CHAPTER 5
THE LEVIATHAN
DESCRIPTION Axihuatl is a vampiric ixitxachitl who has been alive for 290 years. In this time he has grown to considerable size and now resembles a mottled, horrific manta ray with large, intelligent eyes, a thick tail, and well-developed fins capable of dexterously manipulating objects. In his researches and travels, Axihuatl has located and aided in the creation of magic items tailored specifically to his physiology. He wears two bands on his tail that provide protection and magical enhancements equivalent to rings or bracers of the same type (see below), as well as two
Illus. by F. Tsai
priest. When the characters disrupt ioun stones, which he Axihuatl’s plans, he takes a personal found while searching for Axihuatl interest in them and unleashes his one of his most important possesvarious minions against the party. sions—the artifact called the Abyssal Shard. The Shard is a Until Axihuatl is actually revealed as an ixitxachitl, he fragment of black rock that orbits Axihuatl’s head in a fashion operates in the background, primarily through other creasimilar to an ioun stone. This object is critical to his plans to tures in his thrall. After the PCs disrupt his first ceremony, awaken the Leviathan and will also play an important role Axihuatl sees them as a threat and directs Marcus Hape to in putting it back to sleep once the task of destroying the deal with them. surface world is complete. Once his ritual goes wrong and the Leviathan threatens Recently, Axihuatl has been spending considerable time in the world, Axihuatl reluctantly approaches the PCs, asking the surface world, using his wand of polymorph to transform for aid. He instructs the PCs on how to use the Abyssal Shard himself into his human alter ego: Enshaddon, high priest of to send the Leviathan back to sleep and might even be willthe Leviathan. In this form, he leads the Cult of the Leviathan ing to accompany the party. If he does accompany the PCs, and has been using human worshipers to perform rituals to Axihuatl will not actively help them, but he defends himself if summon aberrations and awaken the Leviathan. attacked. For the most part, he hangs back and does as little as CR 19 possible—either because he is planning to destroy the party Axihuatl hp 206 (24 HD); fast healing 5, regeneration 1 hp/hour once he has completed his task, or due to his well-developed Male advanced vampiric ixitxachitl cleric 16 sense of self-preservation. CE Large aberration (aquatic) Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +4, Spot +12 Languages Abyssal, Aquan, Common, Draconic AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed 24; Dodge Miss Chance 50% for 15 rounds/day Immune first 50 spell levels absorbed (up to 8th level) Fort +16, Ref +8, Will +22; +5 against spells cast by lawful casters Speed swim 30 ft. (6 squares) Melee bite +24 (2d8+7 plus energy drain) Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft. Base Atk +18; Grp +24 Atk Options energy drain, ignore object’s hardness 1/day
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ABYSSAL SHARD
A fragment of elemental chaos, the Abyssal Shard is a key element in Axihuatl’s ritual to awaken the Leviathan. As chaos calls to chaos, the presence of this chunk of living disorder draws the great beast from its slumber just far enough for Axihuatl to influence its actions. Once the Leviathan’s task is complete, Axihuatl intends to have Marcus Hape or another minion cast
the shard into the Leviathan’s heart, where it will be absorbed, sending the creature back to its slumbers. The Abyssal Shard can be used like an ioun stone. Placed in the air, it orbits around the user’s head, providing a +5 bonus on saving throws against spells cast by lawful opponents and +5 to the save DC of spells cast against lawful opponents.
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