Nerephtys (CR 7)

Large Elemental (Earth)
Alignment: Always neutral
Initiative: +3 (-1 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative); Senses: Listen +8 and Spot +8


AC: 15 (-1 size, -1 Dex, +7 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 15
Hit Dice: 6d8+36 (63 hp); DR: 10/magic
Fort +11, Ref +1, Will +2
Speed: 10 ft.
Space: 5 ft./10 ft.
Base Attack +4; Grapple +4
Attack: Bite +8 melee
Full Attack: Bite +8 melee
Damage: Bite 2d8+7 and ability drain
Special Attacks/Actions: Ability drain, earth mastery, improved grab
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 8, Con 22, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 11
Special Qualities: Crystallization, elemental immunities, SR (28)
Feats: Improved Initiative
Skills: Hide +7, Listen +8, and Spot +8
Advancement: 7-12 HD (Large), 13-18 (Huge)
Climate/Terrain: Underground (Wormcrawl Fissure depths)
Organization: Solitary
Treasure/Possessions: None

Source: Dragon #287

Improved Grab (Ex): When it makes a successful bite, the nerephtys can make a free grapple check without provoking an attack of opportunity. If the grapple check is successful, the nerephtys then fuses its hollow teeth with the target's body. Escape Artist checks are useless against this grab; the only way to escape is to slay the nerephtys or to tear free with a successful opposed Strength check. This deals 2d8 points of damage to the victim.

Ability Drain (Su): Once the nerephtys has grabbed a victim, it does 1d4 points each of temporary Strength and Constitution damage per round as it extracts all the minerals from a victim's body.

Damage Reduction 10/+1 (Su): The nerephtys ignores the first 10 points of damage dealt by a non-magic weapon.

Earth Mastery (Ex): A nerephtys gains a +1 bonus to attacks and damage if both it and its foe touch the ground. If an opponent is airborne or waterborne, the nerephtys suffers a -4 penalty to attacks and damage.

Elemental Immunities (Ex): The nerephtys is immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, and stunning. They are not subject to critical hits and cannot be flanked.

Crystallization (Su): A nerephtys can harden its body to the consistency of solid rock at will as a free action. A petrified nerephtys has a hardness of 15, but it can't move or attack in this form and must spend a standard action to return to "normal" state. This, coupled with its natural spell resistance, makes a crystallized nerephtys difficult to slay.

Spell Resistance (28) (Ex): Spellcasters must make a successful level check (DC 28) to determine if their spells affect the nerephtys. The same is true of creatures attempting to target a nerephtys with a spell-like ability.

The nerephtys attacks with one bite per round, using its ability to appear as normal rock to surprise its victims.

Earth Subtype

This subtype usually is used for elementals and outsiders with a connection to the Elemental Plane of Earth. Earth creatures usually have burrow speeds, and most earth creatures can burrow through solid rock.