Sonic Nightmare
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Climate/Terrain | Air Elemental Plane |
| Frequency | Uncommon |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Activity Cycle | Any |
| Diet | None |
| Intelligence | Average (8-10) |
| Treasure | Nil |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| No. Appearing | 1 |
| Armor Class | 6 |
| Movement | 12" Fl B |
| Hit Dice | 2 |
| THAC0 | 19 |
| No. of Attacks | 1 |
| Damage/Attack | 1-3 |
| Special Attacks | Sound Effects |
| Special Defenses | +1 weapon or better to hit |
| Magic Resistance | Nil |
| Size | S (3' diameter) |
| Morale | Elite (13-14) |
| XP Value | — |
Description
The Sonic is a being from the elemental plane of Air that exists only as a complex soliton wave in the atmosphere. Other beings will see this entity only as a slight rippling effect in the air that emits a high-pitched warbling sound resembling vibrating crystal. The Sonic is attracted to any new noises in the vicinity, and will close to investigate. While not overtly hostile, the Sonic is mysteriously enraged by certain low frequency sounds and will relentlessly attack until it has damaged or destroyed the source of the noise.
Combat
The primary attack of a Sonic Nightmare is a climbing hum that causes painful muscle contractions and a headache in its victims. It is able to focus this sonic blast in a narrow beam that impacts like a physical blow. The victim must make a saving throw versus paralyzation or be wracked with convulsions for 1d4 rounds. Any crystal or glass objects carried by the victim must make a saving throw versus a crushing blow or be shattered.
The Sonic Nightmare is also able to produce a deafening sound that will leave everybody within 30' deafened for 1d6 rounds. A saving throw versus petrification, with a +1 bonus for every 5' of distance from the Nightmare, will reduce the duration to 1d3-1 rounds.
As the Sonic Nightmare is merely an unusual waveform in the atmosphere normal weapons can not harm it. Indeed, unless it is making a noise the Nightmare is invisible beyond 10'. A cause deafness or silence spell will instantly slay the Nightmare unless a saving throw versus death magic is made. Otherwise it is stunned for 1-3 rounds. It is unable to sense or attack any targets within a region of magical silence. A pure vacuum will instantly slay a Sonic Nightmare, and a thunderclap from a lightning bolt will inflict a like amount of damage as the spell.
Most non-air elemental-based spells have little or no effect on a Sonic Nightmare. It is, however, susceptible to enchantment spells and some psionic attacks.
Habitat/Society
The Sonic Nightmare is seemingly a natural phenomenon within the Air Elemental plane, as these beings do not breed with each other and rarely interact. They seem to find each other's presence especially painful and will usually flee if another of their kind is present.
A Sonic Nightmare is actually capable of learning a language and communicating if a means can be found to train it. The nature of a Nightmare allows it to produce perfect musical tones, and it can produce beautiful, haunting musical patterns once it has been exposed to the concept of singing.
Ecology
The Nightmare seems to have no material requirements and will continue to sustain itself as long as an atmosphere is present.