Cerziax [Undeath][PEACH] [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cerziax [Undeath][PEACH] [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
thasis
06-30-06, 08:53 PM This is the first of my monsters to be specifically created for my Undeath and Its Beauties Project. As I want this to be of the finest qualities, please don't be light and fluffy.

Just to cover something, there is mention of the Carssassiex and the 578th layer of the Abyss. The Carssassiex are currently in development still nad the 578th layer of the abyss has yet to be given a full description. They both will be included and linked to this post and vice-versa.

All and all said, enjoy :)

Cerziax

Standing in front of you is a 7ft creature that resembles a half-man half-goat. His body is hunched however, and parts of his skin are decaying and rotting off. His eyes glow a weird eerie blue, and he has a large set of fangs. In his large clawed hands lies a large greataxe.

Cerziax
CR 2
Always Chaotic Evil Medium Undead (Extraplanar)
Int +2; Senses Darkvision 60ft, Listen +4, Spot +4
Languages Abyssal
--------------------------------------------------------
AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-Footed 13, Armor Modifiers
(+3 Studded Leather Armor, +2 Dex)
HP 19 (3 HD)
Immune DR5/Silver or Good, Undead Immunities
Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4
Weakness -
--------------------------------------------------------
Speed 30ft (6 squares)
Melee Greataxe +4 melee (1d12+4/x4) and
Melee Bite -1 Melee (1d8+1)
or
Melee 2 Claws +4 Melee (1d6+3) and
Melee Bite -1 Melee (1d8+1)
Space 5ft; Reach 5ft
Base Attack +1; Grapple +4
Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack, Sorrowfilled Bite
Combat Gear Greataxe, Studded Leather Armor
Spells/Powers/Etc Known (CL )
--------------------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 17, Dex 14, Con -, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 11
Feats Power Attack, Cleave
Skills Listen +4, Spot +4
Possessions -
Advancement By Character Class; Favored Class Fighter
--------------------------------------------------------
Sorrowfilled Bite (Su): If the Cerziax successfully hits a living creature with his bite attack the creature must make a will save (DC11, based of Charisma) or feel his very energy and desire to continue start to be drained from him giving him a -3 moral penalty on all attacks and saves for 1d4 rounds.

Created by the evil Carssassiex necromancer-demons, the Cerziax are undead abominations and lesser versions of their necromancer masters. Cerziax hail from the 578th lair of the abyss, known as The Realm of Eternal Carssassiation (an infernal term relating to the Carssassiex). There the Cerziax act as guards, infantry, and the general warriors in the Carssassiex armies. Some Cerziax are elevated to a special status known as Cerziax elite. This is covered in detail in the Society sub-section.

Strategies and Tactics

The Cerziax are not bright creatures, so they're attack strategies are almost never intricate or complicated. Their attack strategies usually involve massing their opponents and taking them by number. Their natural ability to demoralize their enemies is also a crucial part of their attack method.

Lore

All knowledge checks pertaining to the Cerziax are revealed through Knowledge (Religion) or Knowledge (The Planes) checks.

DC14 - The beings are known as Cerziax, they are demonic undead.
DC17 - They originate from the plane known as The Realm of Eternal Carssassiation (The 578th lair of the Abyss)
DC19 - Cerziax have a powerful morale weakening bite attacks.
DC21 - They were created by demonic creatures known as the Carssassiex, powerful Necromancer Demons who rule The Realm of Eternal Carssassiation.

Ecology

Cerziax have a intricate bodily system powered by a combination of negative energy and demonic energy. This combination is what grants them their morale draining abilities. Their body is mainly covered in rotting flesh. The decaying effect is caused by their death, but this only happens after centuries of existence, as the Carssassiex originally created them to stay generally intact. During their early years their skin is more intact, with only an occasional area of decaying flesh.

Environment: The Realm of Eternal Carssassiation
Typical Physical Characteristics: Similar to a goat-man, Decaying flesh, Demonic nature
Alignment: Always Chaotic Evil

Society

The Cerziax have a very limited social society, due to their enslaved status and unintelligent nature. They do retain some amounts of freedom during their very limited break periods. During that time they usually compete in fighting matches to prove superiority to each other, or they stalk travelers.
Some Cerziax who prove themselves worthy to their masters are sometimes allowed for training. They become effectively known as Cerziax Elite. They are allowed to progress in the fighter progression properly.

Typical Treasure

The Cerziax doesn't have any treasure.

Cerziax with Class Levels

The Cerziax's favored class is the Fighter. They are in a militaristic society, so for the few that do rise into a higher level of status then their kin (which is rare) tend to focus on their fighting aspects.
Rerecros
06-30-06, 09:06 PM It's an awesome demon, but you can't turn outsiders into undead.
dok
06-30-06, 10:02 PM First, let me say I hate the new format for monsters. Not just asthetically, but because it's a lot harder to deconstruct the monster, which makes checking it for errors also more difficult.

Int +2; Senses Darkvision 60ft, Listen + , Spot +
I assume you just forgot to fill in the values below for Listen & Spot?

Immune DR5/Silver, Undead Immunities
DR 5/material is a bit strong for a CR 2 monster. DR 5/magic is probably more approproate, or DR 5/Silver or Good, but it's a minor point. Leaving it 5/silver won't be the end of the world.

Skills Listen +4, Spot +3
adjusting out for Wisdom modifier, it looks like you've got 3 ranks in Listen, and 2 in Spot. A 3 HD creature with any intelligence score has a minimum of 6 ranks. Listen & Spot should both be +4.

Sorrowfilled Bite (Sp): If the Cerziax successfully hits a living creature with his bite attack the creature must make a will save (DC11) or feel his very energy and desire to continue start to be drained from him giving him a -3 moral penalty on all attacks and saves for 1d4 rounds.

If it's a spell-like ability, what spell is it based off of?
If it's a Spell-like ability, the DC should be 10 + spell level + Charisma modifier; I know of no 1st level spell that causes a -3 morale penalty on attacks and saves?
If it's a spell-like ability, what is the caster level?

I think you mean this to be a Supernatural, or Su ability, which would have a DC of 10 + 1/2 HD + relevant ability score. If that's the case, you still need to state what ability score is used to calculate the DC. (probably Charisma, but you'll need to add a line saying "the DC is charisma-based")

Overall, it's not a bad monster, but it's not great either. It has Combat Reflexes, but I don't see it getting a lot of milage out of that feat. It has Power Attack, but with a BAB of only +1 and no other feats in the 'power-attack-chain', that too seems like an odd feat.

Their Sorrowfull bite isn't cumulative, which means that after the first bite, additional bites just deal damage, and don't even have a good chance of hitting.

I don't think this creature is CR 2. It's got a less effective, less threatening special attack than a Ghoul (CR 1, 3 HD Undead), and it's got less special defenses than a Dretch. (CR 2, 2 HD Outsider)

I'd change the DR to 5/Magic or Silver, I'd lower the CR, and I'd consider alternative approaches to the Sorrowful Bite. Maybe a Will saving throw or suffer a -1 cumulative penalty to Wisdom and Charisma, lasting for 1 minute?
thasis
07-01-06, 12:40 AM Other then the formatting (which I find easier to use, and I'm trying to keep up with WotC standards of formatting), I've fixed everything. I decided to keep with Power Attack, but replaced Combat Reflexes with Cleave making Power Attack necessary.
Rerecros
07-01-06, 12:52 AM :rolleyes: but it's still undead.
can you go into depth as to how they are made.
the undead have no culture on their own, they are a negative of what they were in life.
Is there a race of militaristic goat men (monstrous humanoids) they are being made from?
thasis
07-01-06, 02:24 AM As explained in the description text, yes. They are created on the 578th layer of hell by the Carssassiex, necromancer demons. I could improve on the description of their creation and the such however.
Dracomortis
07-01-06, 11:16 AM First, let me say I hate the new format for monsters. Not just asthetically, but because it's a lot harder to deconstruct the monster, which makes checking it for errors also more difficult.
Agreed, it's really hard to PEACH monsters in the new format. It might work for published books and finished monsters, but not ones in the works. Anyway...
Immune DR5/Silver and Good
You took dok's advice the wrong way. He suggested DR 5/silver or good, not and. No character at second level is going to be able to overcome this thing's DR if it's both.
thasis
07-01-06, 01:54 PM Ooops, that was actualy a spelling mistake :rolleyes:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
thasis 06-30-06, 08:53 PM	This is the first of my monsters to be specifically created for my Undeath and Its Beauties Project. As I want this to be of the finest qualities, please don't be light and fluffy. Just to cover something, there is mention of the Carssassiex and the 578th layer of the Abyss. The Carssassiex are currently in development still nad the 578th layer of the abyss has yet to be given a full description. They both will be included and linked to this post and vice-versa. All and all said, enjoy :) Cerziax Standing in front of you is a 7ft creature that resembles a half-man half-goat. His body is hunched however, and parts of his skin are decaying and rotting off. His eyes glow a weird eerie blue, and he has a large set of fangs. In his large clawed hands lies a large greataxe. Cerziax CR 2 Always Chaotic Evil Medium Undead (Extraplanar) Int +2; Senses Darkvision 60ft, Listen +4, Spot +4 Languages Abyssal -------------------------------------------------------- AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-Footed 13, Armor Modifiers (+3 Studded Leather Armor, +2 Dex) HP 19 (3 HD) Immune DR5/Silver or Good, Undead Immunities Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4 Weakness - -------------------------------------------------------- Speed 30ft (6 squares) Melee Greataxe +4 melee (1d12+4/x4) and Melee Bite -1 Melee (1d8+1) or Melee 2 Claws +4 Melee (1d6+3) and Melee Bite -1 Melee (1d8+1) Space 5ft; Reach 5ft Base Attack +1; Grapple +4 Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack, Sorrowfilled Bite Combat Gear Greataxe, Studded Leather Armor Spells/Powers/Etc Known (CL ) -------------------------------------------------------- Abilities Str 17, Dex 14, Con -, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 11 Feats Power Attack, Cleave Skills Listen +4, Spot +4 Possessions - Advancement By Character Class; Favored Class Fighter -------------------------------------------------------- Sorrowfilled Bite (Su): If the Cerziax successfully hits a living creature with his bite attack the creature must make a will save (DC11, based of Charisma) or feel his very energy and desire to continue start to be drained from him giving him a -3 moral penalty on all attacks and saves for 1d4 rounds. Created by the evil Carssassiex necromancer-demons, the Cerziax are undead abominations and lesser versions of their necromancer masters. Cerziax hail from the 578th lair of the abyss, known as The Realm of Eternal Carssassiation (an infernal term relating to the Carssassiex). There the Cerziax act as guards, infantry, and the general warriors in the Carssassiex armies. Some Cerziax are elevated to a special status known as Cerziax elite. This is covered in detail in the Society sub-section. Strategies and Tactics The Cerziax are not bright creatures, so they're attack strategies are almost never intricate or complicated. Their attack strategies usually involve massing their opponents and taking them by number. Their natural ability to demoralize their enemies is also a crucial part of their attack method. Lore All knowledge checks pertaining to the Cerziax are revealed through Knowledge (Religion) or Knowledge (The Planes) checks. DC14 - The beings are known as Cerziax, they are demonic undead. DC17 - They originate from the plane known as The Realm of Eternal Carssassiation (The 578th lair of the Abyss) DC19 - Cerziax have a powerful morale weakening bite attacks. DC21 - They were created by demonic creatures known as the Carssassiex, powerful Necromancer Demons who rule The Realm of Eternal Carssassiation. Ecology Cerziax have a intricate bodily system powered by a combination of negative energy and demonic energy. This combination is what grants them their morale draining abilities. Their body is mainly covered in rotting flesh. The decaying effect is caused by their death, but this only happens after centuries of existence, as the Carssassiex originally created them to stay generally intact. During their early years their skin is more intact, with only an occasional area of decaying flesh. Environment: The Realm of Eternal Carssassiation Typical Physical Characteristics: Similar to a goat-man, Decaying flesh, Demonic nature Alignment: Always Chaotic Evil Society The Cerziax have a very limited social society, due to their enslaved status and unintelligent nature. They do retain some amounts of freedom during their very limited break periods. During that time they usually compete in fighting matches to prove superiority to each other, or they stalk travelers. Some Cerziax who prove themselves worthy to their masters are sometimes allowed for training. They become effectively known as Cerziax Elite. They are allowed to progress in the fighter progression properly. Typical Treasure The Cerziax doesn't have any treasure. Cerziax with Class Levels The Cerziax's favored class is the Fighter. They are in a militaristic society, so for the few that do rise into a higher level of status then their kin (which is rare) tend to focus on their fighting aspects.
Rerecros 06-30-06, 09:06 PM	It's an awesome demon, but you can't turn outsiders into undead.
dok 06-30-06, 10:02 PM	First, let me say I hate the new format for monsters. Not just asthetically, but because it's a lot harder to deconstruct the monster, which makes checking it for errors also more difficult. Int +2; Senses Darkvision 60ft, Listen + , Spot + I assume you just forgot to fill in the values below for Listen & Spot? Immune DR5/Silver, Undead Immunities DR 5/material is a bit strong for a CR 2 monster. DR 5/magic is probably more approproate, or DR 5/Silver or Good, but it's a minor point. Leaving it 5/silver won't be the end of the world. Skills Listen +4, Spot +3 adjusting out for Wisdom modifier, it looks like you've got 3 ranks in Listen, and 2 in Spot. A 3 HD creature with any intelligence score has a minimum of 6 ranks. Listen & Spot should both be +4. Sorrowfilled Bite (Sp): If the Cerziax successfully hits a living creature with his bite attack the creature must make a will save (DC11) or feel his very energy and desire to continue start to be drained from him giving him a -3 moral penalty on all attacks and saves for 1d4 rounds. If it's a spell-like ability, what spell is it based off of? If it's a Spell-like ability, the DC should be 10 + spell level + Charisma modifier; I know of no 1st level spell that causes a -3 morale penalty on attacks and saves? If it's a spell-like ability, what is the caster level? I think you mean this to be a Supernatural, or Su ability, which would have a DC of 10 + 1/2 HD + relevant ability score. If that's the case, you still need to state what ability score is used to calculate the DC. (probably Charisma, but you'll need to add a line saying "the DC is charisma-based") Overall, it's not a bad monster, but it's not great either. It has Combat Reflexes, but I don't see it getting a lot of milage out of that feat. It has Power Attack, but with a BAB of only +1 and no other feats in the 'power-attack-chain', that too seems like an odd feat. Their Sorrowfull bite isn't cumulative, which means that after the first bite, additional bites just deal damage, and don't even have a good chance of hitting. I don't think this creature is CR 2. It's got a less effective, less threatening special attack than a Ghoul (CR 1, 3 HD Undead), and it's got less special defenses than a Dretch. (CR 2, 2 HD Outsider) I'd change the DR to 5/Magic or Silver, I'd lower the CR, and I'd consider alternative approaches to the Sorrowful Bite. Maybe a Will saving throw or suffer a -1 cumulative penalty to Wisdom and Charisma, lasting for 1 minute?
thasis 07-01-06, 12:40 AM	Other then the formatting (which I find easier to use, and I'm trying to keep up with WotC standards of formatting), I've fixed everything. I decided to keep with Power Attack, but replaced Combat Reflexes with Cleave making Power Attack necessary.
Rerecros 07-01-06, 12:52 AM	:rolleyes: but it's still undead. can you go into depth as to how they are made. the undead have no culture on their own, they are a negative of what they were in life. Is there a race of militaristic goat men (monstrous humanoids) they are being made from?
thasis 07-01-06, 02:24 AM	As explained in the description text, yes. They are created on the 578th layer of hell by the Carssassiex, necromancer demons. I could improve on the description of their creation and the such however.
Dracomortis 07-01-06, 11:16 AM	First, let me say I hate the new format for monsters. Not just asthetically, but because it's a lot harder to deconstruct the monster, which makes checking it for errors also more difficult. Agreed, it's really hard to PEACH monsters in the new format. It might work for published books and finished monsters, but not ones in the works. Anyway... Immune DR5/Silver and Good You took dok's advice the wrong way. He suggested DR 5/silver or good, not and. No character at second level is going to be able to overcome this thing's DR if it's both.
thasis 07-01-06, 01:54 PM	Ooops, that was actualy a spelling mistake :rolleyes: