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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Faolyn" data-source="post: 9378895" data-attributes="member: 6915329">So, these next guys are evil. Like, dyed-in-the-wool, kill-on-sight, irredeemably evil. OK, if you can figure out a good way to have a non-evil undeath-worshiping worm-octopus aberration, please do so. But, well, they’re not really built even for neutrality.This is the avolakia, a creature from the Wormcrawl Fissure in Greyhawk, eventually reprinted in 3e’s Monster Manual II. They’re former servitors of Kyuss, or any god of undead or gross wormy things in your setting of choice. They’re surprisingly weak—in 3e, they worked out to be CR 10, but in Level Up, they’re only CR 5, and I had to up their Hit Dice for that.Once again, I took a spell from Gate Pass Gazette—enervating light, from issue #15. If you don’t have it, make a rare version of mass healing word that heals undead.[ATTACH=full]367961[/ATTACH]AvolakiaThe Bestiary, Dragon Magazine #276Creature by James Jacobs; art by Brian SnōddyThese worm-like entities are so foul in appearance and smell that those who are unfortunate enough to encounter one are usually left nauseated. On one end of their slimy body is a mass of sucker-covered tentacles; on the other end, a toothy maw; and between them, four pairs of twitching, insectoid, limbs, each ending in a nearly human hand. Their bite is laden with a venom that saps the will from its victims.Servitors of Death. Where the avolakia came from originally is unknown, but their legends say that long ago, they were hand-chosen by a foul god or powerful entity of death and undeath to be its chosen ones, and thus gave them the power to create undead nearly at will. Even today, long after that god’s name has faded from everyone else’s minds, the avolakia continue to worship it. Some of their other, lesser known legends say that god is not completely gone, but sleeping or imprisoned, and when enough of the world has been slain and risen again as undead, it will once again awaken.Unusual Tastes. Avolakia are strictly carnivorous. While they can, and will, devour both living prey and dead meat, they favor carrion. Specifically, the carrion attached to the body of a corporeal undead. Avolakia use the zombies as bodyguards and servants, but they nearly always end up as snacks sooner than later.Shapeshifting Charmers. Avolakia are intelligent enough to know multiple languages, but their alien anatomy makes it impossible for them to speak most of them. They’re shapeshifters, however, and spend much of their time in a humanoid form, in which they can speak clearly—and magically. Their speech is laden with enchanting magics; those who hear them are charmed. They use this power to convince humanoids to join them in worship of their dark god, or sometimes simply because they want assistants and servants. To make their job easier, they often bite their victims; with their will lowered due to the avolakia’s venom, it becomes far easier to enchant them.Climate/Terrain: temperate, subtropical, tropical; cavern, dungeon, ruinLegends and LoreWith an Arcana check, the characters can learn the following:DC 15. Avolakia are disgusting worm-like aberrations with the power to create and control skeletons or zombies.DC 20. The servitors of gods of undeath, avolakia are shapeshifters that can charm people by speaking to them. They frequently have hordes of mind-controlled cultists at their beck and call.Avolakia EncountersChallenge Rating 5-10 1-2 avolakias; avolakia and 2 ghouls; avolakia and skeleton hordes or zombie hordes; avolakia and <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/a-leveled-up-bestiary-volume-two.701725/page-5#post-9249782" target="_blank">lich’s blood</a> (q.v.); avolakia, 8 cultists, and 2 ghoulsTreasure: 800 gp, silver urn (250 gp), death’s essence pendant, dust of dryness, elemental gem (fire)Challenge Rating 11-16 2 or 3 avolakias with 4 cultists; avolakia and two skeleton hordes or zombie hordes; 2 avolakias with 3 ghasts; avolakia with 2 ghasts or cult fanatics and zombie horde; 2 avolakias with 1d4+2 ghouls; avolakia, 2 cult fanatics, with 2 mummiesTreasure: 600 pp, 1,300 gp, 3 jades (500 gp each), dragontooth necklace (250 gp), +1 greatsword made of black iron named Indigo that grants 4 exertion and proficiency in the Discerning Strike maneuver, philter of love, robe of eyes, spell scroll of simulacrumSigns1. A trail of slime2. Chanting; with a DC 15 Religion check, it’s prayers to a god of death and the undead3. A legless zombie, pulling itself along on the ground4. The stench of mold and decayBehavior1. Engaging in a ritual to create undead2. Engaging in a religious ritual; about to sacrifice someone3. In humanoid form, leading a cult gathering4. In humanoid form, zombies or cultists to exhume a graveNamesDrimmglurl, Ggozersi, Jachix, Ludgelelzo, MnagtugreunAvolakiaLarge aberration; Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)AC 15 (natural armor)HP 90 (12d8+36; bloodied 45)Speed 20 ft.STR 18 (+4) DEX 16 (+3) CON 16 (+3)INT 16 (+3) WIS 18 (+4) CHA 18 (+4)Proficiency +3; Maneuver DC 15Saving Throws Int +6, Con +6, Cha +7Skills Arcana +6, Deception +9, Insight +7, Perception +7, Persuasion +6Damage Resistances fireDamage Immunities cold, necroticCondition Immunities paralysis, poisonedSenses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 17Languages Avolakia, Common, Undercommon, 2 moreEvil. The avolakia radiates an evil aura.Gift of Undeath (3/day). The avolakia engages in a 1-minute-long ritual while within 10 feet of a Small or Medium humanoid corpse or pile of bones. The corpse then rises as either a skeleton or a zombie. The undead is charmed by the avolakia for 1 month or until the avolakia harms it, after which it wanders off on its own.Once per week, it can expend two uses of this ability to create a ghoul, or all three uses to create a ghast. Once per month, it can expend all three uses to create a mummy.Innate Spellcasting. The avolakia’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:At will: detect magic, chill touch (at 5th-level), fear, ray of enfeeblement3/day each: enervating lightMagic Resistance. The avolakia has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.Regeneration. The avolakia regains 10 hit points at the start of each of its turns. If the avolakia takes acid, fire, or lightning damage, this trait doesn’t function on its next turn. The avolakia only dies if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.Slimy. The avolakia has advantage on Dexterity checks made to escape being grappled or restrainedActionsBite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8+4) piercing damage and the target must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned, the creature has disadvantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws, and at the start of each of its turns, it takes 3 (1d6) psychic damage.Chill Touch (Cantrip; V, S). Ranged Spell Attack: +7 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d8) necrotic damage, and until the start of the avolakia’s next turn, the creature can’t regain hit points. It the target is undead, it makes attack rolls against the avolakia with disadvantage until the end of the avolakia’s next turn.Ray of Enfeeblement (2nd-level; V, S). Ranged Spell Attack: +7 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. Hit: the target deals only half damage with weapon attacks that use Strength.Charming Talk (3/day, Humanoid Form Only). The avolakia targets a creature within 60 feet that can hear it. That creature must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by the avolakia for 24 hours, regarding it as a trusted friend to be headed and protected. Although it isn’t under the avolakia’s control, it takes the avolakia’s requests or actions in the most favorable way it can. The creature repeats the saving throw whenever it takes damage and at the end of each hour, and makes this roll at advantage if the avolakia is in its true form. Damage caused by the avolakia’s bite doesn’t trigger a new saving throw. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, it is immune to any avolakia’s Charming Talk for 24 hours.Bonus ActionsShapechange. The avolakia magically changes its form to that of any Medium or Small humanoid or to its true form. While shapechanged, its statistics, other than its size, are unchanged.CombatAvolakia never engage in melee combat unless they have to, preferring to send their undead minions into battle for them. They flee if reduced to 70 hit points or fewer.</blockquote>

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