The Drow War Book Two. The Dying Of - RoseRed

222
Spell-Like Abilities: At the start of this, the trapped
essence within the Gorger has 3d4+3 levels (enough
fuel for thirty to seventy-five uses). Once per round, the
Gorger can use one of the following abilities: confusion
(DC 19), control undead (DC 22), ghoul touch (DC 17),
lesser planar ally, ray of enfeeblement (DC 16), spectral
hand, suggestion (DC 18), true seeing. Caster level is
18 th and the saving throw DCs are Charisma-based.
Trap Essence (Su): The Gorger can consume an enemy’s
life essence. To do so, it must forgo its normal melee
attacks and make a trap essence attack. This requires a
normal attack roll but deals no damage. The affected
creature must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw (DC
33) or die instantly. A slain creature’s essence is trapped
within the Gorger’s ribs and the tiny figure takes on that
victim’s features. The trapped essence cannot be raised
or resurrected while it remains imprisoned but a limited
wish, miracle or wish spell frees it, as does destroying
the Gorger. The Gorger can hold only one essence
at a time. The trapped essence provides the Gorger
with enough power to use five spell-like abilities for
each Hit Die or level of the trapped creature. As this
energy is expended the twisted soul fades away until it
evaporates completely. The trapped essence gains one
negative level for every five times the devourer uses one
of its spell-like abilities. When the essence’s number
of negative levels equals the creature’s total Hit Dice or
level, the essence is destroyed. If an essence is freed,
the restored creature must succeed on a Fortitude saving
throw (DC 33) for each negative level or lose that level
permanently. The save DCs are Charisma-based.
16. The Heart
This huge open space echoes with the thunderous
rhythm of a heartbeat. The passageway becomes a
walkway that encircles the room, which is shaped like a
hollow sphere. Hanging in the middle without support
is a grotesque black heart the size of an ox. The upper
and lower chambers spasm in turn, and the loose flesh
of the heart shudders.
The walls of this room are not made from rock like the
other chambers. They are covered with a spongy-looking
substance like wet leather. Only the ledge underfoot
seems to be solid stone. Across the room, beyond the
heart, a valve-like opening is clenched tightly shut.
The walls are lined with undead flesh; the valve ‘door’
is made from the same substance. It is barely sentient
and opens and closes at Noctulos’ command. Other
creatures must hack their way though or channel divine
energy to turn the door as if it were an ordinary undead
monster.
If the door is ‘turned’, it opens for as long as the turning
lasts.
Door of Undead Flesh: CR n/a; Huge undead object;
HD 12d12; hp 78; Init +0; Spd 0 ft.; AC n/a (can be
hit automatically); Space/Reach 15 ft./0 ft.; SQ damage
reduction 10/silver and good, fast healing 5, spell
resistance 21, undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +4, Ref
—, Will +8; Str 36, Dex —, Con —, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha
1.
The heart, similarly, is an undead creature. It cannot
attack but can manifest additional undead to defend
itself.
Heart of Undead Flesh: CR n/a; Huge undead object;
HD 12d12; hp 78; Init +0; Spd 0 ft.; AC n/a (can be hit
automatically); Space/Reach 15 ft./0 ft.; SA summon
dread wraiths; SQ +4 turn resistance, damage reduction
15/silver and good, fast healing 3, spell resistance 21,
undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +4, Ref —, Will +8; Str
36, Dex —, Con —, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 1.
Summon Dread Wraiths: Attacking the door, walls or
heart (a turning attempt counts as an attack) prompts
the heart to begin emitting dread wraiths, the tortured
shades of all those who have died within the Colossus
since it was first built, long-forgotten aeons ago. If the
heart is destroyed, all the dread wraiths it has produced
are destroyed with it (see page 214 for dread wraith
statistics). The heart produces 1d3 dread wraiths each
time it uses this ability. Once it has summoned dread
wraiths, it cannot do so again for 1d4+3 rounds. The
heart cannot summon more than 20 dread wraiths in
total on any given day.
17. The Throne of Noctulos
This high, gloomy hall looks like a mausoleum built to
house the corpse of a dead god. The bas-reliefs on the
walls show stately figures in robes of some bygone age,
making formal obeisance to a handsome longhaired
man who sits on a crude throne of rock. Black moss
spreads out from the crevices, obliterating the outer
parts of the images. There are tall stone doors on the
west wall and an arched passageway to the east; these
seem to be the only exits.
In the midst of the northern wall is a globe of darkness,
extending out into the hall. The darkness swirls at the
edges as ink does underwater.
This is the roost of Noctulos, the lord of the plane. His
throne is made from a slab of tenebrium with supports
beneath, and a high back made from darkwood. The
Ibon Presno Gonzalez (order #73006) 8