So I decided to get my Lovecraft on and did this. Yeah, I know it's the same picture as I posted for a previous thread but I got an idea and couldn't help myself. Comment and critique! I'd like to get this thing made into a finely-tuned harbringer of revulsion and terror.
(Don't mind some of the fluff; it's setting-specific)
For easy reference, here are the stats reposted:
XP 4,800
CE Large outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar, ytholzhu)
Init +2; Senses blindsight 120 ft.; Perception +3
Aura spawning horror (120 ft., DC 18)
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 18 (+4 deflection, +2 Dex, +5 natural, -1 size)
hp 103 (9d10+54)
Fort +12, Ref +5, Will +9
DR 10/lawful or natural; Immune acid, disease, mind-affecting effects, nauseation, poison, sickening; Resist cold 10, electricity 10; SR 19
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 claws +16 (2d6+7 plus sloughing wound)
Special Attacks acid spit
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9th)
3/day - deeper darkness, summon swarm (spiders only)
1/day - stinking cloud (DC 17), swarm spawning (DC 16)
STATISTICS
Str 24, Dex 15, Con 22, Int -, Wis 17, Cha 18
Base Atk +9; CMB +16; CMD 32
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Acid Spit (Su) The Lesser Ytholzthu can cast acid arrow at will as a supernatural ability, at a caster level equal to its hit dice.
Seething Ward (Su) The Lesser Ytholzthu has a deflection bonus to AC equal to its charisma bonus. Creatures immune to nauseation ignore this ability when making attacks against the Lesser Ytholzthu.
Sloughing Wound (Su) If a swarm is occupying the space of the creature damaged, the number of hit points lost due to this attack are added to the swarm as temporary hit points that last one hour. Temporary hit points gained from this ability stack.
Spawning Horror (Ex) The Lesser Ytholzthu is treated as having a frightful aura, but instead of causing a save on an attack or charge, it occurs whenever it summons a swarm.
Swarm Lord (Su) All vermin swarms within line of sight of the Lesser Ytholzthu fall under its control automatically. The Lesser Ytholzthu never suffers damage or effects from swarms.
Swarm Spawning (Sp) Once per day, as a standard action the Lesser Ytholzthu may cast vomit swarm at a caster level equal to its hit dice, but instead the swarm is vomited by target living creature within medium range (180 ft.). That creature must make a fortitude save or be nauseated for 1d4 rounds.
For the Greater Ytholzhu, I'm thinking of giving it the ability to forcibly cast swarm skin on player characters, which should be both horrifying as well as being a 'control' method that doesn't leave the players with nothing to do for the rest of the fight.
Rewrite Sloughing Wound ability - at its current incarnation it is too vague. It does not specify what swarm benefits from its effects: any swarm ever? any swarm within line of sight, line of effect? adjacent to Ytholzthu? that one spawned by Swarm Spawning?
I would also make acit spit supernatural ranged touch attack instead of mimicking acid arrow spell. And if you keep it as acid arrow then change "cast" to use. Spells and spell-like abilities are cast, supernatural abilities are used or activated.
EDIT: And I still think that with its "face" it should get bite attack :P
Rewrite Sloughing Wound ability - at its current incarnation it is too vague. It does not specify what swarm benefits from its effects: any swarm ever? any swarm within line of sight, line of effect? adjacent to Ytholzthu? that one spawned by Swarm Spawning?
Maybe it's not as clear as I thought. It's supposed to add hit points to the swarm occupying the space of the creature hit by the claws. The imagery is that the thing strikes them and the flesh torn away by the claws melts into crawling things and adds to the swarm at their feet.
I would also make acit spit supernatural ranged touch attack instead of mimicking acid arrow spell. And if you keep it as acid arrow then change "cast" to use. Spells and spell-like abilities are cast, supernatural abilities are used or activated.
That's a good idea. I was a bit lazy about the wording there.
EDIT: And I still think that with its "face" it should get bite attack :P
Its damage output is currently between low and high for CR 8, which is probably okay for a creature that has multiple ways of reducing player actions and gaining alternate sources of damage (swarms, ongoing damage).
Maybe it's not as clear as I thought. It's supposed to add hit points to the swarm occupying the space of the creature hit by the claws. The imagery is that the thing strikes them and the flesh torn away by the claws melts into crawling things and adds to the swarm at their feet.
I understood it after a while. I think it would be more clear with descrption like:
Sloughing Wound (Su): After successful claw attack against living creature Ytholtzhu grants temporary hit points for (equal to damage inflicted) to any swarm occupying the same square as the target of attack. Temporary hit points granted by this ability stack and last for one hour.
Its damage output is currently between low and high for CR 8, which is probably okay for a creature that has multiple ways of reducing player actions and gaining alternate sources of damage (swarms, ongoing damage).
But, but that jaws... How can they not be used for biting?! ;)
Holy Shnikes! This is really cool. Could you add this to the Pathfinder Database? Seriously this is awesome stuff.
I had a go at the database but the submission thing is a bit frustrating. I may try again later.
I had a go at the database but the submission thing is a bit frustrating. I may try again later.
If you ever want to submit it directly to me, you can send it to:
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The ability to force another creature to vomit up a swarm is awesomely creepy.
An even creepier variation might have the swarm be derived from the creature who puked it up, so that when it forms, it takes it's hit points from theirs (and, obviously, requires a subject with adequate hit points to form). A gross side-effect is that the victim can reclaim some of his lost hit points by consuming the remainder of the swarm...
Having that sort of 'victim generates swarm' idea as a follow-up to another attack for a creature (something that stings you, and X number of rounds later, the eggs implanted hatch and swarm up out of your body, for instance) would also be neat.
The ability to force another creature to vomit up a swarm is awesomely creepy.
An even creepier variation might have the swarm be derived from the creature who puked it up, so that when it forms, it takes it's hit points from theirs (and, obviously, requires a subject with adequate hit points to form). A gross side-effect is that the victim can reclaim some of his lost hit points by consuming the remainder of the swarm...
Having that sort of 'victim generates swarm' idea as a follow-up to another attack for a creature (something that stings you, and X number of rounds later, the eggs implanted hatch and swarm up out of your body, for instance) would also be neat.
When I write the Greater Ytholzhu (probably around CR 14), it will have expanded and different abilities. One of these will be the ability to cast swarm skink on characters. They will retain control of themselves in the swarm state but may suffer penalties from the sheer horror of having their flesh melt off and their consciousness flow into skittering spiders.
When I read crawling darkness, and saw all the swarm stuff, I thought it would have an ability that creates darkness within the areas of the swarms that it controls. Or at least a Will Save to avoid being blinded for as long as the target is within the swarm, plus for 1d4 rounds thereafter; a successful save still results in being dazzled for 1 round, or clouded vision for 1 round (20% miss chance).
The ability to force another creature to vomit up a swarm is awesomely creepy.
An even creepier variation might have the swarm be derived from the creature who puked it up, so that when it forms, it takes it's hit points from theirs (and, obviously, requires a subject with adequate hit points to form). A gross side-effect is that the victim can reclaim some of his lost hit points by consuming the remainder of the swarm...
+infinity!!!!