Aspis
- Thread starter BOZ
- Start date
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
ok, looks like i just need to work out the skills and feats. how about the rest of the stat block?
also, one big issue: what do you think of the creature types? accurate? should they all be aberrations?
here's my description:
The aspis are an insectoid race that dwells in underground nests. They are very reclusive, generally only coming up to the surface to forage and raid for food. They live in small, self-sufficient groups that only rarely deal with other beings. The adult male drones are the only aspis encountered by surface dwellers, as the larvae and cow don’t leave the nest. Aspis are able to eat nearly anything, and favor blood as their preferred drink.
Aspis drones are about 6 feet long and look something like giant weevils. Despite their high intelligence, the drones do not take any independent actions unless they are unable to communicate with their cow. They totally lack and sort of individuality or personality and live only to serve their purpose in the hive. They are fierce warriors, however, and protect the nest from intruders before they even get to the cow. These creatures have a chitinous body of gray or off-white color. Their heads have two multifaceted eyes, two short, blunt antennae, and a long proboscis. Their six legs end in a cluster of fine claws that allow them to manipulate and construct objects.
Aspis drones communicate through a unique form of scent exchange that is completely undetectable by any creature that does not have the Scent special ability. They also know how to simulate any scent by mixing certain concoctions, including pollen and musk. They are able to learn Common and other languages, although only a very small percentage of them actually do.
An aspis nest will never be far below the surface, consisting of sloping tunnels about 4 feet high, that have been bored through soft rock or earth. Any given nest will have 1-3 chambers for storing eggs, 2-4 granaries for storing food, 1-6 grub hatcheries, and a central chamber for the cow.
COMBAT
In combat, an aspis drone can raise up on its two rear legs, using two of its limbs to hold shields, and the other two to hold weapons such as short swords or hand axes. They cannot use any sort of bow, but they can wield thrown weapons. The aspis are fanatically loyal to their cow, and will fight to the death against any odds to protect it. The aspis always defend their tunnels with numerous traps and guards. They commonly use things such as rockfalls, pits, and other crude traps to defend the cow’s chamber.
Acid (Ex): Aspis cows secrete a sticky acid from their skin that causes any creature touching it to suffer 1d8 points of acid damage per round, until the acid is washed off. This powerful acid can also burn through wood or metal in 1 round. All types of aspis are immune to the cow’s acid.
ASPIS COW
The aspis cow is a huge, bloated female creature about 10-15 feet in length that just looks like a big larva. There is only one cow per nest, and its only purpose in life is to lay eggs to keep the population going. A new cow is selected from the existing larva only when the nest’s cow dies.
Though very sluggish and slow-moving, the aspis cow has a very dangerous bite. Their skin also secretes a thick, milky, acidic slime. Drones usually use this acid to cover the walls and floor of the cow’s chamber.
ASPIS LARVAE
Aspis larvae can be from 1 ½ to 3 feet long, and look like fat white or pale pink grubs or maggots. They cannot see or hear, but are always seeking food with their other senses. They spend just about all of their time in filthy hatcheries, little more than vile sewage pits, which are maintained by the adult drones. Larva will usually develop into drones, but the drones have a method to feed and treat them to become cows when needed.
Aspis larvae are constantly ravenous and will attack any non-aspis to feed on it.
The aspis first appeared in A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity (1981), and later in Monster Manual II (1983) and MC5 Greyhawk Monstrous Compendium (1990).
also, one big issue: what do you think of the creature types? accurate? should they all be aberrations?
here's my description:
The aspis are an insectoid race that dwells in underground nests. They are very reclusive, generally only coming up to the surface to forage and raid for food. They live in small, self-sufficient groups that only rarely deal with other beings. The adult male drones are the only aspis encountered by surface dwellers, as the larvae and cow don’t leave the nest. Aspis are able to eat nearly anything, and favor blood as their preferred drink.
Aspis drones are about 6 feet long and look something like giant weevils. Despite their high intelligence, the drones do not take any independent actions unless they are unable to communicate with their cow. They totally lack and sort of individuality or personality and live only to serve their purpose in the hive. They are fierce warriors, however, and protect the nest from intruders before they even get to the cow. These creatures have a chitinous body of gray or off-white color. Their heads have two multifaceted eyes, two short, blunt antennae, and a long proboscis. Their six legs end in a cluster of fine claws that allow them to manipulate and construct objects.
Aspis drones communicate through a unique form of scent exchange that is completely undetectable by any creature that does not have the Scent special ability. They also know how to simulate any scent by mixing certain concoctions, including pollen and musk. They are able to learn Common and other languages, although only a very small percentage of them actually do.
An aspis nest will never be far below the surface, consisting of sloping tunnels about 4 feet high, that have been bored through soft rock or earth. Any given nest will have 1-3 chambers for storing eggs, 2-4 granaries for storing food, 1-6 grub hatcheries, and a central chamber for the cow.
COMBAT
In combat, an aspis drone can raise up on its two rear legs, using two of its limbs to hold shields, and the other two to hold weapons such as short swords or hand axes. They cannot use any sort of bow, but they can wield thrown weapons. The aspis are fanatically loyal to their cow, and will fight to the death against any odds to protect it. The aspis always defend their tunnels with numerous traps and guards. They commonly use things such as rockfalls, pits, and other crude traps to defend the cow’s chamber.
Acid (Ex): Aspis cows secrete a sticky acid from their skin that causes any creature touching it to suffer 1d8 points of acid damage per round, until the acid is washed off. This powerful acid can also burn through wood or metal in 1 round. All types of aspis are immune to the cow’s acid.
ASPIS COW
The aspis cow is a huge, bloated female creature about 10-15 feet in length that just looks like a big larva. There is only one cow per nest, and its only purpose in life is to lay eggs to keep the population going. A new cow is selected from the existing larva only when the nest’s cow dies.
Though very sluggish and slow-moving, the aspis cow has a very dangerous bite. Their skin also secretes a thick, milky, acidic slime. Drones usually use this acid to cover the walls and floor of the cow’s chamber.
ASPIS LARVAE
Aspis larvae can be from 1 ½ to 3 feet long, and look like fat white or pale pink grubs or maggots. They cannot see or hear, but are always seeking food with their other senses. They spend just about all of their time in filthy hatcheries, little more than vile sewage pits, which are maintained by the adult drones. Larva will usually develop into drones, but the drones have a method to feed and treat them to become cows when needed.
Aspis larvae are constantly ravenous and will attack any non-aspis to feed on it.
The aspis first appeared in A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity (1981), and later in Monster Manual II (1983) and MC5 Greyhawk Monstrous Compendium (1990).
Personally, I agree that an aspis larva should be a vermin. Really, it's just a big grub.
As for aspis drones being monstrous humanoids, the abeil (bee-elves) and thri-kreen from Monster Manual II are both monstrous humanoids, so again, good call. There's already been a precedent set for upright bug-people.
The cow's the only real stickler: should she be an aberration or a vermin (or something else)? Judging from her appearance, I'd be initially tempted to lean toward the vermin - she's really just an oversized grub with acidic secretions. But then again, vermin don't have Intelligence scores, and I think the cow needs to have an Intelligence rating. So that pushes it away from "vermin." What other possibilities are there? Beast might work, as the acidic secretions are not magical in nature, and the ankheg (an acid-spitting, "non-vermin" insect) is classified as a beast. I think I lean toward beast rather than aberration, because there's nothing that unusual about the cow's physical structure or mental processes that are usually the hallmark of the aberration.
Another thought: what do you think about giving aspis larvae blindsight?
Also, I'd recommend giving the drones Multidexterity as a feat. They've got the required Dex 15 and four potential sets of claws. Sure, they prefer using two swords and two shields, but I'd think an unarmed aspis drone would attack with four sets of claws instead of just two. If you really want to get nasty, throw in a rend for good luck! Nothing too serious damage-wise, though, or else it would be their preferred attack mode.
Johnathan
As for aspis drones being monstrous humanoids, the abeil (bee-elves) and thri-kreen from Monster Manual II are both monstrous humanoids, so again, good call. There's already been a precedent set for upright bug-people.
The cow's the only real stickler: should she be an aberration or a vermin (or something else)? Judging from her appearance, I'd be initially tempted to lean toward the vermin - she's really just an oversized grub with acidic secretions. But then again, vermin don't have Intelligence scores, and I think the cow needs to have an Intelligence rating. So that pushes it away from "vermin." What other possibilities are there? Beast might work, as the acidic secretions are not magical in nature, and the ankheg (an acid-spitting, "non-vermin" insect) is classified as a beast. I think I lean toward beast rather than aberration, because there's nothing that unusual about the cow's physical structure or mental processes that are usually the hallmark of the aberration.
Another thought: what do you think about giving aspis larvae blindsight?
Also, I'd recommend giving the drones Multidexterity as a feat. They've got the required Dex 15 and four potential sets of claws. Sure, they prefer using two swords and two shields, but I'd think an unarmed aspis drone would attack with four sets of claws instead of just two. If you really want to get nasty, throw in a rend for good luck! Nothing too serious damage-wise, though, or else it would be their preferred attack mode.
Johnathan
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
ok, tell me what you think! 
ASPIS, DRONE
Medium-Size Monstrous Humanoid
Hit Dice: 6d8+6 (33 hp)
Initiative: +2 (Dex)
Speed: 40 ft
AC: 19 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, +2 shields), touch 12, flat-footed 17
Attacks: 2 short swords +7 melee; or 2 claws +7 melee; or 2 javelins +8 ranged
Damage: Short sword 1d6+1; claw 1d4+1; javelin +1d6+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/ 5ft
Special Qualities: Scent, immune to cold and electricity, fire resistance 20, darkvision 60 ft
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +6
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: Balance +9, Climb +8, Hide +5, Listen +8, Move Silently +6, Spot +10
Feats: Alertness, Multidexterity, Multiweapon Fighting
Climate/Terrain: Any underground
Organization: Gang (1-6 drones) or hive (2-20 drones, 6-60 larvae, and 1 cow plus 1-10 giant ants)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 7-12 HD (Medium-Size)
ASPIS, LARVA
Tiny Vermin
Hit Dice: 2d8+2 (11 hp)
Initiative: +2 (Dex)
Speed: 1 ft, swim 15 ft
AC: 14 (+2 size, +2 Dex), touch 12, flat-footed 12
Attacks: Bite +4 melee
Damage: Bite 1d6+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/ 5ft
Special Attacks: Stench
Special Qualities: Scent, tremorsense, immune to cold, electricity, and sonic attacks, fire resistance 20, blindsight
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +2, Will -1
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 15, Con 12, Int ---, Wis 8, Cha 7
Skills: Hide +7, Search +5
Climate/Terrain: Any underground
Organization: Gang (1-6 drones) or hive (2-20 drones, 6-60 larvae, and 1 cow plus 1-10 giant ants)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 3-4 HD (Tiny); 5-6 HD (Small)
ASPIS, COW
Large Aberration
Hit Dice: 10d8+50 (95 hp)
Initiative: -5 (Dex)
Speed: 10 ft
AC: 13 (-1 size, -5 Dex, +9 natural), touch 4, flat-footed 13
Attacks: Bite +10 melee
Damage: Bite 2d6+6
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 15 ft/ 5ft
Special Attacks: Acid
Special Qualities: Scent, immune to cold, electricity, and sonic attacks, fire resistance 20, blindsight
Saves: Fort +10, Ref -2, Will +8
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 1, Con 20, Int 6, Wis 13, Cha 11
Skills: Intimidate +8, Search +9, Sense Motive +12
Feats: Great Fortitude, Power Attack
Climate/Terrain: Any underground
Organization: Gang (1-6 drones) or hive (2-20 drones, 6-60 larvae, and 1 cow plus 1-10 giant ants or other insectoids)
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 11-20 HD (Large); 21-30 HD (Huge)
The aspis are an insectoid race that dwells in underground nests. They are very reclusive, generally only coming up to the surface to forage and raid for food. They live in small, self-sufficient groups that only rarely deal with other beings. The adult male drones are the only aspis encountered by surface dwellers, as the larvae and cow don’t leave the nest. Aspis are able to eat nearly anything, and favor blood as their preferred drink.
Aspis drones are about 6 feet long and look something like giant weevils. Despite their high intelligence, the drones do not take any independent actions unless they are unable to communicate with their cow. They totally lack and sort of individuality or personality and live only to serve their purpose in the hive. They are fierce warriors, however, and protect the nest from intruders before they even get to the cow. These creatures have a chitinous body of gray or off-white color. Their heads have two multifaceted eyes, two short, blunt antennae, and a long proboscis. Their six legs end in a cluster of fine claws that allow them to manipulate and construct objects.
Aspis drones communicate through a unique form of scent exchange that is completely undetectable by any creature that does not have the Scent special ability. They also know how to simulate any scent by mixing certain concoctions, including pollen and musk. They are able to learn Common and other languages, although only a very small percentage of them actually do.
An aspis nest will never be far below the surface, consisting of sloping tunnels about 4 feet high, that have been bored through soft rock or earth. Any given nest will have 1-3 chambers for storing eggs, 2-4 granaries for storing food, 1-6 grub hatcheries, and a central chamber for the cow.
COMBAT
In combat, an aspis drone can raise up on its two rear legs, using two of its limbs to hold shields, and the other two to hold weapons such as short swords or hand axes. They cannot use any sort of bow, but they can wield thrown weapons. The aspis are fanatically loyal to their cow, and will fight to the death against any odds to protect it. The aspis always defend their tunnels with numerous traps and guards. They commonly use things such as rockfalls, pits, and other crude traps to defend the cow’s chamber.
Acid (Ex): Aspis cows secrete a sticky acid from their skin that causes any creature touching it to suffer 1d8 points of acid damage per round, until the acid is washed off. This powerful acid can also burn through wood or metal in 1 round. All types of aspis are immune to the cow’s acid.
Stench (Ex): The waste products of the aspis larvae, combined with the food scraps and sewage that they swim in, make their grub hatchery a foul place. This soup that they swim in is so vile that any non-aspis entering this chamber must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 12) or become violently ill until removed from the offensive stench. Creatures with the Scent special quality have a DC of 15 for this saving throw.
ASPIS COW
The aspis cow is a large, bloated female creature about 10-15 feet in length that just looks like an oversized larva. There is only one cow per nest, and its only purpose in life is to lay eggs to keep the population going. A new cow is selected from the existing larva only when the nest’s cow dies or becomes too old to lay eggs.
Though very sluggish and slow-moving, the aspis cow has a very dangerous bite. Their skin also secretes a thick, milky, acidic slime. Drones usually use this acid to cover the walls and floor of the cow’s chamber.
ASPIS LARVAE
Aspis larvae can be from 1 ½ to 3 feet long, and look like fat white or pale pink grubs or maggots. They cannot see or hear, but are always seeking food with their other senses. They spend just about all of their time in filthy hatcheries, little more than vile sewage pits, which are maintained by the adult drones. Larva will usually develop into drones, but the drones have a method to feed and treat them to become cows when needed.
Aspis larvae are constantly ravenous and will attack and try to feed on any non-aspis that approaches them.
The aspis first appeared in A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity (1981), and later in Monster Manual II (1983) and MC5 Greyhawk Monstrous Compendium (1990).
ASPIS, DRONE
Medium-Size Monstrous Humanoid
Hit Dice: 6d8+6 (33 hp)
Initiative: +2 (Dex)
Speed: 40 ft
AC: 19 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, +2 shields), touch 12, flat-footed 17
Attacks: 2 short swords +7 melee; or 2 claws +7 melee; or 2 javelins +8 ranged
Damage: Short sword 1d6+1; claw 1d4+1; javelin +1d6+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/ 5ft
Special Qualities: Scent, immune to cold and electricity, fire resistance 20, darkvision 60 ft
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +6
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: Balance +9, Climb +8, Hide +5, Listen +8, Move Silently +6, Spot +10
Feats: Alertness, Multidexterity, Multiweapon Fighting
Climate/Terrain: Any underground
Organization: Gang (1-6 drones) or hive (2-20 drones, 6-60 larvae, and 1 cow plus 1-10 giant ants)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 7-12 HD (Medium-Size)
ASPIS, LARVA
Tiny Vermin
Hit Dice: 2d8+2 (11 hp)
Initiative: +2 (Dex)
Speed: 1 ft, swim 15 ft
AC: 14 (+2 size, +2 Dex), touch 12, flat-footed 12
Attacks: Bite +4 melee
Damage: Bite 1d6+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/ 5ft
Special Attacks: Stench
Special Qualities: Scent, tremorsense, immune to cold, electricity, and sonic attacks, fire resistance 20, blindsight
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +2, Will -1
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 15, Con 12, Int ---, Wis 8, Cha 7
Skills: Hide +7, Search +5
Climate/Terrain: Any underground
Organization: Gang (1-6 drones) or hive (2-20 drones, 6-60 larvae, and 1 cow plus 1-10 giant ants)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 3-4 HD (Tiny); 5-6 HD (Small)
ASPIS, COW
Large Aberration
Hit Dice: 10d8+50 (95 hp)
Initiative: -5 (Dex)
Speed: 10 ft
AC: 13 (-1 size, -5 Dex, +9 natural), touch 4, flat-footed 13
Attacks: Bite +10 melee
Damage: Bite 2d6+6
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 15 ft/ 5ft
Special Attacks: Acid
Special Qualities: Scent, immune to cold, electricity, and sonic attacks, fire resistance 20, blindsight
Saves: Fort +10, Ref -2, Will +8
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 1, Con 20, Int 6, Wis 13, Cha 11
Skills: Intimidate +8, Search +9, Sense Motive +12
Feats: Great Fortitude, Power Attack
Climate/Terrain: Any underground
Organization: Gang (1-6 drones) or hive (2-20 drones, 6-60 larvae, and 1 cow plus 1-10 giant ants or other insectoids)
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 11-20 HD (Large); 21-30 HD (Huge)
The aspis are an insectoid race that dwells in underground nests. They are very reclusive, generally only coming up to the surface to forage and raid for food. They live in small, self-sufficient groups that only rarely deal with other beings. The adult male drones are the only aspis encountered by surface dwellers, as the larvae and cow don’t leave the nest. Aspis are able to eat nearly anything, and favor blood as their preferred drink.
Aspis drones are about 6 feet long and look something like giant weevils. Despite their high intelligence, the drones do not take any independent actions unless they are unable to communicate with their cow. They totally lack and sort of individuality or personality and live only to serve their purpose in the hive. They are fierce warriors, however, and protect the nest from intruders before they even get to the cow. These creatures have a chitinous body of gray or off-white color. Their heads have two multifaceted eyes, two short, blunt antennae, and a long proboscis. Their six legs end in a cluster of fine claws that allow them to manipulate and construct objects.
Aspis drones communicate through a unique form of scent exchange that is completely undetectable by any creature that does not have the Scent special ability. They also know how to simulate any scent by mixing certain concoctions, including pollen and musk. They are able to learn Common and other languages, although only a very small percentage of them actually do.
An aspis nest will never be far below the surface, consisting of sloping tunnels about 4 feet high, that have been bored through soft rock or earth. Any given nest will have 1-3 chambers for storing eggs, 2-4 granaries for storing food, 1-6 grub hatcheries, and a central chamber for the cow.
COMBAT
In combat, an aspis drone can raise up on its two rear legs, using two of its limbs to hold shields, and the other two to hold weapons such as short swords or hand axes. They cannot use any sort of bow, but they can wield thrown weapons. The aspis are fanatically loyal to their cow, and will fight to the death against any odds to protect it. The aspis always defend their tunnels with numerous traps and guards. They commonly use things such as rockfalls, pits, and other crude traps to defend the cow’s chamber.
Acid (Ex): Aspis cows secrete a sticky acid from their skin that causes any creature touching it to suffer 1d8 points of acid damage per round, until the acid is washed off. This powerful acid can also burn through wood or metal in 1 round. All types of aspis are immune to the cow’s acid.
Stench (Ex): The waste products of the aspis larvae, combined with the food scraps and sewage that they swim in, make their grub hatchery a foul place. This soup that they swim in is so vile that any non-aspis entering this chamber must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 12) or become violently ill until removed from the offensive stench. Creatures with the Scent special quality have a DC of 15 for this saving throw.
ASPIS COW
The aspis cow is a large, bloated female creature about 10-15 feet in length that just looks like an oversized larva. There is only one cow per nest, and its only purpose in life is to lay eggs to keep the population going. A new cow is selected from the existing larva only when the nest’s cow dies or becomes too old to lay eggs.
Though very sluggish and slow-moving, the aspis cow has a very dangerous bite. Their skin also secretes a thick, milky, acidic slime. Drones usually use this acid to cover the walls and floor of the cow’s chamber.
ASPIS LARVAE
Aspis larvae can be from 1 ½ to 3 feet long, and look like fat white or pale pink grubs or maggots. They cannot see or hear, but are always seeking food with their other senses. They spend just about all of their time in filthy hatcheries, little more than vile sewage pits, which are maintained by the adult drones. Larva will usually develop into drones, but the drones have a method to feed and treat them to become cows when needed.
Aspis larvae are constantly ravenous and will attack and try to feed on any non-aspis that approaches them.
The aspis first appeared in A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity (1981), and later in Monster Manual II (1983) and MC5 Greyhawk Monstrous Compendium (1990).
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