Kaulvrex

Chitin covers the entirety of this insect-like humanoid. Its multi-faceted eyes reflect their surroundings, while its mandible drip a caustic, green ooze. The creature has two powerful arms, ending in a four-clawed hand. A third, smaller arm, more suited for delicate work, protrudes from its chest. Its lengthy tail ends in two wicked, red-hot prongs.

Kaulvrex CR 6

XP 2,400
N Medium monstrous humanoid
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +14

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +6 natural)
hp 68 (8d10+24)
Fort +5; Ref +9; Will +9; +4 bonus vs. mind-affecting effects
Resist acid 10, fire 10

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee bite +11 (1d6+1 plus 1d6 acid), 2 claws +11 (1d4+1 plus grab), tail slap +9 (1d8 plus 1d6 fire, burn, and chemical brand)
Ranged acid spit +11 touch (1d6 acid)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with tail slap)
Special Attacks burn (1d6, DC 17)

STATISTICS

Str 13, Dex 16, Con 17, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 15
Base Atk +8; CMB +9 (+13 grapple); CMD 22
Feats Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Multiattack, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +12 (+16 when jumping), Climb +13, Intimidate +11, Perception +14, Stealth +10, Survival +8; Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics, +4 Intimidate, +4 Perception
Languages chemical communication
SQ third arm

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Chemical Brand (Ex)

When a kaulvrex damages an opponent with its tail, the target gains an indelible chemical marker. A kaulvrex gains the scent ability with respect to the target, and when it detects the marker, it gains a +2 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls against the target. The marked creature must spend an hour scrubbing off the chemical brand to render it undetectable to kaulvrexes.

Chemical Communication (Ex)

Kaulvrexes can communicate with other kaulvrexes within 60 feet via pheromone transmission.

In a kaulvrex hive, this range extends to cover the entire hive.

This is a silent and instantaneous mode of communication only kaulvrexes can understand.

Third Arm (Ex)

A kaulvrex has an extra arm that does not give it any extra attacks or actions per round. However, it can manipulate or hold items as well as the kaulvrex’s other arms.

ABOUT

Environment any temperate or warm land
Organization solitary, pair or hive (3-12)
Treasure standard

Ancient insectile beings engineered kaulvrexes as a servitor species with proficiency in combat. They are highly adaptive creatures and can live and thrive in all but the most hostile environments, a feature that allowed them to serve as their creators’ proxies in wars (sometimes between the creators) on a variety of planets. Kaulvrexes emancipated themselves from their makers helped in part by a devastating disease that wiped out most of the creators while leaving kaulvrexes untouched. They retained their warlike instincts but generally refuse to fight one another en masse, preferring champions to settle disputes between hives. They also retreated to more inhospitable locations on the worlds where they were stranded and maintain a distance from other habitations.

Kaulvrexes gather in hives led by a kaulvrex who becomes agendered when it assumes leadership. Sages who study kaulvrexes do not know whether this transformation was ‘programmed’ in by their creators to prevent romantic distractions during battle or the kaulvrexes developed this after the won their freedom.

Kaulvrexes of both genders serve equally as soldiers and workers. Their bodies adapt to the role they currently carry out. Soldiers’ carapaces harden, and their musculature increases, while workers are weaker, but their third arms are defter. An individual kaulvrex usually remains in a specific role for its entire life but switching between roles is not uncommon. Kaulvrexes who specialize in their roles take class levels, with soldiers preferring fighter or monk (or, extremely rarely, barbarian), and workers choosing rogue, expert, or other skill-based classes. The most commonly encountered kaulvrexes are soldiers, who protect the hive or hire themselves out as mercenaries. Kaulvrexes who work outside a hive develop strong bonds with their partners and allies and adapt their communication to the languages spoken by other species. Among other species, they often develop odd phrases meaningful to their shared experiences and use these to replicate the chemical communication they otherwise share with other kaulvrexes. Non-kaulvrexes view this as a propensity on the kaulvrexes’ part for developing ‘inside jokes,’ and react with a level of amusement.

Typical kaulvrexes stand over 6 and a half feet in height and weigh nearly 250 pounds. They have relatively short lifespans, appropriate to their engineered nature, with the longest-lived specimens reaching the age of 50.