Stone Demon

Frequency: Very Rare
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: -1
Move: 12"/8"(through stone)
Hit Dice: 5-20
% In Lair: 80%
Treasure Type: any
# of Attacks: 2
Dam/Attack: 1-10/1-10
Special Attacks: Lava Ball
Special Defenses: Stone Meld, Fire Resistance, Cold Resistance Magic Resistance: 30%
Intellegence: Very-Genius
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Size: M-L (usually mansized)
Psionic Ability: nil
Att/Def Modes: nil
Lvl/X.P. Val: 5000 + 2/hp

The stone demon is the undead form of a high level character, usually a mage, priest, or palladin, who has made a pact with the forces of death such that when they die, they retain their consciousness and skills of their former life. They are fearsome foes indeed, quick to regenerate and tough to kill. They usually appear as stone statues which are activated by some event or key word. They are always conscious, but usually are but weakly linked to the prime material plane, their spirit only animating their stone forms on occasion, spending much of their time out of body. When the key event occurs, usually their name being spoken, the spirit is immediately called to their physical form, animating it. This gives them a keen advantage of being able to spy on one intheir nonphysical form as a spirit, attacking once they have determined the party's strengths and weaknesses. They often terrorize a group, appearing now and then to spook the party. In their nonmaterial form they have none of the energy draining powers of a ghost. Their immaterial form is used to follow and get information only. They can awaken others of their kind and pass information to them at any time, whether in or out of body.

In their physical form they attack with huge stone fists, doing d10 of crushing damage per hit. Also, once every third round they are able to create a lava ball which they can throw up to 50', which, if it hits, will do 2d6 of damage. Part of the reason that they hit for so much is that their fists can superheat, so the damage is searing damage as well. Thus, wounds caused will be instantly cauterized. If they hit one with cloth on, the material must save vs. catching on fire as per spell vs. the level of the experience of the target (it is assumed that the character will try to put out the flames or avoid contact with the fists to their clothes, etc.). A failed roll indicates that the clothing articles are on fire. A stone demon is impervious to fire attacks of any kind as well as cold based attacks. Edged weapons do 1/2 damage, full damage if magical.

They are able to stone meld at will, as well as travel through solid stone, seeming to melt into it, whether it be a wall that they seem to pass through, or a floor, which they melt into and out of sight. If they are found in groups, which rarely happens, they will often combine into a larger Stone Demon, with hit points cumulative of both of the creatures and a 'to hit' made at the total of the two creatures hit dice. Thus, a 6 hd and a 10 hd stone demon combine to form a larger stone demon that attacks as a 16 hd monster! This form will have two heads, and if magic users, they will be able to cast each of their spells. The combined beast also has two arms on each side of the body. If more than two are combined, the result is a foe that is almost invinceable.

Often, they will meld into the floor, only to reach out with appendages to strike at an opponent or to hold them. If one grabs hold of a foot, escape is accomplished by a sucessful bend bars/lift gates. A sucessful hit being accomplished at 3 or more over the needed roll indicates that it has enveloped the attacking appendage, and two such hits indicate that it has completely enveloped the victim. After that, damage is done at the rate of 2d10 /round. If the creature ever reaches 2/3 of its hit points, it will melt into the ground. If a victim is held at this time, the creature will release hold of them to escape.