BLACKDIRGE
Adventurer
Hey guys, here is another critter to tide you over until I get the next NPC thread going. The Slithering Horror is an advanced carrion crawler with the fiendish template and the gelatinous template from Savage Species.
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The Slithering Horror
Advanced Fiendish Gelatinous Carrion Crawler
Huge Aberration
Hit Dice: 9d10+63 (115 hp)
Initiative: +5 (+1 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)
Speed: 15 ft., Climb 10 ft.
AC: 18 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural)
Attacks: 8 tentacles +10 melee, bite +8 melee, slam +8 melee
Damage: Tentacle 1d8 acid plus paralysis, bite 1d6+3 plus 1d8 acid, slam 2d6+3 plus 1d8 acid
Face/Reach: 10 ft. by 20 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Paralysis, acid, smite good
Special Qualities: Scent, blindsight, resilient, immunities, saving throw bonus, DR 10/+3, SR 18; acid, cold, fire and electricity resistance 20
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +4, Will +6
Abilities: Str 22, Dex 12, Con 24, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 06
Skills: Climb +14, Hide +4, Listen +2, Move Silently +8, Spot +2
Feats: Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Track
Climate/Terrain: Any underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 11
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Paralysis (Ex): Those hit by the Slithering Horror’s tentacle attack must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 22) or be paralyzed for 2d6 minutes.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day The Slithering Horror can deal an additional 9 points of damage to a good aligned foe on a successful melee attack.
Blindsight (Ex): The Slithering Horror’s entire body is a primitive sensory organ that can ascertain prey by scent and vibration within 60 feet.
Acid (Ex): The Slithering Horror secretes a digestive acid that dissolves organic material and metal quickly. Any melee hit deals acid damage.
Resilient (Ex): The Slithering Horror has a less defined shape than a standard carrion crawler. As a result it is more difficult to score crippling or killing blows against it. The Slithering Horror benefits from the following combat adjustments:
* Cannot be flanked
* Takes 1d6 less damage from a successful sneak attack
* Takes one-half the additional damage dealt by a critical hit
Immunities (Ex): The Slithering Horror is immune to polymorphing and stunning,
Saving Throw Bonus (Ex): The Slithering Horror gains a +4 bonus on saves against mind-affecting effects, poison, sleep, and paralysis.
The lightless halls of Undermountain are fraught with all manner of peril and those brave enough to dare its hazards often fine their end at the claws of some terrible beast. The dwarves of old built their home well and it has withstood the passage of time well beyond its creators and now serves as the single largest grave for adventurers in all the realms. Centuries ago the mad wizard Halaster took up residence in the mammoth dungeon complex, stocking it with all manner of beasts and monsters. The dungeon has become famous for its lethality and the vast hoards of riches that a few have taken away from the dangerous place. As deadly as the halls of Undermountain are they still draw adventurers by the hundreds, eager to make their name in the annals of Faerunian history or simply to test their luck for a chance at instant wealth.
Halaster yet lives, the magic of the archmage preserving his life well beyond its normal limits. The demented archmage spends much of his time gathering dangerous monsters from all over Faerun and depositing them in his dungeon. Halaster derives much amusement from his “zoo” watching with glee through hundreds of secret passageways as his pets devour and slay the adventurers that frequent his home. Halaster, however, is not responsible for all the dangers of Undermountain. Various humanoids and monsters have wandered in of their own accord and have made the gloomy halls of Undermountain their home. One of these interlopers was actually created in the deepest depths of Undermountain's lower levels. A cabal of drow, worshiping the blasphemous deity Ghaundahar, received a gift from their enigmatic and terrible god. The “gift”, an augmented carrion crawler modeled somewhat after the god’s own amorphous form, was less than devoted to the members of the cabal and proceeded to slay and devour each and every one of them. After the destruction of the Ghaundahar worshipers the beast roamed the lower levels of Undermountain, preying on creatures weaker than itself and hiding from the stronger denizens of the depths.
Possessed with a modicum of fiendish intellect the beast of Ghaundahar slowly made its way to the upper reaches of Undermountain where the number of sentient humanoids was far greater. The beast soon became infamous on the first level of the dungeon, often lurking near the most popular entrance into the complex, the well shaft leading to the famous inn known as the Yawning Portal. Adventurers would pay a small fee to the proprietor of the inn to be lowered down into the depths to seek their fortune. Many of these adventurers were caught completely off their guard by the beast of Ghaundahar lying in wait and quickly slain. This tactic became so successful that the beast scarcely moved and eventually the number of adventurers entering Undermountain via the Yawning Portal declined sharply. Durnan, the owner of the inn, was a powerful fighter and was not about to tolerate the economic damage the beast was inflicting on his business. The innkeeper descended into Undermountain himself to confront the beast and after a furious battle drove it away, injuring it severely. Since then the beast has stayed clear of the well shaft but still haunts the first level, silently following adventurers through the darkness waiting for them to let down their guard for just an instant and allow it to strike.
The beast’s infamy has grown as adventurers exploring the first level spread word of an eerie presence following them through the empty halls. Many of the very common deaths and disappearance occurring in the depths of Undermountain have been pinned on the beast, though it has actually killed only a handful of adventurers. In addition the one group that encountered it and lived to tell the tale has given a colorful name to the beast. The surviving adventurers described a creature of unimaginable foulness and named the monstrosity “The Slithering Horror”. The legend of the Slithering Horror continues to grow and is often a subject of much debate in the taproom of the Yawning Portal. It is doubtless that the beast’s legend will long outlive the beast itself and the Slithering Horror will become just another boogey-man used to frighten inexperienced adventurers daring the perils of Undermountain.
Description & Tactics
The Slithering Horror had been gifted with the essence of its godly progenitor Ghaundahar. It bares a slight resemblance to a normal carrion crawler, although larger, with a long segmented body and a mass of writing tentacles near its “head”, but all resemblance stops there. The beast’s body is composed entirely of quivering green protoplasm shaped roughly in the image of a carrion crawler. No eyes or other sensory organs are evident on the Slithering Horror as the primitive makeup of its body allows it to detect approaching prey items without the aid of sound or sight. A sickly sweet stench, reminiscent of rotting carrion, hangs about the creature at all times and often alerts potential meals to its presence. The repulsive body of the Slithering Horror constantly oozes a strong acidic slime that it uses to dissolve its food into an easily digestible form.
Slow moving and cumbersome, The Slithering Horror must use stealth and surprise to capture its meals. It will typically stalk potential prey, such as a party of adventurers, for hours, waiting for an opportune moment to strike. When it reveals its presence the Slithering Horror will lash out with its paralytic tentacles hoping to immobilize as many foes as possible. It fears little, as its bizarre anatomy and fiendish nature make it impervious to many forms of attack. If faced with a group it is unable to defeat, the Slithering Horror will attempt to grab any paralyzed foes and retreat, usually by climbing a vertical surface, to devour its meal in peace.
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The Slithering Horror
Advanced Fiendish Gelatinous Carrion Crawler
Huge Aberration
Hit Dice: 9d10+63 (115 hp)
Initiative: +5 (+1 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)
Speed: 15 ft., Climb 10 ft.
AC: 18 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural)
Attacks: 8 tentacles +10 melee, bite +8 melee, slam +8 melee
Damage: Tentacle 1d8 acid plus paralysis, bite 1d6+3 plus 1d8 acid, slam 2d6+3 plus 1d8 acid
Face/Reach: 10 ft. by 20 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Paralysis, acid, smite good
Special Qualities: Scent, blindsight, resilient, immunities, saving throw bonus, DR 10/+3, SR 18; acid, cold, fire and electricity resistance 20
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +4, Will +6
Abilities: Str 22, Dex 12, Con 24, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 06
Skills: Climb +14, Hide +4, Listen +2, Move Silently +8, Spot +2
Feats: Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Track
Climate/Terrain: Any underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 11
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Paralysis (Ex): Those hit by the Slithering Horror’s tentacle attack must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 22) or be paralyzed for 2d6 minutes.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day The Slithering Horror can deal an additional 9 points of damage to a good aligned foe on a successful melee attack.
Blindsight (Ex): The Slithering Horror’s entire body is a primitive sensory organ that can ascertain prey by scent and vibration within 60 feet.
Acid (Ex): The Slithering Horror secretes a digestive acid that dissolves organic material and metal quickly. Any melee hit deals acid damage.
Resilient (Ex): The Slithering Horror has a less defined shape than a standard carrion crawler. As a result it is more difficult to score crippling or killing blows against it. The Slithering Horror benefits from the following combat adjustments:
* Cannot be flanked
* Takes 1d6 less damage from a successful sneak attack
* Takes one-half the additional damage dealt by a critical hit
Immunities (Ex): The Slithering Horror is immune to polymorphing and stunning,
Saving Throw Bonus (Ex): The Slithering Horror gains a +4 bonus on saves against mind-affecting effects, poison, sleep, and paralysis.
The lightless halls of Undermountain are fraught with all manner of peril and those brave enough to dare its hazards often fine their end at the claws of some terrible beast. The dwarves of old built their home well and it has withstood the passage of time well beyond its creators and now serves as the single largest grave for adventurers in all the realms. Centuries ago the mad wizard Halaster took up residence in the mammoth dungeon complex, stocking it with all manner of beasts and monsters. The dungeon has become famous for its lethality and the vast hoards of riches that a few have taken away from the dangerous place. As deadly as the halls of Undermountain are they still draw adventurers by the hundreds, eager to make their name in the annals of Faerunian history or simply to test their luck for a chance at instant wealth.
Halaster yet lives, the magic of the archmage preserving his life well beyond its normal limits. The demented archmage spends much of his time gathering dangerous monsters from all over Faerun and depositing them in his dungeon. Halaster derives much amusement from his “zoo” watching with glee through hundreds of secret passageways as his pets devour and slay the adventurers that frequent his home. Halaster, however, is not responsible for all the dangers of Undermountain. Various humanoids and monsters have wandered in of their own accord and have made the gloomy halls of Undermountain their home. One of these interlopers was actually created in the deepest depths of Undermountain's lower levels. A cabal of drow, worshiping the blasphemous deity Ghaundahar, received a gift from their enigmatic and terrible god. The “gift”, an augmented carrion crawler modeled somewhat after the god’s own amorphous form, was less than devoted to the members of the cabal and proceeded to slay and devour each and every one of them. After the destruction of the Ghaundahar worshipers the beast roamed the lower levels of Undermountain, preying on creatures weaker than itself and hiding from the stronger denizens of the depths.
Possessed with a modicum of fiendish intellect the beast of Ghaundahar slowly made its way to the upper reaches of Undermountain where the number of sentient humanoids was far greater. The beast soon became infamous on the first level of the dungeon, often lurking near the most popular entrance into the complex, the well shaft leading to the famous inn known as the Yawning Portal. Adventurers would pay a small fee to the proprietor of the inn to be lowered down into the depths to seek their fortune. Many of these adventurers were caught completely off their guard by the beast of Ghaundahar lying in wait and quickly slain. This tactic became so successful that the beast scarcely moved and eventually the number of adventurers entering Undermountain via the Yawning Portal declined sharply. Durnan, the owner of the inn, was a powerful fighter and was not about to tolerate the economic damage the beast was inflicting on his business. The innkeeper descended into Undermountain himself to confront the beast and after a furious battle drove it away, injuring it severely. Since then the beast has stayed clear of the well shaft but still haunts the first level, silently following adventurers through the darkness waiting for them to let down their guard for just an instant and allow it to strike.
The beast’s infamy has grown as adventurers exploring the first level spread word of an eerie presence following them through the empty halls. Many of the very common deaths and disappearance occurring in the depths of Undermountain have been pinned on the beast, though it has actually killed only a handful of adventurers. In addition the one group that encountered it and lived to tell the tale has given a colorful name to the beast. The surviving adventurers described a creature of unimaginable foulness and named the monstrosity “The Slithering Horror”. The legend of the Slithering Horror continues to grow and is often a subject of much debate in the taproom of the Yawning Portal. It is doubtless that the beast’s legend will long outlive the beast itself and the Slithering Horror will become just another boogey-man used to frighten inexperienced adventurers daring the perils of Undermountain.
Description & Tactics
The Slithering Horror had been gifted with the essence of its godly progenitor Ghaundahar. It bares a slight resemblance to a normal carrion crawler, although larger, with a long segmented body and a mass of writing tentacles near its “head”, but all resemblance stops there. The beast’s body is composed entirely of quivering green protoplasm shaped roughly in the image of a carrion crawler. No eyes or other sensory organs are evident on the Slithering Horror as the primitive makeup of its body allows it to detect approaching prey items without the aid of sound or sight. A sickly sweet stench, reminiscent of rotting carrion, hangs about the creature at all times and often alerts potential meals to its presence. The repulsive body of the Slithering Horror constantly oozes a strong acidic slime that it uses to dissolve its food into an easily digestible form.
Slow moving and cumbersome, The Slithering Horror must use stealth and surprise to capture its meals. It will typically stalk potential prey, such as a party of adventurers, for hours, waiting for an opportune moment to strike. When it reveals its presence the Slithering Horror will lash out with its paralytic tentacles hoping to immobilize as many foes as possible. It fears little, as its bizarre anatomy and fiendish nature make it impervious to many forms of attack. If faced with a group it is unable to defeat, the Slithering Horror will attempt to grab any paralyzed foes and retreat, usually by climbing a vertical surface, to devour its meal in peace.
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