Elemental Whippet

Description

This giant creature resembles a monstrous scorpion that has lost its pincers. The exoskeleton is sleek and hairless, with grooved ridges along each of the joints. The entire body is a single, monotonous hue.

These malicious predators of the prison plane are magical creatures that possess limited elemental qualities. Their body is generally insect-like in form, with a sleek outer shell, six armored legs and a spiked tail. They have two domed eye stalks that instinctively retract into protective openings when they are at risk of damage.

A whippet has the ability to vary the dimensions of its body at will, according to its current needs. When it wants to run, the body becomes long and sleek, and the legs thin and wiry. During combat the body becomes wider, thickening its shell and presenting less of a target. In this form the whippet increases the length of its tail, turning it into a long, flexible, whip-like appendage that can strike at foes with a greater reach. When it sleeps or seeks to protect itself, the body resembles a compact ball to conserve energy.

The elemental traits of this creature provide partial resistance to certain types of energy attacks, and also enhances the lethality of its tail attack. There are four types of whippets, characterized by the special energy attack of their tail. These are the the reddish corrosive whippet; black-hued flame whippet, deep blue frost whippet, and snow white shocking whippet. Whippets of different types are rarely found together, and instinctively hate each other.

A fertilized elemental whippet female lays a larval packet several feet beneath the earth. These have a feeding tube that protrudes up through the surface, and its mother periodically supplies it regurgitated food through this orifice. The whippet larva grows in size by burrowing deeper into the earth as it expands, always leaving its lengthening feeding tube at the surface. After six months the larva enters a cocoon state, after which it emerges from the earth fully grown.

Combat

An elemental whippet attacks using its potent spiked tail to inflict piercing and energy damage, often choosing to send its opponent flying with a powerful blow. Against a larger force, the elemental whippet will resort to trampling over the bodies, using its hard body and touch legs to crush and maim.

Trample (Ex): Reflex half DC 29. The save DC is Strength-based.

Energy Traits (Ex): Elemental whippets have unique traits that depend on their type.

• Corrosive whippets deal 3d6 acid damage with their tail, and have immunity to acid.
• Flame whippets deal 3d6 fire damage with their tail, and have immunity to fire and vulnerability to cold.
• Frost whippets deal 3d6 cold damage with their tail, and have immunity to cold and vulnerability to fire.
• Shock whippets deal 3d6 electricity damage with their tail, and have immunity to electricity.

Backlash (Ex): Creatures inflicting damage to an elemental whippet with natural weapons or unarmed attacks take energy damage as though hit by an elemental whippet's tail attack. The type of energy damage depends on the energy traits of the elemental whippet type.

Adjust Form (Ex): Once per round as a free action an elemental whippet can modify its bodily form to suit its current needs. It can either increase its speed by +10 ft.; expand the reach of its tail to 20 ft., or improve its natural armor to +8.

Light Sensitivity (Ex): Elemental whippets are dazzled in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.

Advanced Benefits

In addition to the standard changes due to Hit Dice advancement, elemental whippets also gain the following special benefits.

• The save DC of the trample is equal to 10 + ½ HD + Strength modifier.
• 20+ HD ― Damage reduction improves to 15/magic.
• 24–31 HD ― Fast healing improves to 6.
• 32 HD ― Fast healing improves to 8.