Buy me a coffeeAbyssal Larva, “The Writhing Emissaries of Despair”
“Discover the nightmarish Abyssal Larva: a grotesque, mindless creature with a twisted humanoid face, sharp fangs, and a deadly acid bite!”
The Abyssal Larva is a nightmarish, grotesque creature that embodies the darkest aspects of the Abyss. Its bloated, maggot-like body is a sickly whitish-yellow, pulsating with purplish veins that throb ominously beneath its fleshy exterior. Its vaguely humanoid head is crowned with large, downward-curving horns and hollow, sunken eyes that seem eternally tormented. Its mouth is filled with rows of jagged, sharp fangs, perpetually exposed in a grimace of suffering. This twisted form exudes a sense of agony, as if the larva itself is trapped in a perpetual state of torment.
Behaviorally, Abyssal Larvae are relentless and savage, driven by primal hunger. They are nearly mindless, acting purely on instinct, swarming and attacking anything they encounter with vicious abandon. Their feeding habits are equally disgusting; they regurgitate stomach acids onto their meals, liquefying them before slurping up the remains. Although they seem simple, their chaotic nature makes them immune to mind-affecting spells and effects, and they are capable of infecting others with confusion through their disturbed thoughts.
Abyssal Larvae thrive in the depths of the Abyss, dwelling in dark, fetid corners of the planar realm. The Abyss is a place of eternal chaos, where they scavenge decaying bodies, waste, and anything that can be consumed. They often gather in mobs or broods, overwhelming their prey with sheer numbers and attacking in unison. These larvae are the broken remnants of evil souls, too weak to become demons yet too vile to be anything else, living out their existence as the ultimate expression of despair and savagery.
Their modus operandi in combat involves overwhelming their foes with swarming bites and acidic attacks. They have no real tactics, simply acting as if in a frenzied, animalistic rage. When provoked, they can regurgitate a stream of maggots that sickens their enemies, adding a horrific layer to their brutal assault.
Motivated purely by hunger and the chaos that defines their existence, Abyssal Larvae feed indiscriminately, showing no preference for the living or the dead. Their primary drive is to consume, survive, and spread suffering wherever they go. Although loathed by more civilized creatures, some demons actively hunt them for their flesh, viewing them as a twisted delicacy in the Abyss’s unforgiving ecosystem.
Abyssal Larva 5e
Abyssal Larva Pathfinder
Abyssal Larva
Medium Outsider (Chaotic Evil)
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 45 (6d8 + 18)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 16 (+3) | 3 (-4) | 10 (+0) | 7 (-2) |
Saving Throws Constitution +5, Wisdom +2
Damage Resistances Acid, Cold, Fire
Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Understands Abyssal but cannot speak
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
TRAITS
Tortured Mind.
The Abyssal Larva is immune to all mind-affecting effects (charm, fear, etc.). Creatures attempting a mind-affecting spell or ability on it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or become affected by the Confusion spell for 1 minute. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Acidic Bite.
The Abyssal Larva’s bite carries potent digestive acids. On a hit, the target takes 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) acid damage.
Flesh Devourer.
Upon killing a creature, the Larva can consume its remains within 10 minutes as a bonus action, regaining 5 hit points.
Maggot Spray (Recharge 5-6).
As an action, the Abyssal Larva sprays writhing maggots at a creature within 15 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or become sickened for 1d4 rounds, suffering disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks. A successful save reduces the effect to 1 round.
ACTIONS
Multiattack.
The Abyssal Larva makes two Bite attacks or one Bite and one Maggot Spray attack.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) acid damage. - Maggot Spray. Recharge 5-6: The Abyssal Larva sprays maggots at a creature within 15 ft., as per its Maggot Spray trait.
BONUS ACTIONS
Digestive Excretion.
The Larva excretes a viscous acid pool (5-foot radius) at a point within 15 feet. The pool lasts 1 minute, dealing 5 (1d6 + 2) acid damage to creatures starting their turn in it or entering it for the first time.
REACTIONS
Defensive Slime.
When hit by a melee attack, the Larva can spray acidic slime at the attacker. The attacker must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or take 7 (2d6) acid damage.
TACTICS AND STRATEGY
- Swarm and Devour. Abyssal Larvae swarm foes in a frenzied rush, using Bite attacks to inflict painful damage. Acting in mobs, they prioritize biting and incapacitating targets one at a time, while Maggot Spray disorients groups.
- Acid Pools. Using Digestive Excretion, the Larva creates hazardous terrain, cornering enemies and cutting off escape routes, especially effective in confined areas.
- Sickening Spray. Maggot Spray debilitates spellcasters or ranged attackers who pose a threat from afar. The Larva uses this frequently to disrupt groups.
- Self-Regeneration. Severely injured Larvae will devour fallen foes with Flesh Devourer to restore health, focusing on weaker or dying enemies first.
- Mind Immunity. Due to Tortured Mind, they’re highly effective against charm or fear spells, making them potent threats to spellcasters reliant on such tactics.
ENVIRONMENTAL PREFERENCES
Habitat. Found in the dark depths of the Abyss or corrupted environments, Abyssal Larvae prefer damp caves, ruins, or desolate forests filled with decay and rot.
Behavior in Groups. Operating in mobs, they instinctively coordinate attacks, using Maggot Spray to confuse and debilitate enemies before swarming for the kill.
OPTIONAL LEGENDARY ACTIONS
For added challenge, the Abyssal Larva could possess the following Legendary Actions:
- Lash Out (Costs 1 Action). Makes a Bite attack against one creature within 5 feet.
- Acidic Burst (Costs 2 Actions). Unleashes a wave of acid in a 15-foot cone. Creatures make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 15 (4d6) acid damage on a failed save, or half on success.
- Mind-Rupture (Costs 3 Actions). Releases psychic agony, affecting all creatures within 30 feet. Each target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or take 12 (3d6) psychic damage and be stunned until the end of its next turn.
Abyssal Larva
This creature looks like a puffy and bloated human-sized whitish-yellow maggot with purplish veins pulsating under its fleshy form. A vaguely humanoid head sits atop its body and its facial features are twisted and distraught as if the creature was in a constant state of pain. A pair of large, downward-curving horns juts from its head, just above its sunken eyes. Its mouth is lined with filthy and sharpened fangs.
Abyssal larvae are believed to be the final form of an evil soul deemed too weak to become a demon and too weak to become the servant of a demon. Another theory suggests that the larvae are the imprisoned forms of slain demon princes and lords. Whatever their true origin, abyssal larvae are plentiful throughout the Abyssal planes, and are some of the most disgusting aznd loathsome creatures encountered.
These creatures feed on anything they can consume, be it rotting carcasses, freshly slain creatures, and even waste. Consumables are first liquefied through a process requiring the abyssal larva to regurgitate stomach acids onto its meal. As the food breaks down, the larva slurps it up and consumes it.
While loathed by the more civilized, some demons, such as dretches and babaus, savor the juicy flesh of these creatures and often engage in hunting expeditions across The Abyss, killing and devouring as many of these creatures as they can find.
Acting as if almost mindless, abyssal larvae attack any living creature they encounter. They have no real tactics other than swarming a foe and biting relentlessly. These creatures fight until destroyed.
An abyssal larva’s natural weapons, as well as any weapon it wields, is treated as chaotic-aligned and evil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
| Abyssal Larva CR 1 |
| XP 400 CE Medium outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar) Init +0; Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4 |
| DEFENSE |
| AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14 (+4 natural) hp 8 (1d10+3) Fort +2; Ref +2; Will +0 Immune mind-affecting effects; Resist acid 5, cold 5, fire 5 |
| OFFENSE |
| Speed 20 ft. Melee bite +1 (1d4 plus 1d4 acid) Ranged maggot spray +1 (sickened) Special Attacks acid, maggot spray |
| STATISTICS |
| Strength 10, Dexterity 10, Constitution 11, Intelligence 3, Wisdom 10, Charisma 7 Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 11 (cant be tripped) |
| SPECIAL ABILITIES |
| Acid (Ex) Abyssal larvae use digestive juices to break down their foods. This acid often remains in their mouths and is transferred to a victim bitten by a larva. Any melee bite attack deals acid damage. Maggot Spray (Ex) Once per day, an abyssal larva can regurgitate and fire a stream of maggots at a single opponent within 10 feet. This requires the abyssal larva to succeed on a ranged touch attack. If the attack succeeds, the opponent is sickened for 1d2 rounds. A successful DC 10 Reflex save reduces the sickened condition to 1 round. The save DC is Strength-based. Tortured Mind (Ex) The mind of an abyssal larva is a warped and tangled mass of chaos. As a result, abyssal larvae are immune to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects). A creature attempting to contact an abyssal larva with a mind-affecting spell or effect (including psionics) must succeed on a DC 14 Will save or be affected as by a confusion spell for 1 minute. The save DC is Constitution-based and includes a +4 racial bonus. |
| ECOLOGY |
| Environment The Abyss Organization mob (4-7), brood (8-17) Treasure none |
Section 15: Copyright Notice – Tome of Horrors Complete
Abyssal Larva from the Tome of Horrors Complete, Copyright 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., published and distributed by Frog God Games; Author Scott Greene.