Vote Up A Villain IV! [Voting Closed, Villain Complete!] (3.5)

[Heliomance]

Justice. That is all.

[Terror_Incognito]

I would like to vote for Survival.

I would also like to say I saddened that Afro had to change his plans for this villain. When I read his idea, I instantly thought of this from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii


There has been speculation that human behavior may also be affected in some ways, and correlations have been found between latent Toxoplasma infections and various characteristics such as decreased novelty-seeking behavior, slower reactions, feelings of insecurity, and neuroticism.[7]

Several independent pieces of evidence point towards a possible role of Toxoplasma infection in some cases of schizophrenia and paranoia.


I think a parasitic, mind controlling vermin would make fantastic villian especially with the Mindless quality and a neutral alignment. The genius of it is that the Thing's hosts who tend to it could have plenty of intelligence, both to decide to perform terrible acts to satisfy their master; and also to justify such acts, if they conflict with their own alignment.

Irrespective of my opinion, I am sure Afroakuma will still astound and horrify us all with whatever villain we vote for.

[Debihuman]

I vote for Self-Loathing.

[paddyfool]

Hunger. Anything with the potential to devour the PCs is a fine creepy crawly indeed.

[afroakuma]

Remember, all of you voting for the greater good: I pick which "good" it's out to serve. I'll leave it at that.

Lord Mancow: If you're the OP of a thread, you can edit the thread title by going to the first post and changing the title line of it.

[Zeta Kai]

Lord Mancow: If you're the OP of a thread, you can edit the thread title by going to the first post and changing the title line of it.

You can also double-click on the white space of the thread's entry in the forum's thread list. It will let you edit the title, but only if:

You are the OP of that thread, &...
The thread is less than 30 days old.

[Mercenary Pen]

Gotta be Anarchy for me.

[Saint Nil]

I'll vote survival, I want to save greater good for when we vote up a unique evil outsider.

[afroakuma]

Funny you should mention that...

[Saint Nil]

...Does this mean my dream of fallen hero paladin trying to create a utopia and becoming a unique evil outsider will become true?:smallcool:

[Pronounceable]

Remember, all of you voting for the greater good: I pick which "good" it's out to serve. I'll leave it at that.

I'm sorely tempted to change my vote after this, since it's currently the martyr of a lost cause. And no mention of an hourglass anywhere in sight.

OK, I'm doing that. -1 order, +1 greater good.

[afroakuma]

Duly noted.

Must I be pursued everywhere by white text badgering me with hourglasses?

[Lord_Gareth]

Hrmmm...y'know, depending on interpretation, Survival could be very interesting. Perhaps it didn't start as evil?

[puppyavenger]

Greater Good.


what, order and logic are both lost causes.

[afroakuma]

*sigh* Just so everyone's on the same page with what Greater Good might entail:

Watch this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVaz8ZZxoxo&feature=related)

Specifically in regards to Scott's ambitions in life. His father's responses should give you some insight as to exactly how I plan to read this option if it wins.

[puppyavenger]

*sigh* Just so everyone's on the same page with what Greater Good might entail:

Watch this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVaz8ZZxoxo&feature=related)

Specifically in regards to Scott's ambitions in life. His father's responses should give you some insight as to exactly how I plan to read this option if it wins.

"maybe open a petting zoo?"
"an EVVVIIIILLL petting zoo?"

[afroakuma]

That would be my point, yes.

[Draz74]

I vote Depression.

[afroakuma]

It's a darn shame I'm limited to CR 8. Forced to tone down one of its scariest abilities.

[Saint Nil]

CE vermin something worse? I hope I'm not the only person hoping for a monster made of a bunch of smaller insects.:smallbiggrin:

[kopout]

I am wondering how it will have a motive other than survival if it has no int score , for that mater how dose it have an alignment ?

[afroakuma]

I am wondering how it will have a motive other than survival if it has no int score , for that mater how dose it have an alignment?

We had this debate already, kopout. I'm rescinding the Mindless trait to give it an Int score, and in return not giving it any supernatural abilities to keep it away from becoming an aberration.


CE vermin something worse? I hope I'm not the only person hoping for a monster made of a bunch of smaller insects.:smallbiggrin:

It won't be. :smallamused:

[kopout]

We had this debate already, kopout. I'm rescinding the Mindless trait to give it an Int score, and in return not giving it any supernatural abilities to keep it away from becoming an aberration.

thank you I vote for Grater good

CE vermin something worse? I hope I'm not the only person hoping for a monster made of a bunch of smaller insects.:smallbiggrin:

sadly that would probably give it the swarm sub type . and after the incorporable Ooze swarm that is frownd upon

[MammonAzrael]

Toss in another vote for Insanity!

[Heliomance]

CE vermin something worse? I hope I'm not the only person hoping for a monster made of a bunch of smaller insects.:smallbiggrin:

Like Swarm from the Marvelverse! He's a villain made up of bees with Nazi sympathies!

[Fako]

Survival sounds interesting.

[paddyfool]

I'd like to switch my vote from Hunger to Survival. (The former will never make it in, and the latter might include aspects of the same). A ruthless icky creature devoted to continuing its own existence at all costs sounds pretty juicy to me.

[afroakuma]

Alright, we're done! Our sinister subspecimen will be motivated by Survival!

The finished villain, the Augmoha, will be published tomorrow.

[afroakuma]

The Augmoha
Large Vermin [Augmented]
HD 12d8+60 (114 hp)
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares); burrow 120 ft. ; fly 10 ft. (clumsy)
Init: +6
AC 19; touch 11; flat-footed 17 (+8 natural, +2 Dex, -1 size)
BAB +9; Grp +18
Attack Bite +14 melee (2d6+5 and poison, 19-20/x2) or claw +13 melee (1d8+5)
Full Attack Bite +14 melee (2d6+5 and poison, 19-20/x2) and 4 claws +8 melee (1d8+2)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks Infestation, pheromones, poison, pounce, secrete web, glue
Special Qualities Cognitive ganglia, blindsight, scent, cold vulnerability
Saves Fort +12 Ref +8 Will +11
Abilities Str 21, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 10, Wis 21, Cha 15
Skills Hide +6, Listen +12, Sense Motive +13, Spot +12
Feats Cleave, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Weapon Focus (bite)
Challenge Rating 8 supposedly. >:D
Alignment Chaotic evil

The augmoha, or "dragon botworm", is a terrifyingly cunning giant onychophoran.

The augmoha is fully 20 ft. in length, although able to squeeze into a roughly 5 ft. cube if needed. Most of its body is long and wormlike, with a mucous sheath that covers the orifices on its upper body. These are retractible claws and a large pair of odonatal wings that are usually retained in the main mass. The last seven or eight feet of its body divide into long, powerful tentacles, which it uses for stability and to propel itself at rapid speeds despite its shape. The augmoha's mouth is predatory, with many thin, tiny, fluted fangs and a powerful crushing mandible. It lacks optical organs, with its head instead a smooth cowl of carapace. The whole of its body is a sickening gray.

Combat
The augmoha usually engages in combat within a prepared environment festooned with webbing and burrowed pit traps. It will usually attempt to immobilize a "hive" creature with glue, then close to melee to deliver an infestation. If it senses a major threat, it will pounce and employ bite attacks with extreme abandon.

Infestation (Ex) The augmoha stores many thousands of insect larvae, maggots and imagos in its mucus. Once per day it may deliver a changed pheromone through its skin that awakens these insects as a free action. This immediately summons a centipede swarm and a locust swarm, which assault all living creatures in the area other than the augmoha and one another. If it uses this action during a successful claw attack, the swarms are formed in the victim's square and immediately get one attack each against the victim.

Pheromones (Ex) The augmoha exudes a powerful pheromone constantly in a 240 ft. radius. This pheromone penetrates stone (but not lead) and can be detected as a sickening odor by most creatures. Those who fail a Fortitude save (DC 21) are immediately nauseated for 1 round and then become sickened while in the effect radius. The augmoha may exude additional pheromones as a move action, forcing a new save even for those who have made their original save. Dragons, half-dragons and other dragon-kin are affected much more strongly by this pheromone. They can detect it from up to a mile away, and within the radius are affected four times as strongly as other creatures (save DC 36).

Poison (Ex) Injury, Fortitude DC 21, initial damage 1d6 Str, secondary damage 2d6 Str. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Secrete Web (Ex) As a full-round action, the augmoha may fill an area of up to 10 ft. cubed with a sticky webbing, as the web spell. This webbing degrades in 1d4 days. The Reflex save DC is 21.

Glue (Ex) The augmoha can spit glue as a standard action. This glob of viscous ooze has a range increment of 20 ft. and acts as a tanglefoot bag (Reflex save DC 21). A DC 20 Strength check is needed to tear free of the glue.

Cognitive Ganglia (Ex) The augmoha's thought processes are divided into six long neutral ganglia which operate together via corpora callosa. This unusual protobrain makes the augmoha effectively immune to mind-affecting attacks and effects.

Scent (Ex) The augmoha can detect the odor of vomit from up to 150 ft. away (75 ft. if the vomit is downwind, 300 if upwind).

Cold Vulnerability (Ex) The augmoha takes double damage from cold.


The Augmoha

A creature from a far-off, barren world, the augmoha was found as a larva by an exploratory researcher who took it to chronicle various fauna of his travels. After the vermin's bite confined him to his bed, he sold it to a sorcerer who took an interest in his materials.

This sorcerer was later traded for the worm-thing by a fellow, who had vengeful designs on a half-dragon colleague. Testing the creature's poison and adhesion, this wicked caster found that it could cause paralytic numbness - perfect to eliminate his rival.

This rival, Kelerne, worked on the floor above. The jealous sorcerer slipped the augmoha through the cracks into the floor, where the miniscule thing hid until it sensed warm prey. Using its glue, it stuck itself over Kelerne's hamstring and sunk its teeth in deep, numbing the area and slowly coating itself in a mucous goo.

Kelerne sickened slowly, not realizing that her leg, slightly numb, had a narrow calcinated lump on it that was gradually poisoning her to death. The augmoha, meanwhile, absorbed nutrients into itself that were not present on its home world, nutrients which made it stronger and hardier. Mutations ensued, and the magic of the sorceress' half-dragon blood szped the augmoha's growth.

Finally, when a medic found the weakened Kelerne near death, he brought her to a cleric. The examination found a rock-hard tumor on her calf, which they cut open delicately, releasing the writhing worm within. Larger and stronger than before, the augmoha sensed danger and fled, squirming under the door-crack.


The Villainous Turn

Hiding in the packs of a wizard heading out for adventure, the augmoha had plenty of choices to satiate its hunger during the journey. At last, the adventurers ended up in a dragon's lair. Unfortunately, the dragon proved the stronger, and the augmoha's store of rotted human soon dwindled. However, a new opportunity had presented itself - large, warm boulders that had a similar scent to Kelerne. The augmoha burrowed through the solid surface, and found itself inside its first dragon egg.

The dragon parent returned a week later to find a large crack in three of its eggs, with the remains of embryonic wyrmlings strewn through the nest. A choking odor was the dragon's only clue, and it contacted other wyrms for help in gaining vengeance.

Meanwhile, the augmoha began absorbing strength and intelligence from the wyrmlings it consumed. With this new power came new awareness, and a new taste for both blood and meat.

Now the augmoha began to choose. Among all the world's predators, it had made enemies of the worst. It had to plan to eat, to find food stores and exploit them. And so it went back to humans. Burrowing into their homes and buildings, bringing thick infestations of disease-bearing insects and a debilitating odor, the augmoha began destroying whole towns to gorge itself, knowing its pheromones would draw nearby dragons. This exposed their whereabouts and gave the augmoha new targets. So far, the augmoha has consumed over 60 dragon eggs.


Encounters

The augmoha has experienced adventurers more than once. It now prepares an underground lair wherever it intends to strike. The odor from its pheromones is most immediately noticeable, and is usually maybe one week's warning that carnage is en route. The augmoha strikes individual targets first, using glue only when necessary in order to hide clues from inquisitive humans. Its instinct for self-preservation is paramount, and its first impulse is always "kill."

Despite its intelligence, the augmoha cannot and will not be communicated with. It has a grudging, uncomfortable respect for druids and rangers, and tries to avoid them when possible. If its hisses can be understood, they invariably translate to only four things: "hive," "foe," "flee" and "food."

The augmoha can usually exploit the charnel of a town for a week or two, which it will gleefully do, sometimes to the point of letting itself be seen. This is to help attract dragons, all of whom hate it with an unbridled fury. Once it detects dragons in the vicinity, it hunts out their nests and infests their eggs, crawling entirely inside if possible.

The augmoha is growing more dangerous with every egg it parasitizes. It is also acquiring draconic characteristics, including carapace, a powerful mandible and wing muscles. It may eventually become a mockery of dragonkind, and transcend its mere survival goals to something far worse.


Plot Hooks

•A village has begun experiencing an unpleasant smell from no apparent source. They are worried something may be in their water.

•A dragon is forcing the evacuation of a city for an unspecified reason. The king is considering bringing in elite troops to fight the dragon off.

•Upon entering a dragon's lair, the party finds something much worse waiting for them - and an angry dragon returning who is ready to blame the humans for the destruction of its eggs.

•An entire town has been slaughtered and the buildings collapsed, revealing a foul-smelling tunnel network beneath.

•The mayor's wife has vanished, and the only witness is screaming about a monstrous insect dragging her into the earth.

•A druid has come to "assist" a town, but the locals distrust his motives. Attacks by swarms of plague insects and rumors of evil beasts at night do nothing to assuage their concerns.

---

And because I think this looks a lot like my idea: this thingy. (http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq194/afroakuma/freaky.png)

[Pronounceable]

Ew. Disgusting. But I approve of the grief caused to the fricking dragons.

Much as it's a great creature, it sadly doesn't look like a villain to me. It's a very dangerous monster, sure, but I see no real villainy in it (unless you're a dragon). If only it preyed on humanoid infants...

If this was a Vote Up for a creature we'd have had a winner. As it is, it's "merely" great monster.

[afroakuma]

It eats cities as bait so that it can eat dragon babies so that it can become more powerful so that it can eat cities!

I repeat: It eats cities.

Not out of hunger.

Merely to use as bait.

[Reath]

... city-eaters are pretty awesome.

[Debihuman]

Somehow, I think this works better as a Vermin [Augmented] rather than as a straight vermin. The augmented subtype really fits when you want Intelligent vermin. It could be as simple as having it been awakened as per the spell.

Debby

[starwoof]

This monster is sick. I will be using this in a coming campaign.

[afroakuma]

Somehow, I think this works better as a Vermin [Augmented] rather than as a straight vermin. The augmented subtype really fits when you want Intelligent vermin. It could be as simple as having it been awakened as per the spell. What is its organization? Is it a unique critter?

Debby

Can't be awakened. Awaken converts it into a magical beast. I can slapan Augmented on there, though.

As a villain, it is necessarily unique. Treasure and environment are left to the DM's convenience.

[Lord_Gareth]

I like it ^_^ One has to wonder, though, how it eats cities and remains CR 8. I think th is is a case where the CR vote could not hold the weight of the epic concept. Shame on you, CR voters!

[afroakuma]

I think I pointed it out that it does it one building at a time, by tunneling under them. Or plans out a route to cause a mass killing.

It's nassssty.

[Lord_Gareth]

I was more talking about the fact that, until about ECL 14 or so, one city = a level up.

Y'know, that part.

[afroakuma]

Lord_Gareth, go to the CR and... highlight it a bit. See what comes up. :smallbiggrin:

[Pronounceable]

I really think you VoteUpers should keep CR out of the hands of the unwashed masses. Or at least get it voted last. This thing would've been better with higher CR.

^^EDIT, for JUSTICE: See Afro, all that hourglass stuff was ultimately good for you. You've taken a level in cunning.

[afroakuma]

Don't I know it. That's why the next VUAV will...

Well, you'll see tomorrow. :smallwink:

Are you sure it was a level in cunning? I thought it might have been Zocelot's new Paragon Path...

[afroakuma]

Ooh, speaking of which, it's "tomorrow" by EST in... 32 minutes.

[Pronounceable]

Are you sure it was a level in cunning? I thought it might have been Zocelot's new Paragon Path...

So you became a Blessed of Yourself? How does that work?

[afroakuma]

Very well, thank you! :smallsmile:

And yes, we have... eight minutes until I start the next one.

[Lord_Gareth]

I wanna see an LG villain, if only to give Afro a challenge that doesn't involve mechanics whatsoever.

Do you hear me, voting community? LAWFUL GOOD IS THE NEW EVIL!

[afroakuma]

You're about to get an opportunity!

[Lord_Gareth]

Oh, Afro - think you can write up another monster - namely, this thing after it's "transcended into something worse"?

After Bladed Blob, of course. We want our Bladed Blob, damnit!

[afroakuma]

Planning to. Very shortly.

And I already stated when the Bladed Blob would appear.

[Lord_Gareth]

I'm afraid I either missed or forgot that statement entirely.

[afroakuma]

The Bladed Blob will appear as part of my Acheron project.

[Lord_Gareth]

Congrats on not making something so inherantly rediculous part of a chaotic-aligned plane ^_^

*knows what he's voting for in the next planar homebrew voting session*

[afroakuma]

Saw that coming.

[Vagnarok]

Awesome job man, I imagined something very close to the picture you put up as I was reading about it.

I think I'm going to use the "poisoned water" shtick and make a Diablo I reference as a plot hook.

[Pronounceable]

Finally! The bladed blob is coming. And it's in Acheron, my favorite evil plane. Commence rejoicing all around.

[afroakuma]

Bonus badness:

The Augmoha
Gargantuan Vermin [Augmented]
HD 24d8+216 (324 hp)
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares); burrow 180 ft. ; fly 20 ft. (clumsy)
Init: +3
AC 25; touch 11; flat-footed 25 (+16 natural, +4 web filaments, -1 Dex, -4 size)
BAB +18; Grp +44
Attack Bite +29 melee (3d6+14 and poison, 17-20/x2) or claw +28 melee (4d8+7)
Full Attack Bite +29 melee (3d6+14 and poison, 17-20/x2) and 4 claws +23 melee (4d8+7)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks Breath weapon, improved grab, constrict 4d8+14, infestation, pheromones, poison, pounce, secrete web, glue
Special Qualities Cognitive ganglia, DR 15/cold, blindsight, scent, SR 28, cold vulnerability
Saves Fort +23 Ref +9 Will +18
Abilities Str 39, Dex 8, Con 28, Int 16, Wis 27, Cha 19
Skills Hide +14, Intimidate +31, Listen +35, Sense Motive +35, Spot +35
Feats Cleave, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (claw), Iron Will, Power Attack, Lightning Reflexes, Weapon Focus (bite)
Challenge Rating 19 Now that's more like it!
Alignment Chaotic evil

The augmoha is fully 40 ft. in length, although able to squeeze into a roughly 10 ft. cube if needed. Most of its body is long and wormlike, with a mucous sheath that covers the orifices on its upper body. These are retractible claws and a large pair of bipartite, semichiropteral odonatal wings that are usually extruded from the main mass. The last twelve or fifteen feet of its body divide into long, powerful tentacles, which it uses for stability, grasping and to propel itself at rapid speeds despite its shape. The augmoha's mouth is predatory, with many thin, tiny, fluted fangs and a powerful crushing mandible. It lacks optical organs, with its head instead a smooth cowl of carapace. The whole of its body is a sickening gray.

Combat
The augmoha usually engages in combat within a prepared environment festooned with webbing and burrowed pit traps. It will usually attempt to immobilize a "hive" creature with glue, then close to melee to deliver an infestation. If it senses a major threat, it will deliver its breath weapon, then pounce and employ bite attacks with extreme abandon.

Breath Weapon (Ex) 60-foot cone, once every 1d4 rounds (but no more than three times per day), 14d6 acid damage, Reflex DC 31 half. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Infestation (Ex) The augmoha stores many thousands of insect larvae, maggots and imagos in its mucus. Three times per day it may deliver a changed pheromone through its skin that awakens these insects as an immediate action. This immediately summons a centipede swarm, a locust swarm, a spider swarm and a hellwasp swarm, which assault all living creatures in the area other than the augmoha and one another. If it uses this action during a successful claw attack, the swarms are formed in the victim's square and immediately get one attack each against the victim.

Pheromones (Ex) The augmoha exudes a powerful pheromone constantly in a 480 ft. radius. This pheromone penetrates stone (but not lead) and can be detected as a sickening odor by most creatures. Those who fail a Fortitude save (DC 31) are immediately sickened and remain so while in the effect radius. The augmoha may exude additional pheromones as a move action, forcing a new save even for those who have made their original save. Dragons, half-dragons and other dragon-kin are affected much more strongly by this pheromone. They can detect it from up to a mile away, and within the radius are affected four times as strongly as other creatures (save DC 58). A dragon, half-dragon or other dragon-kin is instead nauseated for one minute and then subsequently sickened.

Poison (Ex) Injury, Fortitude DC 31, initial damage 1d10 Str, secondary damage 3d6 Str. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Secrete Web (Ex) As a full-round action, the augmoha may fill an area of up to 20 ft. cubed with a sticky webbing, as the web spell. This webbing degrades in 1d4 days. The Reflex save DC is 31.

Improved Grab (Ex) If the augmoha hits a Huge or smaller creature with a slam attack, it deals normal damage and may attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. No initial touch attack is required. On a successful grapple, the augmoha maintains its hold each round and may constrict. The augmoha may hold up to two Huge, four Large or eight Medium or smaller creatures.

Glue (Ex) The augmoha can spit glue as a standard action. This glob of viscous ooze has a range increment of 30 ft. and acts as a tanglefoot bag (Reflex save DC 31). A DC 30 Strength check is needed to tear free of the glue.

Cognitive Ganglia (Ex) The augmoha's thought processes are divided into twelve long neutral ganglia which operate together via corpora callosa. This unusual protobrain makes the augmoha effectively immune to mind-affecting attacks and effects.

Scent (Ex) The augmoha can detect the odor of vomit from up to 300 ft. away (150 ft. if the vomit is downwind, 600 if upwind).

Cold Vulnerability (Ex) The augmoha takes double damage from cold.


Encounters

The greater augmoha has switched from dragon eggs to actual live dragons as its preferred food source, using whole cities as appetizers en route to another kill. It also now schemes to acquire magical powers of its own, and has been able to learn Infernal and Draconic through a contract with a malevolent fiend. From its hellish benefactor, the augmoha now has hellwasp imagos among its vermin swarms

The augmoha now works to precipitate carnage and chaos. Dragons are mobilizing en masse to hunt ands destroy the predator, which lairs in human lands. Humans grow afraid of draconic incursions, and the two "cattle" races begin warring. The terrible beast enjoys instigating these battles, knowing it will get to "clean up" afterwards.

[Pronounceable]

See, now that's villainous.

[afroakuma]

They both do the same thing; one of them's just had more experience and is a better size for it. Blasted CR 8...

[Zeta Kai]

ZOMG, that is one villainous vermin. The first one is a great work-in-progress villain, the kind who's a minor threat now, but promises to be an epic threat later. The second one is much closer to being a genocidal scourge; it's a great monster to build a legend around. Fabulous work, as always, Afro.

[LordZarth]

Bonus badness:

The Augmoha
Gargantuan Vermin [Augmented]


Now that's better. :D I felt so sorry for you when CR 8 was voted in...

[Pronounceable]

They both do the same thing; one of them's just had more experience and is a better size for it. Blasted CR 8...

No matter what you might hear, size matters... So does experience...