Devil, Nupperibo, Harbinger of the Vermin Cloud

Infernal Rarity Common

Armor Class 15 (Natural Armor)

Hit Points 27 (5d8 + 5)

Speed 20 ft.

Saving Throws Dex +2, Con +3, Wis +2

Damage Resistances Acid, Cold; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren’t Silvered

Damage Immunities Fire, Poison

Condition Immunities Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Frightened, Poisoned

Senses Blindsight 30 ft. (blind beyond this radius), Passive Perception 10

Languages Understands Infernal but can’t speak; see Infernal Receptivity

Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Proficiency Bonus +2

Traits

Infernal Receptivity. The Nupperibo can receive telepathic messages from Devils within 120 feet even though it possesses no telepathy of its own. It understands simple commands conveyed in this way but can’t reply telepathically until Metamorphosis grants it telepathy.

Magic Resistance. The Nupperibo has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Mindless. The Nupperibo possesses no independent reasoning and can’t formulate plans beyond immediate instinct or commands. Effects that read thoughts or alter memories have no effect on it.

Burning Strike. When the Nupperibo hits a creature with its Slam, corrosive infernal residue adheres to the target. At the start of the target’s next turn, it takes Acid damage equal to half the Bludgeoning damage actually dealt by that Slam, rounded down, minimum 1. The residue is then consumed. Each successful Slam leaves a separate residue.

Actions

Multiattack. The Nupperibo makes two Slam attacks.

Slam. Melee Attack Roll: +3, reach 5 ft. Hit: 6 (1d10 + 1) Bludgeoning damage, and Burning Strike applies.

Advancement & Metamorphosis

The standard 2024 Nupperibo begins with 5 Hit Dice. Advancement from 6–9 HD represents ordinary physical development; the creature remains Mindless and gains no metamorphic ability during this stage. Challenge Rating should rise only when its completed combat statistics warrant it.

2024 advancement note: Hit Dice above are a convenient SpiralWorlds advancement track rather than a rule that CR automatically follows HD. When using a 7 HD or stronger specimen, adjust attack bonus, damage and defenses to the suggested CR instead of merely adding Hit Points.

Infernal Rarity Common

Init +4; Senses blindsight 30 ft.; Perception +0

Defense

AC 15, touch 10, flat-footed 15 (+5 natural)

hp 19 (3d10+3)

Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +3

DR 5/good or silver

Immune fire, poison, mind-affecting effects

Resist acid 10, cold 10

SR 14

Offense

Speed 20 ft.

Melee 2 slams +5 (1d6+1 plus burning strike)

Special Attacks burning strike

Statistics

Str 12, Dex 11, Con 12, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 6

Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 14

Feats Improved Initiative^B, Weapon Focus (slam)^B

Skills —

Languages —; infernal receptivity

SQ infernal receptivity, metamorphosis, mindless

Ecology

Environment Hell

Organization solitary, gang (2d6), or mixed mob (4d10 Nupperibos and 4d10 Lemures)

Treasure none

Special Abilities

Burning Strike (Su). A Nupperibo’s Slam leaves corrosive infernal residue in the wound. At the beginning of the struck creature’s next turn, and at the beginning of each of its turns thereafter for a number of rounds equal to the Nupperibo’s Constitution modifier, minimum 1 round, that creature takes acid damage equal to one-half the physical damage dealt by the triggering Slam, rounded down, minimum 1. Each successful Slam creates a separate residue.

Infernal Receptivity (Ex). Although blind, deaf, mute and mindless, a Nupperibo can receive telepathic communication from creatures with the devil subtype. It understands simple orders issued in this manner but cannot respond telepathically until it develops telepathy through Metamorphosis.

Mindless (Ex). A Nupperibo is immune to all mind-affecting effects. It has no skill ranks and gains no normal feats while mindless. Improved Initiative and Weapon Focus (slam) are racial bonus feats.

Advancement & Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis (Ex). A standard Pathfinder Nupperibo has 3 racial Hit Dice. From 4–9 HD it advances as a tougher version of the same creature without undergoing a major metamorphic change. Additional outsider Hit Dice increase Hit Points, BAB, saves and other Hit-Dice-derived statistics normally.

Because the Nupperibo remains Mindless through 9 HD, it continues to gain no ordinary skill ranks or normal feats during this stage. At 10 HD it acquires an Intelligence score and ceases to be Mindless. From that point onward, calculate feats and skills appropriate to the awakened creature’s total Hit Dice.

Pathfinder advancement note: The listed CRs are targets rather than automatic results. When racial Hit Dice are added, adjust Hit Points, attacks, saves, ability scores, AC, damage and other derived statistics as appropriate for the intended final CR.

Combat

A Nupperibo attacks whatever its infernal masters designate as an enemy. It possesses no strategy of its own. Once directed towards a target, it advances and continues striking until that target is defeated, the Nupperibo is destroyed, or a devil gives it another command.

A Nupperibo’s natural weapons, as well as any weapon it wields, are treated as evil-aligned and lawful-aligned for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

Burning Strike (Su). A Nupperibo’s Slam deposits a slimy infernal residue that continues eating through the target after impact. At the beginning of the struck creature’s next turn, and at the beginning of each of its turns thereafter for a number of rounds equal to the Nupperibo’s Constitution modifier, minimum 1 round, the creature takes acid damage equal to one-half the physical damage dealt by the triggering Slam, rounded down, minimum 1. Each successful Slam produces a separate residue.

Infernal Receptivity (Ex). A Nupperibo has no functional mundane sight, hearing or speech, but its body possesses supernatural awareness represented by blindsight. It can receive telepathic communication from creatures with the devil subtype despite its immunity to mind-affecting effects. It understands simple commands conveyed in this manner but cannot telepathically respond until Metamorphosis grants it telepathy.

Mindless (Ex). Nupperibos are immune to all mind-affecting effects. They possess no skill ranks and gain no normal feats while mindless. Improved Initiative and Weapon Focus (slam) are racial bonus feats.

Advancement & Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis (Ex). A standard Nupperibo has 3 racial Hit Dice. It may advance normally as an outsider from 4–9 HD while remaining a Medium, Mindless Nupperibo. These additional Hit Dice increase Hit Points, base attack bonus and all three saving throws according to the normal outsider progression.

Because the creature has Intelligence — during the 4–9 HD stage, it gains no ordinary skill points or normal feats. Improved Initiative and Weapon Focus (slam) remain racial bonus feats.

At 10 Hit Dice the dormant metamorphosis begins. The creature gains Intelligence 1, loses the Mindless quality, gains telepathy and begins damaging Wisdom with its Slam. At that point calculate the feats and skill points appropriate to an intelligent outsider of its current Hit Dice. Its racial bonus feats do not count against its normal feat allotment.

3.5e CR note: As an outsider, the Nupperibo normally increases Challenge Rating by roughly +1 for every 2 additional racial Hit Dice. The awakening at 10 HD and subsequent metamorphic abilities may justify further adjustment where they materially increase combat effectiveness.