Cifal |
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Medium-size Vermin
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| Hit Dice: 8d8+40 (76/19 hp) |
| Initiative: +4 (Dex) |
| Speed: 20 ft. |
| AC: 14 (+4 Dex) |
| Attacks:Touch +10 melee |
| Damage: Touch 1d12 |
| Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: |
| Special Qualities: Immunities, communal body, binding force, vermin |
| Saves: Fort +11,
Ref +6, Will +2
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| Abilities: Str --,
Dex 18, Con 20,
Int --, Wis 10,
Cha 2 |
| Skills: Spot +10 |
| Feats: |
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| Climate: Any land |
| Organization: Swarm (1-6) |
| Challenge Rating: 3 |
| Treasure: None |
| Alignment: Always neutral |
| Advancement: 9-10HD (Medium-size); 11-14HD (Large); 15-24HD (Huge) |
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At first glance, a cifal appears to be a towering brute with huge arms and legs and a barrel chest. As it draws nearer, however, the drone of buzzing insects becomes discernable. A cifal is a conglomerate being comprised of several insect swarms that have been bound together to form a vaguely humanoid form. The actual 'brain' of a cifal is a tightly packed swarm of insects in the center of the mass. This binding force controls and directs the actions of all the other insects that comprise the cifal.
The means by which a cifal, which stands for 'colonial insect-formed artificial life,' comes into being is unknown. Perhaps they are formed by swarms of insects that had previously been summoned through the use of the spell insect swarm or by a staff of swarming insects. The magic of these spells lingers in the insects, causing them to behave in this strange manner.
Combat
A cifal attacks with great sweeps of its arms, inflicting damage through hundreds of insect bites and stings.
Immunities (Ex): Piercing and slicing weapons deal only 1 hit point of damage to a cifal regardless of the type of weapon and any other bonuses to damage from strength or magical enhancement. Cifals are also immune to any form of magical control that would normally affect insects.
Communal Body (Ex): Since a cifal is actually comprised of thousands of insects acting in concert, it can fit through any opening large enough to admit passage of insects. Small holes in doors, tiny cracks in walls, and window shutters even slightly ajar are no barrier to even the largest cifals.
Binding Force (Su): Cifals are considered to be 8HD monsters for the purpose of calculating attack bonuses and saves. The binding force of a cifal, however, has ¼ the hit points of the whole, which are separate from those of the whole. When attacked, any damage is only dealt to the hit points of the binding force. If the binding force is ever reduced to 0 hit points, the cifal loses cohesion and breaks apart into its constituent insect swarms, which then fly away with a Speed of 60 ft. The main hit points are only used as a pool from which the binding force can regain hit points in a manner similar to the Fast Healing special quality. The binding force regains hit points from the whole at a rate of 2 hp per round.
For example, the average cifal has 76 hit points that are used only to rebuild the binding force, consisting of 19 hit points. The binding force 'heals' at a rate of 2 hp per round, until all 76 hit points are used.
Vermin: Immune to all mind-influencing effects. |
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1981 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Originally found in 1e Fiend Folio |
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