Page 138 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

Hive mother

Director MONSTERS NEW CHAPTER 8

Eye of the deep

grapple as a free action without provoking attacks of oppor- Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
tunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold. Special Attacks: Eye rays
Swallow Whole (Ex): A hive mother can try to swallow a Special Qualities: All-around vision, darkvision 60

grabbed opponent that is at least two size categories smaller ft., deflection, flight, spell resistance 16, verminbond

than itself by making a successful grapple check. Once swal- Saves: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +7
lowed, the opponent takes 2d8+7 points of crushing damage Abilities: Str 12, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 12, Cha 19
plus 2d8 points of acid damage per round from the hive Skills: Handle Animal +23*, Listen +14, Ride +22*, Search
mother’s gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by +6, Spot +18
using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 15 points of Feats: Alertness , Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat,
B
damage to the gizzard (Armor Class 20). Once the creature Multiattack Illus. by M. Cotie
exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed Environment: Cold hills
opponent must cut its own way out. A Huge hive mother’s Organization: Solitary, pair, or cluster (3–6) plus an equal
gizzard can hold 1 Medium, 2 Small, 8 Tiny, or 32 Diminutive number of assorted vermin
or smaller opponents. Challenge Rating: 8
Antimagic Cone (Su): A hive mother’s central eye continu- Treasure: Standard
ally produces a 240-foot cone of antimagic. This functions Alignment: Usually lawful evil
just like antimagic field (caster level 20th). All magical and Advancement: 9–16 HD (Large); 17–24 HD (Huge)

supernatural powers and effects within the cone are sup- Level Adjustment: —
pressed—even the hive mother’s own eye rays. Once each
round, during its turn, the hive mother decides whether the This bloated sphere of green fl esh is armored with hundreds of
antimagic cone is active or not (the hive mother deactivates interlocking chitinous plates. Six stalked eyes writhe atop the
the cone by shutting its central eye). sphere, and three cruelly barbed tentacles trail below it. A single
Flight (Ex): A hive mother’s body is naturally buoyant. This eye stares from one side of the sphere, just above a maw fi lled

buoyancy allows it to fly at a speed of 20 feet. This buoyancy with needle-sharp teeth.
also grants it a permanent feather fall effect (as the spell) with
personal range. Directors serve as cavalry units for beholder cities; their ability
to bond with and completely control their vermin mounts
DIRECTOR makes them invaluable as troops in wars against enemies of
Large Aberration other races.
Hit Dice: 8d8+24 (60 hp) Directors are about 6 feet in diameter. An average director
Initiative: +1 can weigh up to 1,800 pounds.
Speed: 5 ft. (1 square), fly 20 ft. (good) Directors speak Beholder and Common.

Armor Class: 24 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +10 natural, +4 deflection),

touch 14, flat-footed 23 Combat
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+11 Although a director has several potent eye rays, it can also
Attack: Eye rays +6 ranged touch and tentacle +6 melee (1d6) inflict terrible wounds with its bite and tentacles. Most direc-

Full Attack: Eye rays +6 ranged touch and 3 tentacles +6 melee tors avoid combat unless they have a bonded mount. When
(1d6) and bite +4 melee (1d8)
137