Zuggtmoy — Demon Queen of Fungi

Zuggtmoy

Huge Fiend (Demon), Chaotic Evil

Traits

Abyssal Sovereign.

Zuggtmoy’s attacks are magical. Her innate powers require no material components. Her spell save DC is 30 and her spell attack bonus is +22.

Legendary Resistance (5/Day).

If Zuggtmoy fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance.

Zuggtmoy has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

No Discernible Anatomy.

Zuggtmoy is a colony rather than an organism with fixed vital organs. A critical hit against her becomes a normal hit. Effects that depend upon a fixed skeleton, blood supply or identifiable vital organ fail unless the GM determines that they can meaningfully affect a distributed fungal organism.

Severing an appendage does not permanently disable her. Lost tendrils regrow at the beginning of her next turn unless an effect specifically suppresses regeneration.

Regeneration.

Zuggtmoy regains 50 hit points at the start of each of her turns if she has at least 1 hit point. Radiant damage suppresses this regeneration until the start of her next turn.

Legendary Stench.

A creature that starts its turn within 120 feet of Zuggtmoy and can smell her must make a DC 30 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, it is Poisoned and cannot take Reactions until the start of its next turn. If it fails by 5 or more, it is also Incapacitated until the start of its next turn.

A creature that succeeds is immune to Legendary Stench for 24 hours. Creatures that neither breathe nor possess a sense of smell are unaffected.

Horrific Pustulations.

The splitting and explosive discharge of Zuggtmoy’s fruiting bodies produces sounds that assault the mind as much as the ear. A creature that starts its turn within 120 feet and can hear her must succeed on a DC 30 Wisdom saving throw or become Frightened of Zuggtmoy until the end of its next turn. While frightened in this way, its Speed is 0.

Spiritual Mycosis.

Some of Zuggtmoy’s attacks infect body and spirit simultaneously. When an ability calls for a Spiritual Mycosis save, the target must succeed on a DC 30 Constitution saving throw or become infected.

An infected creature takes 22 (4d10) necrotic damage at the start of each of its turns, and its hit point maximum is reduced by the same amount. At the end of each turn it can repeat the save, suppressing the combat effects after three successes. The underlying disease remains until removed by magic or another effect capable of curing a supernatural disease.

At the end of an infected creature’s turn, each other creature within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 27 Constitution saving throw or also contract Spiritual Mycosis.

A creature whose hit point maximum is reduced to 0 by Spiritual Mycosis dies. Unless its remains are burned, purified or otherwise secured, fungal structures begin growing from the corpse within 1 minute.

Innate Abyssal Magic.

Zuggtmoy can innately produce the following effects, using Charisma as her spellcasting ability:

• At will: detect magic, dispel magic, telekinesis
• 3/day each: blight, contagion, dominate monster, greater teleport
• 1/day each: earthquake, plane shift, shapechange

Actions

Multiattack.

Zuggtmoy makes four Tendril attacks. She can replace one Tendril attack with Engulf against a creature she is grappling.

Tendril.

Melee Attack: +22 to hit, reach 30 ft., one target. Hit: 44 (5d12 + 12) bludgeoning damage plus 22 (4d10) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 30 Constitution saving throw or contract Spiritual Mycosis.

Instead of dealing damage, Zuggtmoy can grapple a Huge or smaller target hit by this attack (escape DC 30).

Mycoblast (Recharge 5–6).

Zuggtmoy erupts in a 120-foot cone of corrosive Abyssal spores. Each creature in the cone must make a DC 30 Dexterity saving throw, taking 117 (18d12) acid damage plus 117 (18d12) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a success.

Nonmagical vegetation in the area is destroyed or violently overgrown with parasitic fungi, at the GM’s discretion.

Entropic Wave (Recharge 5–6).

Zuggtmoy releases a boiling wave of corrupt spores in a 90-foot radius centred on herself. Each creature of her choice in the area must make a DC 30 Constitution saving throw, taking 91 (14d12) necrotic damage on a failure, or half as much on a success.

A creature that fails also makes the saving throw against Spiritual Mycosis.

Engulf.

One Huge or smaller creature grappled by Zuggtmoy is dragged inside her body. The creature is Blinded and Restrained, has total cover against effects originating outside Zuggtmoy, and takes 65 (10d12) acid damage plus 39 (6d12) necrotic damage at the start of each of Zuggtmoy’s turns.

Zuggtmoy regains 50 hit points whenever a creature takes this damage. A creature inside her can use its action to make a DC 30 Strength (Athletics) check, escaping into an unoccupied space within 10 feet on a success.

Spore Cloud.

As a Bonus Action, Zuggtmoy dissolves into a mushroom-shaped cloud approximately 30 feet across. While in this form she has a flying Speed of 150 feet and can hover, move through creatures and objects as difficult terrain, and cannot be Grappled, Prone or Restrained.

She has Resistance to all damage except force and radiant damage while dispersed. She cannot use Tendril or Engulf in this form.

The first time each turn that Zuggtmoy enters a creature’s space, that creature must make a DC 30 Constitution saving throw, taking 44 (8d10) poison damage plus 44 (8d10) necrotic damage on a failure, or half as much on a success. A creature that fails also makes the save against Spiritual Mycosis.

Zuggtmoy can return to her normal manifestation as a Bonus Action.

Supercolony — Mythic Phase

Supercolony (1/Day).

When Zuggtmoy is first reduced to 585 hit points or fewer while touching natural ground, worked stone connected to the earth or an established fungal network, Supercolony activates after the triggering damage is resolved.

If that damage would reduce Zuggtmoy to 0 hit points while Supercolony remains available, she is instead reduced to 1 hit point and the transformation activates. She does not fall unconscious or die from that triggering damage.

An earthquake ripples through a 280-foot-radius area. Zuggtmoy dissolves into the ground and becomes a subterranean fungal disc rather than a single target. Three enormous fruiting nodes immediately erupt in unoccupied spaces of her choice within 120 feet.

Each node has AC 24, 75 hit points, immunity to poison and psychic damage, and uses Zuggtmoy’s saving throws. Destroying a node permanently severs part of the temporary supercolony.

For up to 3 rounds, Zuggtmoy cannot be directly targeted from above the ground unless an effect can reach through the intervening earth. She cannot use normal Actions, Bonus Actions, Reactions or Legendary Actions while dispersed as a Supercolony.

Instead, she takes a lair action on initiative counts 20 and 10. She can use the same lair action more than once during this phase, although she cannot use the same option twice during the same round.

At the end of the third round, or immediately when all three nodes are destroyed, Zuggtmoy re-emerges in an unoccupied space within 280 feet.

She regains 300 hit points, reduced by 100 for each node destroyed. If all three nodes are destroyed, she regains no hit points. Mycoblast and Entropic Wave then recharge.

Legendary Actions

Zuggtmoy can take 5 Legendary Actions, choosing from the options below. Only one option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. She regains all spent Legendary Actions at the start of her turn.

Tendril — 1 Action.

Zuggtmoy makes one Tendril attack.

Spore Drift — 1 Action.

Zuggtmoy moves up to half her Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. If she is in Spore Cloud form, she instead flies up to half her flying Speed.

Mycelial Grasp — 2 Actions.

Fungal cords erupt from a point on the ground Zuggtmoy can sense within 120 feet. Creatures in a 20-foot-radius area must succeed on a DC 30 Strength saving throw or become Restrained until the end of their next turn.

Toxin Bloom — 2 Actions.

Zuggtmoy creates a 20-foot-radius cloud of poisonous spores at a point she can see within 120 feet. Creatures entering the cloud or beginning their turn there must make a DC 30 Constitution saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) poison damage and becoming Poisoned until the end of their next turn on a failure.

Engulf — 3 Actions.

Zuggtmoy uses Engulf against one creature she is currently grappling.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20, losing initiative ties, Zuggtmoy can use one of the following lair actions. She cannot use the same option on consecutive rounds unless she is in Supercolony form.

Mycelial Rupture.

Zuggtmoy chooses a point on the ground within 180 feet. A 30-foot-radius mass of roots, fungal cords and fruiting bodies explodes upward. Creatures in the area must make a DC 30 Dexterity saving throw, taking 45 (10d8) bludgeoning damage and becoming Restrained on a failure.

A Restrained creature can use an action to make a DC 30 Strength check, freeing itself on a success.

Infestation Pulse.

Every creature of Zuggtmoy’s choice touching the ground within 120 feet must succeed on a DC 30 Constitution saving throw or become infected with Spiritual Mycosis.

Toxic Water.

Zuggtmoy contaminates a body of water, pool or wet ground she can sense within 180 feet. A poisonous cloud fills a 30-foot-radius area above it until initiative count 20 of the next round.

Creatures in the cloud must make a DC 30 Constitution saving throw or take 36 (8d8) poison damage and become Poisoned for 1 minute. The save can be repeated at the end of each turn.

Corpse Bloom.

Up to three corpses within 120 feet split open and rise as temporary fungal thralls. Each has AC 16, 45 hit points, Speed 30 feet, and makes one melee attack at +10 to hit for 16 (2d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage plus 9 (2d8) poison damage.

A thrall collapses when reduced to 0 hit points or when Zuggtmoy leaves the lair.

Regional Effects

A mature Zuggtmoy colony warps the surrounding region. These effects do not mean that every fungus within the area serves her.

• Within 12 miles: fungal growth becomes abnormally rapid. Cellars, dead trees, damp roofs and buried timber acquire unfamiliar fruiting bodies overnight.
• Within 6 miles: wild animals become restless and increasingly reluctant to approach the colony’s centre. Natural plant growth becomes mottled, parasitised or strangely asymmetrical.
• Within 3 miles: stagnant pools, wells and underground water sometimes develop bitter tastes, oily films or clouds of fine spores. Ordinary testing may reveal nothing until the colony begins producing a specific toxin.
• Within 1 mile: unprotected corpses may produce fungal growth within hours. Creatures sleeping in contact with contaminated soil dream of roots, damp chambers and the relief of surrendering individual thought.
• Mycelial awareness: within an established colony, Zuggtmoy can detect the location of creatures moving across infected ground even when she cannot see them.

If Zuggtmoy is driven from the region, the supernatural compulsion behind these effects fades over 1d10 days. The physical infestation does not disappear with it. Spores, contaminated water, infected creatures and independent daughter colonies remain until dealt with normally.

5.5e Tactics

Zuggtmoy opens against clustered enemies with Mycoblast or Entropic Wave, then concentrates Tendril attacks on healers, planar travellers and other creatures capable of purging her infections or bringing outside assistance.

She uses Spore Cloud to cross fortifications, escape restraint and infect crowded areas. Grappled enemies are Engulfed whenever doing so removes a dangerous opponent while restoring her own vitality.

Once Supercolony activates, destroying the three exposed fruiting nodes becomes the immediate objective. Allowing all three to survive restores Zuggtmoy to the battle at considerably greater strength.

Zuggtmoy, Demiurge of Parasites

Huge outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar) — legacy epic interpretation

Legacy rules note: this panel preserves the intentionally extreme scale of the older SpiralWorlds interpretation. It is an epic encounter using assumptions beyond ordinary 20th-level play. CR 60 and ability scores above 30 are intentional.

Skills

Balance +47, Bluff +74, Concentration +64, Craft (alchemy) +48, Craft (poison) +53, Diplomacy +80, Escape Artist +47, Hide +47, Intimidate +52, Knowledge (arcana) +50, Knowledge (history) +48, Knowledge (nature) +68, Knowledge (planes) +96, Knowledge (religion) +96, Listen +42, Move Silently +47, Search +50, Sense Motive +62, Spellcraft +106, Spot +56, Survival +44 (+52 on other planes and above ground), Tumble +42, Use Magic Device +34.

Feats

Cleave, Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Empower Spell-Like Ability, Eschew Materials, Extend Spell, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Greater Spell Penetration, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (tendril), Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (tendril), Improved Sunder, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Multiattack, Power Attack, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (greater dispel magic), Spell Focus (Necromancy), Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy), Spell Penetration, Weapon Focus (tendril).

Epic Feats

Epic Spellcasting, Epic Toughness, Epic Weapon Focus (tendril), Improved Spell Capacity (10th), Improved Spell Capacity (11th), Superior Initiative.

Spell-Like Abilities

Zuggtmoy uses her spell-like abilities at caster level 91st unless an ability states otherwise. Saving throws against them are DC 24 + spell level. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

At will: acid fog, animate dead, baleful polymorph, blasphemy, blindness/deafness, contagion, control weather, create undead, deeper darkness, desecrate, destruction, detect law, detect magic, disintegrate, doom, earthquake, feeblemind, greater dispel magic, harm, hold person, insanity, magic circle against good, magic circle against law, polymorph, rusting grasp, scrying, shatter, suggestion, telekinesis, greater teleport, unhallow, unholy aura, unholy blight.

6/day each: energy drain, horrid wilting, implosion, plane shift.

3/day each: power word blind, power word kill.

1/day each: bestow curse, fire storm, shapechange, whirlwind.

1/week: gate.

Cleric Spellcasting

Zuggtmoy possesses the spellcasting ability of a 30th-level cleric, but casts her cleric spells at caster level 69th.

Saving throws against her cleric spells are DC 24 + spell level. The saving throw DCs are Wisdom-based.

Her domains are Plant, Corruption and Evil. Her innate spell-like abilities also reflect destructive powers traditionally associated with the Destruction domain.

Spells per day: 6/9+1/8+1/8+1/8+1/8+1/6+1/6+1/6+1/6+1/3/2.

The final two values represent her 10th- and 11th-level spell slots gained through Improved Spell Capacity.

Epic Spellcasting

Zuggtmoy can cast 8 epic spells per day with a maximum Spellcraft DC of 116.

Her epic magic concentrates on ecological corruption, disease, large-scale destruction and the creation of new parasitic life.

She knows multiple life-creation epic effects used to produce specialised fungal servitors, although the exact organisms available vary by campaign and by which colonies she has established.

Call Demons (Sp)

Three times per day, Zuggtmoy can call up to 90 Hit Dice of demons.

The creatures arrive willing to serve her for the immediate encounter but remain independent Abyssal beings rather than permanent parts of Zuggtmoy herself.

Summon the New Life (Sp)

Three times per day, Zuggtmoy can call up to 90 Hit Dice of evil intelligent fungal creatures or creatures previously transformed through one of her established colonies.

Smite (Su)

Twice per day, Zuggtmoy can declare a melee attack to be a smite before making the attack roll.

She gains a +4 bonus on the attack roll and deals an additional 90 points of unholy damage on a successful hit.

No Discernible Anatomy (Ex)

Zuggtmoy has no permanent organs or limbs. She is immune to critical hits and effects that depend upon destroying a particular anatomical feature.

A severed tendril regenerates during the following round.

If her main body is cut into large pieces, the portions remain linked parts of the same colony. Up to eight viable portions can exist simultaneously.

Dividing the body does not grant additional uses of spells, spell-like abilities or special attacks; all portions share the same daily and per-round limits.

Two adjacent portions can recombine as a standard action.

Compressed Humanoid Form (Ex)

Zuggtmoy can compress and recolour her fungal mass until she appears humanoid.

She most often takes the form of an extraordinarily old woman leaning upon a staff.

Maintaining this form prevents her from using her tendril attacks, Engulf, Spore Cloud, Mycoblast and Supercolony, but does not prevent spellcasting, spell-like abilities or passive special qualities.

Alternate Form — Spore Cloud (Ex)

At will, Zuggtmoy can disperse into a mushroom-shaped cloud roughly 30 feet wide and tall.

In this form her fly speed is 150 feet with perfect maneuverability.

A living creature with a Constitution score that contacts the cloud must make a DC 63 Fortitude save or take 2+1d4 points of Constitution drain for each round of exposure as Zuggtmoy’s spores colonise lungs, skin and soft tissue.

Creatures slain by this effect begin producing fungal structures within 4 rounds and can rise as enslaved fungal versions of themselves if the infection is not purged.

Removing this transformation requires wish, followed by remove disease and restoration, or comparable epic magic capable of cleansing both body and spirit.

Aura of the Queen of Parasites (Ex)

Natural creatures instinctively recognise Zuggtmoy as a catastrophic intrusion rather than an ordinary predator.

Animals, magical beasts and animate plants with fewer than 14 Hit Dice within 700 feet attempt to flee her.

More powerful creatures can resist with a DC 24 Will save.

Fungal creatures are not automatically loyal to Zuggtmoy and can flee or resist normally.

Horrific Pustulations (Ex)

The sound of Zuggtmoy’s sores splitting and bursting attacks the sanity of those who hear it.

Creatures able to hear her within 120 feet must make a DC 66 Will save or suffer an insanity effect.

A creature that succeeds is immune for 24 hours.

Legendary Stench (Ex)

Creatures capable of smell within 560 feet must make a DC 63 Fortitude save or become nauseated for 14 rounds.

A creature that succeeds is immune for 24 hours.

The odour is not merely rot. Survivors describe an impossible accumulation of stagnant seas, spoiled forests, opened graves and entire dead ecosystems fermenting together.

Mycoblast (Ex)

Once every 4 rounds, Zuggtmoy can release a cone of corrosive spores.

The cone extends 120 feet and deals 42d12 points of acid damage, Reflex DC 63 half.

Entropic Wave (Su)

Ten times per day, Zuggtmoy can release a 170-foot-radius wave of Abyssal corruption dealing 17d12 points of damage, Reflex DC 63 half.

A creature that fails the Reflex save must also make a DC 63 Fortitude save against Spiritual Mycosis.

Engulf (Ex)

Once per round, Zuggtmoy can extend a 30-foot tendril and attempt to grapple a target.

A successfully grappled creature can be dragged into her central fungal mass.

An engulfed creature takes 4d10 acid damage and gains 1 negative level each round.

Each negative level inflicted heals Zuggtmoy for 10 hit points.

Her body can contain 2 Large, 8 Medium, 32 Small, 128 Tiny or 512 Diminutive or smaller creatures.

Accelerate Disease (Su)

Fourteen times per day, Zuggtmoy can accelerate an existing disease in a creature she can perceive.

The victim must make a DC 44 Fortitude save or suffer the disease’s next scheduled damage immediately.

A disease can be accelerated no more than three times in the same victim during a 24-hour period.

Spiritual Mycosis (Su)

A creature struck by one of Zuggtmoy’s tendrils or failing its save against Entropic Wave must make a DC 63 Fortitude save or become infected.

Two rounds later, purple puffball-like structures appear across the victim.

Unless cured, the infection causes 1d4 points each of Constitution, Wisdom and Charisma drain per day.

Any creature making physical contact with the infected victim, or remaining within 10 feet of active fruiting bodies, must succeed on a DC 58 Fortitude save or become infected.

Corporeal undead are vulnerable to the spiritual component and suffer Wisdom and Charisma drain even though their dead flesh does not deteriorate normally.

Remove disease can cure the infection, but against Spiritual Mycosis directly produced by Zuggtmoy the caster must succeed on a caster-level check against DC 60.

Wish followed by remove disease and restoration automatically purges the infection.

Supercolony (Su)

Three times per day, Zuggtmoy can transform into a subterranean colony.

The ground shakes and her visible body liquefies into it.

In this form she occupies a disc approximately 280 feet in radius, gains a burrow speed of 60 feet and can remain dispersed for up to 10 rounds.

• Each round up to 28 ordinary rooted trees within the colony can be twisted into hostile corrupted forms.
• Intelligent plant creatures must make a DC 63 Fortitude save or become corrupted and dominated for the duration of the transformation.
• Animals touching the ground must make a DC 63 Fortitude save or contract Spiritual Mycosis.
• Three great fruiting nodes appear on the surface. Each has AC 50, hardness 25 and 150 hit points.
• Destroying all three nodes forces Zuggtmoy to re-form and prevents the colony from healing her.

If any nodes remain when she re-forms, Zuggtmoy heals 100 hit points for each surviving node.

Toxins (Ex)

Once every 8 rounds, Zuggtmoy can change the poisonous compounds produced by her body.

Roll 1d8 or choose the result most appropriate to the encounter.

Immunity to poison protects against these effects. Spell resistance does not.

The save is DC 35 + the spell level of the simulated effect, using Fortitude or Will as appropriate.

Open water within 280 feet can also become contaminated. Zuggtmoy fouls approximately 14 cubic feet of liquid per round.

A single body of liquid can carry only one of her toxin profiles at a time.

Abyssal Vehemence (Ex)

Creatures within 600 feet of Zuggtmoy must succeed on a DC 66 Will save or suffer either overwhelming fear or supernatural madness.

On a fear result, the creature becomes shaken. Any direct hostile gesture from Zuggtmoy causes the victim to become frightened and flee as quickly as possible.

On a madness result, the creature suffers an insanity effect.

Zuggtmoy can exempt her servants, cultists and creatures of chaotic evil alignment from this aura.

Cosmic Corruption (Su)

Once per day as a standard action, Zuggtmoy can corrupt an area approximately 2,975 feet across with an unhallow-like effect.

She normally binds contagion to the corrupted region, although bane, bestow curse, deeper darkness, dispel magic or silence can be substituted where appropriate.

Consecrated ground resists this corruption normally. Breaching such a place does not automatically summon or alert a deity; any wider divine response depends upon the site, its patron and the circumstances of the campaign.

Demon Goddess (Su)

Although Zuggtmoy is not treated as the creator of natural fungi, sufficiently devoted worshippers can receive divine magic from her under the legacy epic rules.

Her associated domains are Evil, Corruption, Destruction and Plant.

Demon-Lord Qualities (Ex)

Zuggtmoy is immune to electricity and poison and has resistance to acid 10, cold 30 and fire 30.

She is immune to ability damage, ability drain, energy drain, mind-affecting effects, petrification and unwanted transformation.

She does not age and does not need to eat, sleep or breathe.

She has telepathy to 100 feet and continuously benefits from detect magic and see invisibility.

Within one mile, she can sense significant invocations of her own name, titles or objects directly tied to her, although strongly protected sanctuaries and comparable planar wards can block this awareness.

Divine Decadence — Legacy Epic Framework (Ex)

The older SpiralWorlds epic framework treats Zuggtmoy as possessing a virtual divine rank of 11 despite not being a true deity.

Within the Abyss she functions as virtual divine rank 16.

This mechanic belongs only to this legacy 3.5e interpretation and is not a universal SpiralWorlds cosmological rule or a requirement for the 5.5e or Pathfinder versions.

Fast Healing and Regeneration

Zuggtmoy has fast healing 15 and regeneration 15.

Lawful good epic bludgeoning attacks, artifacts or effects of equivalent power can deal normal damage through her regeneration, subject to the campaign’s epic rules.

3.5e Lair Effects

When Zuggtmoy is encountered in a mature colony, the colony acts on initiative count 20 each round.

Choose one:

• A 30-foot-radius area erupts in grasping fungal growth; Reflex DC 63 or the creature becomes entangled and immobilised.
• Grounded creatures within 120 feet make a DC 63 Fortitude save against Spiritual Mycosis.
• A contaminated water source emits a 30-foot-radius toxin cloud using Zuggtmoy’s current toxin.
• Up to three suitable corpses rise as fungal servants.

3.5e Regional Effects

The regional effects in the 5.5e panel can be used unchanged as campaign effects.

Where an epic 3.5e saving throw is required for a direct manifestation of the colony, DC 63 is appropriate unless another ability supplies a different DC.

3.5e Combat

Zuggtmoy attempts to contaminate rivers, wells and other water sources before confronting serious opposition.

She uses her magic to corrupt surrounding life and establish fungal defenders while the colony expands.

Spellcasters are attacked first when they appear capable of curing her infections, bringing planar reinforcements or sealing an Abyssal breach.

Against concentrated opposition she uses Mycoblast, Entropic Wave and destructive magic before engaging with her tendrils.

If destruction of her manifestation becomes likely, she obscures pursuit, shifts into Spore Cloud and teleports or plane shifts away rather than sacrificing herself unnecessarily.