Elder Evils

Skills Balance +22, Climb +28, Concentration
+39, Escape Artist +50, Hide +42, Jump
+28, Listen +54, Move Silently +50, Spellcraft
+24, Use Rope +2 (+6 bindings)
True Seeing (Su) As the true seeing spell; continuous;
caster level 20th.
Frightful Presence (Su) The Worm that Walks
inspires terror whenever it uses its wormsmite.
Affected creatures must succeed
on a DC 30 Will save or become shaken,
remaining so as long as they stay within 60
feet of the Worm that Walks. A creature that
saves cannot be affected by the Worm’s
frightful presence for 24 hours.
Tongues (Su) As the tongues spell; continuous;
caster level 20th.
Worm-Smite (Ex) Once every 5 rounds, the
Worm that Walks can make a standard
melee attack to deliver a worm-smite. A
creature struck by this attack must succeed
on a DC 33 Reflex save or become covered
in ravenous worms. On the Worm’s next
turn and every turn thereafter, the target
takes 10d8 points of slashing damage as
the worms consume the victim’s flesh and
burrow into its organs. The worms remain
until destroyed or removed—or until the
target is slain, indicating the worms have
devoured their victim.
A target can use a full-round action to
attempt to remove the worms. Escaping
requires a DC 33 Reflex save. Rolling on the ground—and
thus crushing the worms—provides a +2 circumstance bonus
on the save. Dealing at least 20 points of fi re damage
destroys the worms, but deals the same amount of damage
to the victim as well. Conjuration (teleportation) spells
or spell-like effects can also extricate the target from the
worm-smite. The save DCs are Constitution-based.
Constructs, elementals, oozes, and creatures of the
incorporeal subtype are immune to this ability.
Create Spawn (Su) A humanoid or monstrous humanoid of
Medium or smaller size killed by the Worm that Walks
rises after 1d4 rounds as a spawn of Kyuss (MM2 186)
under the Worm’s control. It does not possess any of the
abilities it had in life.
Discorporate (Ex) As an immediate action, the Worm that
Walks can discorporate, collapsing into a pile of slithering
vermin. There’s one Fine worm (AC 20, 1 hp each) for
each hit point the Worm that Walks possessed prior to discorporating.
In the round it uses this ability, the worms fall
to the ground, fi lling the Worm’s space. Unless each worm
is destroyed within 1 round, the writhing worms burrow
into the earth or slither away using the Worm’s various
forms of movement. As long as any component vermin
survives, the Worm that Walks can, within 24 hours, breed
and create a new body to house its malicious essence.
Summon Scion (Sp) The Worm that Walks can summon a
scion of Kyuss (see page 140) up to three times per day.
pqs
SPAWN OF KYUSS
Spawn of Kyuss are described in Monster Manual II. If you do
not have this supplement, you can use zombies in their place,
but give them the bestow worm ability (page 138).
pqs
The Worm that Walks
This effect is the equivalent of an epic spell. The scion
remains for up to 1 hour.
Anathematic Secrecy (Su) The Worm that Walks is immune
to all divine divination spell effects.
Nondetection (Su) As the nondetection spell, always active;
caster level 20th.
Skills The Worm that Walks has a +20 racial bonus on Balance,
Escape Artist, Hide, Listen, and Move Silently checks.
EDWIN TOLSTOFF
“Think I like this accursed form? No. I detest it. Through my service,
I hope for only one outcome: freedom.”
—Edwin Tolstoff
When Edwin Tolstoff earned Kyuss’s favor, he also gained his
new master’s form. Edwin is a mirror of Kyuss. He harbors
great magical power within his body of wriggling vermin.
GOALS
Edwin Tolstoff was never satisfied with standard magical studies
and turned toward darker pursuits, joining a secret cult of
Nerull, god of death, and murdering colleagues to snatch their
stores of mystical knowledge. His treachery and lust for learning
earned the Worm’s attention and his new accursed form.
Like many who bear the burden of service to an elder evil,
Edwin wants escape, but his destiny was ever bound the
moment he learned of Kyuss’s true nature. He believes the
means to restore his form lies in the release of the Worm that
Walks, though deep down he suspects even then he will find
no release and will be absorbed into the greater being. Truly,
he has nothing to lose, for either path leads to death.
Illus. by Izzy
CHAPTER 9
THE WORM
THAT WALKS
131