Rite Publishing

Illustration by Joe Calkins

In times of old, adventures deep underground we fraught with terrible danger and unseen peril. Today, many of the denizens of the underground are very well known to adventurers. One movie that I saw recently on the topic that I quite enjoyed was the first Descent film. In the North American release, the cave explorers fall victim to a number of subhumanoids that prowl the darkness. Below is a template to modify existing creatures to make something more terrifying.

 

Crawlers

Crawlers are the collective name for any degenerate race of creatures that prowl the darkness below the surface. Crawlers are the result of an isolated population becomes highly specialized to survive in the blackness of the underground.

 

CR: Same a base creature+1

Senses: Crawlers are blind. They lose all vision-based perceptions but gain blindsight 120 ft.

AC: Crawlers use their Wisdom modifier for their armor class instead of Dexterity.

Speed: Crawlers are natural climbers and gain a climb speed of 60 ft.

Melee: Crawlers have a bite attack, in addition to any natural attack the base creature had. The bite damage is appropriate for a creature of one larger size. If the base creature could use manufactured weapon, the crawler has lost that ability.

Special Attacks: A crawler retains all the special attacks of base creature and gains a scream attack and pack tactics.

   Pack Tactics (Ex): Crawlers swarm the prey that they attack. They gain a +1 bonus to hit and damage for each crawler beyond the first that attacks the same opponent in a round.

   Scream (Ex): Crawlers can emit a terrible sonic scream that damages the flesh of their targets.

Use – 1/day per 2 HD (minimum 1); Damage 1d6 per 2 HD sonic (minimum 1); Range 10 ft. cone per 3 HD (minimum 10 ft cone); Save Fort half, Constitution-based.

Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Con +4, Wis +4; Reduce from the base creature as follows: Int -4

CMD: Crawlers add their Wisdom modifier to CMD instead of Dexterity.

Skills: Strength-based skills are increased by +2. Wisdom-based skills are increased by +2. Intelligence-based skills are decreased by -2. As natural climbers, crawlers gain a +8 bonus to their Climb skill and it is considered a class skill.

Languages: Trapped underground for eons, the crawlers speak Undercommon instead of Common. If they possessed any additional languages they have likely been lost.

 

Rockform CR 4 (XP 1,200)

Doppelganger Crawler

N Medium monstrous humanoid (shapechanger)

Init +1; Senses blindsight +120 ft; Perception +11 (non-visual)

 

AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 14 (+1 dodge, +4 natural, +4 Wis)

hp 34 (4d10+12)

Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +8

Immune charm, sleep

 

Speed 30 ft. climb 60 ft.

Melee 2 claws +10 (1d8+6), bite +10 (1d8+6)

Special Attacks pack tactics, scream (2/day; 2d6 sonic; 20 ft. cone; DC 15)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 18^th)

  At-will—detect thoughts (DC 13)

Str 22, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 9, Wis 18, Cha 13

Base Atk +4; CMB +10; CMB 25

Feats Dodge, Great Fortitude

Skills Bluff +9 (+13 change shape), Climb +14, Diplomacy +4, Disguise +9 (+29 change shape), Perception +11, Sense Motive +8, Stealth +5;Racial Modifiers +4 Bluff, +4 Disguise

Languages Undercommon

SQ change shape (alter self), perfect copy, mimicry

 

Environment any (underground)

Organization gang (3-8)

Treasure standard

 

Mimicry (Ex) A rockform is proficient in all weapons, armor, and shield if it takes a humanoid form. In addition, a rockform can use any spell trigger or spell completion item as if the spells were on its spell list. Its caster level is equal to its racial hit dice for these items.

Pack Tactics (Ex): Rockforms swarm the prey that they attack. They gain a +1 bonus to hit and damage for each rockform beyond the first that attacks the same opponent in a round.

Perfect Copy (Su) When a rockform uses change shape, it can assume the appearance of specific individuals.

 

Rockforms are incredibly efficient predators in the darkness below the surface. They commonly abduct a single member of a party, kill and replace them. Then they are able to draw off more and more members until only a single treasure hunter finds himself surrounded by a pack of voracious killers.