Elemental, Taint

size should be able to open. As it pulls back from biting a target, the tiny mouths that cover its long tongue seem to draw little bits of black smoke from the target. A corruption eater prefers to fi ght using its Power Attack feat, typically taking a –5 penalty on its attack rolls and gaining a 5 bonus on damage rolls. When not using its Power Attack feat, its bite attack increases to 16 and its tentacle rakes to 11, while its bite damage decreases to 1d85 and its tentacle rake damage to 1d62.

Devour Corruption (Ex): When a corruption eater hits a character with its bite attack, it draws corruption from the target’s body and feeds upon it. The target’s corruption score is reduced by 1 (to a minimum of 0). Such a small taste of corruption nevertheless provides great nourishment to the creature. Each point of corruption it devours in this way gives it a 1 bonus on attack rolls, saving throws, and damage rolls with later attacks, and also gives the creature 5 temporary hit points. These benefi ts last for 1 hour. If a corruption eater bites a character with no corruption, it deals normal damage to the target but at the same time takes 5 points of damage itself.

Tainted Exhalation (Su): Anytime a corruption eater has enough temporary hit points to bring its hit point total above its normal maximum, it can exhale a choking cloud of taint in a 15-foot cone. Creatures within this cone take 1d6 points of damage per point of corruption it has devoured in the last hour and have their depravity scores increased by 1. A successful DC 19 Will save reduces the damage by half and negates the depravity increase. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Rend (Ex): If a corruption eater hits with both tentacle rake attacks, it latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the fl esh. This attack automatically deals an extra 2d47 points of damage.

Corruption Scent (Ex): A corruption eater can detect corruption in other creatures. With regard to creatures that have at least mild corruption, it effectively has the scent ability (see page 314 of the Monster Manual). It has no ability to detect creatures who are free from corruption. When it is within 30 feet of creatures with corruption, it automatically knows which creature has the highest corruption score.

Purity Vulnerability: Creatures who are entirely free from both corruption and depravity automatically overcome a corruption eater’s damage reduction.

A mass of seething gray rot and corruption, roughly humanoid in shape, surges from the earth. It looms overhead, giving off a reek of decay.

A taint elemental is a being of pure corruption. It consists of nothing but taint congealed into a semisolid mass of primal evil. An entity of malicious rage, it delights in slaying or corrupting any living beings that cross its path. Occasionally a taint

Taint Elemental, Small Taint Elemental, Medium Taint Elemental, Large Small Elemental (Evil) Medium Elemental (Evil) Large Elemental (Evil) Hit Dice: 2d84 (13 hp) 4d816 (34 hp) 8d840 (76 hp) Initiative: 0 1 2 Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares) 30 ft. (6 squares) 30 ft. (6 squares) Armor Class: 17 (1 size, 6 natural), 19 (1 Dex, 8 natural), 20 (–1 size, 2 Dex, 9 natural), touch 11, fl at-footed 17 touch 11, fl at-footed 18 touch 11, fl at-footed 18 Base Attack/Grapple: 1/–1 3/6 6/15 Attack: Slam 4 melee Slam 6 melee Slam 10 melee (1d63 plus taint) (1d84 plus taint) (2d87 plus taint) Full Attack: Slam 4 melee Slam 6 melee 2 slams 10 melee (1d63 plus taint) (1d84 plus taint) (2d87 plus taint) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. 5 ft./5 ft. 10 ft./10 ft. Special Attacks: Touch of taint Touch of taint Touch of taint Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., Darkvision 60 ft., Damage reduction 5/—, dimension door, dimension door, darkvision 60 ft., dimension door, elemental traits, elemental traits, elemental traits, excessive taint excessive taint excessive taint Saves: Fort 5, Ref 0, Will 2 Fort 8, Ref 2, Will 3 Fort 11, Ref 4, Will 4 Abilities: Str 14, Dex 10, Con 15, Str 16, Dex 12, Con 19, Str 20, Dex 14, Con 21, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 15 Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 15 Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 15

Skills:

Listen 7, Spot 7 Listen 9, Spot 9 Hide 5, Listen 13, Move Silently 6, Spot 13 Feats: Power Attack, Cleave, Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Surge of MalevolenceB Surge of MalevolenceB Surge of MalevolenceB Environment: Any tainted region Any tainted region Any tainted region Organization: Solitary Solitary Solitary Challenge Rating: 3 5 7 Treasure: None None None Alignment: Usually chaotic, always evil Usually chaotic, always evil Usually chaotic, always evil Advancement: 3 HD (Small) 5–7 HD (Medium) 9–15 HD (Large) Level Adjustment: — — — New feat described on page 124.

Illus. by E. Polak

Taint Elemental, Huge Taint Elemental, Greater Taint Elemental, Elder Huge Elemental (Evil) Huge Elemental (Evil) Huge Elemental (Evil) Hit Dice: 16d896 (168 hp) 21d8126 (220 hp) 24d8144 (252 hp) Initiative: 4 5 6 Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares) 40 ft. (8 squares) 40 ft. (8 squares) Armor Class: 21 (–2 size, 4 Dex, 9 nat- 22 (–2 size, 5 Dex, 9 natural), 23 (–2 size, 6 Dex, 9 natural), ural), touch 12, fl at-footed 17 touch 13, fl at-footed 17 touch 14, fl at-footed 17 Base Attack/Grapple: 12/27 15/31 18/35 Attack: Slam 17 melee Slam 23 melee Slam 27 melee (2d1010 plus taint) (2d1012 plus taint) (2d1013 plus taint) Full Attack: 2 slams 17 melee 2 slams 21$ melee 2 slams 27 melee (2d1010 plus taint) (2d1012 plus taint) (2d1013 plus taint) Space/Reach: 15 ft./15 ft. 15 ft./15 ft. 15 ft./15 ft. Special Attacks: Touch of taint Touch of taint Touch of taint Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/—, Damage reduction 10/—, Damage reduction 10/—, darkvision 60 ft., dimension darkvision 60 ft., dimension darkvision 60 ft., dimension door, door, elemental traits, door, elemental traits, elemental traits, excessive taint excessive taint excessive taint Saves: Fort 16, Ref 9, Will 9 Fort 18, Ref 14, Will 11 Fort 20, Ref 16, Will 12 Abilities: Str 24, Dex 18, Con 23, Str 26, Dex 20, Con 23, Str 28, Dex 22, Con 23, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 15 Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 15 Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 15

Skills:

Hide 10, Listen 23, Move Hide 13, Listen 26, Move Hide 25, Listen 29, Move Silently 9, Spot 23 Silently 13, Spot 26, Silently 33, Spot 29, Survival 26 Survival 29 Feats: Alertness, Cleave, Great Alertness, Cleave, Debilitating Alertness, Cleave, Debilitating Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Strike, Great Cleave, Improved Strike, Great Cleave, Improved Iron Will, Power Attack, Bull Rush, Iron Will, Lightning Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Surge of MalevolenceB Refl exes, Power Attack, Iron Will, Lightning Refl exes, Surge of MalevolenceB Power Attack, Surge of MalevolenceB Environment: Any tainted region Any tainted region Any tainted region Organization: Solitary Solitary Solitary Challenge Rating: 9 11 13 Treasure: None None None Alignment: Usually chaotic, always evil Usually chaotic, always evil Usually chaotic, always evil Advancement: 17–20 HD (Huge) 22–23 HD (Huge) 25–48 HD (Huge) Level Adjustment: — — — New feat described on page 124.

Taint elemental elemental can be found serving more powerful evil entities; it gains nothing from this save the joy of spreading suffering and corruption. While the creature is not a true elemental, since it does not consist of one of the four elements, it has all the traits and characteristics of an elemental. Taint elementals usually manifest within tainted areas, but they occasionally appear from the corpses of recently slain tainted creatures. (This sight can cause observers to conclude, incorrectly, that they are some form of undead.) Taint elementals sometimes take on a vaguely humanoid shape, but their forms are constantly in fl ux, fl owing like a viscous liquid. They radiate the stench of rot, and a cold chill is felt in the soul of all those around them. They speak a variant of Abyssal.