Converting monsters from Dragon magazine

[Shade]

Originally Posted by RavinRay

I know that there are variant imps but forgot which book. Realms? Eberron? (It has variant homunculi already.)

The best of the best...Fiend Folio.

Updated.

Suggested height/weight?

[freyar]

3 and a half feet, maybe 40-50 lb? They're "squat," so I think they should be kind of heavy.

[Shade]

Updated (now with flavor text).

[freyar]

Looks good! Done?

[Shade]

I think so!

Apollyon (from the Greek-destroyer)
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 9”/18”
HIT DICE: 15
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 claws/1 bite
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6/1-6/1-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: + 1 or better weapon to hit
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

The Apollyon are the servants of Death. They number 15, each indistinguishable from the other. An Apollyon appears as a ten-foot-tall, gaunt humanoid covered with gray, scaly skin. It is hairless and sexless. Ivory fangs protrude from its mouth; its fingers end in adamantine ebony talons. Its eyes glow like smoldering coals. Two huge, bat-like wings grow out of its back.

An Apollyon’s eyes act as a death ray, causing 1-100 points of damage (% with save versus death). Wounds from its talons will not close unless cured. In addition to the 1-6 points damage of the initial claw hit, the wound will bleed for an automatic 1-4 points until a heal spell or potion is applied.

An Apollyon fang bite is poisonous. The initial bite does 1-8 points damage. If a save versus poison is not made, the victim will take 1-8 additional points every round until he is either dead or cured by a Cleric. The Apollyon serve as Death’s messengers and guardians of the outer realms of the Dead Lands. Outside of the Dead Lands, Apollyon always appear alone. One may be sent as a servant from Death to an individual who continues to send Death an influx of new subjects. An Apollyon may also be sent to guard any treasure Death finds offensive (for example, a Rod of Resurrection).

The Apollyon rarely speak and when they do, their voices are harsh from lack of practice. Death grants them limited initiative. Because of their service to Death, the Apollyon often have knowledge of things hidden to mortals. They may offer a party advice or directions, if they deem such advice or directions to be in Death’s favor. The Apollyon, in melee, need never check morale, as they have no fear of dying.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #42 (1980).

[RavinRay]

Ooh, a Large outsider with a death ray like the catoblepas, and a poisonous bite and lethal claws to boot! Totally bad-ass for a neutral being!

[Shade]

Indeed. And it fits in nicely with campaign setting like the Forgotten Realms that have non-evil death deities (like Kelemvor).

[demiurge1138]

These guys are awesome. May I petition, though? Keep the death ray doing 1d100 damage, rather than having it a save or die. The damage is much cooler--more unique.

[Shade]

Yes, I was thinking it sounded like 3.5 disintegrate...

[freyar]

Originally Posted by demiurge1138

These guys are awesome. May I petition, though? Keep the death ray doing 1d100 damage, rather than having it a save or die. The damage is much cooler--more unique.

Originally Posted by Shade

Yes, I was thinking it sounded like 3.5 disintegrate...

Good call. And how often do you get to roll d% for damage?

[Shade]

Based on its HD, role, and general shape, I think we can look to the nabassu and sorrowsworn demons for ability score inspiration.

Mature Nabassu: 15 HD, Str 28, Dex 20, Con 28, Int 20, Wis 21, Cha 23
Sorrowsworn Demon: 18 HD, Str 29, Dex 17, Con 32, Int 20, Wis 22, Cha 21

Int is Very (11-12), and they aren't SLA-reliant, so maybe...

Str 28, Dex 19, Con 30, Int 12, Wis 15, Cha 15?

[freyar]

Sounds good.

[RavinRay]

Yup; they're not very charming creatures so that low Cha is justified. I'm thinking of them as dour angels of death.

[Cleon]

Originally Posted by demiurge1138

These guys are awesome. May I petition, though? Keep the death ray doing 1d100 damage, rather than having it a save or die. The damage is much cooler--more unique.

I thought it was 1-100 damage and save versus death. These are a personification of death, after all.

I wonder whether they cry "Fatality" when they shoot out their kill-beams?

They do look a bit fragile - AC 4, no spell resistance and +1 weapons to hit? Surely they'll need a boost there.

[Cleon]

Originally Posted by RavinRay

Yup; they're not very charming creatures so that low Cha is justified. I'm thinking of them as dour angels of death.

Since I thing their death ray should include a save vs death, it would probably be Charisma-based so Cha 15 would cut its save DC. Although a lowish Charisma does seem appropriate given their description. Maybe they have a racial bonus to Death-effect DCs, being servants of death and all?

Int 12 seems very low though, but I guess if Death deliberately limits their intelligence it's not unreasonable.

I'd prefer a higher Wisdom though, to reflect their "knowledge of things hidden to mortals" and give them a boost to tracking down souls.

Maybe Int 12, Wis 21, Cha 15

[demiurge1138]

Yeah, I was operating under the assumption that the death ray had a Cha based DC, so I'd prefer that was higher. Adding DR and SR seems like a given, really.

[freyar]

Originally Posted by demiurge1138

Yeah, I was operating under the assumption that the death ray had a Cha based DC, so I'd prefer that was higher. Adding DR and SR seems like a given, really.

Could be Con-based, but Cha-based does seem more normal.

SR and DR sound appropriate, yes.

I can see the case for higher Wis and Cha, but it's weird to go higher with the Int 12 handed to us.

[demiurge1138]

They can be not-too-bright, but insightful, strong-willed and deeply, deeply terrifying.

[Shade]

Indeed. So Str 28, Dex 19, Con 30, Int 12, Wis 21, Cha 22?

[freyar]

Seems to fit!