Demonic weeds of the Abyss [Archive] - Wizards Community

Demonic weeds of the Abyss [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The Vorpal Tribble
05-11-05, 09:04 PM Tilinikan

Small Plant (extraplanar)
Hit Dice: 3d8+12 (25 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 20 ft.
Armor Class: 19 (+8 natural, +1 size), touch 11, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+0
Attack: Claw +4 melee (1d4-1 plus wounding)
Full attack: 4 claws +4 melee (1d4-1 plus wounding)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Constrict, deepseed, improved grab, tanglethorn, wounding
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 2/good or slashing, greensight 60 ft., improved woodland stride, plant traits
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +1, Will +2
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 11, Con 18, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 14
Skills: Climb +4, *Hide +2, Move Silently +4
Feats: Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (claw)
Environment: Infinite Layers of the Abyss
Organization: Solitary or Bramble (3-5)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: None
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Advancement: 3-4 HD (small), 5-12 HD (medium)
Level Adjustment: --

Tilinikans appear as miniature trees or bushes with a gnarled trunk about as thick around as a human forearm. The bark covering it is a pale smokey grey and speckled with shallow pockmarks. From this trunk sprouts many branches thick with red, lobed leaves so thin as to be transparent. The leaves appear quite fragile but are in fact a sort of organic crystal. Surporting it are many long, tentacle-like roots covered with large, cruelly barbed thorns.

Where tilinikan's hail from is a great mystery as they have seeded themselves in most of the planes, carried their by their hosts. Because of their nature it is speculated that they are a type of demonic weed from the Abyss, but this is purely speculation. It is accepted though that their origins are certainly not that of the Material plane.

Tilinikan's weigh about 40 lbs, and stand just over three feet high. They can understand abyssal, common and fey, but cannot speak any language but a type of sign language amongst others of their species.

Combat:
Tilinikan's are vicious fighters, turning entire areas into temporary thorny thickets. If any manage to get past the thicket the Tilinikan leaps at its foe, slashing and grasping much like the tangles it produced before. If it grabs ahold it will attempt to constrict, causing copious ammounts of blood to flow.

Deepseed (Ex):
If at any time a tilinikan deals a critical blow one of its thorns breaks off and imbeds itself deep within the flesh of its opponent. It quickly sends out rootlets to brace itself within and begins feeding off the blood of this victim. Unless removed, it grows quickly, forming a large boil under the host's skin, which within a week bursts (dealing 1d4 damage) and deposits a bloody globule. The globule burrows into the available soil, using acid to aid its course if the ground is rocky. 1d4 weeks later it digs its way back out, full grown. To remove the thorn requires a good deal of flesh to be cut out, dealing 1d6 damage.

Greensight (Ex):
A Tilinikan's 'foliage' can feel light, allowing it normal vision. However, because of this type of sight it is immune to all forms of blinding and sneak attacks. The tilinikan can also sense warmth, giving it the equivalent of darkvision out to 40 feet.

Constrict (Ex):
A tilinikan deals 1d3-1 points of damage with a successful grapple check and deals 2 points of constitution damage from bloodloss per round.

Improved Grab (Ex):
To use this ability, an Tilinikan must hit with its claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.

A tilinikin gains a +4 racial bonus on grapple checks. This bonus is included in the statistics above.

Improved Woodland Stride (Ex):
A tilinikan may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at its normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment. This ability even works within thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that have been magically manipulated to impede motion.

Tanglethorn (Su):
As a full-round action a tilinikan can send out its roots to possess all plants within a 20 foot radius. These plants sprout viciously curving thorns that begin to thrash violently, entwining about creatures in the area or those that enter the area, holding them fast and causing them to become entangled. The creature can break free and move half its normal speed by using a full-round action to make a DC 20 Strength check or a DC 20 Escape Artist check. A creature that succeeds on a Reflex save is not entangled but can still move at only half speed through the area. Each round on the victim's turn, the plants once again attempt to entangle all creatures that have avoided or escaped entanglement. If successfully entangled the flora constricts, dealing 1d6 damage per round. Entangled or no, every creature automatically takes 2d4 slashing and piercing damage while within the radius. This stacks with the damage taken if entangled. The roots of plants also push up and sprout hard, jagged thorns. Those whom walk through this area take damage as if walking upon caltrops. The tilinikan cannot move while using its tanglethorn ability and must maintain concentration. Withdrawing its roots takes a full-round action.

Wounding (Ex):
A tilinikan's thorns are almost supernaturally sharp, and are treated as a Wounding weapon, dealing 1 point of constitution damage from bloodloss when it hits.

Skills: Tilinikan's have a +4 racial bonus on climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened. *They also gain a +6 racial bonus on hide checks in forested areas.
The ShapeLess One
05-11-05, 11:27 PM this is awsome.
Shemeska the Marauder
05-12-05, 01:49 AM Sounds like somebody in the Abyss has been messing around with Razorvine splicing again. :)

I like.
The Vorpal Tribble
05-12-05, 02:11 AM Sounds like somebody in the Abyss has been messing around with Razorvine splicing again.
Funny what inspires critters, eh? ;)

Call them saw briars around my neck of the woods.
R.M.G.C.L.F.
05-12-05, 06:40 AM I think you should increase it's damage roll and strength considering the high CR. It seems like the only real useful weapon it has is tanglethorn.
The Vorpal Tribble
05-12-05, 01:05 PM Well, being a small plant, how would I increase its damage roll without fudging alot of stuff? The improved damage feat for monsters requires a BAB of 4.

But by the time the players get through the thanglethorn they should be pretty beat up even if they managed to avoid getting caught, and then it can personally start dealing 4 damage with all its weapons and 1 con loss per attack.
R.M.G.C.L.F.
05-13-05, 04:33 PM Well, the guidelines presented for creature damage rolls are only suggestions. You can increase or decrease it as you see fit to match the deadlyness of the natural weapon in question. You could also make it stronger.
Lxarth
05-13-05, 04:50 PM I think its pretty cool...I'm interested in the other creatures you may have created as well.

I love the leaves that it has and the wounding ability. I can see someone useing those to aid in creating arrows of wounding, with the leaves as arrowheads of coarse.

I don't think the Strength is too low, given its size and other abilities its fine.

The damage is also fine...just look at Wights damage...1d4 plus energy drain.
was_fired
05-14-05, 08:13 AM I really like the flavor, but I'm not in the mood to do a serious CR breakdown now so I can't say much about the mechanics. One thing I will say is that this creature needs a move passive way to seed itself. As of now this species could never survive since it looks like the only way they can reproduce is scoring a critical hit.

You might want to add a mechanic in which they can passively seed creatures which enter into a nearby radius. Maybe the smell of carion or something which forces fort nearby creatures to make fort saves or suffer from a lesser version of deepseed (ie it takes longer to happen).

The damage seems fine since all I can see it using in combat is tanglethorn which means that much adventurers won't see the plant do much more than sit there unless they try to snipe it, and there is nothing wrong with that. Even without tanglethorn the wounding attack will make a group of these extremely potent provided the attacks connect.
The Vorpal Tribble
08-10-06, 10:54 AM Just really belatedly updated this thing :rolleyes:
Xanril
08-10-06, 11:03 AM Make some flowers next :)
Rickiel
08-10-06, 11:13 AM Oh goody! Another plant to use in my upcoming future d20 campaign!

Which will indeed feature extraplanar creatures and large amounts of weirdness.

Thank you yet again! :)
The Vorpal Tribble
08-10-06, 11:23 AM Make some flowers next :)
I did just last night ;)

Elysium Orchid (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=683167)
Bongitybongbong
08-10-06, 01:29 PM shouldn't it have the chaotic and/or evil subtypes? i mean it lives in the Abyss.
The Vorpal Tribble
08-11-06, 09:37 AM shouldn't it have the chaotic and/or evil subtypes? i mean it lives in the Abyss.
Not really. Its not strongly enough aligned to evil or chaos to have the subtype. Its just a weed that grows there.
Thiez
08-11-06, 11:29 AM Isn't it quite easy to find out what plane it is from? Shoot in an arrow, then Banish it. Then find your arrow back with magick.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The Vorpal Tribble 05-11-05, 09:04 PM	Tilinikan Small Plant (extraplanar) Hit Dice: 3d8+12 (25 hp) Initiative: +0 Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 20 ft. Armor Class: 19 (+8 natural, +1 size), touch 11, flat-footed 19 Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+0 Attack: Claw +4 melee (1d4-1 plus wounding) Full attack: 4 claws +4 melee (1d4-1 plus wounding) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks: Constrict, deepseed, improved grab, tanglethorn, wounding Special Qualities: Damage reduction 2/good or slashing, greensight 60 ft., improved woodland stride, plant traits Saves: Fort +7, Ref +1, Will +2 Abilities: Str 8, Dex 11, Con 18, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 14 Skills: Climb +4, Hide +2, Move Silently +4 Feats: Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (claw) Environment: Infinite Layers of the Abyss Organization: Solitary or Bramble (3-5) Challenge Rating: 4 Treasure: None Alignment: Chaotic Evil Advancement: 3-4 HD (small), 5-12 HD (medium) Level Adjustment: -- Tilinikans appear as miniature trees or bushes with a gnarled trunk about as thick around as a human forearm. The bark covering it is a pale smokey grey and speckled with shallow pockmarks. From this trunk sprouts many branches thick with red, lobed leaves so thin as to be transparent. The leaves appear quite fragile but are in fact a sort of organic crystal. Surporting it are many long, tentacle-like roots covered with large, cruelly barbed thorns. Where tilinikan's hail from is a great mystery as they have seeded themselves in most of the planes, carried their by their hosts. Because of their nature it is speculated that they are a type of demonic weed from the Abyss, but this is purely speculation. It is accepted though that their origins are certainly not that of the Material plane. Tilinikan's weigh about 40 lbs, and stand just over three feet high. They can understand abyssal, common and fey, but cannot speak any language but a type of sign language amongst others of their species. Combat: Tilinikan's are vicious fighters, turning entire areas into temporary thorny thickets. If any manage to get past the thicket the Tilinikan leaps at its foe, slashing and grasping much like the tangles it produced before. If it grabs ahold it will attempt to constrict, causing copious ammounts of blood to flow. Deepseed (Ex): If at any time a tilinikan deals a critical blow one of its thorns breaks off and imbeds itself deep within the flesh of its opponent. It quickly sends out rootlets to brace itself within and begins feeding off the blood of this victim. Unless removed, it grows quickly, forming a large boil under the host's skin, which within a week bursts (dealing 1d4 damage) and deposits a bloody globule. The globule burrows into the available soil, using acid to aid its course if the ground is rocky. 1d4 weeks later it digs its way back out, full grown. To remove the thorn requires a good deal of flesh to be cut out, dealing 1d6 damage. Greensight (Ex): A Tilinikan's 'foliage' can feel light, allowing it normal vision. However, because of this type of sight it is immune to all forms of blinding and sneak attacks. The tilinikan can also sense warmth, giving it the equivalent of darkvision out to 40 feet. Constrict (Ex): A tilinikan deals 1d3-1 points of damage with a successful grapple check and deals 2 points of constitution damage from bloodloss per round. Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, an Tilinikan must hit with its claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict. A tilinikin gains a +4 racial bonus on grapple checks. This bonus is included in the statistics above. Improved Woodland Stride (Ex): A tilinikan may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at its normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment. This ability even works within thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that have been magically manipulated to impede motion. Tanglethorn (Su): As a full-round action a tilinikan can send out its roots to possess all plants within a 20 foot radius. These plants sprout viciously curving thorns that begin to thrash violently, entwining about creatures in the area or those that enter the area, holding them fast and causing them to become entangled. The creature can break free and move half its normal speed by using a full-round action to make a DC 20 Strength check or a DC 20 Escape Artist check. A creature that succeeds on a Reflex save is not entangled but can still move at only half speed through the area. Each round on the victim's turn, the plants once again attempt to entangle all creatures that have avoided or escaped entanglement. If successfully entangled the flora constricts, dealing 1d6 damage per round. Entangled or no, every creature automatically takes 2d4 slashing and piercing damage while within the radius. This stacks with the damage taken if entangled. The roots of plants also push up and sprout hard, jagged thorns. Those whom walk through this area take damage as if walking upon caltrops. The tilinikan cannot move while using its tanglethorn ability and must maintain concentration. Withdrawing its roots takes a full-round action. Wounding (Ex): A tilinikan's thorns are almost supernaturally sharp, and are treated as a Wounding weapon, dealing 1 point of constitution damage from bloodloss when it hits. Skills: Tilinikan's have a +4 racial bonus on climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened. They also gain a +6 racial bonus on hide checks in forested areas.
The ShapeLess One 05-11-05, 11:27 PM	this is awsome.
Shemeska the Marauder 05-12-05, 01:49 AM	Sounds like somebody in the Abyss has been messing around with Razorvine splicing again. :) I like.
The Vorpal Tribble 05-12-05, 02:11 AM	Sounds like somebody in the Abyss has been messing around with Razorvine splicing again. Funny what inspires critters, eh? ;) Call them saw briars around my neck of the woods.
R.M.G.C.L.F. 05-12-05, 06:40 AM	I think you should increase it's damage roll and strength considering the high CR. It seems like the only real useful weapon it has is tanglethorn.
The Vorpal Tribble 05-12-05, 01:05 PM	Well, being a small plant, how would I increase its damage roll without fudging alot of stuff? The improved damage feat for monsters requires a BAB of 4. But by the time the players get through the thanglethorn they should be pretty beat up even if they managed to avoid getting caught, and then it can personally start dealing 4 damage with all its weapons and 1 con loss per attack.
R.M.G.C.L.F. 05-13-05, 04:33 PM	Well, the guidelines presented for creature damage rolls are only suggestions. You can increase or decrease it as you see fit to match the deadlyness of the natural weapon in question. You could also make it stronger.
Lxarth 05-13-05, 04:50 PM	I think its pretty cool...I'm interested in the other creatures you may have created as well. I love the leaves that it has and the wounding ability. I can see someone useing those to aid in creating arrows of wounding, with the leaves as arrowheads of coarse. I don't think the Strength is too low, given its size and other abilities its fine. The damage is also fine...just look at Wights damage...1d4 plus energy drain.
was_fired 05-14-05, 08:13 AM	I really like the flavor, but I'm not in the mood to do a serious CR breakdown now so I can't say much about the mechanics. One thing I will say is that this creature needs a move passive way to seed itself. As of now this species could never survive since it looks like the only way they can reproduce is scoring a critical hit. You might want to add a mechanic in which they can passively seed creatures which enter into a nearby radius. Maybe the smell of carion or something which forces fort nearby creatures to make fort saves or suffer from a lesser version of deepseed (ie it takes longer to happen). The damage seems fine since all I can see it using in combat is tanglethorn which means that much adventurers won't see the plant do much more than sit there unless they try to snipe it, and there is nothing wrong with that. Even without tanglethorn the wounding attack will make a group of these extremely potent provided the attacks connect.
The Vorpal Tribble 08-10-06, 10:54 AM	Just really belatedly updated this thing :rolleyes:
Xanril 08-10-06, 11:03 AM	Make some flowers next :)
Rickiel 08-10-06, 11:13 AM	Oh goody! Another plant to use in my upcoming future d20 campaign! Which will indeed feature extraplanar creatures and large amounts of weirdness. Thank you yet again! :)
The Vorpal Tribble 08-10-06, 11:23 AM	Make some flowers next :) I did just last night ;) Elysium Orchid (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=683167)
Bongitybongbong 08-10-06, 01:29 PM	shouldn't it have the chaotic and/or evil subtypes? i mean it lives in the Abyss.
The Vorpal Tribble 08-11-06, 09:37 AM	shouldn't it have the chaotic and/or evil subtypes? i mean it lives in the Abyss. Not really. Its not strongly enough aligned to evil or chaos to have the subtype. Its just a weed that grows there.
Thiez 08-11-06, 11:29 AM	Isn't it quite easy to find out what plane it is from? Shoot in an arrow, then Banish it. Then find your arrow back with magick.