[C&C] Happy Friday the 13th: New Monster

[serleran]

So, I was watching some horror movies, and decided this little guy could be fun.


Xyrest (Bloodball)

No. Encountered: 1 (2-3, 5%)
Size: Small
HD: 4 (d10)
Move: 90 feet (fly)
AC: 22
Attack: Slam (1d12 + Decapitate)
Special: Decapitate, Spell Immunity, Detect Motion, Controlled
Saves: P
Int: --
Alignment: Neutral
Type: Construct
Treasure: --
XP Value: 200 + 5

A xyrest is a terrible thing, constructed, and warped by powerful magic, to form a sphere with a perfect, razor edge. Each is incapable of touching the ground, and floats at a steady height of about six feet, though they are capable of descending and rising to attack. Xyrest are generally under the mental command of the wizard that crafted them, but rogue varieties have been discovered, with lethal results. Anything that comes into contact with a xyrest is deeply cut, and they easily pass through bone and flesh; in fact, when a xyrest aggressively attacks, they move with such speed that they often decapitate their victim. A xyrest is always silver, and appears to be formed of mercury or true platinum; to the magically-aided eye, a xyrest appears as a void, lacking dimensions and color, with an incredibly powerful aura of necromantic magic.

Combat: When commanded, or, if rogue, when motion is detected, a xyrest flies into combat, striking its victim with deadly force. It then turns around, and attacks again, until all foes have been slain, or have ceased moving; of course, if it is controlled, it can be stopped sooner.

Decapitate: If a xyrest rolls a natural 20 on its attack roll, the victim of the attack must make an unmodified Constitution save or be reduced to zero hit points, dead, as its head is removed from its body. If the creature succeeds on this save, double damage is taken; this applies equally to a creature which would not be affected by the loss of its head.

Spell Immunity: Xyrest cannot be affected by any spell or spell-like effect save animate object which causes the xyrest to immediately cease its activities.

Detect Motion: A creature that is moving, within 90 feet of the xyrest, is automatically detected, foiling all abilities otherwise, such as invisibility or move silently; should a creature not move, it effectively becomes invisible.

Controlled: The creator of a xyrest can automatically control its movements, directing it to attack as desired. However, if a xyrest is encountered without a controller, any wizard, or character with Intelligence as Prime can attempt an unmodified check to gain control; if the check succeeds, that character gains control of the xyrest for one hour, and must check again each hour thereafter. After twelve successful checks, the character is considered the xyrest’s controller, and no longer needs to make control checks. Should a xyrest control be contested (that is, by two or more potential controllers in the same round, provided no controller currently exists), the process is the same, except there is an increase in difficulty based on the difference between the highest level contester, and all others; for example, if two characters want to gain control of a xyrest, one of which is 8th level, and the other 4th, the 4th level character has a +4 modifier to his difficulty. Use of a xyrest, that is, commanding it to attack, prevents the controller from doing anything else in the round the xyrest acts; a controller can release the xyrest from control, but doing so makes it rogue.

[Buttmonkey]

As a sphere is perfectly round by definition, I don't understand how it could be razor sharp. Did you mean to describe it as a disc?

[serleran]

No, I did not. The fact that it is a sphere, and not a disc, is part of the point. Heh.

[Alex]

Watch the Phantasm movies. You'll get the point (pun intended). It was a sphere, but I think blades came out as it attacked.

Man I used to watch that stuff every year as a kid. Scared the hell out of me!

You need to check your wording on the decapitate ability. Sounds like you are saying it can instantly slay creatures whose heads aren't important to them because you say the ability "applies equally" to them. I suggest just saying they take double damage on a 20 and might be decapitated if they can be and they also fail a save.

[serleran]

Thanks, Alex. The wording is off. It should be that a creature whose head is not important to them (such as a skeleton) does not immediately die (as that would make less sense,) but suffers double damage as if a failed save had been rolled.

And, yes, it was inspired by Phantasm - weapons and sharp objects do protrude from it in the movies.

[Maliki]

[Jackal]

Nice; Phantasm is still one of my all time favorite movies.

[Maliki]

Nice; Phantasm is still one of my all time favorite movies.

Wow, it's been a while Jackal, welcome back.

[Jackal]

Thanks. I don't want to thread hi-jack so here's my official notice of return.

http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[serleran]

Meh, I don't care about threadjacks, so much. I prefer comments, of course, but as long as people are happy... I don't care, because I don't have to be one of the happy ones. Heh.

[Rhuvein]

By the bloody balls of Xyrest, this is a great monster.

Heh, way too tough and challenging for my group (for now), but I like it!

[Homer]

Pretty Furry!

But the arms popping from the ground and around the bead still leaves me with a tingle.