Vote Up a Monster (3.X) #7: Voting Takes Manhattan (Monster Complete, PEACH)

[Zeta Kai]

Thank you. That's all I needed.

[Zeta Kai]

The votes are tallied, & the winner is: CR12!

So lastly, I need you guys (& girls) to vote on the creature's Special Abilities. Votes will be tallied regularly. Please only vote for 2 Special Abilities maximum, & please peruse the voting rules. Thank you for voting.

[Limos]

Sonic Attacks
Swallow Whole

Go go gadget extraplanar lungfish!

[The Bookworm]

Sonic Attack and Spells/SLAs!

[Alteran]

Sonic Attacks and Paralysis.

[Owrtho]

Swallow Whole and Planar Pounce

Planar Pounce: The [creature name] is able to easily traverse between the planes both wholly and partially. It often exploits this to hunt for prey, traversing the planes only enough to see if there is any prey, while it lays in wait. Upon seeing the prey it may lunge partially or fully into the plane as a move action. If it successfully grapples (swallows) its target after only partially entering the plane, it may retreat back into the other plane as a swift action taking its prey with it.

Owrtho

[UnChosenOne]

I vötë für Swallow Whole and Death Attacks.

[Llama231]

Regeneration and Telepathy.

[paddyfool]

Pounce (not the Planar kind) and Paralysis.

[Lord_Gareth]

Ethereal Jaunt (to make it a native of the Ethereal Plane) and Screams from the Otherworld

Screams from the Otherworld (Su): The [Magical Beast] is infused with the odd energies of the Ethereal Plane, and it can tap into the curious swirls and eddies that power ghosts and other ethereal undead. As a standard action, the [Magical Beast], while on the Ethereal Plane, can throw back its head and howl. All within sixty feet on either the Material or Ethereal plane hear the howling as the screams and shrieks of dying men and women, and must succeed at a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 hit die + cha modifier) or be shaken. This is a mind-affecting, fear effect.

Furthermore, any incorporeal creature in the radius is rendered corporeal for a number of rounds equal to the [Magical Beast]'s charisma modifier. If they are currently inside an object, they are shunted to the nearest open space and dealt 1d6 points of damage per five feet moved this way.

[lesser_minion]

I guess I'm now going to have to vote for Screams from the Otherworld and Ethereal Jaunt.

write-ins for the win!

[Lord_Gareth]

Edited for wording/tags.

[LucyHarris]

Blast, stupid internet problems made me miss the CR vote. **Raaaage**

Ah, well, it was a CR I would've gone with anyway.

Ahem, for special abilities...

Sonic Attack and Trample

[vegetalss4]

Screams from the Otherworld and planar pounce
write-ins for the win indeed

[Zeta Kai]

All votes are currently tallied.

[puppyavenger]

Screams from the Otherworld (Su) and planar pounce

[kopout]

Ethereal Jaunt and Sonic Attack

[watsyurname529]

Definately Screams from the Otherworld and Planar Pounce.

[LordZarth]

Zeta, just wondering when this round will end. I haven't decided what I want to vote for yet but don't want to not vote!

[The Mentalist]

Regeneration & Fast Healing

[Shadow_Elf]

Planar Pounce and Swallow Whole

[Zeta Kai]

All votes are currently tallied. This poll will conclude tonight, @ ~10PM EST.

[Juhn]

I'll go with Sonic Attacks. My other vote will probably appear once I decide on it.

[Zeta Kai]

All votes are tallied (sorry, Juhn), & the winners are: Sonic Attacks, Planar Pounce, & Screams of the Otherworld!

All votes have been tallied. Voting is concluded at this point. The resultant creature, the Ethereal Shrieker (working title), will be posted on Monday, March 9th. Thanks to everyone who voted.

[Lord_Gareth]

Yay! I love this contest ^_^

(By the by, Zeta, it's FROM the Otherworld, not OF)

[LucyHarris]

Cooool...and nice name, there. Makes me think of a falcon's cry (that "screeee" sound they make).

[Zeta Kai]

Due to illness, I doubt I will be able to complete this monster tonight. I'm working on it, but I'm still under the weather. I will complete this beastie ASAP. I apologize for my tardiness, & for breaking my word.

[Alteran]

Don't worry Zeta, nobody blames you for getting sick. I hope you get well soon, and complete the monster whenever it's convenient for you.

[Zeta Kai]

Ethereal Shrieker

Spoiler

Show

A pair of shriekers on patrol, far from their native mists.

Large Magical Beast (Extraplanar)
Hit Dice: 15d10+30 (112HP)
Initiative: +5
Speed: Fly 30’ (6 squares, perfect maneuverability)
Armor Class: 22 (-1 size, +5 Dex, +8 natural); touch 14; flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+22
Attack: Fin Slap +17 melee (1d8+3)
Full Attack: 4 Fin Slaps +17 melee (1d8+3) & Bite +12 melee (1d6+1)
Space/Reach: 10’/5’
Special Attacks: Improved Grab, Planar Pounce, Screams from the Otherworld, Shriek, Swallow Whole
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60’, Ethereal Jaunt, Extraplanar traits, Magical Beast traits
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +14, Will +6
Abilities: Str 16 (+3), Dex 21 (+5), Con 14 (+2), Int 11 (+0), Wis 12 (+1), Cha 19 (+4)
Skills: Hide +8, Listen +8, Move Silently +12, Search +5, Spot +8, Survival +6
Feats: Alertness, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Spring Attack, Stealthy
Environment: any land or underground (Ethereal Plane)
Organization: solitary, pair, screech (3-5), or cacophony (6-20)
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: ½ standard
Alignment: usually Lawful Neutral
Advancement: 16-30HD (Large), 31-45HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: N/A

The massive beast is almost twice as long as a man is tall, & is built like a bizarre sort of fish. Its greenish-gray skin is translucent, with dark veins running underneath. It has four short tentacles on its underside, & a long glowing illicium (or lure) on their dorsal side. Its head is like that of a hammerhead shark, with beady eyes mounted on widely-spaced stalks.

From the most impenetrable fog of the Deep Ethereal, there are mysterious creatures that guard the Great Gray from outside intrusion. Unyielding in their commitment to their chosen cause, they patrol their territory without compassion or exception. Known amongst themselves as the Ntek’Tthek, they are more commonly called ethereal shriekers.

Ruthless & steadfast, the reason for their protection of the Deep Ethereal is a complete unknown, & is one of the biggest riddles of the plane. They seldom venture outside of the Ethereal Plane, but they will pursue trespassers relentlessly, bringing their considerable powers to bear upon any transgressors. Although it is extremely rare, legends tell of shriekers that have permanently left the Ethereal for other realms, choosing to protect different places & people.

An ethereal shrieker is about 10-12’ long & weighs around 750-900 pounds. They speak their own tongue (Ntek’Shka), & some of the more intelligent speak Common as well.

Combat
Shriekers are an orderly lot, & so they fight in a regimented, methodical manner. If they are engaging a creature that has attempted to enter their territory, they will attempt to deter them, using any means necessary. They will avoid any other sort of fight, preferring to conserve their energy. They will only retreat or surrender if the conflict is unrelated to their pursuits, or if doing so is tactically advantageous to them.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, an ethereal shrieker must successfully perform a Bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold & can Swallow Whole.

Planar Pounce (Su): An ethereal shrieker is able to easily traverse between the Material & Ethereal planes both wholly & partially. It often exploits this to hunt for prey, traversing the planes only enough to see if there is any prey, while it lays in wait. Upon seeing the prey it may lunge partially or fully into the plane as a move action. If it successfully grapples (swallows) its target after only partially entering the plane, it may retreat back into the other plane as a swift action, taking its prey with it.

Screams from the Otherworld (Su): An ethereal shrieker is infused with the odd energies of the Ethereal Plane, and it can tap into the curious swirls & eddies that power ghosts & other ethereal undead. As a standard action, the ethereal shrieker, while on the Ethereal Plane, can throw back its head & howl. All creatures within 60’ on either the Material or Ethereal plane hear the howling as the screams & shrieks of the dying, & must succeed a Will save (DC21) or be shaken for 1d4+1 rounds. This is a mind-affecting, fear effect. Furthermore, any incorporeal creature in the radius is rendered corporeal for a number of rounds equal to the ethereal shrieker’s charisma modifier. If they are currently inside an object, they are shunted to the nearest open space & dealt 1d6 points of damage per 5’ moved in this way.

Shriek (Su): An ethereal shrieker can unleash an unearthly, deafening scream; all creatures within a 40’ cone take 8d6 sonic damage & are rendered deafened; Fortitude save (DC20) for half damage & negating the deaf status; the save DC is Strength-based; this attack can be used once every 1d4 rounds.

Swallow Whole (Ex): An ethereal shrieker can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of Small or smaller size by making a successful grapple check. Once inside, the opponent takes no damage. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by dealing 2d6+8 points of damage to the containment chamber (AC4). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out. The shrieker’s stomach can hold 1 Small, 2 Tiny, 4 Diminutive or 8 Fine creatures.

Ethereal Jaunt (Su): An ethereal shrieker can shift from the Ethereal Plane to the Material Plane as a free action, & shift back again as a move action (or during a move action). The ability is otherwise identical with ethereal jaunt (caster level 17th).

Extraplanar traits: A subtype applied to any creature when it is on a plane other than its native plane. A creature that travels the planes can gain or lose this subtype as it goes from plane to plane. Monster entries assume that encounters with creatures take place on the Material Plane, & every creature whose native plane is not the Material Plane has the extraplanar subtype (but would not have when on its home plane). No creature has the extraplanar subtype when it is on a transitive plane, such as the Astral Plane, the Ethereal Plane, & the Plane of Shadow.

Magical Beast traits: All creatures with the Magical Beast type possess the following traits:

• Darkvision out to 60’.
• Proficient with its natural weapons only.
• Proficient with no armor.
• Magical Beasts eat, sleep, & breathe.

Monster Lore
Characters that have ranks in Knowledge (Arcana) can learn more about Ethereal Shriekers. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DC’s.

• DC22: “In the featureless gray expanse of the Deep Ethereal dwell frightening creatures, dedicated to protecting their territory from incursion.” A character making this check recalls all extraplanar magical beast traits.
• DC27: “Known as ethereal shriekers, they can harm others with a deafening screech.” A character making this check knows the workings of the Shriek ability.
• DC32: “They are unrelenting in their efforts to prevent others from violating the boundaries of their domain, & they seem to live for nothing else.” A character making this check remembers the mechanics of Planar Pounce & Screams of the Otherworld.
• DC37: “Their religion dictates that they must guard the hidden demiplanes of the Deep Ethereal, some of which hide terrible secrets.” A character making this check is familiar with Improved Grab & Swallow Whole.

[LucyHarris]

Wooooowwwww. That thing is fantastic. I can imagine springing that on a party and then sitting back to watch their reaction to it. Bravo, sir! Bravo!