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Shoggoth

Shoggoth
My Images (midjourney.com)

Appearance: A Shoggoth is an amorphous, gelatinous mass, a living nightmare born from the cosmic void. Its surface writhes with a grotesque mosaic of eyes, mouths, and pseudopods, constantly shifting and reforming in a grotesque display of eldritch chaos.

Behavior: Shoggoths are mindless, alien entities, driven solely by their insatiable hunger for life. Lacking a distinct consciousness, they absorb and assimilate other beings, incorporating their essence into their form. This relentless pursuit of consumption makes them an ever-growing and evolving menace.

Habitat: These abominations originate from the darkest corners of the cosmos, lurking in the lightless void between stars. However, when summoned or attracted to places rich in life, they manifest in subterranean caverns, ancient ruins, or any environment where their ravenous appetite can thrive.

Modus Operandi: Shoggoths move with an eerie, rhythmic pulsation, flowing over and engulfing anything in their path. Their amorphous nature allows them to squeeze through tight spaces, making escape nearly impossible. They hunt by detecting the life force of their prey, pursuing relentlessly until everything in their vicinity is absorbed.

Motivation: Driven by an inherent cosmic instinct, Shoggoths exist to feed and assimilate. While lacking recognizable motivations, their presence is often associated with dark rituals, forbidden knowledge, or otherworldly incursions. They serve as mindless instruments of cosmic horrors beyond mortal comprehension.


  • Shoggoth 5e
  • Shoggoth Pathfinder
Shoggoth
My Images (midjourney.com)

Huge Aberration, Chaotic Evil

Armor Class 12 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 168 (16d12 + 64)
Speed 30 ft., Swim 30 ft.


STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
24 (+7)10 (0)18 (+4)1 (-5)7 (-2)1 (-5)

Saving Throws Str +11, Con +8
Damage Resistances Acid, Cold, Fire
Condition Immunities Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Frightened, Prone
Senses Blindsight 120 ft. (blind beyond this radius), Passive Perception 8
Languages
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)


Amorphous. The shoggoth can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.

Engulf. The shoggoth engulfs creatures in its path that are Medium size or smaller. The engulfed target is blinded, restrained, and unable to breathe, and it must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw at the start of each of the shoggoth’s turns or take 36 (8d8) acid damage. If the shoggoth moves, the engulfed creature moves with it. The shoggoth can have up to four creatures engulfed at a time.

Multiattack. The shoggoth makes two pseudopod attacks.

Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (3d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage plus 18 (4d8) acid damage.

Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 16 (2d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage plus 18 (4d8) acid damage. The target is grappled (escape DC 18) if the shoggoth isn’t already constricting a creature, and the target is restrained until this grapple ends.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the shoggoth fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance. The shoggoth has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Assimilate. The shoggoth targets one creature engulfed by it. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or be absorbed into the shoggoth. On a successful save, the target takes 36 (8d8) acid damage. On a failed save, the target is absorbed, and the shoggoth regains hit points equal to the absorbed creature’s hit point maximum. The absorbed creature is destroyed.

Pseudopod Hurl. The shoggoth hurls one engulfed creature at another creature within 30 feet. The target must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If the thrown creature hits another creature, that creature must also succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take the same damage.


Legendary Actions

The shoggoth can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The shoggoth regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Pseudopod Attack. The shoggoth makes one pseudopod attack.

Engulf. The shoggoth moves up to its speed. If it enters a creature’s space during this movement, that creature must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or be engulfed.

Amorphous Movement (Costs 2 Actions). The shoggoth moves through a space as narrow as 1 inch without squeezing, and it doesn’t provoke an opportunity attack when it does so.

Shoggoth
A Shoggoth. Nottsuo’s artwork inspired by H .P. Lovecraft’s short novel At the Mountains of Madness.

This mass of undulating tarry black flesh exudes the smell of decay, filled with bubbles of vilest air and giving off a very faint luminescence. Its unworldly voice is plaintive, always crying, “Tekeli-li!”

Orginally posted on Archives of Nethys

Source Crucible of Chaos pg. 29

Shoggoths are creatures fueled by chaos, servitors of dark gods and things normally spoken of only in whispers. At one time, shoggoths were servants to a greater race, but after centuries or eons of mistreatment they rebelled and cast down their masters. They are near-mindless predators, always hungry, though legends say they possess a cunning beyond that of most oozes.

Environment: Shoggoths are impervious to heat and cold and can thrive on minimal foodstuffs filtered from air or water when nothing more nutritious is available. They prefer environments where water or ice is available.

Typical Physical Characteristics: A shoggoth’s form is constantly shifting, as the creature moves, explores, and interacts with its environment. Extremely adaptable, its current form is always the one that is most ideally suited to finding and consuming living flesh.

At any one time, a shoggoth has dozens of pseudopods of varying proportions, and it uses them to create hands, suckers, stingers, or tentacles to grab and consume its prey. Its skin glows with a very faint emerald luminescence. Its black tarry flesh is sometimes translucent as well, especially when it has not eaten in a long time.

It is capable of secreting a thick, viscous, semiopaque, sticky slime that further enhances its ability to catch and devour its prey. Shoggoths have no proper mouth but create and absorb such organs as needed.


Shoggoth CR 15
Always CN Gargantuan ooze (chaotic)
Init +2;
Senses Blindsight 200 ft.; Spot +0, Listen +20
DEFENSE
AC 10, touch 4, flat-footed 10 (-2 Dexterity, +6 natural, -4 size)

hp 351 (26d10+108); fast healing 10

Fort +16, Ref +6, Will +16

DR 10/-; Immune acid, mind-affecting effects, ooze traits, poison; Resist cold 20, electricity 20, fire 20; SR 25
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., Climb 20 ft., Swim 20 ft.

Melee 4 tentacles +28 (4d6+14/19-20)

Space 20 ft., Reach 15 ft. Special Attacks absorb, engulf, improved grab
Statistics
Strength 38, Dexterity 6, Constitution 27, Intelligence 3, Wisdom 22, Charisma 13

Base Atk +17; Grapple +48   Feats Ability Focus (engulf ), CleaveCombat Reflexes, Improved Critical (tentacle), Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (tentacle), Iron Will, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (tentacle)

Skills Climb +23, Jump +22, Listen +20, Swim +22
ECOLOGY
Environment any

Organization solitary Treasure standard Advancement 27-36 HD (Gargantuan), 37-72 HD (Colossal)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Absorb (Ex) A shoggoth feeds by absorbing other creatures into its hideous amoeboid form. Any creature engulfed by the monster for 1 full round must succeed at a DC 31 Fortitude save or be absorbed into the mass and die. A successful save prevents absorption that round. Each absorbed creature heals a shoggoth of 2d6 points of damage.

A shoggoth expels the absorbed creature’ metal, wood, and other belongings from its body 1d3 rounds after absorption. Nothing short of a wish or similar magic can restore an absorbed creature. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Blindsight (Ex) In addition to normal senses, a shoggoth’s entire body is a primitive sensory organ that can detect prey by scent and vibration. It can discern objects and creatures within 200 feet. The shoggoth does not need to make Spot or Listen checks to notice creatures within range of its Blindsight, and such creatures do not benefit from concealment.

Engulf (Ex) A shoggoth can bowl over creatures up to one size category smaller than itself as a standard action. This attack affects as many opponents as the shoggoth’s body can cover. Each target can make either an attack of opportunity against the shoggoth or attempt a DC 39 Reflex save to avoid being engulfed.

A successful saving throw indicates that the target has been pushed back or aside (target’s choice) as the shoggoth moves forward. An engulfed creature is considered grappled and trapped within the shoggoth’s body.

A shoggoth cannot make a slam attack during a round in which it attempts to engulf, but each successfully engulfed creatures takes automatic slam damage on that round and every round it remains trapped.
On any round after engulfing a creature, the shoggoth can attempt to absorb it as a free action. If the shoggoth has successfully grabbed a creature and it is still grappling that creature at the start of the shoggoth’s next turn, the shoggoth may automatically engulf the creature. The save DC is Strength-based.

Fearful Keening (Ex) Any corporeal creature with 10 or fewer Hit Dice that hears the fearful ‘Tekili-li!’ call of a shoggoth must make a DC 24 Will saving throw or be shaken for the next 2d6 rounds. Another save is required at the end of that time if the creature is still within range. A single successful save renders the creature immune to that shoggoth’s fearful keening for 24 hours.The save DC is Charisma-based.

Improved Grab (Ex) To use this ability, a shoggoth must hit a creature up to one size category smaller than itself with a tentacle attack. It may then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking attacks of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold. A shoggoth has a +8 racial bonus on grapple checks.
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