Monster Geographica - Marsh & Aquatic.pdf - The Secrets of the ...

Slaver
Diminutive Aberration
Hit Dice: 1d8+5 (9 hp)
Initiative: +9
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 30 (+4 size, +5 Dex, +11
natural), touch 19, flat-footed 25
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-16
Attack: Stinger +9 melee (1d6-4 plus enslave)
Full Attack: Stinger +9 melee (1d6-4 plus
enslave)
Space/Reach: 1 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Enhance host, enslave,
enthrall, psionics
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft.
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +4
Slavers are a breed of intelligent, parasitic
arthropods. Slavers, bolstered by their psionic
abilities, enslave their hosts, who become little more
than automatons. Slavers resemble a little brain on
legs that must tap into another’s spinal fluid (usually
at the neck) to survive.
Slavers can speak Common, Draconic,
Dwarven, Elven, and Undercommon.
Combat
A slaver’s sole ability in combat is to detach
from its host and scurry toward its next victim.
If any other enslaved humanoids are nearby, they
attempt to restrain the prospective victim so the
slaver can attach itself unmolested.
Slavers typically pick small populations of
humanoids with medium-levels wizards, sorcerers
and clerics. This grants the slavers the opportunity to
exploit the item creation feats of their new slaves.
A slaver that has enslaved a target typically
makes its first command to conceal the slaver,
usually under loose-fitting clothing. This, plus the
slaver’s ability to hide well, makes it hard to spot,
and even harder to attack during combat.
Enhance Host (Ex): While a slaver is attached
to its victim, apart from sharing all the slaver’s
skills and feats, the victim gains a +3 enhancement
bonus to Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity and
the spellcasting abilities of a 7th-level sorcerer
(including the appropriate spell knowledge). The
victim cannot cast these spells in the same round
that the slaver uses its psionic powers, nor can the
slaver use its psionic powers in the same round its
victim casts one of its granted sorcerer spells.
Enslave (Su): If a slaver hits a humanoid
target with its stinger, the victim must succeed a DC
20 Will save or become enslaved. The save DC is
Charisma-based and includes a +8 racial bonus. A
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Abilities: Str 3, Dex 20, Con 15, Int 19, Wis
15, Cha 14
Skills: Climb +5, Concentration +6, Craft
(weaponsmithing) +7, Diplomacy +5, Hide
+17, Knowledge (arcana) +7, Listen +5, Move
Silently +7, Search +7, Spot +5, Swim +5
Feats: Improved Initiative B , Lightning
Reflexes B , Toughness B , Weapon Finesse
Environment: Warm marsh
Organization: Colony (5-20)
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Always evil
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —
slaver’s hold over its victim can be broken with a
break enchantment spell.
A slaver in control of a host is treated as an
attended magic item for the purpose of making
saving throws, even if the slaver is specifically
targeted. A slaver that is attached to its host is treated
as a creature in a grapple for the purpose of striking
at the slaver instead of the host (but the host is not
considered grappled in turn).
Enthrall (Ex): If a slaver is in physical contact
with its victim (the slaver establishes a physical
hold by means of its stinger), the subject acts as if
dominated. So long as the slaver remains in contact
with the victim, the domination remains in effect,
even if a check would normally indicate that the effect
is broken. The victim remembers its past and knows
who it was, but is not permitted any level of feeling or
expression by the dominating slaver. When the victim
speaks, the words are chosen by the slaver, using its
new understanding of the victim’s personality and
history to pass itself off as the victim.
If the slaver is detached or detaches itself,
the victim goes into a coma. The victim takes no
actions, though it can be controlled if it comes under
the control of a mind-affecting effect. The victim can
be revived from the coma and restored to health with
a lesser restoration spell. The victim will remember
everything that happened (within the natural limits
of the victim’s intelligence) but as though the events
took place in a dream.
Psionics (Sp): At will—astral projection,
charm monster (DC 16), detect thoughts (DC 14),
and suggestion (DC 15). Effective caster level 7th.
The save DCs are Charisma-based.
Skills: A slaver uses its Dexterity modifier
instead of its Strength modifier for Climb and Swim
checks.
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