Malebolge

A massive pit yawns open beneath your feet. You catch a glimpse of mouths opening in the wet red stone of the chasm’s sheer walls, of writhing tentacles and teeth as big as giants and a single staring eye in the very depths, looking back at you!

Monster Encyclopaedia I: Ravagers of the Realms
Author August Hahn, Gareth Hanrahan, Lizard
Series Monster Encyclopaedia
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2004

The malebolge are the living pits of Hell. According to some writings, there are but four malebolge; others claim there are nine or 16 or nine score and nine. Less comforting texts insist that if the lower planes are infinite in extent, then there must perforce be an infinite number of devils, including an endless amount of malebolge. Take heart in the fact that even the most comprehensive fiendish texts contain the true names of only two malebolge. Perhaps that is all that exist.

Physically, a malebolge is a roughly conical entity, like an upside-down pyramid, about 40 feet wide at its uppermost section narrowing to but five feet wide at its base. A creature who falls into a malebolge will fall 100 feet or so before smashing into the unyielding sides of the pit. Mouths, tentacles, eyes, teeth and other organs and orifices constantly open and close in the red stone; when a malebolge speaks, it speaks with a thousand voices which echo around and out of the pit.

Normally, the malebolge are to be found in the lowest reaches of the hells. The choicest of the damned are hurled into the maw of the malebolge, to be chewed upon and tormented for aeons. The living pits are not especially ambitious or active devils; they are serene in their constant infl iction of perfect agony and do not hunger like other devils to be called to the material plane to win souls and cause havoc. That said, when a malebolge is gated in by some lunatic, the results are nothing short of apocalyptic.

The land shifts and moves like water for the malebolge. They swim through the ashen plains of Hell and the stone of the material plane with equal ease, ‘surfacing’ for a moment to swallow some unfortunate, then returning into the depths to grind him into dust. They are cunning fighters and respectful of the powers of puissant beings. A malebolge facing a solar angel or high-level party will retreat into the ground and wait for a good time to attack instead of rising blindly and trying to grab its prey.

Malebolge
Colossal outsider (Evil, Earth)
Hit Dice	40d8+372 (552 hp)
Initiative	-3
Speed	Burrow 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armour Class	25 (-8 size, -3 Dexterity, +26 natural), touch 0, flat-footed 24
Base Attack/Grapple	+40/+71
Attack	Lesser mouth +47 melee (4d6+15)
Full Attack	Lesser mouth +47 melee (4d6+15)
Space/Reach	40 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks	Gaping maw, grinding pit, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities	acid immunity, fire and cold resistance 20, damage reduction 20/epic, earth glide, tremorsense, spell-like abilities, Spell Resistance 30, telepathy 100 ft.
Saves	Fort +35, Ref +23, Will +26
Abilities	Strength 40, Dexterity 4, Constitution 28, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 11, Charisma 6
Skills	Concentration +52, Diplomacy +43, Hide +27, Intimidate +43, Listen +43, Move Silently +41, Sense Motive +43, Spot +43, Survival +43
Feats	Awesome Blow, Cleave, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Sunder, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Stealthy, Toughness x4
Environment	Lower planes
Organisation	Solitary
Challenge Rating	23
Treasure	Triple standard
Alignment	Always lawful evil
Advancement	–
Level Adjustment	–

Combat

A malebolge’s primary method of attack is simple movement; it can move directly under a foe and have them fall into its body. While they are within, it can snap at them with the lesser mouths that sprout within it (or grapple them with its tentacles). Each person within the pit will be attacked by a single lesser mouth. It can also grind those trapped within it.

When faced with flying enemies, the malebolge turns to its spell-like abilities to knock its foes out of the air. reverse gravity is a favoured tactic; it flips the flyer into the malebolge’s mouth, then the pit sinks into the earth holding the flyer trapped within it.

Earth Glide (Ex): A malebolge can glide through stone, dirt or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other signs of its presence.

Gaping Maw (Ex): A malebolge is basically a mobile 100- feet-deep pit. If it moves under a character, that character falls into the pit. Characters may make a Reflex save (DC 15) to Jump out of the way; if the edge of the malebolge is further than five feet away, the character must make a Jump check to reach the edge. A character who falls into the malebolge takes 10d6 damage from the fall and is now trapped within the malebolge. He can attempt to Climb out (Climb check DC 30) as long as the roof of the malebolge is open. If the malebolge has descended into the earth using its earth glide ability, then there is no escape for the character by Climbing unless the malebolge surfaces again.

Grinding Pit (Ex): As a full-attack action, the malebolge can grind everything trapped within it. All creatures in the pit suffer 20d6 damage (opposed Strength check against the malebolge for half damage).

Spell-Like Abilities:

• At will – comprehend languages, scrying (DC 12);
• 3/day – antimagic field, dimensional anchor (DC 12), greater dispel magic, imprisonment (DC 17), meteor swarm (DC 17), reverse gravity, sympathy (DC 16),.

Caster level 40th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.