Black Mass

Black Mass CR 11

XP 12,800
CE Large aberration (aquatic), Skilled
Init +8; Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +16

DEFENSE

AC 25, touch 13, flat-footed 21 (+4 Dex, +12 natural, -1 size)
hp 150 (12d8+96)
Fort +12, Ref +12, Will +11; +2 vs. charm
Defensive Abilities guarded thoughts; DR 5/slashing; Immune detect thoughts; SR 22

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft. (4 squares), swim 20 ft.
Melee 3 tentacles +17 (1d6+9 plus grab)
Ranged 6 strands (range 50 ft., 1 increment) +13 touch (1 Strength)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks blood drain (1d4 Constitution), body thief, pull (strand, 5 ft.)
Spell-like Abilities (CL 12th; concentration +15, +19 when casting defensively or grappled)

• At will—ghost sound (DC 13), sow thought (DC 14)
• 1/day—charm monster (DC 17), confusion (DC 17), memory lapse (DC 17), obscuring mist, triggered suggestion (DC 17), unnatural lust (DC 15)
• 1/week—malicious spite (DC 17)

STATISTICS

Str 28, Dex 18, Con 26, Int 16, Wis 20, Cha 16
Base Atk +9/+4; CMB +19 (+23 grapple); CMD 33 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Combat Casting, Deceitful, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (strand)
Skills Bluff +22, Diplomacy +18, Disguise +22, Escape Artist +11, Intimidate +18, Knowledge (arcana) +10, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +10, Linguistics +10, Perception +16, Sense Motive +20, Spellcraft +10, Stealth +7, Swim +24, Use Magic Device +18
Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Undercommon; telepathy 100 ft.
SQ amphibious, chaos mutation, compression, sound mimicry (voices)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Amphibious (Ex)

A black mass can survive indefinitely on land.

Blood Drain (Su)

If a black mass is grappling foe at the end of its turn, it deals 1d4 Constitution damage (no save) to that target and regains 5 hit points per point of Constitution damage, up to its normal maximum.

Body Thief (Su)

As a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity, a black mass can burrow into the brain of a dead or helpless creature ranging from Small to Colossal size. This functions as a coup de grace, using one tentacle.

If the target is slain (or already dead), the black mass gains control of it. This functions as dominate monster, except as noted here.

• The black mass has full access to the host’s defensive and offensive abilities except spellcasting and spell-like abilities (but may still use its own spell-like abilities).
• The host body cannot have been dead longer than 1 day, and it decays to uselessness in 7 days (unless extended via gentle repose).
• While it remains in the host body, the black mass can speak and understand all of host’s languages, and it possess all the host’s memories and knowledge.
• Damage to host body does not harm the black mass. If host body is slain (using its normal, living hp), the black mass is expelled from it and dazed for 1 round.
• Raise dead cannot restore the host, but resurrection or more powerful magic can.

Chaos Mutation (Ex or Su)

Each black mass possesses three randomly chosen abilities from the following list:

1. Burrow 20 ft.
2. Climb 20 ft. and +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks
3. Sting +17 (1d6+9 plus poison)
4. Damage Reduction 10/slashing
5. Strand damage increases to 1d4 Str
6. Fast healing 2
7. Resist 10 (acid, cold, electricity, or fire)
8. Resist sonic 15
9. Constrict (1d6+13)
10. Uncanny Dodge

Black Mass Venom: injury—sting; Save Fort DC 24; Frequency 1/round for 2 rounds; Effect 1d3 Dex; Cure 1 save; the save DC is Constitution-based.

Guarded Thoughts (Ex)

A black mass is immune to any form of mind reading, such as detect thoughts, and gains a +2 racial bonus on all saves against charm effects.

Strands (Ex)

A black mass can extend up to six thin, sticky strands from its body, launching them as ranged touch attacks to a maximum range of 50 ft. The strands are strong, but can be severed by any amount of slashing damage (AC 20). A creature struck by a strand takes 1 point of Strength damage (no save).

ECOLOGY

Environment any aquatic or land
Organization solitary, pair, cluster (3-5), or whorl (6-10)
Treasure double

A black mass is an alien intelligence and embodiment of chaos. Its very form is malleable and in flux, most often appearing as a mass of dark tentacles covered in various sensory organs and hollow bone hooks. However, it can compress itself into a much smaller form and even wriggle its way into the hollowed-out brain cavity of its victims to take control of the body. Few black masses are identical, with each exhibiting various mutations and capabilities setting it apart from its companions.

For unknown reasons, black masses seek to sow discord, chaos, and agony among intelligent races. They take over corpses and walk among society using their spell-like abilities and information gleaned from the bodies they inhabit to spread lies, tempt people into horrible deeds, and otherwise tear at the very fabric of society. A black mass almost always has a hidden lair guarded by powerful charmed allies that possess strengths making up for the weaknesses of the black mass.

A black mass raising up to full height stands 8 to 9 feet and weighs 2,000 pounds.