Star Spawn Larva Mage
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes p. 235,
- Size
- Medium
- Type
- aberration
- Alignment
- chaotic evil
- AC
- 16 (natural armor)
- Hit Points
- 168 (16d8+96)
- Speed
- walk 30 ft.
- Saving Throws
- Dex +6, Wis +6, Cha +8
- Skills
- Perception +6
- Resistances
- cold; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from nonmagical attacks
- Immunities
- psychic
- Condition Immunities
- charmed, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, restrained
- Senses
- darkvision 60 ft.
- Passive Perception
- 16
- Languages
- Deep Speech
- Challenge
- 16
- Lineage
- Star Spawn
- Environment
- mountain
Traits
Return to Worms
When the larva mage is reduced to 0 hit points, it breaks apart into a swarm of insects in the same space. Unless the swarm is destroyed, the larva mage reforms from it 24 hours later.
Innate Spellcasting
The larva mage's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
- At will: eldritch blast*, minor illusion
- 1/day: circle of death
- 3/day: dominate monster
*3 beams, +3 bonus to each damage roll
Actions
Slam
Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the end of its next turn.
Plague of Worms (Recharge 6)
Each creature other than a star spawn within 10 feet of the larva mage must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure the target takes 22 (5d8) necrotic damage and is blinded and restrained by masses of swarming worms. The affected creature takes 22 (5d8) necrotic damage at the start of each of the larva mage's turns. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
recharge
D6
Reactions
Feed on Weakness
When a creature within 20 feet of the larva mage fails a saving throw, the larva mage gains 10 temporary hit points.
Legendary Actions
Legendary Actions (3/Turn)
The aberration can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The aberration regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
recharge
3/TURN
Cantrip (Costs 2 Actions)
The larva mage casts one cantrip.
Slam (Costs 2 Actions)
The larva mage makes one slam attack.
Feed (Costs 3 Actions)
Each creature restrained by the larva mage's Plague of Worms takes 13 (3d8) necrotic damage, and the larva mage gains 6 temporary hit points.
Spells
eldritch blast, minor illusion, circle of death, dominate monster
Other data
description
Stars don't spawn these creatures. Such beautiful lights shouldn't be blamed for such balefulness.
Star Spawn Larva Mage: A larva mage is a nightmarish combination of a mortal body and otherworldly substance. When a powerful cultist of a wormlike entity such as Kyuss or Kezef—usually a warlock or other spellcaster—contacts the comet-borne emissary of an Elder Evil, the emissary can merge with a mortal consciousness to create a larva mage. None of the original cultist's personality survives the transformation, so what emerges is wholly alien.
Star Spawn: The Material Plane represents only one small part of the multiverse. Beyond the best-known planes of existence lie realms that are lethal to mortal life. Some are so hostile that even a moment's contact with such a place is enough to plunge a mortal mind into madness. Yet beings do exist that are native to these realms: beings that are eternally hungering, searching, warring, sometimes dreaming. These Elder Evils are far older than most of the mortal races and always horrific to humanoid minds.
However much they might desire to enter and dominate the Material Plane, the Elder Evils are unable or unwilling to leave their realms. Some are imprisoned in their dimensions by external forces, some are inextricably bound to their home realities, and others simply can't find any way out.
Heralds of Doom: The creatures known as star spawn are the heralds, servants, foot soldiers, and lieutenants of the Elder Evils, capable of taking on forms that can journey to the Material Plane. They arrive most often in the wake of a comet—or perhaps such a phenomenon merely signals that star spawn are in the vicinity and available for communication. When the signs are right, warlocks and cultists hasten to gather together, read aloud their blasphemous texts, and conduct the mind-searing rituals that guide the blazing star spawn into the world.
The cultists who blaspheme reality by calling out to Elder Evils often speak of a Far Realm from which these entities hail. In truth, there is no one place or space from which they come. There is the multiverse of things that are, and there is the multiverse of things that shouldn't be.