Medium-Size Aberration

Hit Dice:8d8+8 (44 hp)

Initiative:+6 (+2 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)

Speed:5 ft, fly 20 ft (average)

AC:15 (+2 Dex, +3 natural)

Attacks:4 slams +6 melee; or 4 longswords +6 melee

Damage:Slam 1d4; or longsword 1d8

Face/Reach:5 ft by 5 ft/5 ft

Special Attacks:Eye rays

Special Qualities:All-around vision, fast healing 1, fly, darkvision 60 ft

Saves:Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +9

Abilities:Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 16, Cha 14

Skills: Alchemy +9, Appraise +10, Disable Device +7, Gather Information +8, Knowledge (arcana) +10, Listen +2, Open Lock +7, Spellcraft +10, Spot +10, Use Magic Device +8

Climate/Terrain:Any land and underground

Organization:Solitary or gang (2-5)

Challenge Rating:5

Treasure:50% coins; standard items; double magic

Alignment:Usually lawful neutral

Advancement:9-18 HD (Large); 19-24 HD (Huge)

Examiners are scholars and clerks involved in spell and magical item enhancement, research, and creation. They are the lackeys of beholders, overseers, and hive mothers.

   An examiner is a 4-foot sphere with no central eye and four small eyes, each at the end of an antenna, mounted atop the sphere. They have one small, lamprey-like mouth on their ventral surface. Four multi-jointed limbs ending in gripper pads surround the mouth. These limbs can pick up and manipulate tools, the chief strength of the examiner.

Combat

Examiners attack by smashing an opponent with all four of its limbs. On occasion they will wield up to four weapons, one with each limb.

   Eye Rays (Su): Each of the small eyes can produce a magical ray once a round, even when the examiner is attacking or moving at full speed.

   Each eye’s effect resembles a spell cast by an 8th-level sorcerer but follow the rules for a ray (see Aiming a Spell, page 148 in the Player’s Handbook). All rays have a range of 100 feet and a save DC of 16.

   Enlarge or Reduce: As the spell, once per round; Fortitude save negates.

   Identify or Legend Lore: As the spell, once per round.

   Transmute Form: As the stone shape spell, but it is effective on all types of nonmagical, nonliving material.

   Spell Turning: This duplicates the spell of the same name.

   All-Around Vision (Ex): Examiners are exceptionally alert and circumspect. Their many eyes give them a +4 racial bonus to Spot and Search checks, and they cannot be flanked.

   Flight (Ex): An examiner’s body is naturally buoyant. This buoyancy allows it to fly as the spell, as a free action, at a speed of 20 feet. This buoyancy also grants it a permanent feather fall effect with personal range.