Sci-Fi Sunday (Jewel Caterpillar)

Hello and welcome to a new feature on the blog! I plan to convert monsters that make sense to transfer to the Starfinder Roleplaying Game, and the jewel caterpillar seemed like the best candidate to kick this off (because lasers).

I'll be back tomorrow with another monster for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Thanks for reading!

This spiky caterpillar appears to be made from a translucent crystal.

Jewel Caterpillar      CR 4

XP 1,200

N Diminutive magical beast

Init +7; Senses blindsense (gems, vibration) 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +6

DEFENSE                              HP 52

EAC 18; KAC 19

Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +3

Defensive Abilities can’t be tripped, fade out; DR 5/bludgeoning Immune electricity, fire; Resist acid 10

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., climb 10 ft.

Melee bite +4 (1d2–5 P plus jewel caterpillar poison)

Ranged energy ray +12 (3d6 A, C, E, or F [see below]; crit burn 1d6)

Space 1 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Offensive Abilities consume gem, spines

STATISTICS

Str –5, Dex +3, Con +3, Int –3, Wis +0, Cha +2

Feats Go Unnoticed^APG

Skills Athletics +11, Perception +6, Stealth +19

ECOLOGY

Environment any temperate or warm land

Organization solitary, pair, or vault (3–12)

Treasure standard (intact jewel caterpillar corpse)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Consume Gem (Ex) As a full action, a jewel caterpillar can destroy a gem it touches. When it does so, it heals an amount of hit points equal to 1/10 the gem’s value in credits. A magic gem receives a Reflex save (DC 15) to avoid destruction.

Energy Ray (Ex) A jewel caterpillar can fire an energy ray that deals 3d6 points of damage of a chosen energy type (acid, cold, electricity, or fire). Once it fires an energy ray, it must wait 1 round before it can fire another energy ray. During this delay, it changes color to match the type of energy damage it will deal on its next attack (acid—green, cold—blue, electricity—yellow, fire—red). The ray has a 40-foot range increment.

Fade Out (Ex) As a swift action, a jewel caterpillar can make itself translucent or return to its fully visible state. This grants it partial concealment (20% miss chance) and a +8 racial bonus on Stealth checks. While translucent, the caterpillar cannot use its energy ray.

Jewel Caterpillar Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 15; track Dexterity; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect at the immobile state, the victim becomes a gem statue (worth 1,000 credits per creature’s total HD), as if affected by flesh to stone; cure 2 saves.

Spines (Ex) Any creature attacking a jewel caterpillar with natural weapons or an unarmed strike takes 1d2 points of piercing damage and is subject to the caterpillar’s poison. A creature that grapples a jewel caterpillar takes 1d4 points of piercing damage each round it does so.

Frightful Fridays! Jewel Caterpillar

Hello and welcome to another Frightful Fridays! (where it's Friday somewhere in the multiverse) This edition's monster is just a caterpillar...which happens to eat gems as its main source of food. So, if that gem of brightness is causing problems, chuck one or two of these, or an entire swarm, at the party. It's too adorable to stay mad at for long.

I hope you enjoy the jewel caterpillar, and I'll be back again soon with another monster. Thanks for reading!

I originally found the video here

This spiky caterpillar appears to be made from a translucent crystal.

Jewel Caterpillar      CR 4

XP 1,200

N Diminutive magical beast

Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., gem sense 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +6

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 17, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +4 size)

hp 42 (5d10+15)

Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +3

Defensive Abilities fade out; DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune electricity, fire; Resist acid 10

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., climb 10 ft.

Melee bite +4 (1d2–5 plus poison)

Ranged energy ray +12 touch (3d6 acid, cold, electricity, or fire [see below])

Space 1 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks consume gem, poison, spines

STATISTICS

Str 1, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 10, Cha 14

Base Atk +5; CMB +4; CMD 9 (can't be tripped)

Feats Go Unnoticed^APG, Improved Initiative, Iron Will

Skills Appraise –2 (+10 when evaluating gems), Climb +11, Perception +6, Stealth +19; Racial Modifiers +12 Appraise when evaluating gems

ECOLOGY

Environment any temperate or warm land

Organization solitary, pair, or vault (3–12)

Treasure standard (intact jewel caterpillar corpse)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Consume Gem (Ex) As a full round action, a jewel caterpillar can destroy a gem it touches. When it does so, it heals an amount of hit points equal to 1/10 the gem’s gp value. A magic gem receives a Reflex save (DC 15) to avoid destruction. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Energy Ray (Ex) A jewel caterpillar can fire an energy ray that deals 3d6 points of damage of a chosen energy type (acid, cold, electricity, or fire). Once it fires an energy ray, it must wait 1 round before it can fire another energy ray. During this delay, it changes color to match the type of energy damage it will deal on its next attack (acid—green, cold—blue, electricity—yellow, fire—red). The ray has a 40-foot range increment.

Fade Out (Ex) As a swift action, a jewel caterpillar can make itself translucent or return to its fully visible state. This grants it partial concealment (20% miss chance) and a +8 racial bonus on Stealth checks. While translucent, the caterpillar cannot use its energy ray.

Gem Sense (Su) A jewel caterpillar can sense the presence of gems within 60 feet as if using the scent ability.

Jewel Caterpillar Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Dex, and a creature reduced to 0 Dex while poisoned transforms into a gem statue (worth 1,000 gp per creature’s total HD), as if affected by flesh to stone; cure 2 saves.

Spines (Ex) Any creature attacking a jewel caterpillar with natural weapons or an unarmed strike takes 1d2 points of piercing damage and is subject to the caterpillar’s poison. A creature that grapples a jewel caterpillar takes 1d4 points of piercing damage each round it does so.

--------------------

This carpet of gem-like caterpillars glows with undulating patches of blue, green, red and yellow.

Jewel Caterpillar Swarm      CR 8

XP 4,800

N Diminutive magical beast (swarm)

Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., gem sense 90 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 22, touch 18, flat-footed 18 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural, +4 size)

hp 85 (10d10+30)

Fort +10, Ref +10, Will +5

Defensive Abilities swarm traits; Immune electricity, fire; Resist acid 10

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., climb 10 ft.

Melee swarm (2d6 plus distraction and poison)

Ranged 4 energy rays +18 touch (3d6 acid, cold, electricity, or fire [see below])

Space 1 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks consume gem, distraction (DC 18), poison, spines

ECOLOGY

Environment any temperate or warm land

Organization solitary, pair, or vault (3–8)

Treasure double (intact jewel caterpillar corpses)

STATISTICS

Str 1, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 10, Cha 14

Base Atk +10; CMB —; CMD —

Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Mobility, Weapon Focus (energy ray)

Skills Appraise –2 (+10 when evaluating gems), Climb +11, Perception +11, Stealth +19; Racial Modifiers +12 Appraise when evaluating gems

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Consume Gems (Ex) If a caterpillar swarm begins its turn sharing a space with one or more gems or creatures carrying gems, it can destroy a gem in each square it occupies as a move action. Doing so heals the swarm an amount of hit points equal to 1/10 the gem's gp value. Magic gems or gems in a creature’s possession receive a Reflex save (DC 18) to avoid destruction. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Energy Ray (Ex) Each round, a jewel caterpillar swarm can fire one ray of each energy type (acid, cold, electricity, and fire). It does not incur an attack of opportunity when using its energy rays, and it can attack with its energy rays even while moving. Each ray has a 40-foot range increment.

Gem Sense (Su) A jewel caterpillar swarm can sense the presence of gems within 90 feet as if using the scent ability.

Jewel Caterpillar Poison (Ex) Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 18; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Dex, and a creature reduced to 0 Dex while poisoned transforms into a gem statue (worth 1,000 gp per creature’s total HD), as if affected by flesh to stone; cure 2 saves.

Spines (Ex) Any creature attacking a jewel caterpillar with natural weapons or an unarmed strike takes 1d6 points of piercing damage and is subject to the caterpillar’s poison.

Jewel caterpillars are descendants of ancient earth elemental vermin driven from the Plane of Earth because of the creatures’ voracious appetites for minerals. The surviving caterpillars became less ravenous as the available resources dwindled in their new homes. However, they gained a discerning palette for precious gems, while becoming much more cunning to allow them to obtain their favorite foods. Individual caterpillars take advantage of their ability to sense gems, minute size, and translucence to sneak into backpacks and other containers and devour gems they find there. When confronted with multiple choices, they use an innate ability to appraise the worth of the gems, so they can consume the most expensive gems and sneak away after sating themselves. In cases where gems are scarce, jewel caterpillars rely on their poison to transform victims into gemstone, and they then subsist on the transmuted substance. Gemstone “constructions” of partial animals and other creatures mark the presence of active jewel caterpillar lair.

A creature with the earth and elemental subtypes, the Improved Familiar feat, and at least 7 levels in a spellcasting class can take a jewel caterpillar as a familiar.

Preserving Jewel Caterpillar Corpses

A character can harvest a jewel caterpillar corpse that did not die from massive damage or was not reduced to twice its Constitution score below 0. By succeeding on a DC 20 Craft (jewelry) check, a character preserves the jewel caterpillar corpse such that it provides gp appropriate for the caterpillar’s CR. Failing this check by less than 5 garners a reward equal to half the gp value, while a failure by 5 or more renders the corpse worthless. For a jewel caterpillar swarm, the DC of the Craft (jewelry) check increases by 5, but the reward for success (or a failure by less than 5) doubles.

Frightful Fridays! Elemental Swarms (air and earth)

Hello, and welcome to another (slightly late) edition of Frightful Fridays! I have two semi-related monsters for you this time, thanks to a discussion where my friend Gregg suggested swarms. I couldn't decide between the earth elemental swarm and the air elemental swarm, so I ended up including both.

I hope you enjoy these weird swarms, and I'll see you soon with another monster. Thanks for reading!

You can find this harrowing image here

A cloud of sand kicks up suddenly and moves against the prevailing direction of the wind.

Sandshred Swarm      CR 9

XP 6,400

NE Fine outsider (earth, elemental, native, swarm)

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

DEFENSE

AC 23, touch 23, flat-footed 18 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 size)

hp 114 (12d10+48)

Fort +11, Ref +12, Will +6

Defensive Abilities swarm traits; Immune elemental traits

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.

Melee swarm (3d6 plus blinding sand, distraction, and scouring sand)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks distraction (DC 19)

STATISTICS

Str 1, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 3, Wis 14, Cha 9

Base Atk +12; CMB —; CMD —

Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Lightning Stance, Mobility, Toughness, Wind Stance

Skills Knowledge (nature) +10, Perception +17, Stealth +24

ECOLOGY

Environment any desert

Organization solitary, pair, or sandstorm (3–6)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Blinding Sand (Ex) A creature damaged by a sandshred swarm must attempt a DC 19 Reflex save. On a failed save, the victim is blinded for 1d4 rounds; on a successful save, the creature is instead dazzled for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Scouring Sand (Ex) A creature damaged by a sandshred swarm must succeed at a DC 19 Fortitude save or take 1d2 points of bleed damage. Bleed damage inflicted by this ability stacks with itself. The save DC is Constitution-based.

A sandshred swarm is composed of hundreds of individual earth elementals collected for mutual protection. The individual creatures in this living sandstorm enjoy the feeling of flesh peeling away as they strike living creatures. While not capable of nuanced tactics, the elementals have learned the value of lying in wait among desert sands with which they are virtually indistinguishable. The swarm mixes in with shifting sand to give itself additional protection from attacks.

Evil elementalists and powerful earth elementals command sandshred swarms and have discovered a technique to bottle the swarms up and release them on unsuspecting victims.

This awesome stock photo can be found here

Dozens of individual, miniature storms throw hundreds of miniscule lightning bolts, producing a strong ozone odor.

Supercell Swarm      CR 11

XP 12,800

CN Tiny outsider (air, elemental, native, swarm)

Init +11; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +21

DEFENSE

AC 24, touch 20, flat-footed 16 (+7 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural, +2 size)

hp 147 (14d10+70)

Fort +13, Ref +18, Will +8

Defensive Abilities swarm traits; Immune elemental traits

OFFENSE

Speed fly 80 ft. (good)

Melee swarm (3d6 plus 4d6 electricity, distraction, and multishock)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks distraction (DC 21)

STATISTICS

Str 2, Dex 25, Con 19, Int 5, Wis 18, Cha 14

Base Atk +14; CMB —; CMD —

Feats Dodge, Hover, Improved Initiative, Improved Lightning Reflexes, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Toughness

Skills Fly +25, Knowledge (nature) +14, Perception +21, Stealth +25

ECOLOGY

Environment any temperate or warm land

Organization solitary, pair, or squall (3–6)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Hover A supercell swarm is treated as a Large creature for the purposes of this feat.

Multishock (Ex) A creature damaged by a supercell swarm must succeed at a DC 21 Fortitude save, or become staggered for 1d4 rounds. If a creature is already staggered and fails this save, it is instead stunned for 1d4 rounds. Stunned creatures are unaffected by this ability. The save DC is Constitution-based.

A supercell swarm results when a massive thunderstorm begins to break up and air elementals attracted to the storm inhabit the cloud fragments. The elementals give the storm new life and collectively attack creatures still caught outside. They relish overwhelming the nervous systems of their victims, but they rarely remain among such victims while other mobile targets are available. Given a choice, a supercell swarm prefers to pursue flying creatures and knock them out of the sky.

The unpredictable elementals resist control by other creatures, even more powerful air elementals. Spellcasters capable of generating severe weather can attract a supercell swarm, but are equally potential prey for the elementals.

Frightful Fridays! Redwood Golem

Hello and welcome to another edition of Frightful not-quite-so-Fridays! Work and car problems conspired against an on-time delivery last week, but I managed to rise to the challenged posed by my friend Jason to stat the redwood golem. This nature-themed golem normally takes the shape of a massive lion, but it can change shape at the whims of its creator or depending on the situation.

I hope you enjoy the redwood golem, and I'll be back again with another monster (hopefully on Friday). Thanks for reading!

Rawr!!!

This gigantic lion appears carved from a single, enormous chunk of wood. It has remarkable articulation and moves with grace belying its appearance.

Redwood Golem      CR 14

XP 38,400

N Huge construct

Init –2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +16

DEFENSE

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

hp 163 (19d10+59)

Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +12

DR 15/adamantine and piercing; Immune construct traits, fire, magic

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft.

Melee bite +26 (4d6+8 plus grab), 2 claws +25 (3d6+8)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks pounce, rake (2 claws +25, 3d6+8)

STATISTICS

Str 27, Dex 6, Con —, Int 3, Wis 23, Cha 18

Base Atk +19; CMB +29 (+31 bull rush, +33 grapple); CMD 37 (39 vs. bull rush, 41 vs. trip)

Feats Awesome Blow, Dazzling Display, Greater Vital Strike, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Vital Strike, Intimidating Prowess, Power Attack, Toughness, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (bite)

Skills Intimidate +21, Perception +16, Stealth –10 (+6 in forests); Racial Modifiers +16 Stealth in forests

SQ freeze, reshape

ECOLOGY

Environment any (primarily forests)

Organization solitary, pair, stand (3–6)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Immunity to Magic (Ex) A redwood golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against a redwood golem, as noted below.

• A diminish plants or warp wood spell slows a redwood golem (as the slow spell) for 3 rounds (no saving throw).
• A plant growth spell ends any slow effect on the golem and gives it the giant creature template for 1 minute. It cannot benefit from the size increase from plant growth again for 1 hour (but the spell will end slow effects, regardless of the time between castings). A redwood golem gets no saving throw against plant growth.
• A blight spell affects a redwood golem as if it were a plant creature. The golem receives a saving throw against the spell.
• A magical attack that deals electricity damage ends any slow effect on the golem and heals 1 point of damage for each 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise deal. If the amount of healing would cause the golem to exceed its full normal hit points, it gains any excess as temporary hit points. A redwood golem gets no saving throw against electricity effects.

Reshape (Ex) A redwood golem’s default form is that of a feline creature, as reflected in its stat block. Three times per day as a swift action, the golem can change its animal form or densify its exterior. If it changes animal forms, it loses its current melee and special attacks and replaces them based on the new form. An elephantine form grants it 2 slam attacks (+25 attack bonus, 4d8+8) and trample (4d8+12, DC 27). If it takes the form of a rhinoceros, it gains a gore attack (+25 attack bonus, 4d8+12), powerful charge (gore, 4d8+16), and trample (4d6+12, DC 27). A serpentine form grants it a bite attack (+26 attack bonus, 4d6+12 plus grab), and constrict (4d6+12).

              A redwood golem choosing to densify its exterior increases its natural armor bonus by +2, but reduces its base speed by 10 ft. These changes last for 1 hour. The golem can choose this use of the ability more than once, but it cannot reduce its base speed below 10 ft.

              The golem can reshape itself more than three times per day, but after the third use of this ability, it must use a full-round action to reshape itself.

Druids (and other spellcasters allied with nature) typically create redwood golems to guard sacred groves or especially important forests. Creators enjoy the aesthetic of the fusion of fierce animal figures with plant material, so they fashion most golems into a predatory or other intimidating animal. The golems have rudimentary intelligence, which allows them to make tactical decisions in battle and use their reshape ability and feats for maximum effectiveness. Commands issued by the golems’ creators override the creations’ choices, however. A golem which loses its creator usually seeks revenge on its creator’s killers before retreating to deep woods where it continues to carry out its imperative to protect the forest.

Construction

The construction of a redwood golem requires a single redwood tree measuring at least 30 feet in height. The wood is treated with rare herbal solutions costing at least 40,000 gp.

Redwood Golem

CL 15th; Price 140,000 gp

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Construct, animal shapes, awaken, control plants, creator must be caster level 15th; Skill Craft (sculpture) DC 21; Cost 90.000 gp

Frightful Fridays! Krakitten

Hello, and welcome to another Frightful Fridays! I'm going to say that jet lag still makes it Friday. The family trip to Europe was awesome, and I saw a lot of great art, great architecture, and beautiful mountains and countrysides. One of the things which provided inspiration for this feature was the image below, featured on a t-shirt (one of which I now own). The krakitten just wants to play, and its targets include sailing vessels. If the vessels would just sit still, the krakitten wouldn't even notice them.

I hope you enjoy this week's monster, and I'll see you again soon with another monster. Thanks for reading!

It's adorably causing a shipwreck

This tabby kitten towers over most seagoing vessels. It flails its paws in playful, yet deadly, exuberance.

Krakitten      CR 6

XP 2,400

N Colossal magical beast (aquatic)

Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +8

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 7, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +12 natural, –8 size)

hp 84 (8d10+40)

Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +4

DR 5/magic; Immune electricity

Weaknesses distractible

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., swim 60 ft.

Melee bite +9 (2d6+8 plus grab)

Ranged hairball +4 (2d4+8 plus entangling hairball)

Space 30 ft.; Reach 20 ft.

Special Attacks capsize, cornered rage, rake (2 claws +8, 2d6+8), structural damage

STATISTICS

Str 26, Dex 19, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 17

Base Atk +8; CMB +24 (+28 grapple); CMD 39 (43 vs. trip)

Feats Athletic, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (bite)

Skills Acrobatics +11 (+19 to jump), Climb +14, Perception +8, Swim +18

ECOLOGY

Environment warm and temperate ocean

Organization solitary, pair, or clowder (3–8)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Cornered Rage (Ex) A krakitten always retreats when reduced to 15 hp or fewer. However, if it cannot retreat, it goes into a rage as a free action. It gains +2 Constitution and +2 Strength, but takes a –2 penalty to AC. The rage lasts for 1 minute or until it can retreat, whichever is shorter. It cannot end its rage voluntarily.

Distractible (Ex) A krakitten takes a –4 penalty on saves against illusion spells and effects. Additionally, pattern spells treat a krakitten as if it had 1/2 of its Hit Dice when determining the spells’ effects.

Entangling Hairball (Ex) If a krakitten’s hairball attack strikes a target, the target creature must succeed on a DC 19 Reflex save or become entangled. An entangled creature can break free of the hairball with a successful DC 19 Escape Artist check or Strength check. A krakitten’s entangling hairball can also affect a creature if the hairball hits the creature’s touch AC, but the affected creature receives a +4 bonus on the Reflex save to avoid becoming entangled and the checks to break free. The save and check DCs are Constitution-based.

Structural Damage (Ex) A krakitten's rake ignores up to 5 points of a target object’s hardness.

Many creatures protect their young by hiding them in well-protected locations, safe from the predations of larger creatures. Some young have inherent means of protection in the form of camouflage or other natural defenses. Oftentimes, one or more of the parent creatures remain with the young to drive off predators. In the case of at least one type of sea cat, the sea cats deposit their eggs near a source of wild arcane energy which has no affect on the adult creatures, but causes the immature sea cats to grow to prodigious size as krakittens.

Krakittens are terrors of the sea lanes, but this is an unfortunate and incidental side effect of their great size coupled with their playfulness. Fortunately, they are clumsy and rarely land direct hits on the objects of their attention. They are also prone to distraction and will follow figments which capture their notice and “play” with the illusory objects until they grow bored or finally realize the objects are not real. Dumping a load of fish in the water also keeps them from attacking ships. Finally, when they become severely injured, they return to their lairs where they can nurse their wounds and recover. Maritime wisdom warns sailors not to trap an injured krakitten, since it becomes enraged and even more destructive.

After a year, the arcane energy infusing krakittens fades, and the creatures mature into sea cats to begin the cycle anew. Oceanic druids have tried in vain to gain krakittens as companion creatures, but the best they can do is lure the overgrown kittens to ships they want destroyed.

Frightful Fridays! Phantom Charger

Hello and welcome to another Frightful Fridays! now with an actual trend of three monsters in a row on Friday. This week's monster is a macabre horse representing a herd of horses unjustly killed, either deliberately or through extreme negligence. So, it gets its revenge by splitting into four copies, lashing shackles around its victim's limbs and pulling its victim apart--a pretty nasty end for a nasty villain. Unfortunately, "vengeance mode" is always on for the horse, so it does this to every living creature it meets.

I hope the phantom charger proves suitably frightful for you, and I'll see you next week with another monster. Thanks for reading!

You can find this very cool image here

Green flame dances in the eyes of this ghostly horse. An ichor-dripping fetter trails behind the horse.

Phantom Charger      CR 8

XP 4,800

NE Large undead (incorporeal)

Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 19, flat-footed 13 (+4 deflection, +5 Dex, +1 dodge, –1 size)

hp 102 (12d8+48); fast healing 5

Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +11

Defensive Abilities incorporeal; Immune undead traits

OFFENSE

Speed fly 60 ft. (perfect)

Melee 2 incorporeal touches +14 (3d6 plus 1d6 Strength drain and ghost shackle)

Ranged incorporeal touch +14 (1d6 plus ghost shackle)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks draw and quarter, ghost shackle, Strength drain

STATISTICS

Str —, Dex 21, Con —, Int 3, Wis 16, Cha 19

Base Atk +9; CMB +15; CMD 30

Feats Dazzling Display, Dodge, Gory Finish^UC, Mobility, Spring Attack, Weapon Focus (incorporeal touch)

Skills Fly +15, Intimidate +13, Perception +11

SQ solo herd

ECOLOGY

Environment any

Organization solitary

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Draw and Quarter (Su) If a creature has four ghost shackles placed on it at the beginning of the phantom chargers’ turn, the attached horses pull in opposite directions from each other, threatening to tear the victim apart. This acts as the phantom killer spell (DC 18), except the killer cannot be turned upon the chargers. If the victim survives this attack, the ghost shackles loosen from the victim. However, if the victim dies as a result of this attack, the phantom chargers pull the victim apart and can apply the effects of the Gory Finish feat.

Ghost Shackle (Su) If a phantom charger successfully hits with its incorporeal touch attack either in melee or with a ranged attack (at a maximum of 30 feet), it can attempt a free grapple combat maneuever check. If this check is successful, it locks the shackle around one of the target’s limbs. The charger is tethered to the victim and gains the grappled condition. It can no longer use this ability until the shackle is removed. The victim does not gain the grappled condition, but the charger moves with it when it moves. To remove the shackle, remove curse or a similar spell must be cast on the victim, treating the caster level as the charger’s HD. This is a curse effect.

Solo Herd (Su) A single phantom charger can take a full-round action to create an additional three duplicates of itself. When it does so, all four chargers possess half the originating charger’s hit points. Additionally, the four chargers incur a –2 penalty on their attack rolls. Finally, all chargers lose the fast healing ability when split in this fashion. If one of the chargers is destroyed, the other horses immediately remerge, and the phantom charger cannot use this ability again until all its hit points are restored.

Strength Drain (Su) Creatures hit by a phantom charger’s melee touch attack must succeed at a DC 20 Fortitude save or take 1d6 points of Strength drain. If the target fails its save, the charger also gains 5 temporary hit points. The save DC is Charisma-based.

When a herd of horses is killed in a cruel manner or through an act of severe neglect, the terrible energies surrounding that act create a terrible gestalt version of the dead horses which seek revenge on those responsible for their deaths. The madness driving the implacable creature causes it to attack any living creature it encounters, however. A phantom charger splits into four component ghostly horses at the start of combat and all four attack the same target, weakening it with their hooves and shackling the victim with the fetters representing their tormented last moments. Once four of the victim’s limbs are chained, the horses attempt to draw and quarter it. The phantom charger repeats this process for every living creature it comes across, until it finally kills the person or people responsible for the herd’s death.

Frightful Fridays! Pilferer Dragon

Hello and welcome to the second Frightful Fridays! on its advertised day. I'm returning to the dragon well with this little fella, which likes to steal everything not nailed down and shove it all into its mouth. Of course, that leads to another plane where the dragon stores all its stolen goods.

I hope you enjoy the pilferer dragon (or making your players angry by having it rob them of all their valuables). See you next week with another monster. Thanks for reading!

This actual, real-life lizard stole my heart

Myriad colored bands cross the surface of this miniature draconic creature. The bands shift in color, making it difficult to keep an eye on the dragon.

Pilferer Dragon      CR 5

XP 1,600

CN Tiny dragon

Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +10

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +2 natural, +2 size)

hp 57 (6d12+18)

Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +6

Immune paralysis, sleep; SR 16

OFFENSE

Speed 15 ft., fly 50 ft. (good)

Melee bite +4 (1d3–4), 2 claws +4 (1d2–4)

Space 2½ ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks breath weapon

STATISTICS

Str 2, Dex 19, Con 17, Int 15, Wis 12, Cha 16

Base Atk +6; CMB +8 (+12 steal); CMD 14 (16 vs. steal, 18 vs. trip)

Feats Combat Expertise, Greater Steal^APG, Improved Steal^APG

Skills Appraise +23, Bluff +12, Fly +12, Knowledge (arcana) +11, Knowledge (local) +9, Knowledge (nobility) +9, Perception +10, Spellcraft +10, Stealth +28, Use Magic Device +12; Racial Modifiers +12 Appraise, +8 Stealth

Languages Common, Draconic

SQ big mouth, chameleon, fast stealth

ECOLOGY

Environment any land

Organization solitary, pair, or crew (3–8)

Treasure (none or triple; see below)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Big Mouth (Su) A pilferer dragon mouth opens to a pocket dimension where it stores its treasure. When it succeeds at a steal combat maneuver, it can take a move action to stash the stolen item in its mouth.

If the dragon dies, the portal to the dimension collapses, cutting off access to the creature’s hoard.

Breath Weapon (Su) A pilferer dragon can temporarily redirect its portal to an elemental plane, allowing it to choose one of four possible breath weapons: 40-ft. line of acid for 4d6 points of acid damage; 30-ft. cone of cold for 4d6 points of cold damage; 40-ft. line of lightning for 4d6 points of electricity damage; or 30-ft. cone of fire for 4d6 points of fire damage. A successful DC 16 Reflex save halves the damage. The dragon can use its breath weapon every 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Chameleon (Su) A pilferer dragon gains a +8 racial bonus on Stealth checks and can hide in plain sight (as the ranger’s camouflage class feature). If the dragon’s background changes drastically (such as from a grassy field to snow-covered ground), it loses the benefits of this ability for 1 round.

Fast Stealth (Su) A pilferer dragon can move at full speed using the Stealth skill without penalty, as per the rogue talent.

Pilferer dragons are a strange evolutionary offshoot of dragon which popped in areas where more massive and powerful dragons were hunted to extinction. The resultant dragons are considerably weaker than their forebears, but they compensate for their minute sizes and subsequent inability to guard a massive hoard with an internal portal to a demi-plane. The dragons store all their ill-gotten loot in their own personal demi-plane—at least sages who have studied pilferer dragons have concluded there is no single plane where all this treasure goes. In a spiteful bit of supernatural physiology, a pilferer dragon’s portal deactivates when the dragon dies. Even if it were returned to life, it loses access to the old hoard and must start a new one in a different demi-plane. Because of this, pilferer dragons will offer to cough something up for (or, at the very least, return stolen items to) creatures presenting a credible threat.

Pilferer dragons enjoy working with each other and other larcenous creatures, especially to pull of large heists. When working with non-draconic creatures, the dragons take advantage of their nearly unparalleled eye for a value’s worth to come out ahead when splitting the take.

Frightful Fridays! Melilutra

Hello and welcome once again to Frightful Fridays! It's making at least a temporary return to Friday, too! In celebration, here's a cute, gigantic otter which is very dependent on others of its kind being around, otherwise it gets really unpleasant.

I hope you enjoy the melilutra. I'll see you next week (on Friday even!) with another monster. Thanks for reading!

Much cuter than last week's monster

This sleek, brown-furred creature is the size of a wolf. Despite its daunting size, it seems playful, especially among other such creatures.

Melilutra      CR 3

XP 800

N Medium animal

Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +9

DEFENSE

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

hp 30 (4d8+12)

Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +3

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., swim 60 ft.

Melee bite +6 (1d6+3), slam +6 (1d6+3)

Special Attacks playful slam, rage of one

STATISTICS

Str 17, Dex 16, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 13

Base Atk +3; CMB +6; CMD 19 (23 vs. trip)

Feats Coordinated Maneuvers^APG, Precise Strike^APG

Skills Acrobatics +11 (+15 to jump), Escape Artist +11, Perception +9, Swim +11; Racial Modifiers +8 Acrobatics, +8 Escape Artist

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate rivers and lakes

Organization pair or family (3–12)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Playful Slam (Ex) A melilutra can deal nonlethal damage with its slam attack without taking a penalty to its attack roll.

Rage of One (Ex) When a melilutra loses its companions (whether they are unconscious or dead), it flies into a rage. It gains +2 Constitution and +2 Strength, but takes a –2 penalty to its AC. The rage lasts until combat ends or until one of its companions becomes conscious. It cannot end its rage voluntarily.

Melilutras are oversized otters with a tight-knit social structure to the point of codependence. These otters become enraged when they can see no others of their kind and attack everything in sight as part of a near-primal death wish. If a lone melilutra witnesses the death (actual or perceived) of its last companion melilutra, it focuses its attacks on the creature which dealt the killing blow. After this fury subsides, usually corresponding with the death of all other living creatures in the immediate area, solitary melilutras become despondent and slowly die from thirst and starvation. If a companion melilutra recovers from its wounds and awakens, this also ends the rage, and the surviving creatures attempt to flee.

Melilutras are omnivorous but prefer plants and fish to other fare. Creatures stumbling on a melilutra pair or family find the animals to be aggressively playful, especially if they are full from a recent meal. The otters refrain from using their wicked bites and bodily throw themselves at opponents, hoping to knock them down and then roll around on top of the toppled victims. As highly social creatures, melilutras have developed fighting styles favoring them working in tandem. They teach pups these styles shortly after the pups are born and can swim and run on their own. Pups are born twice a year and are reared by the whole family, which gets them accustomed to being part of a tight-knit group. A displaced melilutra attaches itself to another family if it finds one (with the family welcoming the wayward otter) or adopts a family of ordinary otters as its family.

Melilutra Companions

A character with the animal companion class skill can rear a melilutra from a pup and have the animal treat the character as part of its family. The character must spend a trick to teach the melilutra to accept the rest of the party as its family. If not, the character’s death or unconsciousness will activate its rage.

Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft.; AC +2 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4), slam (1d4); Ability Scores Str 13, Dex 18, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 13; Special Attacks playful slam, rage of one; Special Qualities low-light vision.

4th-Level Advancement: Size Medium; Speed 40 ft., swim 60 ft.; Ability Scores Str +4, Dex –2, Con +2; Special Qualities can take a single teamwork feat as one of its bonus feats, and the character with the melilutra companion is treated as having that feat as well.

Frightful Fridays! Cerebric Spider

Hello and welcome to another Frightful Fridays! This week's monster is within spitting distance of Friday, so we're getting there. Actually, as it turns out, the next three monsters will be published on Fridays, due to circumstances beyond my control. Back to this week's monster, though: it's an ordinary brain-sucking spider, like you have pretty much everywhere.

I hope you enjoy(?) the cerebric spider, and I'll see you again on Friday(!) with another monster. Thanks for reading!

EEEEEEK!

A mass of swirling gray matter is visible in this translucent spider’s abdomen.

Cerebric Spider      CR 11

XP 12,800

CE Medium aberration

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

DEFENSE

AC 26, touch 16, flat-footed 20 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +10 natural)

hp 136 (16d8+64); regeneration 5 (cold)

Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +12

DR 10/cold iron and magic; SR 22

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

Melee bite +20 (2d6+12 plus 3d6 electricity, grab, poison, and stunning shock)

Special Attacks brain sucking proboscis, neh-thalggu hatred, poison

STATISTICS

Str 27, Dex 20, Con 18, Int 21, Wis 14, Cha 17

Base Atk +12; CMB +20 (+24 grapple); CMD 36 (44 vs. trip)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack, Stealthy

Skills Acrobatics +22 (+26 to jump), Climb +22, Escape Artist +22, Intimidate +22, Knowledge (all) +26, Perception +21, Spellcraft +23, Stealth +22; Racial Modifiers +12 Knowledge (all)

Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Common, Draconic, Terran; telepathy 100 ft.

SQ ready lore

ECOLOGY

Environment any temperate or warm land or underground

Organization solitary, pair, trust (3–6)

Treasure incidental

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Brain Sucking Proboscis (Ex) Against a pinned opponent or an opponent denied its Dexterity bonus, a cerebric spider can insert a cartilaginous proboscis into its head as a full round action which provokes attacks of opportunity. The victim takes 1d6 points of Intelligence drain (increasing to 1d8+2 points if it currently suffers from the spider’s liquefactive poison). This drain is reduced by half (to a minimum of 0) if the victim succeeds at a DC 22 Fortitude save. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Liquefactive Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 22; frequency 1/round for 8 rounds; effect 1d6 Int damage, and victim must immediately attempt a second save to avoid have 1 point of Int damage convert to Int drain; cure 3 consecutive saves.

Neh-Thalggu Hatred (Ex) A cerebric spider despises its creators. It gains a +2 racial bonus on attack and damage rolls against neh-thalggus, as well as a +2 dodge bonus to AC against the creatures.

Ready Lore (Ex) All Knowledge skills are class skills for cerebric spiders. A number of times per day equal to its Intelligence modifier, it can take 20 on a Knowledge check.

Stunning Shock (Ex) When a cerebric spider damages a target with electricity damage, the target must succeed on a DC 22 Fortitude save or become stunned for 2d4 rounds. On a successful save, the target is instead staggered for 1 round.

A cabal of neh-thalggus realized their numbers were too small to effectively capture many brains in populated areas, especially more lucrative brains belonging to highly intelligent creatures. To remedy this problem, they bioengineered creatures vaguely in their image, but with changes to make them better hunters. Aware of a general sense of arachnophobia among most of the populace (at least according to the overwhelming majority of the brains they had absorbed), the neh-thalggus decided the best form for their creations was that of a spider. Fortunately, cerebric spiders—as the cabal referred to the creatures—were more than capable of extracting liquefied brain matter from their victims and bringing the slurry back to their masters. Unfortunately, the spiders, which originally had enough wits to stalk prey more effectively, grew prodigiously more intelligent and turned on their creators. After utterly destroying the neh-thalggus and devouring the brains stored on their backs, the cerebric spiders hunted for themselves and devastated the nearby community originally plagued by the neh-thalggus. As another unfortunate oversight, the spiders’ creators never considered whether their creations might be fertile. Thus, cerebric spiders have spread throughout the world. They have learned not to consume brains as voraciously as they once did, partially because they realize wholesale devastation brings retribution, but mostly because they have turned toward other pursuits. Cerebric spiders are now researching ways to achieve inherent spellcasting and develop a world-wide hive mind.

Frightful Fridays! Feather Boa Constrictor

Hello again and welcome to another Frightful "Fridays!" This week pairs the feather boa constrictor with last week's glitter elemental. Throw both into an encounter, so characters will be blinded and then strangled by a flying snake. It will be fun!

I hope you enjoy the feather boa constrictor, and I'll be back again soon with another monster. Thanks for reading!

Of course, the Muppets did it first (and better)

Rather than scales, bright feathers cover the entire length of this snake and flutter almost continuously.

Feather Boa Constrictor      CR 3

XP 800

N Medium animal

Init +3; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +13

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural)

hp 30 (4d8+12)

Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor)

Melee bite +7 (1d6+6 plus grab)

Special Attacks constrict (1d6+6)

STATISTICS

Str 19, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 12

Base Atk +3; CMB +7 (+11 grapple); CMD 21 (can't be tripped)

Feats Dodge, Mobility

Skills Acrobatics +3 (+7 to jump), Climb +12, Disguise +1 (+9 to appear as a feathered wrap), Fly +3, Perception +13, Stealth +16; Racial Modifiers +8 Disguise to appear as a feathered wrap, +8 Perception, +8 Stealth

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate or warm land

Organization solitary, pair, or tangle (3–6)

Treasure none

Whether evolutionary offshoots of snakes or birds, or deliberate experiments to make flying snakes, feather boa constrictors have thrived and propagated themselves enough to create robust populations, primarily in urban areas where they can stalk humanoid prey. Generally smaller than many constrictors, feather boa constrictors weigh an average of 50 pounds and grow no more than 5 feet in length. Larger specimens are found in the wild, but the snakes’ penchant for going unnoticed in urban environments limits their size, except in cases where considerably larger humanoids inhabit an area. The snakes possess numerous smaller muscles they use to move clusters of feathers, which give them an ungainly form of flight wherein they undulate through the air.

Feather boa constrictors have a subtle and slow acting form of chameleonic ability, allowing them to change the color and texture of their feathers. In the wild, they choose drab colors, typically browns and greens, which allow them to hide effectively in trees and foliage. In urban settings, they adopt more vibrant colors to blend in with fashions worn by high-society types or people with ostentatious styles. They are cunning and patient enough to follow someone with a wrap similar in appearance and hiding with the discarded item to better imitate it and devour it afterwards. To keep up the ruse, they use their feathers to lighten their apparent weight. When the snakes have their victims alone, they squeeze the life out of them and then devour the crushed remains. If help arrives for their prey, they awkwardly carry their prey up and out of reach of others.

Nature-oriented individuals train feather boa constrictors so they can blend in with attendees at appropriate events and maintain a less-than-obvious weapon.

Feather Boa Constrictor Companions

Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 40 ft. (average); AC +2 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4); Ability Scores Str 13, Dex 19, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 12; Special Qualities low-light vision, scent.

4th-Level Adjustment: Size Medium; Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor); Attack bite (1d6 plus grab); Ability Scores Str +6, Dex –2, Con +4; Special Attacks constrict (1d6).

Frightful Fridays! Glitter Elemental

Hello, and welcome to the latest Frightful Fridays! This monster comes about from a brief online discussion with my friend, Greg, who wondered if there was such a thing as a glitter elemental. There may be other iterations out there, but just in case there were absolutely no glitter elementals in existence, I worked one up. Blind your characters mercilessly with one today! (or, you know, whenever you can reasonably put one in a game)

I hope you enjoy the glitter elemental. I'll be back later this week with another monster. Thanks for reading!

Oooooh, glittery!

A swirl of brightly colored particles surrounds this formless mass of earth, which has holes for sparkling eyes and an empty mouth. A trail of the scintillating particles follows it as it moves.

GLITTER ELEMENTAL

Languages Auran, Terran

ECOLOGY

Environment any (Plane of Air or Plane of Earth)

Organization solitary, pair, or gang (3–8)

Treasure incidental (precious earth minerals contained in a glitter elemental's body)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Glitter Bomb (Ex) A glitter elemental is destroyed when it reaches 0 hp. When it dies, it explodes in a cloud of particles affecting all creatures within double the range of its glittering aura. All affected creatures must succeed at a Will save (DC equals save DC of its glittering aura) or suffer from the effects of glitterdust, except the duration is 1 minute per elemental’s HD. Glitter elementals are immune to this ability from other glitter elementals.

Glittering Aura (Ex) The particles surrounding a glitter elemental stick to every surface which they contact. All creatures within the aura take a –40 penalty on Stealth checks and must succeed at a Reflex save to avoid having the particles remain affixed to them (imposing a –20 penalty on Stealth checks when affected creatures leave the aura). Removing the glitter requires a gallon of water. Glitter elementals are immune to the aura of other glitter elementals.

Small Glitter Elemental      CR 1

XP 400

N Small outsider (air, earth, elemental, native)

Init +6; Senses blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5

Aura glittering aura (5 ft., DC 12)

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+2 Dex, +4 natural, +1 size)

hp 13 (2d10+2)

Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +0

Immune elemental traits

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (average)

Melee slam +4 (1d6+1)

Special Attacks glitter bomb

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 10, Cha 13

Base Atk +2; CMB +2 (+4 dirty trick); CMD 14 (16 vs. dirty trick)

Feats Improved Dirty Trick^{B, APG}, Improved Initiative

Skills Acrobatics +6, Diplomacy +5, Fly +8, Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +5, Stealth –2; Racial Modifiers –8 Stealth

Medium Glitter Elemental      CR 3

XP 800

N Medium outsider (air, earth, elemental, native)

Init +7; Senses blindsight 20 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +6

Aura glittering aura (10 ft., DC 14)

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural)

hp 30 (4d10+8)

Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +1

Immune elemental traits

OFFENSE

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

Melee slam +7 (1d8+4)

Special Attacks glitter bomb

STATISTICS

Str 16, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 4, Wis 10, Cha 15

Base Atk +4; CMB +7 (+9 dirty trick); CMD 21 (23 vs. dirty trick)

Feats Dodge, Improved Dirty Trick^{B, APG}, Improved Initiative

Skills Acrobatics +8, Diplomacy +8, Fly +8, Knowledge (planes) +2, Perception +6, Stealth –5; Racial Modifiers –8 Stealth

Large Glitter Elemental      CR 5

XP 1,600

N Large outsider (air, earth, elemental, native)

Init +9; Senses blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +11

Aura glittering aura (15 ft., DC 17)

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural, –1 size)

hp 68 (8d10+24)

Fort +9, Ref +11, Will +4

DR 5/—; Immune elemental traits

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 80 ft. (good)

Melee 2 slams +12 (2d6+5)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks glitter bomb

STATISTICS

Str 20, Dex 21, Con 17, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 17

Base Atk +8; CMB +14 (+18 dirty trick); CMD 30 (32 vs. dirty trick)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Greater Dirty Trick^{B, APG}, Improved Dirty Trick^{B, APG}, Improved Initiative, Iron Will

Skills Acrobatics +12, Diplomacy +14, Fly +14, Knowledge (planes) +9, Perception +11, Stealth –7; Racial Modifiers –8 Stealth

Huge Glitter Elemental      CR 7

XP 3,200

N Huge outsider (air, earth, elemental, native)

Init +10; Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +13

Aura glittering aura (30 ft., DC 19)

DEFENSE

AC 21, touch 15, flat-footed 14 (+6 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural, –2 size)

hp 95 (10d10+40)

Fort +11, Ref +13, Will +5

DR 5/—; Immune elemental traits

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 80 ft. (good)

Melee 2 slams +15 (2d8+7)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

Special Attacks glitter bomb

STATISTICS

Str 24, Dex 23, Con 19, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 19

Base Atk +10; CMB +19 (+23 dirty trick); CMD 36 (38 vs. dirty trick)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Greater Dirty Trick^{B, APG}, Improved Dirty Trick^{B, APG}, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Mobility

Skills Acrobatics +15, Diplomacy +17, Fly +13, Knowledge (planes) +11, Perception +13, Stealth –10; Racial Modifiers –8 Stealth

Greater Glitter Elemental      CR 9

XP 6,400

N Huge outsider (air, earth, elemental, native)

Init +11; Senses blindsight 80 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +16

Aura glittering aura (40 ft., DC 21)

DEFENSE

AC 24, touch 16, flat-footed 16 (+7 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 natural, –2 size)

hp 123 (13d10+52)

Fort +12, Ref +15, Will +6

DR 10/—; Immune elemental traits

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 80 ft. (good)

Melee 2 slams +20 (3d6+9)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

Special Attacks glitter bomb

STATISTICS

Str 28, Dex 25, Con 19, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 21

Base Atk +13; CMB +24 (+28 dirty trick); CMD 42 (44 vs. dirty trick)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Greater Dirty Trick^{B, APG}, Improved Dirty Trick^{B, APG}, Improved Initiative, Improved Iron Will, Iron Will, Mobility

Skills Acrobatics +21, Diplomacy +21, Fly +17, Knowledge (planes) +15, Perception +16, Sense Motive +11, Stealth –9; Racial Modifiers –8 Stealth

Elder Glitter Elemental      CR 11

XP 12,800

N Huge outsider (air, earth, elemental, native)

Init +12; Senses blindsight 120 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +19

Aura glittering aura (60 ft., DC 24)

DEFENSE

AC 27, touch 17, flat-footed 18 (+8 Dex, +1 dodge, +10 natural, –2 size)

hp 152 (16d10+64)

Fort +14, Ref +18, Will +7

DR 10/—; Immune elemental traits

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 100 ft. (perfect)

Melee 2 slams +25 (3d8+11)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

Special Attacks glitter bomb

STATISTICS

Str 32, Dex 27, Con 19, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 23

Base Atk +16; CMB +29 (+33 dirty trick); CMD 48 (50 vs. dirty trick)

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Greater Dirty Trick^{B, APG}, Improved Dirty Trick^{B, APG}, Improved Initiative, Improved Iron Will, Iron Will, Mobility, Skill Focus (Diplomacy)

Skills Acrobatics +22, Diplomacy +31, Fly +22, Knowledge (arcana) +17, Knowledge (planes) +19, Perception +19, Sense Motive +19, Stealth –8; Racial Modifiers –8 Stealth

Air elementals and earth elementals are mortal enemies and conduct devastating conflicts. During one such ancient conflict where the elementals nearly exterminated each other, a cabal of elementals put aside their differences and secretly created a melding of the two opposing creatures, with an eye toward developing something capable of ending the conflict. The resulting glitter elementals synthesized the two elements and worked an accord between the enemies, in some cases by bringing them together to destroy what they saw as abominations. Some glitter elementals still act as planar ambassadors, but many others have travelled to other planes to satisfy their curiosity, especially when it comes to eternal conflicts. A rare few answer calls by paranoid spellcasters who use the elementals to suss out invisible enemies.

Much like other elementals, glitter elementals vary in appearance from individual to individual, with some casting off precious metals in their glittering auras and others throwing off particles with more esoteric colors. They can all innately sense the particles pervading the air around them, which allows them to sense their immediate surroundings the need for eyesight.

Frightful Fridays! Cloud Panther

Hello and welcome to another Frightful Fridays! (I'm sure it's Friday somewhere in the universe) This edition's monster proves Carl Sandburg's claim as slightly inaccurate. The fog actually murders on large cat feet. At any rate, this particular cat might cause PCs to think twice about stepping out into a murky night.

I hope you enjoy the cloud panther, and I'll see you next time with another monster. Thanks for reading!

You can find this really cool image here

Shaped like a large cat, this solid mass of fog would seem harmless were it not for the razor-like claws and fangs.

Cloud Panther      CR 7

XP 3,200

CN Medium magical beast

Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, mistsight; Perception +13

DEFENSE

AC 20, touch 16, flat-footed 14 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural)

hp 76 (9d10+27)

Fort +9, Ref +11, Will +4

DR 5/magic; Immune electricity, precision damage

Weaknesses vulnerability to wind

OFFENSE

Speed fly 60 ft. (good)

Melee bite +14 (1d8+2 plus grab), 2 claws +14 (1d6+2)

Special Attacks pounce, rake (2 claws +14, 1d6+2)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9th; concentration +9)

   Constant—blur

   3/day—fog cloud

STATISTICS

Str 14, Dex 21, Con 17, Int 9, Wis 12, Cha 10

Base Atk +9; CMB +14 (+18 grapple); CMD 27 (31 vs. trip)

Feats Agile Maneuvers, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Finesse

Skills Fly +13, Perception +13, Stealth +18; Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth

SQ gaseous, hide in plain sight

ECOLOGY

Environment any temperate or warm land

Organization solitary, pair, or roll (3–8)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Gaseous (Ex) A cloud panther can pass through small holes or narrow opening without reducing its speed.

Hide in Plain Sight (Ex) A cloud panther can use the Stealth skill even while being observed. As long as it stands in fog or similar cloud-like atmosphere, it can hide itself from view in the open without actually hiding behind anything.

Immunity to Precision Damage (Ex) A cloud panther takes no damage from sneak attacks, critical hits, or other forms of precision damage.

Mistsight (Ex) A cloud panther can see through fog, mist, and murky water as if they were perfectly clear, ignoring the miss chance for these obstructions, up to its normal range of vision.

Vulnerability to Wind (Ex) A cloud panther is treated as two sizes smaller against wind effects. Additionally, if subjected to severe or more powerful winds, it loses its DR, hide in plain sight ability, and the benefits of blur until the beginning of its next turn.

Cloud panthers have distant elemental ancestry, but not enough to be true elemental creatures. Sages argue over two possible origins for cloud panthers, with one group claiming their forebears were a pride of elemental cat-like animals stranded on the Material Plane, and the other group positing a primal fusing of elemental stuff with a terrestrial cat. Whatever their origins, cloud panthers breed true (and, in some cases, can spontaneously generate other cloud panthers from thick fog).

Cloud panthers are highly intelligent relative to their apparent bestial nature. A single panther displays considerable patience and cunning when stalking targets, using the cover of mist or other inclement weather to hide from its prey. A roll of cloud panthers employs distraction and other strategies to bring down larger, more powerful prey. The creatures avoid windy areas and flee when confronted with foes who use wind-manipulating magic against them. They often ally with powerful air elementals and serve as hunting companions to djinn. Cloud panthers’ elemental ancestry persists in their instinctive hatred for earth creatures, which the panthers usually attack in preference to other opponents.

A typical cloud panther is just over 5 feet long and weighs 60 pounds.