The Ustilagor

[BOZ]

I actually went and scanned the stats from the 2E PsiHB… and forgot to e-mail them to myself at work. oh well, I’ll post them either tonight or tomorrow morning…

Taking the ability scores of an intellect devourer (Str 13, Dex 21, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 14), and downsizing it from Small to Diminutive would yield:

Str 7, Dex 25, Con 15

Looking at several other creatures with both larval and adult forms, it appears that Wis and Cha of both stages often are the same. Thus, its mental ability scores could be: Int -, Wis 12, Cha 14

I would say that the mental stats might be lower since it is mindless, but then I don’t want to cripple the Cha score. Your proposed Dex is definitely in keeping with the flavor text. Con seems a bit on the high side, but is actually just fine. I kind of figured there might be a Str penalty, so I guess 7 will have to do.

Their attack consists of flicking out ribbon-like tendrils about 3 feet long. A hit inflicts damage due to alkaline fluids and causes the victim to save vs. poison or suffer additional like damage (2-5 hp) on the following round as the caustic substance affects its body.

The ustilagor attacks by striking with its flexible tendril. The tendril secretes an alkaline substance which causes 1d4+1 damage on a successful hit, as well as another 1d4+1 damage the following round, unless the victim makes a successful saving throw vs. poison.

since they have a reach of 0 due to size, I figured a 3-foot long tendril should give them a reach of 5 ft. now, I’m no chemistry major, but would the alkaline fluids be more of an acid than a poison?

 

[Shade]

I actually went and scanned the stats from the 2E PsiHB… and forgot to e-mail them to myself at work. oh well, I’ll post them either tonight or tomorrow morning…

Been there, done that.

I would say that the mental stats might be lower since it is mindless, but then I don’t want to cripple the Cha score. Your proposed Dex is definitely in keeping with the flavor text. Con seems a bit on the high side, but is actually just fine. I kind of figured there might be a Str penalty, so I guess 7 will have to do.

Heck, even ants, giant bees, and mantises have Wis and Cha scores over 10. The praying mantis has Wis 14! The also mindless chelicera from MM3 has Wis 13, Cha 12. So fear not.

since they have a reach of 0 due to size, I figured a 3-foot long tendril should give them a reach of 5 ft. now, I’m no chemistry major, but would the alkaline fluids be more of an acid than a poison?

Agreed on the reach. I'd list it as 0 ft. (5 ft. with tendril).

Definitely acid for the latter.

 

[BOZ]

Definitely acid for the latter.

I kind of figured as much. So it does 1d4 acid the round after a hit, maybe works something like other “sticky acids” I’ve seen before? It doesn’t appear to damage in the round that the tendril hits. If there is no way to come up with an easy mechanic for this, we can simply just do 1d4 acid per hit on the same round instead. It also says the victim gets a save to resist the acid.

 

[Shade]

I'm not sure of a monster precedent, but it should be easy enough to adapt from Melf's acid arrow.

Acidic Tenril (Ex): The tendril attack of a ustilagor deals 1d4 points of acid damage with a successful melee touch attack. The acid, unless somehow neutralized, lasts for another round, dealing another 1d4+1 points of damage in that round.

 

[BOZ]

yeah… actually, that is perfect. melee touch? And should we keep the saving throw to avoid second-round damage?

 

[Shade]

Well, the morgh's tongue attack is melee touch, while the ice toad's (from Frostburn) tongue attacks are ranged touch. Which is the better choice in this instance?

I suppose we could keep the save for recurring damage. I adapted the text from Melf's acid arrow, which doesn't allow a save, but we could easily add one.

 

[BOZ]

Well, the morgh's tongue attack is melee touch, while the ice toad's (from Frostburn) tongue attacks are ranged touch. Which is the better choice in this instance?

I suppose we could keep the save for recurring damage. I adapted the text from Melf's acid arrow, which doesn't allow a save, but we could easily add one.

oh, I just wasn’t sure whether it should be a touch attack or not. Definitely not ranged touch though.

Giving it a shot:

Acidic Tendril (Ex): The tendril attack of an ustilagor deals 1d4 points of acid damage with a successful melee touch attack. The target must succeed on a DC X Reflex save to avoid having the acid stick to it; unless somehow neutralized, the acid deals another 1d4+1 points of damage in the following round. The save DC is Constitution(?)-based.

 

[Shade]

Yeah, that should cover it. I think Con-based makes the most sense.

 

[BOZ]

agreed.

 

[BOZ]

Here are the 2E PsiHB stats. not a lot different, but a lot of details we may have not considered before.

Intellect Devourer, Larva (Ustilagor)

CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Dark, moist areas
FREQUENCY: Rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: During Darkness
DIET: Emotions
INTELLIGENCE: Not ratable
TREASURE: Q (x1d20)
ALIGNMENT: Neutral (evil)
NO, APPEARING: 1-3
ARMOR C LASS: 5
MOVEMENT: 9
HIT DICE: 3+3
THAC0: 17
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d4 +1 (save vs. poison or double)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Psionics
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Psionics
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil (See below)
SIZE: T (Brain sized)
MORALE: Unsteady (5-7)
XP VALUE: 650

Ustilagor are the larval form of intellect devourers. Like their parents, they look like brains with four legs. However, they are much smaller, and their bodies are soft and moist. They lack the hard covering which they will eventually gain as adults. Ustilagor also have a 3-foot tendril which is very flexible and agile. Unlike their parents, they have coral-like legs with no feet, so they travel slowly (MV 9). Even so, they can jump and dart with amazing agility. (That's why their armor class is 5.)

Combat: Ustilagor can attack by striking an opponent with their tendril while performing their own version of chemical simulation. They never fail when using this power and expend only 1 PSP per attack. Moreover, the acid is so caustic that the victim must save vs. poison or suffer additional damage the next round (1d4+1).

Of course, this is not a highly effective form of attack, and the ustilagor prefers to use either id insinuation or its advanced telempathic projection power. Using the latter, it can force its victims into one of five states of mind during a round: hate for associates, distrust of associates, fear of fungi, loathing of area, or uncertainty These projected emotions cause attack, bickering, desertion, or dithering, accordingly. Note that adult intellect devourers lose this enhanced power, and are only able to perform telempathic projection.

Though they are psionically endowed, ustilagor seem to have no intelligence as defined by humans. Thus, attacks that affect minds (psionically or magical) do not function upon them, with the exception of psionic blast. Due to an unusual fungal growth (see "Habitat/Society"), they are immune to fungal attacks, and any attack that affects an aura.

Finally, ustilagor use their energy containment power to protect themselves from spells and other applicable forms of attack. A ustilagor does not have the advanced form of energy containment associated with their adult form.

All ustilagor are attracted to gems. No one knows why for sure, but it is suspected that ustilagor use the gems for energy containment. These creatures will attack a being who's carrying gems before they attack any others.

Psionics Summary:

Level Dis/Sci/Dev Attack/Defense Score PSPs

3 2 /1/4 II/M- 10 150

Only have:

· Psychometabolism - Sciences: energy containment. Devotion: chemical simulation (see above).
· Telepathy - Devotions. contact, id insinuation, telempathic projection (see above).

Habitat/Society: Ustilagor are so moist that fungi usually grow upon them. It's a symbiotic relationship. The fungi prevent the ustilagor from drying out, and they also mask the creature's psionic aura. Thus, no power that affects an aura will work against a ustilagor covered with fungi. Cerebral parasites cannot penetrate this layer of protection, either.

No one knows when or how, the ustilagor become intellect devourers, but it no doubt has something to do with minds and psionics. Sages theorize that fungi also plays a role.

Ecology: Mind flayers (illithids) view ustilagors as culinary delights. If they survive the encounter, adventurers view them as treasure troves. As noted above, ustilagors like to collect gems.