Buy me a coffeeAsura, Tripurasura
This tiny monstrosity has the body of a well-muscled man, a crown of frilled horns, and eyes that glow like rubies.
Tripurasuras, or sly ones, are among the weakest asuras, manifestations not of divine mistakes but instead creations of the most powerful of asuras exhibiting their loathing of the gods by creating blasphemous mockeries of their creations. A newly created tripurasura most commonly exists for one of two reasons: to give an asurendra sage the raw materials it needs to create more powerful asuras, or to seek out mortals ‘especially mortal spellcasters’ to recruit into the asura cause.
Using its power to assume a pleasing or innocuous form, a tripurasura wanders the world, seeking pious mortals to corrupt. When it encounters a promising spellcaster (typically one who has some sort of link to a church or religion, but not necessarily a divine spellcaster), the tripurasura presents itself as an apprentice, pilgrim, or other type of curious student eager to learn from the spellcaster.
It keeps its true nature and its powers hidden, and seeks opportunities to steer its “master” away from decisions it might have made in good conscience to acts that promote the collapse of religious belief, faith, and society. When, as it inevitably does, the wayward spellcaster runs afoul of justice or is confronted by those seeking revenge, the tripurasura fades away to watch the final stage of the spellcaster’s fall from grace, then seeks a new victim in another city or region.
Some spellcasters, on the other hand, actually seek out these tiny fiends to employ as familiars. A tripurasura greatly values these opportunities, since it need not abandon its master once its work is done and can continue to spread its agenda for as long as its master survives. A spellcaster must be lawful evil, at least 7th level, and have the Improved Familiar feat to gain a tripurasura as a familiar.
Tripurasura 5e
Tripurasura Pathfinder Stat Block
Tripurasura
Tiny fiend (asura, lawful, evil, extraplanar)
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) Hit Points 38 (7d8 + 7) Speed 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 (-1) | 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 13 (+1) | 15 (+2) | 13 (+1) |
Skills Acrobatics +4, Perception +4, Stealth +6 Damage Resistances acid, electricity Damage Immunities curse effects, disease, poison Condition Immunities poisoned Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect magic; passive Perception 14 Languages Common, Infernal Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Shapechanger. The tripurasura can use its action to polymorph into a Small humanoid or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Elusive. The tripurasura and items it carries are considered under the effects of a nondetection spell. A caster must succeed on a DC 12 caster level check to overcome this effect.
Magic Resistance. The tripurasura has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Poison Stinger. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Spellcasting. The tripurasura is a 6th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following spells prepared:
- Cantrips (at will): mage hand, minor illusion, prestidigitation
- 1st level (4 slots): charm person, magic missile, shield
- 2nd level (3 slots): alter self, mirror image
- 3rd level (2 slots): counterspell, dispel magic
Fast Healing. The tripurasura regains 2 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
Actions
Multiattack. The tripurasura makes two attacks: one with its poison stinger and one with its magic missile.
Magic Missile. Ranged Spell Attack: +4 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (3d4 + 2) force damage.
Change Shape (1/Day). The tripurasura magically polymorphs into a Small humanoid or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the tripurasura’s choice).
Reactions
Countercharm. When the tripurasura hears music, it can use its reaction to make a saving throw with advantage against being frightened or charmed.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the tripurasura can take a lair action to cause one of the following magical effects:
- The tripurasura can cast mirror image on itself without expending a spell slot.
- The tripurasura creates an illusory duplicate of itself, allowing it to take the Dodge action on its next turn.
- The tripurasura can become invisible until the end of its next turn.
Regional Effects
The region containing the tripurasura’s lair is warped by its magic, creating one or more of the following effects:
- Creatures within 1 mile of the lair have strange, vivid dreams that often involve being transformed into small humanoids.
- Small humanoid creatures within 6 miles of the lair sometimes exhibit odd behavior, such as playing pranks, mimicking the tripurasura’s elusive nature, or compulsively gathering tiny trinkets.
- The tripurasura can sense the presence and general direction of any magic item within 1 mile of its lair.
| Tripurasura CR 2 |
| XP 600 LE Tiny outsider (asura, evil, extraplanar, lawful) Init +2; Senses Darkvision 60 ft., detect magic; Perception +10 |
| DEFENSE |
| AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dexterity, +1 Dodge, +1 insight, +2 size) hp 19 (3d10+3); fast healing 2 Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +5, +2 vs. enchantments DR 5/cold iron or good; Immune curse effects, disease, poison; Resist acid 10, electricity 10 |
OFFENSE |
| Speed 20 ft. Melee sting +8 (1d4-1 plus poison) Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th; concentration +7) Constant – detect magic At will – feather fall 3/day – levitate, locate object, Spider Climb 1/week – commune (6 questions, CL 12th) |
| STATISTICS |
| Strength 8, Dexterity 14, Constitution 12, Intelligence 13, Wisdom 15, Charisma 13 Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 13 Feats Dodge, Weapon Finesse Skills Acrobatics +8 (+4 when jumping), Appraise +4, Bluff +7, Escape Artist +8, Knowledge (arcana) +4, Knowledge (planes) +7, Perception +10, Perform (dance) +5, Spellcraft +4, Stealth +14; Racial Modifiers -4 Acrobatics when jumping, +6 Escape Artist, +4 Perception Languages Common, Infernal SQ change shape (any Small humanoid; alter self), elusive |
| SPECIAL ABILITIES |
| Change Shape (Su) The tripurasura has only one alternative form’ when it uses change shape, it always appears as the same Small humanoid. Most take the form of Gnomes or human children. Elusive (Su) The tripurasura and items it carries are considered to be under the effects of a nondetection spell. A caster must succeed at a DC 14 caster level check to overcome this effect. Poison (Ex) Tongue-injury; save Fort DC 12; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Wisdom damage; cure 1 save. |
| ECOLOGY |
| Environment any (Hell) Organization solitary, pair, or gang (3-10) Treasure standard |
Section 15: Copyright Notice – Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3, © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Jesse Benner, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Michael Kenway, Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, Chris Sims, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, and Russ Taylor, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.