Draeden
by Jamie BatyWotI 107
Colossal Aberration (Extraplanar, Exalted)
Hit Dice: 101d8+505 (959 hp)
Initiative: +8 (+8 Superior Initiative)
Speed: 300ft (60 squares) for encounters; 6 miles per round travelling
Armour Class: 40 (-8 size, +38 natural), touch 2, flat-footed 48
Base Attack/Grapple: +75/+111
Attack: 1 bite +87 melee (1d10+20)
Full Attack: 40 bites +87 melee (1d10+20)
Space/Reach: Special, See Below
Special Attacks: Improved Grab, Mind Power, Swallow Whole, Terrorise
Special Qualities: Darkvision 480ft., SR 60
Saves: Fort +44, Ref +39, Will +103
Abilities: Str 51, Dex 10, Con 21, Int 100, Wis 100, Cha 21
Skills: Concentration +109, Diplomacy +111, Gather Information +109, Knowledge (arcana) +154, Knowledge (history) +154, Knowledge (the planes) +154, Knowledge (religion) +154, Listen +166, Search +154, Sense Motive +156, Spellcraft +164, Spot +166, Survival +154
Feats: Alertness, Cleave, Combat Casting, Combat Expertise, Die Hard, Endurance, Epic Fortitude, Epic Skill Focus (Listen), Epic Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Epic Skill Focus (Spot), Epic Reflexes, Epic Spell Penetration, Epic Will, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Greater Spell Penetration, Improved Combat Casting, Improved Darkvision x7, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Negotiator, Penetrate Damage Reduction (adamantine), Penetrate Damage Reduction (cold iron), Perfect Health, Polyglot, Power Attack, Spell Penetration
Environment: Outer Planes
Organisation: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 80
Treasure: Triple Standard
Alignment: Always Chaotic neutral
Advancement: 101-202 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: -
Draedens are feared and respected by all who are aware of their existence.
A draeden' s true (but rarely seen) appearance is a cluster of 40 tubular strands, all symmetrically attached at a central node and fanning out in all directions. Each strand has a mouth at its end and contains a digestive passage leading to the central node. The node is spherical and ridged, suggesting it's in the shape of a human brain; it is actually the equivalent of a stomach and contains several thousand boulders to aid digestion. These boulders range in size from 1-20ft and are worn to perfect smoothness by constant grinding action and acidic fluids.
The draeden' s intelligence resides throughout a neural network that spans most of the form.
The creature's total length is about 1,000ft per HD; the width of the central node is about 10% of the total length. Therefore a 101 HD draeden is about 19 miles from tip to tip, its central node is nearly two miles across, and each strand is 8 1/2 miles long. A 200 HD draeden will be nearly 38 miles from tip to tip, with the central node more than 3 1/2 miles wide and strands that are 17 miles long.
It is believed that draedens come from one of the millions of unexplored Outer Planes, but after centuries of exploring the Immortals have failed to discover this place.
Draedens are the descendants of beings which existed before the current roster of Immortals came into existence; little is known of those beings, and the draeden don't discuss them. The exact population of draedens is unknown but thought to be at least 1,000. Draedens consider the entire multiverse to be their domain; they will not attack the Immortals to reassert their domain but merely wait until Immortals are absent to take back their domain.
Draedens dislike all elemental material and the substance of the Ethereal and Astral Planes; this is why they eat anything smaller than planet-sized bodies of what they come across. They prefer to wander the depths of perfect vacuum, especially those of the Prime Plane and numerous Outer Planes.
Draedens usually avoid Immortals and the places which interest them, but sometimes attack sites important to the Immortals (for no known reasons). Many Immortals prefer to abandon their minor projects rather than have to face a draeden.
Draeden are extremely rare and are always encountered singly. The can speak all known languages (even many dead languages) and can communicate with almost all creatures.
Combat
Draeden will generally attempt to swallow anything it encounters and let its vast gizzard pummel the victims. Draeden will not swallow anything it perceives as a threat to itself (in the sense that it may cause harm, even fairly briefly.) It will grab those foes and continue to inflict bite damage, or use its mind powers to attack with spells. A single target can be attacked by no more than 20 stands.
Improved Grab (Ex): If a draeden hits with its bite attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If the grapple succeeds, the draeden may hold the victim and inflict bite damage automatically each round. After the hold is established, it may attempt to swallow the creature in any following round.
Mind Power (Sp): As a swift round action, a draeden may create a variety of spell-like effects at the expenditure of Power Points. Draeden possess 30 Power Points per HD to spend. Power Points regenerate with rest at the rate of 1 PP per minute of rest. Draeden are affiliated with the Sphere of Thought. The following are typical uses for the Power Points:
• A draeden can cast any mortal spell at 25th level, but that costs him double the spell level in PP (for example, a fire ball would cost him 6 PP).
• A draeden may cast any immortal spell (PP determined by spell);
• speak to any living or non-living creature (1 PP);
Swallow Whole (Ex): A draeden can try to swallow a grabbed opponent smaller than 1,000ft in any dimension by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed creature takes 4d10+30 points of bludgeoning damage and 6d8+5 points of acid damage per round from the draeden' s gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 100 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 29). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.
A colossal draeden' s gizzard can hold 32 colossal, 128 gargantuan, 512 huge or smaller opponents.
Terrorize (Su): Any creature that sees a draeden must make a Will Save vs DC 65 (Cha Based). If successful, the victim sees the true form of the draeden. If the save is failed, the victim sees the draeden as its worst fear and is panicked for 24hrs.