Elder Evils

Hulk of Zoretha (Male) CR 16
hp 256 (16 HD); fast healing 15; DR 10/epic
CE Huge outsider (evil)
Init +12; Senses blindsight 500 ft., darkvision 60 ft., true
seeing; Listen +23, Spot +23
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Infernal, telepathy 1,000 ft.,
tongues
AC 44, touch 20, flat-footed 32; uncanny dodge
Immune anathematic secrecy (malefic property), elder evil
immunities (page 6), poison, paralysis
Resist acid 20, fire 20, cold 20, electricity 20; SR 24
Fort+18, Ref +22, Will +14
Speed 80 ft. (16 squares); fly 80 ft. (clumsy); Flyby Attack
Melee 2 claws +26 each (1d8+11 plus poison) and
bite +24 (2d6+11 plus poison)
Ranged spikes +26/+21/+16/+11 (2d8 plus poison)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Base Atk +16; Grp +35
Atk Options Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, poison
(Fortitude DC 26, 1d6 Con/2d6 Con), sneak attack +8d6
Special Actions hypnotic gaze, summon displacer beast
Abilities Str 33, Dex 35, Con 27, Int 33, Wis 19, Cha 24
SQ dark visiting (malefic property), improved uncanny
dodge, nondetection, quiescent invulnerability, sign
(blood moon)
Feats Flyby Attack, Hover, Multiattack, Point Blank Shot,
Precise Shot, Weapon Finesse
Skills Balance +33, Bluff +26, Climb +30, Concentration +27,
Diplomacy +30, Hide +23, Intimidate +28, Jump +52,
Knowledge (arcana) +30, Knowledge (history) +30,
Knowledge (the planes) +30, Knowledge (religion) +30,
Listen +23, Move Silently +31, Search +30, Sense Motive
+23, Spellcraft +32, Spot +23, Tumble +33
Spikes (Ex) The male Hulk of Zoretha can shoot up to four
poisoned spikes per round from his forearms as a ranged
weapon with a range increment of 100 feet. Spikes
regenerate immediately after use.
Hypnotic Gaze (Su) The male Hulk of Zoretha can hypnotize
foes into helplessness. Five times per day as a swift
action, the Hulk can force a target opponent to make a
DC 22 Will save or lose all sensory and time perception
until the end of the Hulk’s action. On a failed Will save,
the target loses her Dex and shield bonus to AC, is
treated as if blinded, and is held immobile until the Hulk
finishes his action for the round.
Summon Displacer Beast (Su) The male Hulk of Zoretha
can summon a displacer beast pack lord once per day.
The displacer beast pack lord summoned is chaotic evil.
It arrives in 1d4 rounds and serves for 1 day or until
released.
Anathematic Secrecy (Su) The male Hulk of Zoretha is
immune to all divine divination spell effects.
Dark Visiting (Su) Any divine spellcaster who sleeps within
100 miles of the male Hulk must succeed on a DC 25 Will
save or take 1d4+1 points of Wisdom damage and be
fatigued for the day. The spellcaster additionally cannot
regain spells, power points, or any similar ability that
requires rest. A spellcaster who is reduced to half normal
Wisdom is affected by insanity while within this area.
Nondetection (Su) As the nondetection spell; continuous;
caster level 20th.
Quiescent Invulnerability (Su) When dormant, a Hulk of
Zoretha cannot be harmed by any means. Once awakened,
Hulks of Zoretha cannot become dormant again.
FEATURES OF THE AREA
Ambush Spot: See encounter 3–2 on the previous pages.
The male Hulk hides here to await the PCs as they enter.
Low Ceiling: Though 150 feet tall at its highest, the ceiling
in the great cavern arches down to 20 feet tall at the walls, which
is slightly shorter than the Hulks themselves. They will not
enter the low-ceiling area indicated on the map unless they need
to fight the PCs. The low ceilings in that area give them a –1
distraction penalty on attack rolls and to Armor Class.
Support Columns: Support columns have hardness 8 and
15 hit points per inch of thickness (on average 40 inches in
diameter and 600 hp). A support column provides cover.
females are extremely protective of the male, since he is irreplaceable.
Considering its fast healing, a Hulk should not be
considered out of action until it is reduced to less than –10
hit points.
CONCLUSION
The moment the PCs kill the last Hulk of Zoretha, all five
bodies begin to crumble into ash, and the PCs immediately
feel the effect of the blood moon dissipating. The passing of
so great an evil causes the earth to shudder in relief, however,
and the resulting earthquake causes the collapse of
the cavern. PCs should not have much trouble escaping the
Temple of Zoretha unharmed, but if they have not yet looted
the place, it is now too late to do so. Just as they escape, it collapses
completely into rubble with half a crumbled mountain
on top of it. The Hulks of Zoretha and their temple are buried
as if they had never been.
ENCOUNTER 4-3
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