Frightful Fridays! Surprise! Elemental

Hello, and welcome to this week's Frightful Fridays! This one has been floating around for a while, but my friend Owen recently brought it up again. Inspired by this YouTube video, I present the surprise elemental, complete with "age categories" like proper elementals. Its purpose is to mess with characters (and players) who presumably figure out how to most effectively kill it, only to find out how wrong they are. It's quite fiddly with all the random rolling, so I would caution against throwing a dozen of these out there (despite what their organization line says).

I do hope you enjoy the surprise elemental, and I'll be back with another monster next time (probably something less wacky). Thanks for reading! (and keep your eyes on the comments to figure out which rugby matches or NFL games are taking place)

Yes, this is a surprise.

An exclamation point pops out of thin air and begins attacking.

Surprise Elemental

ECOLOGY

Environment any (Plane of the Unexpected)

Organization solitary, pair, or perplexity (3–13)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Now You See Me (Su) A number of times per day equal to a surprise elemental’s Charisma modifier, it can take a full round action, which does not provoke an attack of opportunity, to teleport itself up to twice its movement rate and make a single attack. The target of the attack must succeed at a Perception check opposed by the elemental’s Stealth check, or it is flat-footed with respect to the attack.

Sneak Attack (Ex) A surprise elemental deals sneak attack damage as if it were a rogue with levels equal to its Hit Dice.

Surprise Defense (Su) A surprise elemental must be threatened by at least one other creature to take damage.

Variable Resistance (Su) A surprise elemental begins combat with the listed resistance to a random energy type, based on a d4 roll (1: acid, 2: cold, 3: electricity, 4: fire). When it takes damage from the resisted type of energy, reroll for a new type of energy (for example, if it was originally resistant to cold, roll a d6 for the new resistance: 1–2: acid, 3–4: electricity, 5–6: fire).

Will This Work? (Su) A surprise elemental begins combat with spell resistance equal to 10 + CR. Each time a spell overcomes its spell resistance, its spell resistance increases by 1. Each time a spell fails to penetrate its spell resistance, its spell resistance decreases by 1.

Small Surprise Elemental      CR 2

XP 600

N Small outsider (elemental, extraplanar)

Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +6

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)

hp 19 (3d10+3)

Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +1

Defensive Abilities surprise defense, will this work?; DR versatile DR; Immune elemental traits; Resist variable resistance 5

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., climb 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (average), swim 60 ft.

Melee slam +4 (2d6)

Special Attacks now you see me, sneak attack +2d6

STATISTICS

Str 10, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 12

Base Atk +3; CMB +2; CMD 15 (can't be tripped)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Lunge^B

Skills Acrobatics +9 (+13 to jump), Bluff +7, Climb +12, Disguise +7, Fly +10, Perception +6, Stealth +21, Swim +8; Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Versatile DR (Su) A small surprise elemental begins combat with DR 5, bypassed by a random weapon type based on a d6 roll (1–2: slashing, 3–4: piercing, 5–6: bludgeoning). When an attack bypasses its DR, reroll for a different weapon type (for example, if slashing weapons originally bypassed its DR, roll a d6 for the new weapon type: 1–3: piercing, 4–6: bludgeoning).

Medium Surprise Elemental      CR 4

XP 1,200

N Medium outsider (elemental, extraplanar)

Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +10

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +4 natural)

hp 37 (5d10+10)

Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +3

Defensive Abilities surprise defense, will this work?; DR versatile DR; Immune elemental traits; Resist variable resistance 10

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft., burrow 30 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (average), swim 60 ft.

Melee slam +8 (2d8+4)

Special Attacks now you see me, sneak attack +3d6

STATISTICS

Str 16, Dex 19, Con 15, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 12

Base Atk +5; CMB +8 (+10 dirty trick); CMD 22 (24 vs. dirty trick, can't be tripped)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Improved Dirty Trick, Improved Initiative, Lunge^B

Skills Acrobatics +4 (+12 to jump), Bluff +11, Climb +16, Disguise +11, Fly +10, Perception +10, Stealth +28, Swim +11; Racial Modifiers +16 Stealth

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Versatile DR (Su) A medium surprise elemental begins combat with DR 5, bypassed by a random weapon type based on a d6 roll (1–2: slashing, 3–4: piercing, 5–6: bludgeoning). When an attack bypasses its DR, reroll for a different weapon type (for example, if slashing weapons originally bypassed its DR, roll a d6 for the new weapon type: 1–3: piercing, 4–6: bludgeoning).

Large Surprise Elemental      CR 6

XP 2,400

N Large outsider (elemental, extraplanar)

Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +14

DEFENSE

AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural, –1 size)

hp 68 (8d10+24)

Fort +9, Ref +10, Will +5

Defensive Abilities surprise defense, will this work?; DR versatile DR; Immune elemental traits; Resist variable resistance 10

OFFENSE

Speed 60 ft., burrow 30 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 90 ft. (average), swim 90 ft.

Melee 2 slams +12 (2d8+5)

Special Attacks now you see me, sneak attack +4d6

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

STATISTICS

Str 20, Dex 19, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 14

Base Atk +8; CMB +14 (+16 dirty trick); CMD 29 (31 vs. dirty trick, can't be tripped)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Dirty Trick^B, Improved Initiative, Lunge^B, Mobility

Skills Acrobatics +15 (+27 to jump), Bluff +15, Climb +18, Disguise +15, Fly +11, Perception +14, Stealth +35, Swim +13; Racial Modifiers +24 Stealth

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Versatile DR (Su) A large surprise elemental begins combat with DR 10, bypassed by a random weapon type based on a d4 roll (1: slashing, 2: piercing, 3: bludgeoning, 4: magic). When an attack bypasses its DR, reroll for a different weapon type (for example, if slashing weapons originally bypassed its DR, roll a d6 for the new weapon type: 1–2: piercing, 3–4: bludgeoning, 5–6: magic).

Huge Surprise Elemental      CR 8

XP 4,800

N Huge outsider (elemental, extraplanar)

Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +17

DEFENSE

AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 natural, –2 size)

hp 105 (10d10+50)

Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +7

Defensive Abilities surprise defense, will this work?; DR versatile DR; Immune elemental traits; Resist variable resistance 15

OFFENSE

Speed 70 ft., burrow 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 90 ft. (average), swim 90 ft.

Melee 2 slams +16 (3d6+8)

Special Attacks now you see me, sneak attack +5d6

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

STATISTICS

Str 26, Dex 19, Con 21, Int 10, Wis 19, Cha 14

Base Atk +10; CMB +20 (+22 dirty trick); CMD 35 (37 vs. dirty trick, can't be tripped)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack^B, Improved Dirty Trick^B, Improved Initiative, Lunge^B, Mobility, Spring Attack

Skills Acrobatics +17 (+33 to jump), Bluff +18, Climb +21, Disguise +18, Fly +11, Perception +17, Stealth +37, Swim +16; Racial Modifiers +28 Stealth

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Versatile DR (Su) A large surprise elemental begins combat with DR 10, bypassed by a random weapon type or material based on a d6 roll (1: slashing, 2: piercing, 3: bludgeoning, 4: magic, 5: cold iron, 6: silver). When an attack bypasses its DR, reroll for a different weapon type (for example, if slashing weapons originally bypassed its DR, roll a d10 for the new weapon type: 1–2: piercing, 3–4: bludgeoning, 5–6: magic, 7–8: cold iron, 9–10: silver).

Greater Surprise Elemental      CR 10

XP 9,600

N Huge outsider (elemental, extraplanar)

Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +21

DEFENSE

AC 24, touch 14, flat-footed 18 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +10 natural, –2 size)

hp 136 (13d10+65)

Fort +13, Ref +13, Will +9

Defensive Abilities surprise defense, will this work?; DR versatile DR; Immune elemental traits; Resist variable resistance 20

OFFENSE

Speed 70 ft., burrow 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 90 ft. (average), swim 90 ft.

Melee 2 slams +20 (3d8+9)

Special Attacks now you see me, sneak attack +7d6

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

STATISTICS

Str 28, Dex 21, Con 21, Int 12, Wis 21, Cha 16

Base Atk +13; CMB +24 (+26 dirty trick); CMD 40 (42 vs. dirty trick, can't be tripped)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Improved Dirty Trick^B, Improved Initiative, Lunge^B, Mobility, Quick Dirty Trick^{B, UC}, Spring Attack, Step Up

Skills Acrobatics +21 (+36 to jump), Bluff +22, Climb +22, Disable Device +19, Disguise +22, Fly +15, Perception +21, Stealth +45, Swim +17; Racial Modifiers +32 Stealth

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Versatile DR (Su) A large surprise elemental begins combat with DR 10, bypassed by a random weapon type or material based on a d6 roll (1: slashing, 2: piercing, 3: bludgeoning, 4: magic, 5: cold iron, 6: silver). When an attack bypasses its DR, reroll for a different weapon type (for example, if slashing weapons originally bypassed its DR, roll a d10 for the new weapon type: 1–2: piercing, 3–4: bludgeoning, 5–6: magic, 7–8: cold iron, 9–10: silver).

Elder Surprise Elemental      CR 12

XP 19,200

N Huge outsider (elemental, extraplanar)

Init +10; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +25

DEFENSE

AC 27, touch 15, flat-footed 20 (+6 Dex, +1 dodge, +12 natural, –2 size)

hp 168 (16d10+80)

Fort +15, Ref +16, Will +11

Defensive Abilities surprise defense, will this work?; DR versatile DR; Immune elemental traits; Resist variable resistance 30

OFFENSE

Speed 70 ft., burrow 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 90 ft. (average), swim 90 ft.

Melee 2 slams +24 (3d8+10)

Special Attacks now you see me, sneak attack +8d6

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

STATISTICS

Str 30, Dex 23, Con 21, Int 12, Wis 23, Cha 18

Base Atk +16; CMB +28 (+32 dirty trick); CMD 45 (47 vs. dirty trick, can't be tripped)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Greater Dirty Trick^B, Improved Dirty Trick^B, Improved Initiative, Lunge, Mobility, Quick Dirty Trick^{B, UC}, Spring Attack, Step Up

Skills Acrobatics +25 (+37 to jump), Bluff +26, Climb +24, Disable Device +23, Disguise +26, Fly +18, Perception +25, Stealth +49, Swim +18; Racial Modifiers +32 Stealth

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Versatile DR (Su) A large surprise elemental begins combat with DR 15, bypassed by a random weapon material or quality based on a d8 roll (1: magic, 2: cold iron, 3: silver, 4: chaos, 5: good, 6: evil, 7: lawful, 8: roll twice ignoring a result of 8 [a weapon must possess both qualities/materials to bypass the elemental’s DR; if the same result is rolled, double its DR). When an attack bypasses its DR, reroll for a different weapon material or quality as previously noted.

In the chaotic demi-plane known as the Plane of the Unexpected, surprise elementals serve as wardens and guides for visitors to the plane. Stalwart creatures in their home plane, these elementals transform into unpredictable killers when they travel to other planes. Sages who have studied surprise elementals concluded that the relative structure and order of other planes drives the creatures to madness.

No two encounters with surprise elementals are the same. The creatures use a variety of unusual tricks when they attack, and they possess bizarre, random defenses that change during battle. Additionally, surprise elementals have a different appearance from one another and usually take the form of the local concept of surprise (one might be virtually invisible but make sudden, loud noises, while another might look like a massive jolt of electricity, for example).