Zeugalak

more than convenient tools for the mind fl ayers to use as they see fi t. They live lonely, brooding lives on the fringes of mind fl ayer society, serving as guardians and sentinels, with little reward for their loyalty other than the promise of joining the elder brain on death.

COMBAT

Like a roper, a urophion hunts by standing completely still until prey wanders near. It can then use detect thoughts to pick out the best targets for immediate attack, which it launches with surprise.

Drag (Ex): If a urophion hits with a strand attack, the strand latches onto the opponent’s body. This deals no damage but drags the stuck opponent 10 feet closer each subsequent round (provoking no attack of opportunity) unless that creature breaks free, which requires a DC 24 Escape Artist check or a DC 20 Strength check. The check DCs are Strength-based, and the Escape Artist DC includes a +4 racial bonus. A urophion can draw a creature to within 10 feet of itself and bite with a +4 attack bonus in the same round. A strand has 10 hit points and can be attacked by making a successful sunder attempt. Attacking a urophion’s strand does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If the strand is currently attached to a target, the urophion takes a –4 penalty on its attack roll to resist the sunder attempt. Severing a strand deals no damage to the urophion itself.

Extraction (Ex): If a urophion begins its turn with at least one strand attached to a victim of Huge size or smaller that is adjacent to it, it can attempt to perform an extraction of the victim’s brain as a full-round action. It must succeed on a bite attack, dealing normal damage. It then makes an immediate grapple attempt as a free action without provoking attacks of opportunity. If the urophion succeeds on this check, it tears the victim’s skull open and devours its brain, killing it immediately. Constructs, elementals, oozes, plants, and undead are immune to extraction. Extraction is not instantly fatal to foes with multiple heads.

Mind Blast (Sp): A urophion can discharge a devastating psionic attack in the form of a cone 60 feet long. Anyone caught in this cone must succeed on a DC 18 Will save or be stunned for 3d4 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based. This ability is the equivalent of a 4th-level spell. Psionics (Sp): At will—detect thoughts (DC 14), suggestion (DC 15). Caster level 12th. The save DCs are Charismabased.

Strands (Ex): Most encounters with a urophion begin when it fi res strong, sticky strands. The creature can have up to six strands at once, and they can strike up to 50 feet away (no range increment). If one of its strand is severed, a urophion can extrude a new one on its next turn as a free action.

Weakness (Ex): A urophion’s strands can sap an opponent’s strength. Anyone grabbed by a strand must succeed on a DC 19 Fortitude save or take 2d8 points of Strength damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Skills: Urophions have a +8 racial bonus on Hide checks in stony or icy areas.

ZEUGAL AK

Huge Aberration Hit Dice: 16d8+128 (200 hp) Initiative: +3 Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), climb 30 ft. Armor Class: 25 (–2 size, +3 Dex, +14 natural), touch 11, fl at-footed 22 Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+29 Attack: Tentacle +19 melee (1d8+9 plus 1d6 electricity/19–20/×3) Full Attack: 3 tentacles +19 melee (1d8+9 plus 1d6 electricity/19–

Zeugalak

Illus. by R. Sardinha

20/×3) and 2 claws +17 melee (1d8+4 plus 1d6 electricity) and sting +17 melee (1d8+4 plus 1d6 electricity plus poison) Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft. (30 ft. with sting) Special Attacks: Augmented critical, breath weapon, electrical aura, improved grab, pinning, poison Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., electrical affi nity, electrical teleportation, feather fall, immunity to poison, low-light vision, spell resistance 21 Saves: Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +16 Abilities: Str 28, Dex 16, Con 26, Int 4, Wis 18, Cha 10 Skills: Climb +17, Listen +13, Spot +14 Feats: Combat Refl exes, Improved Critical (tentacle), Iron

Will, Lightning Refl exes, Multiattack, Run Environment: Warm mountains Organization: Solitary or pair Challenge Rating: 12 Treasure: Standard Alignment: Usually chaotic neutral Advancement: 17–20 HD (Huge); 21–40 HD (Gargantuan); 41–48 HD (Colossal) Level Adjustment: —

This creature darts and weaves with shocking agility for something so massive. It has four saurian legs that each end in a single massive talon. An incredibly long, whiplike stinger thrashes atop the beast, and what must be its head consists of three tentacles that peel back to expose inner surfaces covered with hundreds of sharklike teeth and a gaping circular maw. Arcs of electricity dance over the monster’s pale blue and white skin, and three huge yellow eyes glare from above its mouth.

The dreaded zeugalak is a dangerous predator found on the lower slopes of rugged mountains in tropical regions, although it has been encountered in large underground regions as well. A zeugalak isn’t particularly intelligent, but it is nonetheless a patient and observant monster that defends its chosen territory quite fi ercely. A zeugalak is a nocturnal creature, although sunlight doesn’t impede its sensitive eyesight. Zeugalaks are especially active during thunderstorms, and cavort atop mountain peaks during such weather. Their terrible bellows of delight when they are struck by bolts of lightning can carry for miles. When struck, they use their electrical teleportation ability to teleport high into the clouds above so they can enjoy the long feather fall back to the ground below through the surrounding storm. A zeugalak is about 26 feet long and weighs about 22,000 pounds.

COMBAT

A zeugalak is fond of initiating combat with a charge attack, although it also uses feather fall to drop down on targets from high ledges. Once in melee, the creature splits its attacks among all targets in reach, using its Combat Refl exes and the incredible reach of its stinger to disrupt spellcasters and any attempts to fl ank it. It uses its breath weapon against those who try to stay out of its melee reach.

Augmented Critical (Ex): A zeugalak’s tentacles deal ×3 damage on a successful critical hit.

Breath Weapon (Su): 100 ft. line, once every 1d4 rounds, damage 12d6 electricity, Refl ex DC 26 half. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Electrical Aura (Su): A zeugalak’s body is constantly shrouded in an aura of electrical energy. Any creature that successfully strikes a zeugalak with a melee weapon or natural weapon takes 1d6 points of electricity damage. Each of a zeugalak’s melee attacks deals an extra 1d6 points of electricity damage on a hit. This additional damage is not multiplied on a critical hit.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the zeugalak must hit a creature that is at least two size categories smaller than it with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking attacks of opportunity. If it wins the grapple, it establishes a hold and can attempt to pin the opponent in the following round.

Pinning (Ex): A zeugalak that pins an opponent with a claw deals claw damage (1d8+4) and twice its normal electricity damage (2d6) in each round it maintains the pin. While maintaining a pin with its claw, it can continue to attack other targets with its other attacks (and can even pin another target with its other claw).

Poison (Ex): Injury (sting), Fortitude DC 26, initial and secondary damage 1d10 Str. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Electrical Affi nity (Su): A zeugalak takes no damage from electricity. Instead, any electricity attack used against a zeugalak (except for an electricity attack that originates from a zeugalak) temporarily grants it 1d4 points of Dexterity. The zeugalak loses these points at the rate of 1 per hour.

Electrical Teleportation (Su): If a zeugalak gains points to its Dexterity from an electricity-based attack, it can instantly teleport (as the spell greater teleport) to the source of the electrical attack. This ability is a free action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity and can be used once per minute. A zeugalak can use this ability even on another creature’s turn.

Feather Fall (Su): At will, a zeugalak can use a feather fall effect (as the spell, caster level 16th) with personal range.