Alextrus (monster of the Week #86) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alextrus (monster of the Week #86) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
cwslyclgh
03-08-04, 10:57 PM welcome to Monster of the Week #86, as always I want your feedback, good, bad, what have you.

Wes :)

Alextrus
Large Outsider (Evil, Extraplanar)
Hit Dice: 5d8+15 (37 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 40ft.
Armor Class: 16 (-1 size, +2 dex, +5 natural) Touch 11 Flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+13
Attack: Claw +8 melee (1d6+4) or Butt +8 melee (2d4+4)
Full Attack: 2 claws +8 melee (1d6+4), bite +3 melee (1d8+2); or Butt +8 melee (2d4+4)
Space/Reach: 10ft./10ft.
Special Attacks: Ram, Spell-like Abilities
Special Qualities: Immunity to Acid and Poison, Resistance 10 to cold, electricity, and fire, Damage Reduction 5/magic, SR 14, Telepathy 60ft.
Saves: Fort: +7, Ref: +8, Will: +4
Abilities: Str: 19, Dex: 14, Con: 16, Int: 9, Wis: 11, Cha: 12
Skills: Balance +16, Climb +18, Jump +18, Listen +7, Spot +8
Feats: Alertness, Lightning Reflexes
Environment: The Tarterian Depths of Carceri
Organization: single, pair, or flock (3-8)
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always Chaotic Evil
Advancement: 6-12 HD (large)
Level Adjustment: --

Standing close to nine feet tall, this creature is a mass of muscle and sinew. The legs are animalistic, with cloven hooves in the place of feet, and rams horns curl from the top of its head. The creatures powerful arms end in thick fingered clawed hands, and it has a wide, many fanged mouth.

Colothys, the fourth layer of Carceri is one of never-ending mountains, impossibly deep valleys, and perpetual cliffs. The Alextrus are at home in these forbidding surroundings. Alextrus are neither the most powerful nor the most intelligent of the creatures that populate Colothys, they are however, one of the most plentiful. More powerful and intelligent denizens of the prison plane sometimes use Alextrus as cannon fodder in their escape plans, however due to their inherently chaotic nature Alextrus are not generally considered reliable servants.

Alextrus live on the cliffs and ledges of Carceri’s fourth layer, gracefully leaping from rock to rock. They tend to ignore other Denezins of the prison plane, but will savagely attack any other creatures that they see that they see. They are brutish and cruel. Alextrus speak Abyssal. At the DM's option Alextrus can be added to the Summon Monster V list of monsters.

COMBAT

Alextrus revel in the glory of combat, attacking creatures that do not belong in Colothys with a savage glee. They are disorganized and use swarm tactics unless ordered to do otherwise by a stronger creatures that they have pledged loyalty to.

Ram (Ex): An Alextrus will often begin combat by lowering its head and charging at an opponent, bringing its mighty horns into play. In addition to the normal benefits and hazards of a charge, this allows the Alextrus to make a single Butt attack that deals double damage.

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): At will—bane (DC 12), blur, detect magic, dimension door, cause fear (DC12), feather fall, protection from good, and spider climb. These abilities are as the spells cast by a 4th level sorcerer. The save DC’s are Charisma based.

Skills: Alextrus get a +6 racial bonus to balance, climb and jump checks. (already factored in above)
Darkest90
03-09-04, 01:04 AM You want a comment?

On the good side: This monster was pretty good, I like it. Well-written out, the statistics are figured perfectly.

On the neutral side: Eh, I might use the Alextrus, but to me, I like using really unique monsters. Actually, its not just that, its just that I didn't get enough information about the Alextrus. If you gave me more information on their society, and maybe Alextrus player characters, and their economy and what-not, I might be more interested.

For example, how long does an Alextrus live? Do they live in family units. How would a typical Alextrus spend his day. What do they eat? Who are their enemies? Why would they want to attack the players? What evil plot may they be a part of?

Anyway, it was good, very well-written, as I said, but I just think that there could have been more to it than what you put down.

- Darkest90
Eye of the Beholder
03-09-04, 08:11 AM Living on a layer that's all cliffs and crevices a natural choice would be sure-footedness (although I notice it does have featherfall and spider climb, nice) and to have its ram attack also be a bull rush, for knocking people off ledges. Giving it telekinesis as a spell-like ability would work even better, or maybe some monster-specific version that works as a ray (ranged touch attack instead of save to negate) and could only use the 'violent thrust' option. As stands it's a pretty cool looking beastie (the design is classic for a reason) but a little stereotypical, just another horned, cloven-toed fiend.
cwslyclgh
03-10-04, 04:14 PM Anyway, it was good, very well-written, as I said, but I just think that there could have been more to it than what you put down. so you think all the demons and devils in the monster manual are way underwritten too I take it? ;)

The Alextrus is a type of fiend that comes from Carceri, Brain and Dion (Rothgar Skullspliter and Athyton on the boards) came up with a new type of fiend called the Achaios (Similar to the tannari, baatezu, yugoloth etc), which had long been imprisoned on the plane Tartarus (carceri) for the 3.0 Monster compilation called Chronicles of Terror that we put together and released as a free PDF. Once they came up with the basic traits of the Achaios in general, Brain, Myself, Law, and Krishanith (sp?) each contributed several types of Achaios to the group. The Alextrus is one of those that I submitted. The version here is updated to 3.5, and has had all mention of the other achaios' removed, so that it can be used more genericaly. (as an Aside, I generaly leave my monsters of the week pretty vague, so that DM's who want to use them can have the greatest amount of flexibility working them into thier game).

as to the typicaly demonic/fiendish appearence... (Cloven hooves and horns and what not), when I created the Alextrus I was given a piece of artwork which I created the monster from... had I created it entirely from scratch it is likley that it would have tuned out somewhat different in appearence. although I am happy with the creature as is.

specific questions:

how long does an Alextrus live? until killed, like most fiends thay are potential immortal, but thier life span doesn't ussualy last that long in the violent lower planes.

Do they live in family units. they live in flocks.

What do they eat? Technically they do not need to eat (see outsider type on page 313 of the 3.5 MM) but they do enjoy feasting on the flesh of thier fallen foes.

How would a typical Alextrus spend his day. leaping around the cliffs of Colothys

Who are their enemies? the Alextruses consider anybody not native to carceri thier enemies.

Why would they want to attack the players? see above

What evil plot may they be a part of? as stated more powerful creatures of Carceri sometimes try to use them in thier escape plans.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
cwslyclgh 03-08-04, 10:57 PM	welcome to Monster of the Week #86, as always I want your feedback, good, bad, what have you. Wes :) Alextrus Large Outsider (Evil, Extraplanar) Hit Dice: 5d8+15 (37 hp) Initiative: +2 Speed: 40ft. Armor Class: 16 (-1 size, +2 dex, +5 natural) Touch 11 Flat-footed 14 Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+13 Attack: Claw +8 melee (1d6+4) or Butt +8 melee (2d4+4) Full Attack: 2 claws +8 melee (1d6+4), bite +3 melee (1d8+2); or Butt +8 melee (2d4+4) Space/Reach: 10ft./10ft. Special Attacks: Ram, Spell-like Abilities Special Qualities: Immunity to Acid and Poison, Resistance 10 to cold, electricity, and fire, Damage Reduction 5/magic, SR 14, Telepathy 60ft. Saves: Fort: +7, Ref: +8, Will: +4 Abilities: Str: 19, Dex: 14, Con: 16, Int: 9, Wis: 11, Cha: 12 Skills: Balance +16, Climb +18, Jump +18, Listen +7, Spot +8 Feats: Alertness, Lightning Reflexes Environment: The Tarterian Depths of Carceri Organization: single, pair, or flock (3-8) Challenge Rating: 5 Treasure: Standard Alignment: Always Chaotic Evil Advancement: 6-12 HD (large) Level Adjustment: -- Standing close to nine feet tall, this creature is a mass of muscle and sinew. The legs are animalistic, with cloven hooves in the place of feet, and rams horns curl from the top of its head. The creatures powerful arms end in thick fingered clawed hands, and it has a wide, many fanged mouth. Colothys, the fourth layer of Carceri is one of never-ending mountains, impossibly deep valleys, and perpetual cliffs. The Alextrus are at home in these forbidding surroundings. Alextrus are neither the most powerful nor the most intelligent of the creatures that populate Colothys, they are however, one of the most plentiful. More powerful and intelligent denizens of the prison plane sometimes use Alextrus as cannon fodder in their escape plans, however due to their inherently chaotic nature Alextrus are not generally considered reliable servants. Alextrus live on the cliffs and ledges of Carceri’s fourth layer, gracefully leaping from rock to rock. They tend to ignore other Denezins of the prison plane, but will savagely attack any other creatures that they see that they see. They are brutish and cruel. Alextrus speak Abyssal. At the DM's option Alextrus can be added to the Summon Monster V list of monsters. COMBAT Alextrus revel in the glory of combat, attacking creatures that do not belong in Colothys with a savage glee. They are disorganized and use swarm tactics unless ordered to do otherwise by a stronger creatures that they have pledged loyalty to. Ram (Ex): An Alextrus will often begin combat by lowering its head and charging at an opponent, bringing its mighty horns into play. In addition to the normal benefits and hazards of a charge, this allows the Alextrus to make a single Butt attack that deals double damage. Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): At will—bane (DC 12), blur, detect magic, dimension door, cause fear (DC12), feather fall, protection from good, and spider climb. These abilities are as the spells cast by a 4th level sorcerer. The save DC’s are Charisma based. Skills: Alextrus get a +6 racial bonus to balance, climb and jump checks. (already factored in above)
Darkest90 03-09-04, 01:04 AM	You want a comment? On the good side: This monster was pretty good, I like it. Well-written out, the statistics are figured perfectly. On the neutral side: Eh, I might use the Alextrus, but to me, I like using really unique monsters. Actually, its not just that, its just that I didn't get enough information about the Alextrus. If you gave me more information on their society, and maybe Alextrus player characters, and their economy and what-not, I might be more interested. For example, how long does an Alextrus live? Do they live in family units. How would a typical Alextrus spend his day. What do they eat? Who are their enemies? Why would they want to attack the players? What evil plot may they be a part of? Anyway, it was good, very well-written, as I said, but I just think that there could have been more to it than what you put down. - Darkest90
Eye of the Beholder 03-09-04, 08:11 AM	Living on a layer that's all cliffs and crevices a natural choice would be sure-footedness (although I notice it does have featherfall and spider climb, nice) and to have its ram attack also be a bull rush, for knocking people off ledges. Giving it telekinesis as a spell-like ability would work even better, or maybe some monster-specific version that works as a ray (ranged touch attack instead of save to negate) and could only use the 'violent thrust' option. As stands it's a pretty cool looking beastie (the design is classic for a reason) but a little stereotypical, just another horned, cloven-toed fiend.
cwslyclgh 03-10-04, 04:14 PM	Anyway, it was good, very well-written, as I said, but I just think that there could have been more to it than what you put down. so you think all the demons and devils in the monster manual are way underwritten too I take it? ;) The Alextrus is a type of fiend that comes from Carceri, Brain and Dion (Rothgar Skullspliter and Athyton on the boards) came up with a new type of fiend called the Achaios (Similar to the tannari, baatezu, yugoloth etc), which had long been imprisoned on the plane Tartarus (carceri) for the 3.0 Monster compilation called Chronicles of Terror that we put together and released as a free PDF. Once they came up with the basic traits of the Achaios in general, Brain, Myself, Law, and Krishanith (sp?) each contributed several types of Achaios to the group. The Alextrus is one of those that I submitted. The version here is updated to 3.5, and has had all mention of the other achaios' removed, so that it can be used more genericaly. (as an Aside, I generaly leave my monsters of the week pretty vague, so that DM's who want to use them can have the greatest amount of flexibility working them into thier game). as to the typicaly demonic/fiendish appearence... (Cloven hooves and horns and what not), when I created the Alextrus I was given a piece of artwork which I created the monster from... had I created it entirely from scratch it is likley that it would have tuned out somewhat different in appearence. although I am happy with the creature as is. specific questions: how long does an Alextrus live? until killed, like most fiends thay are potential immortal, but thier life span doesn't ussualy last that long in the violent lower planes. Do they live in family units. they live in flocks. What do they eat? Technically they do not need to eat (see outsider type on page 313 of the 3.5 MM) but they do enjoy feasting on the flesh of thier fallen foes. How would a typical Alextrus spend his day. leaping around the cliffs of Colothys Who are their enemies? the Alextruses consider anybody not native to carceri thier enemies. Why would they want to attack the players? see above What evil plot may they be a part of? as stated more powerful creatures of Carceri sometimes try to use them in thier escape plans.