In the tunnels of Kiranjika beneath the continent of Perfection, one thing strikes fear into the hearts of the warring Kiranjikans and Tenoko-O more than each other; lava worms. These long, slender monsters burn with an inner fire, their skins are constantly cooling and being reabsorbed, so the fire tends to only show through cracks in their cinder-like skin, and in their gaping maws.
Lava worms burn their way through rock, which they seem content to devour most of the time. Sometimes, however, a lava worm will be drawn to the sounds of humanoid activity, and will erupt to eat all in its path. Few survive more than a few seconds in the presence of a lava worm.
The Kiranjikans have set up special squads to deal with lava worm assaults using cold-based magic, brown mould or summoned icy creatures to drive away marauding lava worms, but these methods seldom do more than postpone their attacks. Some surmise that there is a controlling entity, deep within the heart of the world, of which the lava worms are but the tips of its limbs.
Lava Worm, Huge Magical Beast (Fire)
Hit Dice: 12d10+72 (138 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), burrow 40 ft.
Armor Class: 20 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +10 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+28
Attack: Bite +18 (2d6+12 plus 10d6 fire plus grapple)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Heat, improved grab, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Immune to fire, tremorsense 60 ft., vulnerable to cold
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +10, Will +4
Abilities: Str 26 (+8), Dex 14 (+2), Con 22 (+6), Int 3 (-4), Wis 10 (+0), Cha 10 (+0)
Skills: Listen +8, Survival +7
Feats: Awesome Blow, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Track
Environment: Any Underground
Organization: Solitary, pair or pod (2-6)
Challenge Rating: 11
Advancement: 12-18 HD (Huge), 19-38 HD (Gargantuan)
Combat: Lava worms tend to attack recklessly until their prey is devoured, but they are not completely mindless and will flee if confronted with attacks that can harm them, particularly cold.
Heat (Ex): A lava worm emits tremendous heat. Anyone within 10 ft. must make a DC 22 Reflex save or catch on fire. Anyone touching the lava worm with natural or unarmed attacks take 10d6 damage. Weapons used to strike a lava worm must make a DC 22 Fortitude save or be destroyed. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Improved Grab (Ex): If a lava worm hits with its bite attack it may begin a grapple as a free action, without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple it establishes a hold and may swallow its opponent in the following round.
Swallow Whole (Ex): A lava worm may attempt to swallow a grabbed opponent smaller than itself by making a successful grapple check. Once inside, an opponent takes 2d8+12 points of crushing damage each round, plus 10d6 points of fire damage. A swallowed creature may attempt to cut itself out using a light slashing or piercing weapon by inflicting 25 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 15). Once a creature exits, the wound forms a crust; another swallowed opponent must make its own exit. A Huge lava worm's gizzard can hold 2 Large, 4 Medium, 8 Small, 32 Tiny, 128 Diminutive or 512 Fine or smaller opponents.
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