Buy me a coffee“Ephialtes Kyton, the Chainbound Devourer”
“Meet the horrifying, chain-wielding monstrosity from the depths of Hell—an Ephialtes Kyton, where every encounter is a nightmarish battle for survival!”
The Ephialtes Kyton is a towering, grotesque entity standing 25 feet tall, its immense frame a horrific fusion of exposed bone and tattered flesh. Its body is encased in an intricate web of chains, each link adorned with vicious barbs and hooks that writhe like living serpents. The chains are not merely decorative; they form an ever-present, clinking armor that shields the creature and serves as a weapon. The Ephialtes’ face is a mask of torment and rage, with its eyes glowing an ominous red that strikes fear into anyone who meets its gaze. The beast’s tail, a serpentine mass of razor-sharp links, coils and lashes with deadly precision.
Behavior: Ephialtes kytons are sadistic and relentless hunters, reveling in the suffering of their victims. They move with an eerie, silent grace despite their size, cloaked in shadows that enhance their menacing presence. When they are prepared to intimidate or strike, they shed their stealth and unleash their full terror, their gaze and actions reflecting their malicious intent. They are driven by a cruel enjoyment of their work, whether it’s capturing, torturing, or killing their prey.
Habitat: These fiends are native to the Shadow Plane, a dark and desolate dimension that mirrors the Material Plane but is suffused with gloom and despair. They are often found in the darkest corners of this plane or in the bleakest regions of Hell where shadows are thick and torment is a way of life. Occasionally, they venture into other planes in pursuit of their cruel missions, dragging their victims back to their shadowy dominions.
Modus Operandi: Ephialtes kytons use their breath weapon to exhale a cone of barbed, grappling chains that can ensnare and damage multiple targets at once. Once they have their prey in their grasp, they use their chains to pull and bind their victims, often transferring them to their own chains for further torment. They prefer to isolate and overwhelm their targets, using their fearsome presence and dark magic to break down resistance before executing their grim tasks.
Motivation: The primary motivation of an Ephialtes kyton is the pursuit of suffering and despair. They are driven by a dark pleasure in the torment they inflict and a relentless drive to fulfill the commands of their infernal masters. Their actions are guided by a desire to capture souls, drag them into the abyss, and ensure that their victims experience eternal suffering. They thrive on the chaos and misery they create, seeking to expand their influence and perpetuate their reign of terror across the planes.
Ephialtes 5e
Ephialtes Pathfinder
Ephialtes Kyton
Huge Fiend (Kyton), Lawful Evil
Armor Class 20 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 300 (24d12 + 144)
Speed 40 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 (+8) | 16 (+3) | 22 (+6) | 12 (+1) | 14 (+2) | 18 (+4) |
Saving Throws Dex +11, Con +14, Wis +10, Cha +12
Skills Intimidation +20, Perception +18, Survival +15
Damage Resistances Cold, Fire; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities Poison, Psychic
Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed
Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Tremorsense 60 ft., Passive Perception 28
Languages Infernal, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)
Traits
Dark Devotion. The Ephialtes Kyton has advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.
Regeneration. The Ephialtes Kyton regains 20 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point remaining.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of the Ephialtes Kyton’s choice within 30 feet of it and aware of it must succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the Ephialtes Kyton is within line of sight, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Chain Armor. The chains covering the Ephialtes Kyton give it a +8 bonus to AC but are not treated as armor for the purpose of arcane spell failure, armor check penalties, maximum Dexterity, weight, or proficiency.
Dancing Chains. The Ephialtes Kyton can control up to four chains within 30 feet of it as a bonus action. Each chain can attack as a +15 to hit, dealing 2d8+8 bludgeoning damage on a hit. If a chain is in another creature’s possession, the creature can attempt a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw to break the Kyton’s control.
Actions
Multiattack. The Ephialtes Kyton makes three attacks: one with its bite, one with its tail, and one with its chains.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2d6+8 piercing damage.
Chains. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 2d8+8 bludgeoning damage plus the target must succeed on a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be restrained by the chains. The restrained target can use its action to make a DC 20 Strength check, freeing itself on a success.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8+8 bludgeoning damage plus the target must succeed on a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Breath Weapon (Recharge 5–6). The Ephialtes Kyton exhales a 50-foot cone of barbed chains. Each creature in that area must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw, taking 4d8+8 piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The chains grapple and restrain any creature that fails the save (DC 20 Strength check to escape).
Legendary Actions
The Ephialtes Kyton 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 Ephialtes Kyton regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Chain Lash. The Ephialtes Kyton makes one Chains attack.
Frightening Gaze (Costs 2 Actions). The Ephialtes Kyton uses its Frightful Presence.
Teleport (Costs 3 Actions). The Ephialtes Kyton teleports up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.
Tactics
- Opening Moves: The Ephialtes Kyton begins combat by using its Frightful Presence to weaken and terrify its enemies, making them easier to control and subdue.
- Breath Weapon: It uses its Breath Weapon to control the battlefield, restraining multiple targets and setting up for follow-up attacks.
- Chain Control: It uses Dancing Chains to attack from a distance and potentially disarm or control enemies, manipulating the battlefield to its advantage.
- Regeneration and Resilience: The Ephialtes Kyton relies on its regeneration and high resistances to sustain itself in prolonged combat, making it a challenging adversary to bring down.
- Legendary Actions: It uses its legendary actions to keep enemies off balance, teleporting to reposition or striking with its chains to maintain pressure on key targets.
Amid a roiling cloud of deepest dark, the rattle of chains and heavy footfalls announce a being of immense size. An infernal, gasping hiss draws the darkness back, revealing a tortured, four-legged fiend of exposed bone and ragged flesh draped in chains. Barbs and hooks hang from these wrought iron bands, matching the fiend’s tail as they writhe like snakes in search of prey.
Source Pathfinder #30: The Twice-Damned Prince pg. 86
Originally posted in Archives of Nethys
Sadistic hunters and tormentors of all living souls, ephialtes kytons usually roam the planes in service to the lords of Hell and Shadow, but occasionally in pursuit of their own fell interests. They ruthlessly abduct the innocent and retrieve the damned, dragging their victims into the fires of Hell or the gnashing, wailing dark of the Plane of Shadow. They have no fear, tracking their chosen prey regardless of distance or challenge, and shackle dragons, giants, and humanoids alike for their eternal torturous rewards.
Ephialtes kytons travel in silent grace while cloaked in darkness, but drop their stealthy veils when ready to intimidate those theyve come to collect or punish. Then, their frightening gaze matches the deadly intent of the chains piercing their flesh. These animated, wrought iron bands serve as protection and weapons in the hands or claws of all kytons, but may also bind and lash their victims to the ephialtes’ ever-bleeding hide to carry them into the Great Beyond. A typical ephialtes stands 25 feet tall and weighs over 15 tons with the combined burden of their deadly chains.
| Ephialtes CR 16 |
| XP 76,800 LE Huge outsider (evil, extraplanar, kyton, lawful) Init +6; Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +24 Aura frightful presence (30 ft., DC 22) |
| DEFENSE |
| AC 30, touch 10, flat-footed 28 (+8 armor, +2 Dexterity, +12 natural, -2 size) hp 243 (18d10+144); regeneration 5 (good weapons and spells, silver weapons) Fort +14, Ref +13, Will +14 Defensive Abilities chain armor; DR 10/silver or good; Immune cold, fear, poison; Resist acid 10, fire 10; SR 27 |
| OFFENSE |
| Speed 30 ft. Melee bite +24 (2d6+8), 2 chains +25 (2d8+8/19-20), 2 claws +24 (1d8+8), tail +19 (1d8+4) Space 15 ft., Reach 15 ft. Special Attacks breath weapon (50-ft. cone, 2d8+8 piercing damage plus grab, Reflex DC 27 for half, usable every 1d4 rounds), dancing chains, entrapping chains, pull (breath weapon, 10 feet), rend (2 chains, 2d8+12) Spell-Like Abilities (CL 16th) At will – blur (self only), dimensional anchor3/day – deeper darkness, shadow walk (DC 19), silence (DC 15) 1/day – discern location |
| STATISTICS |
| Strength 26, Dexterity 14, Constitution 26, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 12, Charisma 16 Base Atk +18; CMB +28 (+32 grapple or pull); CMD 40 (44 vs. trip) Feats Alertness, Bleeding Critical, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus, Improved Critical (chains), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Stand Still, Weapon Focus (chains) Skills Bluff +12, Climb +15, Escape Artist +13, Intimidate +24, Knowledge (planes) +13, Perception +24, Sense Motive +18, Stealth +15, Survival +22 Languages Infernal |
| SPECIAL ABILITIES |
| Breath Weapon (Su) As a full-round action, an ephialtes kyton may exhale a spread of barbed, grappling chains anchored within its massive maw, targeting up to six creatures in a 50-foot cone. Those failing a DC 27 Reflex save suffer 2d8+8 points of piercing damage and the kyton may make a combat maneuver check as an immediate action to grapple each victim with the animate chains. A successful save cuts the damage in half and avoids the grapple opportunity. Those successfully grappled by the chains become subject to the kytons pull ability. A kyton cannot use its breath weapon again while it is grappling or pulling creatures with its breath weapon chains. Otherwise, it may use the breath weapon once every 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based. An ephialtes kyton’s chains (hardness 10, hp 10, Break DC 26) can be broken, or attacked by making a sunder attempt. If the chain is currently grappling a target, the attacker gains a +4 circumstance bonus on the CMB check to sunder. Severing a chain deals no damage to a kyton. Chain Armor (Ex) The chains that adorn an ephialtes kyton grant it a +8 armor bonus, but are not treated as armor for the purpose of arcane spell failure, armor check penalties, maximum Dexterity, weight, or proficiency. Dancing Chains (Su) An ephialtes kyton can control up to four chains within 30 feet as a standard action, making the chains dance or move as it wishes. In addition, the kyton can increase these chains length by up to 15 feet and cause them to sprout razor-sharp barbs. The chains attack as effectively as the kyton itself. If a chain is in another creature’s possession, the creature can attempt a DC 22 Will save to break the ephialtes kyton’s power over that chain. If the save is successful, the kyton cannot attempt to control that particular chain again for 24 hours or until the chain leaves the other creatures possession. An ephialtes kyton can Climb chains it controls at its normal speed without making Climb checks. The save DC is Charisma-based. Entrapping Chains (Su) With a successful combat maneuver check, an ephialtes kyton may transfer an adjacent creature grappled by the kytons breath weapon chains to the chains adorning its body, giving the target the pinned conditionwhile the kyton deals with remaining foes. The kyton does not retain the grappled condition while pinning such creatures. Pinned victims can free themselves with a combat maneuver check to break the pin or an Escape Artist check. Other creatures can attempt to free pinned victims by making a sunder attempt (hardness 10, hp 10). An ephialtes kyton may entrap 1 Large, 2 Medium, 8 Small, 32 Tiny, or 128 Diminutive or smaller opponents. Pull (Ex) An ephialtes kyton has a +4 racial bonus on CMB checks made using its pull special attack. |
| ECOLOGY |
| Environment any (Shadow Plane) Organization solitary or team (2-8) Treasure standard |
Summoning Ephialtes Kytons
As long as a conjurer doesn’t interrupt an ongoing hunt, most ephialtes kytons relish being summoned, looking forward to the sport of chasing down newly assigned prey or punishing those who fail to properly bind them. Any Charisma check made as part of the greater planar binding spell to convince an ephialtes kyton to undertake a mission other than the murder, abduction, or torture of specific victims suffers a -2 penalty.
Once an ephialtes kyton accepts an assignment, it demands 1,000 gp paid in black onyx or opals for every Hit Die its target possesses. If the summoner cannot pay the price in the required gems, the kyton only partially carries out the requested service – maiming instead of murdering, abducting for only a limited time (typically 1d4+3 days), or only torturing a victim until it answers a single question as part of an interrogation. If a summoner tries to force an ephialtes kyton to perform a different type of service or accept a different form of payment, the kyton takes offense and all of the summoner’s future Charisma related interactions with the ephialtes suffer a -2 penalty.
Once an ephialtes kyton has agreed to a task, only its assigned prey interests it. Ephialtes kytons always offer to dispose of such victims by taking them to the Shadow Plane so they can help lesser kytons obtain the necessary number of souls to become ephialtes.