious Focus[APG], Mobility, Power Attack
Skills Fly +14, Intimidate +21, Knowledge (religion) +17, Perception +20, Spellcraft +16
Languages Common
SQ absorb positive energy

ECOLOGY

Environment any land

Organization solitary

Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Absorb Positive Energy (Su) If an infused spirit is within the radius of a channel positive energy for healing, as an immediate action it can attempt a Will save (same DC as if the channel were used to harm creatures). If it succeeds, it heals damage and otherwise negates the channel attempt. Additionally, if an infused spirit is a valid target for a spell that heals multiple creatures (such as mass cure light wounds), if it succeeds at a Spellcraft check to identify the spell, it can also attempt to absorb the spells energy as above.
Life Siphon (Su) If an infused spirit succeeds at a touch attack, it Inflicts 6d6 points of damage to creature touched (DC 21 Will save for half), and heals the infused spirit half that amount.
Immune to Positive Energy (Su) With the exception of its absorb positive energy ability, an infused spirit can neither be harmed nor healed by positive energy. It retains its immunity to negative energy.

An infused spirit forms when an overwhelming amount of positive energy would otherwise destroy an undead creature. Rather than killing the creature, the negative energy animating it mixes with the positive energy to give it an additional attempt at unlife. The horrific combination of energies renders the new creature immune to positive energy attacks, while instilling an overpowering hunger in it. It seeks living creatures to devour their life essences.

An infused spirit also wishes to expel the negative energy at the core of its being. It can channel negative energy as a way to release it but prefers not to, since it “sours” the life energy of its prey. Instead, it infuses the weapon construct with greyflame energy, so it can harm lone, difficult-to-kill opponents. The weapon construct and armor construct are manifestations of the collision between the opposing energies, and usually match the armaments worn by the infused spirit in life.

Frightful Fridays! Blitzgeist

Hello, and welcome back to another edition of Frightful Fridays! This week's monster is courtesy of a specific request from my friend Patrick, who wanted some undead creatures in the CR 8–10 range. First up is a galvanic warrior known as the blitzgeist. Its schtick is all about electricity, typically in lightning form, which it uses to blast its foes into oblivion. It can also heal itself with lightning and if it overcharges itself, it can dish out lightning bolts in, well, lightning fast manner.

I hope you like the blitzgeist, and I hope to keep up the weekly trend. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next time with a new monster!

Lightning crackles along every surface of this ghostly warrior; its ghostly armor and massive weapon speak of the might it possessed in life.
Blitzgeist CR 10
XP 9,600
CE Medium undead (incorporeal)
Init +11; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +19

DEFENSE
AC 23, touch 23, flat-footed 15 (+5 deflection, +7 Dex, +1 dodge)
hp 133 (14d8+70)
Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +11
Defensive Abilities evasion, incorporeal; Immune electricity, undead traits

OFFENSE
Speed fly 80 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 incorporeal touches +17 (5d6 electricity plus overwhelming shock)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks electrical discharge
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 14th; concentration +19)
At will—lightning bolt (DC 19)
3/day—call lightning storm (DC 20)

STATISTICS
Str —, Dex 25, Con —, Int 12, Wis 15, Cha 21
Base Atk +10; CMB +17; CMD 31
Feats Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Elemental Focus[APG], Improved Initiative, Improved Lightning Reflexes, Lightning Reflexes
Skills Fly +19, Intimidate +20, Knowledge (arcana) +17, Knowledge (nature) +15, Perception +19, Spellcraft +18
Languages Auran, Common
SQ conductive

ECOLOGY
Environment any land
Organization solitary, pair, squad (3–12)
Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Conductive (Su) A blitzgeist struck by a spell or effect that deals electricity damage gains temporary hit points equal to the dice of damage (or 1 point per 5 points of damage, if deals a flat amount of damage) dealt by the spell or effect. These temporary hit points last for 1 hour. If the blitzgeist has temporary hit points in excess of its maximum hit point total, it can deal 10 points of damage to itself to apply the Quicken Spell-Like feat to its lightning bolt spell-like ability.
A blitzgeist can redirect spells that deal electricity damage to target itself instead if it is within 60 feet of any point along which the effect travels. It must succeed at a dispel check (1d20 + blitzgeist's caster level; DC = 11 + spell's caster level) to redirect the spell. It automatically succeeds at redirecting its own spell-like abilities, but it gains only half the temporary hit points from them.
Electrical Discharge (Su) A creature that strikes a blitzgeist with a natural attack or metal melee weapon takes 5d6 points of electricity damage (DC 22 Reflex half). The save DC is Charisma-based.
Overwhelming Shock (Su) Whenever a creature takes electricity damage from a blitzgeist's, it must make a DC 22 Fortitude save to avoid being stunned by the supernatural galvanism for 1 round. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Blitzgeists were powerful warriors who believed themselves invincible, but the metallic armor they clad themselves in and the oversized metal weapons they wielded made them targets for the lightning that spelled their downfall. Rumors speak of particularly brazen warriors who challenged the gods and were repaid with a divine stroke of lightning. Whatever their origins, blitzgeists wander battlefields and haunt their former homes, where they invoke electrical destruction.

Blitzgeists see themselves as generals and field marshals for the undead, and they often surround themselves with armies of skeletons, zombies and more powerful undead. They prefer to send their minions to tackle the rank and file of living armies, while they seek out commanders whom they challenge to single combat.

 

 

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Frightful Fridays! Denouemoth

Hello and welcome back to an overly delayed Frightful Fridays! This week's monster resuses an image from over two years ago (where it formerly was in service of the scroll eating moth), but it was an appropriate image for a creature that strips heroes of their abilities before an imminent apocalypse. It also implants its victims with larvae, which spring forth from the doomed body and teleport away to another planet where they await their new home's inevitable destruction.

 

I hope you like this cutest little pre-apocalyptic guy, and you can use it to terrify your players (and their characters). I'll see you next time with a new monster. Thanks for reading!

 

 

This delicate-seeming moth is the size of a small dog; its dark eyes absorb light and life.
Denouemoth CR 22
XP 614,400
NE Small aberration
Init +14; Senses arcane sight, true seeing; Perception +35

DEFENSE
AC 40, touch 34, flat-footed 29 (+12 deflection, +10 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural, +1 size)
hp 402 (35d8+245); fast healing 5
Fort +17, Ref +23, Will +23
SR 33

OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., fly 90 ft. (good)
Melee bite +37 (1d6–2), sting +37 (1d6–2 plus implant), 2 wings +32 touch (1d2–2 plus touch of vulnerability)
Special Attacks implant, reflection of failure
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 35th; concentration +41)
At will—insanity (DC 23)
7/day—orb of the void (DC 26), prediction of failure (DC 24)
3/day—energy drain (DC 27), greater spellcrash (DC 25), mage's disjunction (DC 26)
1/day—cursed earth, interplanetary teleport

STATISTICS
Str 6, Dex 31, Con 22, Int 18, Wis 19, Cha 23
Base Atk +26; CMB +35 (+39 disarm); CMD 56 (58 vs. disarm, 64 vs. trip)
Feats Agile Maneuvers, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Greater Disarm, Greater Spell Focus (necromancy), Greater Spell Penetration, Hover, Improved Disarm, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Spell Focus (abjuration), Spell Focus (necromancy), Spell Penetration, Stealthy, Toughness, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +10 (+6 to jump), Disable Device +45, Escape Artist +39, Fly +21, Knowledge (arcana) +39, Knowledge (history) +39, Knowledge (planes) +39, Perception +35, Spellcraft +42, Stealth +39, Use Magic Device +41
Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Celestial, Common, Infernal

ECOLOGY
Environment any land
Organization solitary, pair, or brood (3–6)
Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Implant (Su) If a denouemoth damages a creature with its sting attack, it implants a larval denouemoth in its victim. If the prospective host fails a DC 33 Fortitude save, the larva lives dormant within the victim; otherwise it dies. If the host takes at least 120 points of energy damage that kills it, the larva bursts out of the corpse, grows instantaneously to adult, and uses its interplanetary teleport ability to travel to a new planet. While its host is alive, the larva has no adverse effect on it.

Reflection of Failure (Su) If a spell or effect fails to penetrate a denouemoth's spell resistance, it can use its prediction of failure spell-like ability as an immediate action against the spellcaster.
Touch of Vulnerability (Su) If a denouemoth touches a target with its wings, it potentially saps its opponent of power. The target creature must succeed at a DC 33 Will save or permanently take a –4 penalty to spell resistance and saving throws. An affected creature also reduces its energy resistances and damage reduction by 10 (to a minimum of 0). This is a curse effect, and can be removed via the normal means, but the DC to remove the effect is increased by 4. A creature that saves against this ability cannot be affected by the same denouemoth's ability for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Denouemoths live solely to see the ends of the worlds on which they reside. These effectively immortal creatures shelter away in the hidden areas of their home worlds and watch for signs of armageddon. Spurred to action, the moths locate the most powerful good creatures on their doomed planets and attack. While not a direct physical threat, the moths reduce their opponents in power such that they cannot prevent the oncoming destruction of their homes. The moths also implant their larvae in their foes; these larvae can only metamorphose in the destructive death throes of a world, so the moths prefer to select creatures likely to be the final living creatures as hosts.

 

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Frightful Fridays! A Mythical Monster from Ancient Lore

"Hark now. Hear the sailors cry. Smell the sea and feel the sky."

—Van Morrison, "Into the Mystic"

Hello again, Ramblers!

It's been a long time, but I'm back to share another Pathfinder RPG monster with you. I created this week's submission to the Frightful Fridays collection in response to a request from our good friend, Justin. Justin is working on a campaign set on the archipelago of Iblydos in the Pathfinder setting. Since Iblydos is noted for being Golarion's source of many creatures that we know from Greek mythology, Justin was looking for stats on as many other Greek mythological creatures as he could find. He discovered that, while there are stats for land-dwelling centaurs, there aren't any stats for their aquatic cousins, ichthyocentaurs.

In mythology, the two main ichthyocentaurs, also known as sea centaurs, were sea-gods named Bythos and Aphos and were said to be the half-brothers of the centaur Chiron. I took these beings as the inspiration for the personalities of the monster race and imagined them not as simply half-centaur and half-fish, but rather, half-merfolk and half-hippocampus.

I hope that you enjoy using these wise, yet wild creatures in your own campaigns.

A sculpture of Bythos by "EvilInstinct" (http://evilinstinct.deviantart.com/art/Bythos-Sage-of-the-Sea-134118596)

Ichthyocentaur

By Paris Crenshaw
This creature has the pale-skinned upper body of a powerful warrior, while its lower body combines the foreparts of a horse and the hindquarters of a sleek fish. Its forelegs end in splayed fins rather than hooves.

Ichthyocentaur         CR 3
XP 800
N Large monstrous humanoid (aquatic)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +9

DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (+4 armor, +1 Dex, +4 natural, -1 size)
hp 30 (4d10+8)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +7

OFFENSE
Speed 5 ft., swim 50 ft.
Melee trident +5 (1d8+2), tail slap +0 (1d4+1)
Ranged underwater heavy crossbow +4 (1d10/19–20)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 11, Wis 16, Cha 12
Base Atk +4; CMB +7; CMD 18 (22 vs. trip)
Feats Endurance, Improved Initiative
Skills Diplomacy +5, Knowledge (nature) +2, Perception +10, Survival +10, Swim +11
Languages Aquan, Common, Sylvan
SQ amphibious
Gear bone scale mailUE, crossbow bolts (10), trident, underwater heavy crossbowUE

ECOLOGY
Environment Any water
Organization solitary, pair, shoal (3-10), or school (11-30 plus 3 hunters of 3rd level and 1 leader of 6th level)
Treasure NPC gear (bone scale mail, crossbow bolts (10), trident, underwater heavy crossbow)

Ichthyocentaurs (or “sea centaurs”) appear very similar to merfolk, but with a lower half resembling that of a hippocampus. Some ichthyocentaurs wear crowns of coral, shells, ferns and seaweed. Some variations of these creatures are said to possess horns that resemble the claws of crabs or lobsters. Although they can breathe out of water, sea centaurs cannot move well at all on land and prefer not to venture there unless absolutely necessary.

Sea centaurs are generally peaceful creatures. They are fiercely loyal to their families and friends, and extend that loyalty to land dwellers if they form friendships with them. They tend to get along well with merfolk, most of the aquatic fey, and other neutral or good-aligned aquatic races. They despise the sahuagin and will usually attack them on sight.

An example of shell armor by J-ndrax (http://j-ndrax.deviantart.com/)

Although they dwell in the sea, ichthyocentaurs still share some of the wild nature of their air-breathing cousins, though they tend to be less prone to violent outbursts. They are, however, harsh protectors of their kin and their domains. Attacks or insults will result in swift and harsh reprisals. They are quite capable warriors and have learned to fashion exquisite armor and weapons from the bones of large animals. They even craft some armor from the iridescent shells of creatures like abalone.

Despite their military prowess, ichthyocentaurs are still not as aggressive as other centaurs. Their inherent wisdom makes them excellent advisors, emissaries, and diplomats. Their relations with the fey and other races of the sea makes them valuable resources for those who ply the surface waters, as well.

Scholars are unsure how long ichthyocentaurs actually live, but many of them possess intimate knowledge of the sea that can only be gained from decades of experience and exploration. Some say that the sea centaurs made a deal with the fey to extend their lifespans, but this has never been proven.

An average ichthyocentaur stands over 7 feet tall and weighs upward of 2,000 pounds. However, just as there are variants of the hippocampus (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2), there are many regional variations of sea centaurs.

Frightful Fridays! Bunyibble

Hello again and welcome to a new Frightful Fridays! Real life intervened over the past couple of weeks, but I missed doing these, and my queue keeps growing. Craig found this one and it piqued my mashup sensibilities, so of course I had to stat it up. Bunyibbles are fine normally, but you don't want to see them when they're angry, and you certainly don't want to hurt one when others are lurking about.

 

I hope you enjoy the bunyibble, and I also hope to be back next week with a new monster. Hopefully, once things settle down with the day job and other commitments, I can work through the queue much more quickly. Thanks for reading!

 

This truly delightful beast can be found here.

This creature looks like something fused the front half of a white-furred rabbit to the rear half of a shark; two rows of shark teeth line the inside of its mouth.
Bunyibble CR 1
XP 400
CN Small magical beast (aquatic)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., keen scent 180 ft., low-light vision; Perception +9

Defense
AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1

Offense
Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft.
Melee bite +5 (1d6–2 plus bleed)
Special Attacks bleed (1d2), blood rage

Statistics
Str 6, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 10
Base Atk +2; CMB –1; CMD 11
Feats Go Unnoticed[B], Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +6 (+2 to jump), Perception +9, Stealth +10, Swim +6; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Stealth
SQ amphibious

Ecology
Environment any aquatic
Organization solitary, pair, or fluffle (3–20)
Treasure none

Special Abilities
Blood Rage (Ex) If another bunyibble is injured within range of a bunyibble's keen scent, it flies into a rage. This ability otherwise works as normal.

Despite the bunyibble's fearsome features, the creature is actually fairly shy and attempts to stay hidden from larger creatures. Larger and more aggressive bunyips enjoy bunyibble flesh, as do sharks, prompting the smaller bunyibble to learn to hide from anything it considers a predator. However, once a creature injures a bunyibble, it goes into a frenzy (along with any nearby bunyibbles) and will not return to its normal, docile state until its attacker is dead. Many foolish hunters have met their demises after spearing a solitary bunyibble, only to come under attack by a dozen enraged shark-bunnies who turn the water red with their foes' blood.

Owing to its typical docility, a bunyibble can be taken as a familiar by a chaotic 7th-level spellcaster with the Improved Familiar feat. The spellcaster can choose to enter blood rage when her bunyibble familiar is injured, but she cannot end the rage voluntarily afterwards.

 

 

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Frightful Fridays! Giant Velvet Worm

Howdy and welcome to another Frightful Fridays! (or Frightful word-ending-in-'days', which doesn't have quite the same ring to it) This entry is courtesy of Jason who pointed to a Cracked article about "the 24 most bizarre creatures on Earth," and these worms appealed to me, especially since they spray mucus to to capture their prey and slowly devour the ensnared prey. What's not to love?

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these giant velvet worms, and I hope to be back this Friday with a new monster. Thanks for reading!

They're so adorable

This massive worm bears dozens of crescent-shaped claws along its body, and a pair of similarly shaped mandibles jut from its mucus-dripping mouth.
Giant Velvet Worm CR 7
XP 3,200
N Large vermin
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +13

Defense
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 17 (+3 Dex, +8 natural, -1 size)
hp 85 (10d8+40)
Fort +11, Ref +6, Will +4

Offense
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee bite +12 (3d6+6 plus 1d6 acid, poison, and grab)
Ranged spit +9 touch (entangle)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks swallow whole, (4d6 acid damage, AC 14, 8 hp)

Statistics
Str 23, Dex 17, Con 18, Int —, Wis 12, Cha 5
Base Atk +7; CMB +14 (+18 grapple); CMD 27 (can't be tripped)
Skills Climb +14, Perception +13; Racial Modifiers +12 Perception

Ecology
Environment warm forests or swamps
Organization solitary, pair, or tangle (3–8)
Treasure incidental

Special Abilities
Giant Velvet Worm Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 19; frequency 1/round for 8 rounds; effect 2d4 Dex; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Spit (Ex) A giant velvet worm's spit acts as a tanglefoot bag, but the Reflex save DC to avoid being glued to the ground and the Strength check DC to break free increase by 4. Additionally, the spittle becomes fragile after 2d4 minutes. Finally, while a victim is glued to the ground, it takes 1d6 points of acid damage.

In primal jungles where every creature is writ large, giant versions of velvet worms keep up with their oversized prey. They possess the sticky mucus of normal velvet worms—which are more closely related to arachnids than worms—but can generate enough to ensnare humanoid creatures. The mucus also contains a bit of their digestive fluids, which softens up prey while the worms might be otherwise engaged. Finally, the worms deliver a virulent, paralytic poison with their bites. Giant velvet worms rarely attack anything larger than themselves, so clever adventurers rely on enlarge person and similar spells when venturing into known velvet worm territory.

With a successful DC 20 Survival or Heal check, a character can extract enough mucus from a giant velvet worm's body to create a tanglefoot bag. For every 5 points above the DC, the character can create an additional tanglefoot bag.

 

 

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Frightful Fridays! Regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen

Hello and welcome back to another February Frightful Fridays! This week features a critter pointed out by Jason and Craig, and it's just so cute! That's why I needed to make it a CR 18 outsider that can blast its opponents with solid beams of color, and, when it gets tired of that, drop a prismatic spray or two. It's been that kind of week.

I hope you enjoy the "rainbow death butterfly kitten" (hat tip to Paris for the extra piece of the compound noun), and I'll be back next week, perhaps with something a little less ridiculous. Perhaps. Thanks for reading!

This light construct takes the form of a rainbow-hued kitten with butterfly wings.
Regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen CR 18
XP 153,600
CN Tiny outsider (extraplanar)
Init +11; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +31
Aura darkness dispelling aura (90 ft.), discordant color (60 ft., DC 19)

Defense
AC 29, touch 29, flat-footed 20 (+8 deflection, +8 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 size)
hp 264 (23d10+138); fast healing 5
Fort +19, Ref +23, Will +22; primal grace
Defensive Abilities incorporeal; Immune fluctuating immunity; SR 29

Offense
Speed 20 ft., fly 90 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 claws +32 touch (1d4+7 brilliant energy damage)
Ranged 2 rays +32 (4d6+7 brilliant energy damage)
Space 2.5 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 20th; concentration +28)
At will—color spray (DC 19), glitterdust (DC 20), rainbow pattern (DC 22)
3/day—prismatic spray, quickened glitterdust (DC 20), scintillating pattern
1/day—prismatic sphere

Statistics
Str —, Dex 24, Con 7, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 27
Base Atk +23; CMB +28; CMD 47 (51 vs. trip)
Feats Acrobatic, Combat Casting, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Greater Spell Penetration, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Point-blank Shot, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (glitterdust), Shot on the Run, Spell Penetration, Wingover
Skills Acrobatics +37, Bluff +28, Disguise +34, Fly +30, Intimidate +28, Perception +27, Spellcraft +27, Stealth +41
Languages Common (can't speak), Prismat
SQ quasi-invisibility

Ecology
Environment any (Demiplane of Primal Color)
Organization solitary, pair, or beam (3–12)
Treasure none

Special Abilities
Brilliant Energy Damage (Su) A regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen's attacks deal damage as if they were brilliant energy weapons and ignore all non-living matter, eliminating armor bonuses as well as cover bonuses provided by non-living obstacles. Its attacks cannot harm undead, constructs, or objects.

Darkness Dispelling Aura (Su) Light bends and warps around a regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen such that it suppresses darkness in a 90-foot-radius around it.

Discordant Color (Su) A regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen can radiate a 60-foot-radius aura of sight-destroying patterns of color as a free action. Creatures within the affected area must succeed on a DC 19 Fortitude save or be permanently blinded. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen's ability for 24 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Fluctuating Immunity (Su) At the beginning of an encounter, a regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen has complete immunity to two random energy types (acid, cold, electricity, or fire), and for one of those energy types (chosen randomly), it can reflect any spell or effect that only targets it. The creature has resist 20 for the other two energy types. As a swift action, it can randomly select the energy types from which it gains immunity.

Primal Grace (Su) A regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen gains a bonus equal to its Charisma bonus on all saving throws. Additionally, it gains bonus hit points equal to its Charisma bonus per Hit Die.

Quasi-Invisibility (Su) The color-warping abilities possessed by the regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen allow it to use its Stealth without penalty, even when running or in plain sight.

Regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen (singular and plural are the same) normally reside in a demiplane comprised of a near infinite number of hues, most in the visible spectrum of light but still indiscernible by most creatures not native to the plane. This demiplane acts as the source of all color for the multiverse and touches every plane, except for varied locations on (mostly) evil-aligned planes devoid of all color. The creatures issue forth from their home plane, heralded by a seeming explosion of rainbows, after multiple successive castings of color-related spells within a small time frame—such as a wizard's duel where the combatants often choose prismatic spray or the like.

Regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen attempt to take a harmless, if misjudged, form to give the impression of harmlessness. While regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen can create nearly any semi-solid object from the colors around them, they cannot create anything larger than a Tiny sized. However, they can easily manipulate color to produce their spell-like abilities and provide themselves with an odd chameleonic ability that renders them virtually invisible. Their peaceful intentions rapidly fade in the face of any aggression, and they unleash their full primal fury on those they perceive as foes. Undead creatures and constructs confuse a regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen, since they have immunity to its main attacks, but the regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen switches to its devastating prismatic spell-like abilities to dispatch such creatures.

Communicating with regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen is an exercise in futility. The creatures understand the primary language of whatever plane they visit, but they cannot speak. Instead, they use color, in the visible spectrum as well as outside it, to express themselves. Two or more regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen create a nausea-inducing display of strobing colors when they "talk" among themselves.

A variety of creature known as the "least" regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen exists, but those who have studied the creatures do not know if these less powerful creatures are young versions or just lesser creatures with similar appearances. Least regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen have the same statistics as a cat (with the exception of having Cha 11), and can use color spray (DC 11) as a spell-like ability three times per day. These creatures are incorporeal, but must maintain a solid colorform when stationary, losing their incorporeality when they do not move. A caster with Improved Familiar and at least 4 levels in an arcane spellcasting class can take a least regenbogentodschmetterlingkätzchen as a familiar.

 

 

 

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Frightful Fridays! Nullephant

Hello there! It's been a while since the last installment of Frightful Fridays! and I apologize for my long absence, but I am back now with a new monster, with thanks to my friend Craig for the image. The nullephant's face is not just good for frightening everything that see it; it also conceals a deadly weapon. The creatures were born of nightmares and plan to continue producing nightmarish encounters with those they attack and such dry of their physical and mental essences.

I hope I managed to do this disconcerting image justice, and I hope you like the nullephant. I'll be back soon with a new monster. Thanks for reading!

 

This appears to be an ordinary elephant, apart from the fact that its ears and trunk simply do not exist.
Nullephant CR 12
XP 19,200
NE Huge magical beast
Init –2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +17

Defense
AC 26, touch 6, flat-footed 26 (–2 Dex, +20 natural, –2 size)
hp 168 (16d10+80)
Fort +15, Ref +8, Will +11

Offense
Speed 40 ft.
Melee gore +22 (3d6+8), slam +22 (2d8+8), null trunk +21 (1d4+4 plus grab)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks null trunk, trample (2d8+12, DC 26)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 16th; concentration +19)
At will—invisibility

Statistics
Str 27, Dex 6, Con 21, Int 7, Wis 18, Cha 16
Base Atk +16; CMB +26 (+30 grapple); CMD 34 (38 vs. trip)
Feats Coordinated Charge[UC], Coordinated Maneuvers[APG], Distracting Charge[ACG], Iron Will, Multiattack, Outflank[APG], Power Attack, Weapon Focus (null trunk)
Skills Intimidation +16, Perception +18; Racial Bonuses +8 Intimidation

Ecology
Environment temperate plains
Organization solitary, pair, or herd (3–12)
Treasure none

Special Abilities
Null Trunk (Su) A nullephant's trunk remains invisible at all times and is immune to attempts to make it visible (through means such as faerie fire or glitterdust). Spells such as see invisibility allow the recipients to see the trunk as though it were composed of a hungering void. If an opponent cannot see the null trunk, the nullephant attacks its flat-footed armor class (mitigated by abilities such as uncanny dodge).
If a nullephant successfully grapples a foe with its trunk, it deals 1d4 points of Charisma drain and 1d4 points of Constitution drain. A victim must attempt two DC 23 Fortitude saving throws, one for each attribute. A success reduces the effect to 1 point of ability damage. Nullephants are immune to this ability. The save DCs are Constitution-based.

The so-called Nowhere Dimension is a malevolent plane of existence that seeks to consume every material bit of the universe, leaving nothing but void in its wake. Elder gods managed to wall off the rest of reality from the Nowhere Dimension, but occasionally it leaks through to the Material Plane—and other planes to a much lesser extent. It makes its incursions into primal areas virtually untouched by sentient beings other than fey and consumes what it can before ancient defenses once again seal off the breaches. Of all animals, elephants are the most sensitive to the Nowhere Dimension's intrusions, and their investigations typically come to horrifying ends. However, a hardy herd survived one such encounter, losing their trunks and ears to the void in the process. The event changed these elephants, which bore a mere fraction of the terrible hunger of the void in their trunks, driving the elephants to feed on the essence of other creatures. They grew more cunning, and their burgeoning intellect, nurtured by the living void, led them to seek out sentient prey.

Nullephants breed true with each other and they have a 50% chance of producing a nullephant when mating with an ordinary elephant. This birth invariably results in the new nullephant's mother becoming its first victim. The creatures gather in large numbers and attack en masse, relying on a surprising array of teamwork tactics. An individual nullephant attempts to grab one creature with its trunk, and, once it manages to snag a victim, it then relies on its tusks to keep rescuers at bay. Worse, a nullephant can extend the null field comprising its trunk to make itself completely invisible. Only the sound of heavy hooves give away a charging group of nullephants hiding in their null fields.

 

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Frightful Fridays! Black Friday Edition

Hello, and welcome back to the latest Frightful Fridays post! Day job and freelance deadlines have kept me away from the blog, but I am delighted to bring you another seasonal monster, this one pointed out to me by my good friend Patrick. Since yesterday was Thanksgiving in America, and the usual tradition is turkey, a lot of turkey-themed images appeared on the internet. This one was too delightful to pass up, and so I present the griffurkey, one of the most ornery creatures from which to obtain delicious roasted meat.

I hope you enjoy today's monster, and I should be back next week with something different. Thanks for reading!

Meme courtesy of this Facebook post.

This strange creature has the body of a lion, and the head—complete with wattle—stumpy wings, and feathered fan belonging to a turkey.
Griffurkey CR 5
XP 1,600
N Large magical beast
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +17

Defense
AC 18, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (+1 Dex, +8 natural, –1 size)
hp 57 (6d10+24)
Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +4
Defensive Abilities ferocity

Offense
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (average)
Melee bite +9 (1d8+4), 2 talons +9 (1d6+4/19–20)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks pounce, rake (2 claws +9, 1d6+4)

Statistics
Str 18, Dex 13, Con 18, Int 4, Wis 15, Cha 7
Base Atk +6; CMB +11 (+13 overrun); CMD 22 (24 vs. overrun, 26 vs. trip)
Feats Flyby Attack, Improved Critical[B] (talon), Improved Overrun, Power Attack
Skills Fly +4, Perception +17

Ecology
Environment temperate plains
Organization solitary, pair, or gang (3–8)
Treasure none

Some barbaric tribes feel that the thrill of the hunt and the potential for grievous injury at the teeth, claws, and talons of their prey makes the meat all the tastier. This definitely holds true for the beast known as the griffurkey, an aggressive and ill-tempered combination of lion the turkey. Considering their resemblance to the majestic griffon, it is curious that the barbarians describe the meat as a combination of fowl and horse flesh.

Griffurkeys certainly look less than regal compared to their griffon cousins, as their unimpressive wingspan makes them clumsier at flying. They are also less intelligent than griffons, and most people would agree that they are less aesthetically pleasing. However, griffurkeys are powerful and bellicose creatures that prefer to attack creatures with similar temperaments, such as boars and bears. They prefer to attack by flying through their intended prey, knocking their victims down before pouncing on them and attacking with their array of terrifying natural weapons.

Aficionados of griffurkey meat have met with failure in domesticating the creatures and raising them on farms. Even those griffurkeys raised from hatchlings turn their ire against those who have captured them well before they become a viable source of meat. The creatures attack those who attempt to handle them and repeatedly bash themselves against enclosures in their overwhelming desire to escape captivity. Likewise, efforts to training griffurkeys as mounts akin to griffons have met with the same bullheaded attitude.

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