Page 114 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

(although a few rare grell philosophers explore the possibility +30; Atk +16 melee (1d6+4 plus paralyzation, tentacle) or +13
of undeath, as their talents and opportunities permit). ranged touch (5d6 electricity, greater lightning lance); Full
While grell do not give any being their worship, they do Atk +16 melee (1d6+4 plus paralyzation, 10 tentacles) and
hold a certain admiration for the greatest of the eaters, crea- +10 melee (1d8+2, bite), or +13 ranged touch (5d6 electricity,
tures whose dark hunger and destructive tendencies could greater lightning lance); SA constrict, expert grappler, improved
encompass entire worlds given a chance. Deities such as grab, paralysis, spells; SQ blindsight 60 ft., flight, immunity

Tharizdun or the Patient One are thus worthy of grell respect, to electricity, immunity to paralyzation, sightless; AL NE;
and deserve to be honored (or placated) from time to time. The SV Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +14; Str 18, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 18,
exact nature of this admiration varies from colony to colony, Wis 13, Cha 12.
depending on what each grell patriarch regards as suitable. Skills and Feats: Concentration +16 (+20 casting defensively),

Some patriarchs direct their minions to offer sacrifices after Hide +15, Knowledge (arcana) +10, Knowledge (dungeoneer-

a successful hunt, others offer sacrifices during difficult ing) +10, Knowledge (nature) +10, Listen +16, Move Silently THE EATERS CHAPTER 6

times, and still others never offer any sort of veneration at all, +19, Search +6, Sense Motive +4, Spellcraft +15, Spot +11,
concluding that the great eaters take what they want when Survival +1 (+3 underground); Brew Potion , Combat Casting,
B
they choose to do so. Combat Reflexes, Flyby Attack, Grell Alchemy†, Improved

Rarely, a grell philosopher turns to these dark and hungry Initiative, Improved Natural Armor, Scribe Scroll , Weapon
B
powers, becoming a cleric of Tharizdun or the Patient One. Focus (tentacle).
A grell priest is an unusual creature, and chooses to follow † New feat described on page 114.
its path not out of any desire to venerate a divine being, but Languages: Grell, Undercommon, Common, Draconic,
instead to gain the power it needs to ascend to patriarchy. Elven.
Grell priests regard their relationship with their patron deity Constrict (Ex):On a successful grapple check, a grell patriarch
as a simple bargain; they gain access to a source of magic most deals 1d8+4 points of damage.
of their fellows cannot reach in exchange for offerings and Expert Grappler (Ex): A grell that chooses to grapple with
sacrifices. one tentacle and remain ungrappled itself takes a –10 penalty

Information about Tharizdun and the Patient One is pre- on its grapple checks instead of the normal –20 penalty
sented in Chapter 9: The Aberration Hunter. (see Improved Grab, page 310 of the Monster Manual, for
details).
LEADERS Grell patriarchs have a +10 racial bonus on grapple checks.
Grell respect strength and offer little deference to social (Paralyzed foes automatically lose grapple checks.)
superiors unless those superiors are stronger, more clever, and Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a grell must hit an
more powerful. Rather surprisingly, grell govern themselves opponent of its size or smaller with a tentacle attack. It can
through consensus and debate. Unlike many other evil races, then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without pro-
which debase and disenfranchise weaker specimens, grell voking attacks of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it
view each member of their race as a colleague and an example establishes a hold and can constrict.
of a superior being. They are perfectly willing to assassinate Paralysis (Ex): Any creature hit by a grell patriarch’s tentacle
rivals or plot against a superior, but they do not seek to deny must make a DC 16 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 2d4
any grell the opportunity to advance as far as its talents and rounds. Each additional tentacle that hits the same creature
cunning can take it. that round increases the save DC by 1.
While grell are inclined to be egalitarian, it is certainly Sightless (Ex): A grell patriarch is immune to gaze attacks,
true that some grell are more equal than others. Grell respect visual effects, illusions, and other attack forms that rely on
magical ability and physical strength, so individuals with sight.
more Hit Dice, or philosophers with superior intelligence Wizard Spells Prepared (caster level 7th): 0—detect magic, mage
and spellcasting ability, carry more weight in the debates and hand, ray of frost (+13 ranged touch), read magic; 1st—charm
arguments by which the colony governs itself. It’s not unusual person (DC 15), grease (DC 15), mage armor*, obscuring mist, ray of
for colonies to split into factions or cliques, each adhering to enfeeblement (+13 ranged touch);2nd—invisibility, protection from

the influential arguments of a particular philosopher or strong arrows, touch of idiocy (+15 melee touch), web (DC 16);3rd—dispel
elder grell. magic, protection from energy, slow (DC 17); 4th—greater invis-
Even a patriarch is not guaranteed unanimous support ibility, summon monster IV.
from its lesser fellows. A patriarch leads only as long as the *Already cast.
colony agrees that the creature is still fit to do so. If the Spellbook: as above plus: 0—acid splash, daze, flare, resistance;

colony’s judgment turns against a patriarch, it is killed or 1st—color spray, detect secret doors, magic missile, protection from
driven into exile. good; 2nd—blur, daze monster, scorching ray, summon monster
II; 3rd—blink, hold person, lightning bolt, nondetection, summon
Grell Patriarch: Grell wizard 7; CR 10; Large aberration; monster III; 4th—confusion, polymorph, solid fog.
HD 12d8+48 plus 7d4+28; hp 147; Init +6; Spd 5 ft., fly 30 ft. Possessions: Brooch of shielding, ring of protection +2, greater

(perfect); AC 24, touch 13, flat-footed 22; Base Atk +12; Grp lightning lance.

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