Elder Evils

CHAPTER 6
PANDORYM
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the caster gains 1d4 negative levels per round. For each
negative level the caster gains, the mind shard heals 20
hit points. The bond lasts for up to 10 rounds, or until the
mind shard breaks it or the caster dies. A caster who receives
as many negative levels as Hit Dice dies and rises
as a dread wraith in the following round.
A mind shard can have only one siphoning bond active
at a time. Maintaining a bond requires no effort.
Summon Undead (Su) Three times per day, a mind shard
of Pandorym can summon one of the following undead
groups: 2d4 allips, 1d3 ethereal oozes (Fiend Folio 63),
2d4 quells (Libris Mortis 116), 1d6 wraiths, or 1d3 dread
wraiths. The undead arrive in 1d4 rounds and serve for 24
hours or until released.
Vampiric Ego Whip (Su) As the ego whip power (DC 27), but
requires only a swift action, and the mind shard regains
2 power points per point of damage dealt. A mind shard
can use this ability once every 1d4 rounds.
Psionics (Ex) A mind shard of Pandorym can expend the
equivalent of 20,000 XP on powers that have an XP cost.
Anathematic Secrecy (Su) A mind shard of Pandorym is immune
to all divine divination spell effects.
Corporealize (Su) As a move action, a mind shard of Pandorym
can materialize a part of itself into a corporeal
form, usually a pseudopod or tentacle. The mind shard
uses this ability to interact with the material world outside
of combat—picking up or moving objects, opening
doors, and so on. It corporealizes in combat only to move
an item out of the reach of an enemy, to disarm a foe
wielding a ghost touch weapon, or to otherwise remove
something that can harm it. A mind shard can have up to
twelve corporeal appendages in existence at one time.
An opponent can make sunder attempts against an appendage
as if it were a weapon. An appendage has 40 hit
points and does not gain a deflection bonus to Armor
Class (giving it an AC of 26). Severing the appendage
deals 20 points of damage to the mind shard.
Limited Existence (Ex) A mind shard of Pandorym exists for
only 24 hours before evaporating. A mind shard reduced
to 0 hit points immediately evaporates. A mind shard’s
evaporation does not affect Pandorym’s mind in any way.
Nondetection (Su) As the nondetection spell; continuous;
caster level 20th.
Nonlinear Time Awareness (Su) As a native of an alien reality,
Pandorym senses the flow of time differently from how
ordinary creatures do. This ability grants a mind shard of
Pandorym an insight bonus to its Armor Class equal to its
Intelligence modifi er (usually +12).
Swift Focus (Ex) Three times per day, a mind shard of Pandorym
can regain its psionic focus as a swift action. Doing
so requires a DC 40 Concentration check.
Telepathic Backlash (Su) Whenever a creature targets a mind
shard of Pandorym with a telepathy power or an enchantment
spell, the manifesting or casting creature must
immediately make a DC 48 Will save. A creature that fails
this save is affected as by a feeblemind spell (PH 229).
LUCATHER MAJII
“I have seen it, Tune. I have finally seen what gave the very gods
pause. That which, through its calling, brought about the destruction
of our ancestors. I have seen . . . the end of the world.”
—Lucather Majii, loremaster pawn
GOALS
Lucather Majii’s greatest desire was to know the truth behind
the destruction of his ancestors. He explored ever more
ancient and mysterious ruins in search of clues. He used
his powers of persuasion to convince or to trick people into
divulging secrets he desired. The culmination of that search
was discovering the prison of Pandorym’s mind, but the
experience stripped him of his life and free will. His mind
was overwhelmed by the elder evil’s crushing power, which
ripped his very soul from his body.
Now an incorporeal pawn, Lucather Majii continues his
obsessive search for knowledge on behalf of his alien master.
He must now rely more than ever on his ability to manipulate
others. He relentlessly hunts for anyone who has enough
mental fortitude to withstand Pandorym’s consciousness
long enough to free the entity’s psyche. More than a dozen
unfortunate souls met their end in this way, many of them
lingering as horrible undead. Lucather has now turned his
malign intent toward one he is sure can pass the test—his
own daughter. He hopes to lure her, along with other worthy
creatures, into his newly claimed lair.
Once Lucather secures the release of Pandorym’s mind
from its crystalline prison, he intends to seek out the location
of its nonbody. He does not realize that the unbound
immensity of the quasi-living weapon’s mind will destroy
him, completely and irrevocably.
USING LUCATHER MAJII
A master of several puppets, but little more than a marionette
himself, Lucather works best as part of the final challenge in
a campaign. Through his loyal if naïve daughter, he can draw
the PCs to him once they have proven themselves.
If Obligatum VII reaches the ruins above the crystalline
prison complex, Lucather does everything he can to aid
the kolyarut in accomplishing its goals. Attempts by PCs to
stymie the creature within or near the ruins draw Lucather’s
ire; he joins Obligatum VII as an ally in battle. See encounters
6–2 and 6–3 for more about Lucather’s behavior when
confronted in the prison complex.
DESCRIPTION
His encounter with the mind of Pandorym held unforeseen
consequences for Lucather. In addition to stripping away his
free will and instilling a hatred of divinity, constant contact
with the crystalline prison also ripped his soul from his body.
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PANDORYM WITHOUT PSIONICS
The mind shard of Pandorym is an intensely powerful psionic
being. If your campaign does not use psionics, treat the mind
shard as a sorcerer focusing on enchantment spells.
Replace vampiric ego whip with vampiric ray of enfeeblement,
with the same restrictions on its use; the mind shard regains
a spell slot of a level equal to one-half the points of Strength
damage dealt. Its psi-like abilities and metapsionic feats become
spell-like abilities and metamagic feats. Instead of swift focus,
the mind shard has the extraordinary ability to apply metamagic
feats it knows to its spells without increasing casting time.
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