Crimson Worlds

Sorcerous Sea Skull Swarm

4 min read

columns: 2
forcecolumns: true
layout: Basic Pathfinder 2e Layout
source: "Pathfinder Bestiary 3"
name: "Sorcerous Sea Skull Swarm"
level: "Creature 14"
rare_03: [[Rare]]
alignment: ""
size: "Large"
trait_01: [[evil]]
trait_02: [[swarm]]
trait_03: [[undead]]
trait_04: [[unholy]]
modifier: 24
perception:
  - name: "Perception"
    desc: "+24; Darkvision, Truesight"
languages: ""
skills:
  - name: "Skills"
    desc: "Acrobatics: +26, Arcana: +28, Occultism: +28"
abilityMods: [-3, 6, 4, 8, 4, 5]
speed:  swim 40 feet
sourcebook: "_Pathfinder Bestiary 3_"
ac: 34
armorclass:
  - name: AC
    desc: "34; __Fort__ +22, __Ref__ +26, __Will__ +26; +1 status to all saves vs. magic"
hp: 190
health:
  - name: ""
  - name: HP
    desc: "190, void healing; __Immunities__  death effects,  disease,  paralyzed,  poison,  precision,  swarm mind,  unconscious,  grabbed,  prone,  restrained; __Weaknesses__ area damage 12, splash damage 12; __Resistances__ bludgeoning 6, cold 12, electricity 12, fire 12, piercing 12, slashing 12"
abilities_top:
  - name: ""
 
  - name: "[[Bestiary Ability Glossary/Constant Spells|Constant Spells]]"
    desc: "  A constant spell affects the monster without the monster needing to cast it, and its duration is unlimited. If a constant spell gets counteracted, the monster can reactivate it by spending the normal spellcasting actions the spell requires."
 
abilities_mid:
  - name: ""
  - name: "[[Bestiary Ability Glossary/Swarm Mind|Swarm Mind]]"
    desc: "  This monster doesn't have a single mind (typically because it's a swarm of smaller creatures), and is immune to mental effects that target only a specific number of creatures. It is still subject to mental effects that affect all creatures in an area."
 
  - name: "Boneshard Burst"
    desc: "  When a sorcerous skull swarm is reduced to 0 Hit Points, it erupts in an explosion of foul energy and bone fragments in a 30-foot burst, dealing 3d12 piercing damage and 3d12 void damage (DC 34 Reflex check save)."
 
  - name: "Consume Spell"
    desc: "`pf2:r`  **Trigger** The swarm is targeted with a spell\n* * *\n\n**Effect** The swarm casts [[Spells/Dispel Magic|Dispel Magic]] to counteract the triggering spell. If it successfully counteracts the spell, it gains temporary Hit Points equal to twice the level of the counteracted spell that last for 1 minute."
 
  - name: "[[Bestiary Ability Glossary/Void Healing|Void Healing]]"
    desc: "  A creature with void healing draws health from void energy rather than vitality energy. It is damaged by vitality damage and is not healed by vitality healing effects. It does not take void damage, and it is healed by void effects that heal undead."
 
attacks:
  - name: ""
 
  - name: "Arcane Innate Spells"
    desc: "DC 36, attack +26; __7th __  _[[Spells/Dispel Magic|Dispel Magic (At Will)]]_, _[[Spells/Spell Turning|Spell Turning]]_\n__Cantrips__  __(7th)__ _[[Spells/Detect Magic|Detect Magic]]_, _[[Spells/Telekinetic Hand|Mage Hand]]_, _[[Spells/Telekinetic Projectile|Telekinetic Projectile]]_\n__Constant__  __(7th)__ _[[Spells/Truesight|True Seeing]]_"
 
  - name: "Siphon Magic"
    desc: "`pf2:2` (arcane,illusion,mental) The sorcerous skull swarm saps magic from nearby creatures. Any creature with the ability to cast spells (including innate spells) in the swarm's space takes 15d6 mental damage (DC 34 Will check save); on a failure, the creature is also [[Conditions/Stupefied|Stupefied 2]] ([[Conditions/Stupefied|Stupefied 3]] on a critical failure)."
 
  - name: "Swarming Gnaw"
    desc: "`pf2:1`  Each enemy in the swarm's space takes 5d8 piercing damage (DC 34 Reflex check save)."
 
name: Sorcerous Sea Skull Swarm
creatures:
  - 1: Sorcerous Sea Skull Swarm

The act of creating a demilich sometimes goes horribly awry, leaving behind a shattered remnant of a once-mighty spellcaster constantly leaking eldritch energies. The ruined spirit animates a cloud of debased copies of itself, glittering with cracked crystals in crude imitation, and it hungers constantly for the magical energies denied it in its corrupted immortality.

Some of the spellcaster’s personality remains in the swarm, albeit usually unnaturally split between the skulls. As a consequence, the skulls argue among themselves as warring parts of the personality clamor to be heard, resulting in the swarm’s fractious, inconstant attitude.

A skull swarm is composed of reanimated masses of craniums and jawbones, forming a terrifying avalanche of undead fury. Most skull swarms are mindless, though some retain a vestige of wit, awareness, and even magical talents from life, culminating in a highly intelligent swarm mind.

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