Weird, Lava

This serpentine horror coils beneath a haze of shimmering heat waves. As the outer layer of its form cools into hard, black plates, the cracks between these give off the cherry glow of molten rock.

Lava Weird CR 8

XP 4,800
CE Large outsider (earth, elemental, extraplanar, fire)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +18

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +7 natural, -1 size)
hp 95 (10d10+40)
Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +8
DR 10/bludgeoning; Immune elemental traits
Weaknesses vulnerability to cold

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +15 (1d8+7 plus grab)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks control elemental, drown, fire, lava pool

TACTICS

A lava weird prefers to hide in its lava pool until victims come within range. Once a target is close to its lava pool, the weird quickly lashes out and snatches the victim, biting it and coiling around it. It then attempts to pull the victim into its lava pool. Lava weirds are highly aggressive and prone to attack just about any creature that wanders too close to their pool.

STATISTICS

Str 21, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 16
Base Atk +10; CMB +16 (+20 grapple); CMD 29 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Alertness, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Toughness, Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Bluff +16, Intimidate +16, Knowledge (planes) +13, Perception +18, Sense Motive +18, Stealth +12
Languages Ignan, Terran, Weirdling
SQ reform, transparency

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Control Elemental (Ex)

Lava weirds can attempt to command any outsider with the “Earth,” “Elemental,” or “Fire” subtype that is within 50 feet. The Will save to avoid control has a DC of 21. The save DC is Charisma-based and includes a +4 racial bonus.

This effect is similar to the dominate monster spell. The elemental receives a Will save to avoid being commanded. If the save succeeds, that elemental is immune to the control elemental ability of that lava weird for one day. If the save fails, the elemental falls under the control of the lava weird and obeys it to the best of its ability until either it or the weird dies. There is no limit to the number of HD of elementals a lava weird can control using this ability. The range is unlimited though both the lava weird and the elemental must be on the same plane of existence; otherwise, the weird loses control of the elemental. Lava weirds cannot control other lava weirds using this ability.

Fire (Ex)

Lava weirds are living creatures of elemental magma; any successful melee hit deals fire damage and the victim must make a successful Reflex save (DC 16) or catch on fire. The save DC is Constitution-based. Creatures attacking a lava weird unarmed or with natural weapons take fire damage and must make a successful Reflex save to avoid catching on fire just as if the lava weird had hit with its attack.

Drown (Ex)

If a lava weird pins a grabbed foe, it fully immerses its victim in its lava pool. A victim completely immersed takes fire damage (see Lava Pool below) and must hold its breath or drown. The victim can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to twice its Constitution score. After that, the victim must make a successful Constitution check (DC 10, +1 per previous check) each round to continue holding its breath. If the victim fails a check, it drowns. In the first round, the victim falls unconscious (0 hp). In the next round, the creature is dying (-1 hp), and in the third round the victim drowns.

Lava Pool: A lava weird’s pool is a bubbling, churning, morass of molten rock mixed with elemental fire. Flammable materials that contact the lava pool automatically catch fire on the round contact is made. Creatures touching the pool take 2d8 points of fire damage per round of contact. Damage from the lava pool continues for 1d3 rounds after contact ceases, but this extra damage is only half of that dealt during contact (1d8 points of damage). Creatures immune to fire are unaffected by the lava weird’s pool and take no damage, though they can still drown if completely immersed.

Reform (Ex)

When reduced to 0 hit points or less, a lava weird collapses back into its pool. Four rounds later, it reforms at full strength minus any damage taken from coldbased effects or attacks.

Transparency (Ex)

A lava weird is effectively invisible in its lava pool until it attacks.

Other Forms

ECOLOGY

Environment Plane of Molten Skies, Elemental Planes of Fire
Organization solitary, pack (2-4)
Treasure standard

Lava weirds are serpent-like creatures formed of elemental magma. They are rarely encountered outside the Elemental Planes of Fire or the Plane of Molten Skies where they spend their time swimming in pools of liquid fire. Sometimes though, a lava weird slips through a portal into the Material Plane and takes up residency there, always in a pool of lava or magma – whether man-made or naturally occurring. Lava weirds on the Material Plane are bound by their chosen pool and cannot leave it while on the Material Plane. High-level spellcasters sometimes employ lava weirds as guardians.

A lava weird appears as a 10-foot long serpent formed of elemental fire. Closer examination reveals liquid rock in scale-like patterns across its body, growing darker across its back. Two small flickers of white fire located on its head serve as eyes.

Weirds are creatures from the various inner and outer planes (including the demi-, para-, and quasi-elemental planes as well as the elemental planes).

They are sometimes encountered on the Material Plane, often in the employ of a powerful spellcaster. Bribery is the usual means of gaining the services of a weird, though some spellcasters resort to even more deceitful practices or trickery to gain the services of these creatures. Spellcaster beware! Weirds are intelligent creatures and do not take kindly to deception (unless they are the ones engaging in such trickery).

All weirds, regardless of their makeup, are serpent-like creatures about 10 feet long, and being of an evil and malign nature. Weirds speak the common language of weirds and the language native to their home plane. Some speak more languages, and still some can speak Common.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Lava Weird from the Tome of Horrors Complete, Copyright 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., published and distributed by Frog God Games; Author Scott Greene.

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