Library / Bestiary

Worm That Walks

CR 14.00 Vermin NE Medium

Although this robed wizard stands and moves like a man, his body is a writhing mass of squirming, slippery worms.

Description

When a powerful spellcaster with a strong personality, a lust for life, and a remorselessly evil soul dies and is buried in a graveyard infused with eldritch magic, a strange phenomenon sometimes occurs. The flesh of the decaying body fats and instructs the very worms that gnaw, and these graveworms quicken not only on corruption but upon the spellcaster's memories and magical power. The spellcaster's very soul is consumed in this vile process, only to be split apart to inhabit each of the individual chewing worms in so many fragments. The result is a hideous hive mind of slithering life known as a worm that walks—a mass of worms that clings to the vague shape of the body that granted it this new existence, and can wield the powers and magic the spellcaster had in life. A worm that walks retains memories of its life as a spellcaster before its death, but is not undead—it is a hideous new form of undulant life.

“Worm that walks” is a template that can be added to any evil spellcasting creature. A worm that walks retains all the base creature's statistics and abilities except as noted here.

Ability Scores

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Combat Stats

HP: 113 (13d6+65); fast healing 14
AC: 23, touch 17, flat-footed 18 (+6 armor, +4 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 insight)
Speed: 30 ft.
Init: +8
Melee: slam +10 (1d4-1 plus grab)
BAB: +6
CMB: +5 (+13 grapple)
CMD: 26
Fort: +11
Ref: +12
Will: +13
DR: 15/-
Defensive Abilities: worm that walks traits
Racial Modifiers: +8 Perception, +8 Sense Motive, +8 Stealth

Special Attacks

discorporate

grab (Large)

squirming embrace

Special Qualities

arcane bond (staff)

summoner's charm (6 rounds)

Feats

Arcane Armor Training, Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Wondrous Item, Diehard, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Light Armor Proficiency, Scribe Scroll, Toughness, Weapon Finesse

Skills

Craft (alchemy) +21, Fly +20, Intimidate +13, Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, planes) +21, Perception +22, Sense Motive +9, Spellcraft +21, Stealth +12

Spells

arcane school spell-like abilities:

(CL 13th; concentration +18)

At will-dimensional steps (390 feet/day)

8/day-acid dart (1d6+6 acid)

conjurer spells prepared:

7th—Plane Shift, 7th—Project Image, 6th—Acid Fog, 6th—Disintegrate, 6th—Summon Monster VI, 5th—Cloudkill, 5th—Dismissal, 5th—Shadow Evocation, 5th—Telekinesis, 5th—Teleport, 4th—Black Tentacles, 4th—Confusion, 4th—Dimension Door, 4th—Phantasmal Killer, 4th—Summon Monster IV, 3rd—Dispel Magic, 3rd—Fly, 3rd—Protection From Energy, 3rd—Slow, 3rd—Stinking Cloud, 3rd—Summon Monster III, 2nd—Acid Arrow, 2nd—Detect Thoughts, 2nd—Fog Cloud, 2nd—Glitterdust, 2nd—Invisibility, 2nd—Summon Swarm, 1st—Charm Person, 1st—Feather Fall, 1st—Grease, 1st—Obscuring Mist, 1st—Protection From Good, 1st—Reduce Person, 1st—Shield, At will—Detect Magic, At will—Mage Hand, At will—Prestidigitation, At will—Read Magic

Details

Type: Vermin
Alignment: NE
Size: Medium
Environment: any
Organization: solitary
Treasure: NPC Gear (+4 leather armor, cloak of resistance +4, staff of charming)
Senses: blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +22
Languages: Abyssal, Aklo, Common, Infernal
Source: Bestiary 2

Rules