Dust Guardian
From Monsterbook
Revision as of 01:30, 18 November 2006
The dust on the floor suddenly churns as if disturbed by a gust of wind. Instead of scattering, the dust coalesces into a large, almost humanoid shape. Dark hollow pits create two vague eyes within the writhing dust.
Dust Guardian (CR 7)
- Always N Large construct
- Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen, Spot
- Languages: none
- AC 20, touch 20, flat-footed 13; insubstantial
- (-1 size, +7 Dex, +4 deflection)
- hp 44 (8 HD)
- Immune: construct immunities
- SR 14
- Fort +2, Ref +9, Will +2
- Speed 50 ft.
- Melee +13 slam (1d6+2, plus improved grab and engulf)
- Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
- Base Atk +6; Grp +17
- Special Actions disintegrate
- Abilities Str 15, Dex 25, Con --, Int --, Wis 11, Cha 11
- SQ construct traits, insubstantial, whirlwind
- Feats grapple finesse, weapon finesse
- Skills Spot 6(+6), Listen 5(+5)
- Advancement 9-12 HD (Large), 13-18 HD (Huge), 19-24 HD (Gargantuan)
Insubstantial (Ex): Because of the insubstantial nature of its body, all physical weapons striking the dust guardian have a 50% miss chance. Weapons with energy effect special abilities (such as flaming or icy burst) will still inflict their energy damage.
Improved Grab: A dust guardian that hits with its slam attack can begin a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Grapple Finesse (Ex): A dust guardian uses its dexterity score for grapple checks instead of strength.
Engulf (Ex): A target that has been successfully grappled by the dust guardian is trapped in the swirling dust that composes its body. The engulfed victim must make a Constitution check (DC 10, plus 1 for each round engulfed). Failure means they are incapacitated from choking. Two consecutive failures means the victim takes 1d6 points of subdual damage.
Disintegrate (Sp): As a full-round action, a dust guardian can attempt to coup de grace any dying, or helpless being that it engulfs. If the coup de grace attack kills the creature, then it is disintegrated, and the remaining dust is consumed by the dust guardian (it gains 5 hit points, up to its maximum). A dust guardian can automatically disintegrate without a saving throw any already dead being it engulfs as a full-round action.
Whirlwind (Su): A slain dust guardian transforms into a violent whirlwind. Immediately after it is slain it covers a 5-foot radius. It expands to a 10-foot radius the following round, then to 15-feet, after which it collapses in on itself leaving nothing behind but its inanimate dust. All beings within the whirlwind are treated as if they have been engulfed although they may leave the area of effect by making a successful Strength check (DC 20).
A Dust Guardian is a construct composed of magically-enchanted dust or ash, and usually created for the purpose of guarding some enclosed crypt or chamber. While inactive, they usually exist as a layer of fine dust that covers the entire area they protect. Anyone disturbing any bit of the dust in the chamber will alert the golem.
Strategies and Tactics
Adventure Hooks
Ecology and Society
Environment, Typical Physical Characteristics, Alignment
Dust Guardian Lore
Knowledge (Arcana)
DC 15:
DC 18:
DC 23:
Creating a Dust Guardian
The dust guardian costs 50,000 gp to create, mostly in precious stones that are ground to powder and mixed with roughly one thousand pounds of ash, soot, dust, and/or dirt. Some guardians that are created to protect a tomb or crypt are made with the ashes of the dead. The creation process drains 1000 XP from the creator and requires fabricate, geas/quest, gust of wind, limited wish, permanency.
