Lava Serpent
[Alignment]:CE
[Size/Type]:Huge Construct (Augmented: Elemental, Living Construct, Chaotic, Earth, Extraplanar, Evil, Fire)
[Hit Dice]: 12d10+48
[HP]:113/113 [SP]:226/226 [MP]:103/103 [SEP]:43/43
[SES]:3
[Massive Damage Threshold]:41
[Shock Threshold]:20
[Initiative]: +6
Speed: 40 ft
[AC]: 14 (+4 natural, +2 Dex, -2 size) [Touch]:10 [Flat-Footed]:12
[Base Attack/Grapple]: +9/+23
[Attack]: Bite +13 melee (4d6+7 piercing dmg plus 2d8 fire dmg) or Tail slap +11 melee (3d6+6 bludgeoning dmg plus 1d8 fire dmg)
[Full Attack]: Bite +13/+8 melee (4d6+7 piercing dmg plus 2d8 fire dmg), Tail slap +11 melee (3d6+6 bludgeoning dmg plus 1d8 fire dmg)
[Space/Reach]: 15 ft./10 ft. (melee)
[Special Attacks]: Flame Breath (recharge 5-6), Burn, Spit Lava Puddle
[Special Qualities]: Resistance to poison 50, Resistance to fire 170, darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 120 ft., vulnerability to cold (50%), Elemental Traits, Damage Reduction 5/-, Earth Glide, +10 saves against sleep effects, paralysis, and stunning.
[Saves]: Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +0 (Int)/+5 (Wis)/+3 (Cha)/+4 (Lck)
[Abilities]: Str 23, Dex 15, Con 19, Apr 10, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6, Lck 10
[Skills]: Jump +20, Listen +10, Spot +10, Survival +5, +10 Hide, +10 Move Silently
[Feats]: Improved Initiative, Dodge, Cleave, Mobility, Spring Attack
[Environment]: Abyssal Volcanic Regions (Primarily within The Erupting Abyss found within dimension 96Z: The Realm of Chains and Dreams)
[Organization]: Solitary or pair
[Advancement]:13-20HD (Huge), 21-36HD (Gargantuan)
[Power Level]:11
Flame Breath (Recharge 5-6) (Su): The lava serpent exhales a 30-ft. cone of fire. Creatures caught take 4d12 fire damage (Reflex DC 20 half).
The save DC is Constitution-based.
Burn (Ex): A lava serpent’s natural weapon attacks deal additional fire damage from it’s flaming body. Those hit by a lava serpent‘s natural weapon attacks also must succeed on a Reflex save or catch on fire. The flame burns for 1d4 round. A burning creature can take a move action to put out the flame. (Reflex DC 20).
The save DC is Constitution- based.
Earth Glide (Ex): A lava serpent can glide through stone, dirt, lava or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other signs of its presence. A move earth spell cast on an area containing a burrowing lava serpent flings the serpent back 30 feet, stunning the creature for 1 round unless it succeeds on a DC 15 Fortitude save.
Lava Puddle (Su): Once per day as a full-round action, a lava serpent can fire forth a glob of lava that pools into a puddle that fills its space to a depth of 2–3 inches and counts as difficult terrain with a range of 60ft. Any creature that moves through this puddle of lava takes 2d6 points of fire damage. This damage continues for 1d3 rounds after the creature leaves the lava pool, although then it only inflicts 1d6 points of fire damage per round. The lava puddle solidifies and is safe to touch after a number of rounds equal to the serpent’s Hit Dice. At the GM’s discretion, this puddle of lava could start secondary fires.
[Tactics]
Lava serpents use ambush tactics by hiding beneath lava flows or behind rocks. They wait patiently and then strike suddenly with their flame breath and bites. They are highly territorial and will fiercely defend their area, attacking anyone who enters. When their position is known, they favor hit-and-run attacks instead of prolonged engagement.
[Racial Bonuses]
+6 on all grapple checks.
+8 Spot. +8 Listen. +10 Jump.
+16 move silently. +16 Hide.
[Note] There is no damage immunity in my setting. All characters and creatures have a maximum number of Hit Dice and ability scores based on their home planet and size category. The highest possible ability score is 10,000. I have other rules in place to balance gameplay and ensure fun.
I combine mechanics from different games and editions, using what I think works best, and I’ve created some mechanics myself.
For poison resistance, every 10 points of resistance reduces ability score damage or drain by 1 die.
Example:
Raphael, a 3rd-level human fighter, has an amulet of poison resistance level 1, giving him 20 poison resistance.
He’s hit by a rogue’s dagger poisoned with dragon bile, which normally deals 3d6 Strength damage.
Because Raphael has 20 poison resistance, he reduces the damage by 2 dice, so he only takes 1d6 Strength damage instead.
[Note]: SES (Spirit Energy Score) determines a creature’s spirit energy point growth. SEP (Spirit Energy Points) are the points that can be spent on various combat options. Not all creatures have combat abilities that use SEP. Similarly, not all creatures with MP (Mana Points) can utilize them; these points are noted for potential future use or if another creature drains them.
[Note]: I use both the quintessence form of mana and a separate MP (Mana Points) system. My custom mana system was created because I don’t like spells per day or spell points, and it helps allow caster deities to be on par with martial deities, since at high levels, traditional spells tend to become less useful. MP in my system is not the quintessence, but a distinct resource.
[Note]: SP (Stamina Points) are used to replace non-lethal hit points. I didn’t like tracking non-lethal damage separately during certain scenarios, so my group uses stamina points instead. Some abilities and combat options utilize SP, adding more nuance and versatility to classes that might otherwise be too basic.
Ecology of The Lava Serpent.
Lava Serpent: Ecology, Origin, and Behavior
Ecology & Distribution:
The Lava Serpent is a primordial, chaotic elemental construct embodying the raw fury of volcanic fire, earth, and chaos. It is most commonly found in the first two layers of the abyss—
The Lava Falls and
The Molten Pit—where the environment is thick with flowing lava, bubbling magma, and volcanic chaos. These layers provide the perfect conditions for its existence and purpose.
While primarily confined to these regions, Lava Serpents may occasionally appear in highly volcanic zones like
The Ember Lakes or
The Eruption Zone, either summoned by Valac’s will or as a natural extension of the realm’s volcanic chaos. They are rarely seen outside these zones, as their very nature is tied to the elemental fire, earth, and chaos of the abyss.
They do not inhabit colder, crystalline, shadowed, or ordered layers—such environments do not support their fire-based, chaotic essence, and they are not naturally adapted to survive there.
Origin & Creation:
The Lava Serpent is an abyssal living construct forged from raw volcanic energies and abyssal magic by Valac, the Over Demon of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, vengeance, the sun, magma, and rockslides. During primordial upheavals—cataclysmic eruptions and seismic chaos—Valac harnessed the tumult of molten rock, earth-shaking quakes, and infernal magic to craft these serpents as guardians of his volcanic domain.
Unlike natural elementals, Lava Serpents are artificially created—animated and imbued with a fragment of abyssal chaos and destructive fire. They are not born but forged in the crucible of the abyss’s volcanic fury, meant to serve as relentless enforcers of Valac’s will and embodiments of the realm’s destructive power.
Their existence is sustained by the violent energies of their environment, acting as living manifestations of chaos, vengeance, and volcanic fury—cannily attuned to the tumult of the volcanic landscape.
Behavior & Temperament:
The Lava Serpent is a creature of instinct and chaos, driven by primal hunger, fury, and territorial instinct. It operates with relentless aggression, perceiving all intruders as threats or prey. Its mind is simple but fierce—focused on attack and dominance.
- Aggressive and Territorial: It fiercely defends its volcanic domain, attacking anyone who encroaches without hesitation.
- Unpredictable and Chaotic: Its actions are driven by raw instinct and environmental stimuli. It reacts swiftly to threats, sometimes switching from ferocious attack to defensive posturing.
- Vengeful: If harmed or insulted, it seeks immediate retribution, often targeting the attacker with unrelenting fury.
- Resentful of Cold & Water: It reacts violently to anything that dampens or suppresses its fire—water, cold, or ice—seeing such elements as threats to its very existence.
- No Mercy: It shows no compassion or remorse, embodying the relentless chaos of its abyssal origins.
Behavioral Patterns:
- Targets the weak or most threatening foes, attacking without hesitation.
- During combat, it seeks to close the distance with swift, springing attacks, using its agility to stay unpredictable.
- When severely damaged or overwhelmed, it may temporarily retreat, only to return with increased ferocity.
Appearance & Physiology:
The Lava Serpent is a
massive, sinuous creature about 16 feet long, radiating a terrifying presence despite its size. Its body is a fusion of molten rock and obsidian, constantly crackling with internal fire and chaos. Its scales are jagged and blackened, fused with glowing veins of magma, and they drip or bubble with molten lava at all times.
Its eyes are burning coals—deep pools of malevolent fire—gleaming with evil intent. Flames lick along its sinuous form, roaring and flickering, as if the chaos within rages endlessly. Its maw is filled with razor-sharp, burning fangs, capable of biting with searing venom and molten fury. The constant emission of heat, combined with the crackling magma within, causes the surrounding air to shimmer with intense heat and chaos.
Despite their smaller size compared to other serpents found within Valac's abyssal territory, these serpents are swift, agile, and deadly, embodying chaos, magma, and evil in every sinewy movement. They are relentless predators, built for quick strikes and brutal close combat.
Summary:
- Main Habitat: Primarily in Layer 1 (Lava Falls) and Layer 2 (Molten Pit).
- Occasional presence: In volcanic or highly chaotic regions such as Ember Lakes or Eruption Zone—typically summoned or attracted by the environment’s chaos.
- Absent from: Non-volcanic, crystalline, shadowy layers.
- Nature: An abyssal, elemental construct—born from chaos, evil, fire, and earth—crafted by Valac to embody volcanic fury, magma, vengeance, and wrath.
