Medium aberration (star spawn), chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 168 (16d8 + 96)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +5
Proficiency Bonus + 7 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 (+3) | 12 (+1) | 23 (+6) | 18 (+4) | 12 (+1) | 16 (+3) |
Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +6, Cha +8
Skills Perception +6
Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, restrained
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Deep Speech
Challenge 16 (15000 XP)
Innate Spellcasting. The larva mage’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 161 +8 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
- At will: eldritch blast (3 beams, +3 bonus to each damage roll), minor illusion
- 3/day: dominate monster
- 1/day: circle of death
Return to Worms. When the larva mage is reduced to 0 hit points, it breaks apart into a swarm ofinsects in the same space. Unless the swarm is destroyed, the larva mage reforms
from it 24 hours later.
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 succeed on a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or take 22 (Sd8) necrotic damage and be blinded and restrained by masses of swarming worms. The affected creature takes 22 (Sd8) 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.
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
The larva mage 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 larva mage regains spent legendary actions at the start of its 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.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
A star spawn larva mage is a horrific creature that resembles a humanoid composed of a writhing mass of worms. It is an aberration that serves the Elder Evils, ancient and powerful entities that dwell in the farthest reaches of the cosmos. A star spawn larva mage was once a mortal spellcaster who sought to unlock the secrets of the stars, but was corrupted and transformed by the influence of the Elder Evils. It retains some of its former arcane abilities, but also gains new ones that reflect its alien nature. A star spawn larva mage speaks Deep Speech, the language of aberrations and eldritch horrors.
COMBAT
A star spawn larva mage is a formidable opponent in combat, as it can use both spells and innate abilities to harm its enemies. It can cast spells as a 16th-level wizard, favoring those that deal necrotic damage or manipulate minds. It can also use its Return to Worms trait to escape from danger by collapsing into a pile of worms and reforming elsewhere. Additionally, it can use its legendary actions to cast cantrips, unleash a Worm Burst that damages and stuns nearby creatures, or summon a swarm of worms to aid it in battle. A star spawn larva mage is resistant to cold and nonmagical physical damage, and immune to psychic damage and several conditions. It also has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A star spawn larva mage is a solitary and secretive creature that prefers to dwell in dark and isolated places, such as ancient ruins, forgotten tombs, or deep caverns. It rarely interacts with other creatures, except to serve the will of its Elder Evil master or to seek out more arcane knowledge. It views most other beings as inferior or irrelevant, and will either ignore them or destroy them if they interfere with its plans. A star spawn larva mage may occasionally ally with other star spawn or aberrations that share its allegiance to the Elder Evils, but it does not trust or respect them.
ECOLOGY
A star spawn larva mage is a living paradox, as it is both alive and dead at the same time. Its body is composed of countless worms that act as a single organism, constantly regenerating and replacing each other. The worms feed on necrotic energy and organic matter, and can infect other creatures with their bites. The worms also carry the essence and memories of the larva mage’s former self, as well as a fragment of the Elder Evil’s power. A star spawn larva mage does not age or reproduce, but it can create more of its kind by infecting other spellcasters with its worms and corrupting their minds and bodies.