The bitter, hateful creature that is Nihil is one of the most powerful psionic beings in the multiverse. Having trained both his mind and body for millennia, his martial and psychic prowess is nearly on par with a god. But rather than finding enlightenment in his personal accomplishments, he sees only meaninglessness and emptiness in all things.
Nihil is a hideous creature. Standing five feet tall, his body is completely hairless, with grey skin that is shriveled and emaciated, clinging to his bones like a dull wrapping. His eyes are blank white orbs, though he can see perfectly well. He lacks a tongue and lips altogether, leaving him always wearing a sickening, rictus grin. He is similarly without vocal cords, making him unable to speak; he uses mindlink when he wishes to communicate, though this is rare. He wears a dull, hooded robe that reaches past his knees, under which he wears only a loincloth.
Nihil remembers little of his past life, as his élan transformation removed most of his memories of that existence. He knows he was a powerful ascetic who didn’t want to die before achieving enlightenment, which was why he became an élan. However, he made several alterations to the usual transformation process, ensuring that the metamorphosis would augment his mind and body. When he emerged from the transformation chamber, he found that while he had indeed gained more power than a standard élan (having both the Superior and Chosen templates), there had been an unforeseen side-effect: his body was now hideously warped (having gained the Freak flaw).
It is unclear exactly when Nihil began to hate everything, but it happened in the ensuing centuries after his rebirth, when he began to try and get a better understanding of the world so as to better transcend it. The longer he observed the world and its peoples, the more disgusted he became with their pettiness and stupidity. Over and over again, he watched as ignorance, greed, and selfishness conquered reason, compassion, and temperance on the grand scale of things. People killed each other seemingly at the slightest encouragement, and the totality of peoples remained worse off for it all. Even the gods seemed to mimic the petty behavior of their worshippers, instead of trying to maintain a better example for them.
Seeing such things over and over and over again was enough to embitter even the sturdiest of souls. Eventually, no longer feeling a connection to anyone or anything, the former ascetic took the name Nihil (“nothing”). Deciding that the cosmos itself was too imperfect to be allowed to continue existing, he silently declared war against everyone and everything, waging a one-man battle against Creation.
Currently, Nihil wanders reality, seeking to kill practitioners of arcane magic. To an outside observer, this may seem like a classic case of a psion lashing out against mages. In truth, Nihil simply decided to codify what aspect of existence he’ll destroy first, arbitrarily choosing magic-users as the first to feel his wrath. In fact, he knows that his quest is impossible – no one being can destroy all reality – but it gives him direction and purpose, something he’d otherwise lack.
Stat Block[]
Nihil CR 43
Male Superior Chosen elan gestalt psion 30-monk 30-psychic acrobat 10-astral centurion 5-savant 5
LE Medium Aberration (Psionic)
Init +14 (+10 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative); Senses darkvision 60’; Listen +34, Spot +34
Languages Abyssal, Aquan, Auran, Celestial, Common, Ignan, Infernal, Sylvan, Terran, Undercommon
AC 73 (+25 armor [+8 armor bonus, +16 enhancement bonus, +1 Soul Warrior (competence)], +10 Dex, +6 monk, +9 Wis, +12 psychic acrobat [+10 Int, +2 psychic acrobat], +1 Two-Weapon Defense), touch 47, flat-footed 73; Combat Expertise, two +16 defending mind blades, slice time (defensively)
hp 506 (40 HD); DR 10/magic
PR 40
Fort +29, Ref +32, Will +31; improved evasion
Spd 150 ft. (+100 epic monk enhancement bonus, +10 Speed of Thought, +10 Improved Speed of Thought class ability)
Melee +16 keen defending enlarging twin crystal hilts of speed mind blade +51/+51/+51/+51/+46/+41/+36 (4d6+25/17-20) and +16 keen defending enlarging twin crystal hilts of speed mind blade +51/+51/+46/+41/+36 (4d6+25/17-20) (+25 BAB, +8 Str, +16 weapon quality, +1 Weapon Focus (mind blade), +1 Soul Warrior) (damage: +16 weapon quality, +8 Str, +1 Soul Warrior)
Ranged +16 mind blade +53/+53/+53/+53/+48/+43/+38 (4d6+25/19-20) and +16 mind blade +53/+53/+48/+43/+38 (4d6+25/19-20) (+25 BAB, +10 Str, +16 weapon quality, +1 Weapon Focus (mind blade), +1 Soul Warrior) (damage: +16 weapon quality, +8 Str, +1 Soul Warrior)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +25; Grp +33
Atk Options Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, slice time (offensively), Spring Attack, Stunning Fist 32/day (DC 39)
Special Atks quivering palm (DC 34)
Combat Gear keen defending enlarging twin crystal hilts of speed
Powers Known (ML 37th, 496 pp*, +35 ranged touch, DC 20 + power level)
9th- astral juggernaut (UT), genesis, id cascade (HC), psionic etherealness, reality revision, true creation
8th- astral seed, hypercognition, mindquake (HC), psionic greater teleport, recall death, shadow body, true metabolism
7th- crisis of life, decerebrate, divert teleport, energy wave, mass ectoplasmic cocoon, personal mind blank, ultrablast
6th- brutalize wounds (HC), co-opt concentration, mass cloud mind, probability mantle (HC), psionic contingency, psionic disintegrate, temporal acceleration
5th- adapt body, ectoplasmic shambler, catapsi, leech field, mind probe, psionic plane shift, psychic crush
4th- death urge, energy adaptation, head trip (HC), psionic freedom of movement, schism, trace teleport, wall of ectoplasm
3rd- body adjustment, dispel psionics, energy bolt, psionic fly, telekinetic force, telekinetic thrust, touchsight
2nd- biofeedback, concussion blast, construct toughness (HC), disrupting lash (UT), inflict pain, psionic identify, read thoughts
1st- astral construct, defensive precognition, detect psionics, ecto protection, foxhole (UT), mindlink, offensive precognition, offensive prescience
- Nihil’s total power points are 510; the above number takes into account that he uses repletion and personal mind blank at the start of every day. Powers marked HC are from Hyperconscious [1], and powers marked UT are from Untapped Potential [2].
Abilities Str 26, Dex 30, Con 24, Int 31, Wis 29, Cha 21
SQ abundant step, astral legions, astral reinforcements, diamond body, diamond soul, empty body, enduring ectoplasm, evasion, fast movement, great leaps, improved boost construct, improved evasion, improved mental leap, improved up the walls, improved speed of thought, ki strike, mobile combat training, monk AC bonus, off the walls, perfect balance, perfect self, purity of body, psychic acrobat AC bonus, psychogenic athleticism, regenerate ectoplasm, repletion, resilience, resistance, rising handspring, slice time (defensively), slow fall, still mind, timeless body, tongue of the sun and moon, uncanny dodge, wall mastery, wholeness of body
Feats Adamantine Mind Blade, Armor Proficiency (light), Blade of Might, Boost Construct, Burrowing Power, Cerebral Dominance, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Counterpower, Craft Psionic Arms and Armor, Deflect Arrows, Disrupt Manifestation, Elan Sight, Elan Vigilance, Endurance, Expanded Knowledge (hypercognition), Form Mind Blade, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Id Companion, Improved Initiative, Improved Mind Blade Shaper, Improved Power By Proxy, Improved Psionic Detection, Improved Soul Armor, Improved Trip, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Leadership (43), Martial Deflection (mind blade), Master of the Dual Blades, Mental Leap, Mind Blade Shaper, Overchannel, Power By Proxy, Practiced Manifester, Psionic Body, Psionic Detection, Psionic Meditation, Rapid Constructor, Reforge Mind Blade, Run, Shape Mind Blade, Soul Armor, Soul Warrior, Soulblade Warrior, Speed of Thought, Spring Attack, Student of the Dual Blades, Stunning Fist, Subconscious Meditation, Talented, Throw Mind Blade, Track, Twin Power, Two-Weapon Defense, Two-Weapon Fighting, Up the Walls, Weapon Focus (mind blade), Weapon Kata, Web of Influence, Wielder of the True Blade.
Epic Feats Additional Iterative Attack, Automatic Metapsionic Capacity (x4), Diverging Devotion (telepath), Epic Mind Blade, Exceptional Deflection, Infinite Deflection, Light Armor Mastery, Metapsionic Focus, Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting, Reflect Arrows, Spellcasting Harrier, Uncanny Two-Weapon Fighting.
Flaws Freak
Defects Mute
Skills Appraise +10 (+12 for gems and weapons), Autohypnosis +18, Balance +42, Bluff -2, Climb +38 (+40 when using a rope), Concentration +37, Craft (gemcutting) +20, Craft (weaponsmithing) +20, Craft (all others) +10, Diplomacy +2, Disguise +1, Escape Artist +20 (+22 involving rope), Forgery +10, Gather Information +0, Heal +9, Hide +30, Intimidate +15, Jump +88, Knowledge (arcana) +20, Knowledge (architecture and engineering) +20, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +20, Knowledge (geography) +20, Knowledge (history) +20, Knowledge (local) +20, Knowledge (nature) +22, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +20, Knowledge (psionics) +37, Knowledge (religion) +20, Knowledge (the planes) +20, Listen +34, Move Silently +30, Perform (all) +1, Psicraft +37 (+39 to address power stones), Ride +10, Search +20 (+22 to find secret doors and similar compartments), Sense Motive +19, Spellcraft +22 (+24 to decipher scrolls), Spot +34, Survival +19 (+21 when underground, to keep from getting lost or avoiding hazards, when in aboveground, natural environments, when on other planes, or when following tracks), Swim +28, Tumble +32, Use Magic Device +10 (+12 involving scrolls), Use Psionic Device +15 (+19 involving power stones), Use Rope +20 (+22 involving binding someone).
Abundant Step (Su): Nihil can slip between spaces, as if using psionic dimension door, once per day. His manifester level for this effect is 15th.
Astral Legions (Su): As an immediate action when the manifestation time of an astral construct power he manifests is complete and the construct or constructs appear, Nihil may expend his psionic focus to manifest astral construct twice more as a single immediate action; his effective manifester level for these manifestations is one-half his actual manifester level. These additional constructs still require the power’s normal manifestation time (1 round) to appear, but Nihil need not concentrate on the manifestation and can take other actions that round.
Astral Reinforcements (Ex): Nihil can augment his astral construct power in the following additional manner: “Augment: For each 4 additional power points you spend, you create one additional identical astral construct.”
Diamond Body (Su): Nihil is immune to poisons of all kinds.
Empty Body (Su): Nihil may become ethereal, as the power psionic etherealness, for 30 rounds per day. He may go ethereal on a number of different occasions during any single day, as long as the total number of rounds spent in an ethereal state does not exceed 30.
Enduring Ectoplasm (Ex): The duration of any astral construct power Nihil manifests is increased by 10 rounds. Additionally, he has a +2 bonus to his limit for power points spent on a single power for the purpose of manifesting astral construct.
Fast Balance (Ex): A successful Balance check lets Nihil move his speed across a precarious surface, rather than half speed.
Great Leaps (Su): While unarmored, unencumbered, and psionically focused, Nihil makes all Jump checks as though he received a running start.
Improved Boost Construct (Ex): Nihil can give any astral construct that he creates up to three bonus abilities from any menu or menus from which the construct already has one or more abilities.
Improved Evasion (Ex): If Nihil makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. On a failed save, he takes only half damage.
Improved Mental Leap (Su): Whenever Nihil uses his Mental Leap feat, while unarmored and unencumbered, he may add his psychic acrobat class level and Intelligence modifier (for a total of +20) as an additional bonus to his Jump check.
Improved Up the Walls (Su): While unarmored and using his Up the Walls feat, Nihil can take part of a double move action on vertical surfaces, rather than part of a move action.
Ki Strike (Su): Nihil’s unarmed strikes count as adamantine, lawful, and magic for overcoming damage reduction.
Off the Walls (Ex): Nihil gains a +4 circumstance bonus on melee attack rolls made when attacking from a vertical surface, or leaping from one. Furthermore, he gains a +2 bonus on attack rolls made from higher ground instead of the usual +1.
Perfect Balance (Su): While psionically focused, unarmored, and unencumbered, Nihil is treated as being under the effects of the body equilibrium power, although he must still make Balance checks. Add +5 to the DC of a surface if the object could not normally hold his weight (such as the flat of a sword blade or an outstretched arm), and +10 to the DC if the surface is a liquid. If the Balance check fails, or if he loses his psionic focus, he falls through the surface, as normal. Movement across a surface that causes damage, such as lava or acid, still causes damage as normal.
Perfect Self (Su): Nihil is treated as an Outsider for purposes of spells and effects. He may still be brought back from the dead as normal for an aberration.
Purity of Body (Ex): Nihil is immune to all diseases, except for supernatural and magical diseases.
Quivering Palm (Su): Nihil can set up vibrations within the body of another creature that can thereafter be fatal if he so desires. He can use this quivering palm attack once a week, and must announce his intent before making his attack roll. Constructs, oozes, plants, undead, incorporeal creatures, and creatures immune to critical hits cannot be affected. Otherwise, if he strikes successfully and the target takes damage from the blow, the quivering palm attack succeeds. Thereafter Nihil can try to slay the victim at any later time, as long as the attempt is made within a thirty days. To make such an attempt, Nihil merely wills the target to die (a free action), and unless the target makes a Fortitude saving throw (DC 34), it dies. If the saving throw is successful, the target is no longer in danger from that particular quivering palm attack, but it may still be affected by another one at a later time.
Regenerate Ectoplasm (Su): Whenever an astral construct created by Nihil is destroyed before the power’s duration expires, he reclaims a number of power points equal to the level of construct. As an immediate action, he can use some or all of these power points to manifest astral construct again, creating a new construct in the same location as the one destroyed (even if this location is now out of the power’s range). When manifesting astral construct in this way, only the power points reclaimed from the destroyed construct can be spent; no power points can be contributed from any other source.
Repletion (Su): Nihil can sustain his body without need of food or water. If he spends 1 power point, he does not need to eat or drink for 24 hours.
Resilience (Su): When Nihil takes damage, he can spend power points to reduce its severity. As an immediate action, he can reduce the damage he is about to take by 2 hit points for every 1 power point he spends.
Resistance (Su): Nihil can use psionic energy to increase his resistance to various forms of attack. As an immediate action, he can spend 1 power point to gain a +4 racial bonus on saving throws until the beginning of his next action.
Rising Handspring (Ex): Nihil can stand up from a prone position as a swift action, and never provokes an attack of opportunity for rising from prone.
Slice Time (Su): Nihil may expend his psionic focus as an immediate action to enter an accelerated state. He may use this ability offensively or defensively.
If he slices time offensively, opponents are denied their Dexterity bonus to AC against his attacks, unless he would be incapable of flanking them (such as a character with improved uncanny dodge). Nihil counts as a 40th-level rogue when opposing improved uncanny dodge this way. Against creatures that would already be denied their Dexterity bonus to Armor Class against his attacks (such as those unaware of his presence), he gains an additional +5 bonus on attack rolls.
If he slices time defensively, he gains a +10 dodge bonus to his AC. This bonus applies against ten attacks. If he takes the total defense action while slicing time defensively, the dodge bonus becomes +15, and it lasts against twenty attacks.
In either case, Nihil also gains a competence bonus to his base speed of +50 ft. All of these effects end after 1 round (at the beginning of his next turn if he sliced time on his turn, and at the end of his next turn if he sliced time between his turns).
Slow Fall (Ex): When falling within arm’s reach of a wall, Nihil can use it to slow his descent, taking no falling damage regardless of the distance fallen.
Still Mind (Ex): Nihil gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against spells and effects from the school of enchantment.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Nihil can react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He retains his Dexterity bonus to AC even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.
Wall Mastery (Ex): When using his Up the Walls feat, Nihil can take part of a run action on vertical surfaces.
Wholeness of Body (Su): Nihil can heal 60 hit points per day, and can spread this out over several uses.
Combat[]
Nihil is at his strongest in melee combat, and he knows it. When in a fight, he always manifests schism as soon as possible, so as to be able to make a full attack action and still manifest psionic powers. When manifesting, Nihil always takes a free action to suppress any display from his powers (automatically making the DC 15 + power level Concentration check) as he is loathe to allow his opponents even the slightest of advantages. Nihil's Metapsionic Focus and Automatic Metapsionic Capacity feats grant him 8 "free" psionic power points each round which may only be used towards the cost of metapsionic feats; further, he does not have to expend his psionic focus when using metapsionic feats - given that, he almost always uses a metapsionic feat in conjunction with his powers, usually Quicken Power or Twin Power. Thanks to his Subconscious Containment feat, Nihil has two psionic foci; because a number of his powers are dependent on retaining psionic focus, he never expends both, always keeping one in reserve unless in imminent danger of death.
Nihil is extremely difficult to kill. At any given time, he always has a psionic contingency to manifest temporal acceleration if he falls below 50 hit points. If he does die, he may make a DC 20 Fortitude save (automatically failing against an effect that specifically targets his brain, but automatically succeeding against decapitation effects). On a success, his body is dead but his mind remains active and alive. When in this state, Nihil has Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores of 0, and 333 hit points (his Wisdom modifier multiplied by his manifester level). Should Nihil be wearing any magic or psionic items, they do not function for him in this state. He may still use psionic powers and other purely mental actions (including resting for 8 hours to regain power points), but most psychometabolic powers will not affect him. He is considered helpless in this state, and melee attacks against his brain gain a +4 bonus to hit (his brain is considered to be side Tiny, however, which grants it a +2 AC bonus). Since his body is dead, Nihil has the same immunities that an undead creature would have (though he is not considered to be undead in this state), except for immunity to critical hits, mind-affecting effects, and ability drain to his mental ability scores. Nihil's body may be brought back to life by a wish, miracle, or regenerate spell, or by the reality revision psionic power (which is what he will use at the earliest possible opportunity). He does not lose a level or point of Constitution for coming back to life in this manner, since his mind was not dead. If his mind is killed before his body is brought back, however, Nihil dies for real; however, he always has an astral seed ready in case this happens.
Nihil’s greatest weapons are his mind blades, which he has crafted into extremely potent tools of destruction. Able to form them as a swift action, his mind blades have a +16 enhancement bonus, which Nihil leaves as is instead of converting some of it into weapon properties. They function as special monk weapons, letting him use his flurry of blows with them, and do damage comparable to what he can inflict by hand. Completely weightless, they are treated as being adamantine, epic, evil, and lawful for overcoming damage reduction. They’re considered to be adamantine in all regards, giving them hardness 20 and 40 hit points, and letting them overcome up to 20 points of hardness for objects. They are also treated as force effects, giving them no miss chance against incorporeal creatures. Further, he is able to form and maintain his mind blades even inside an antipsionic field without making Concentration checks. He is freely able to use his mind blades while in a grapple, and may also make trip attacks with them (which gain the benefit of his Improved Trip feat). If melee combat is impossible or impractical, he can throw his mind blades (range increment 30 feet), otherwise he manifests powers against ranged foes, or uses them on himself to close the distance between them.
The only weapons Nihil carries aren’t, strictly speaking, weapons at all. Rather, they’re a pair of twin crystal hilts that he crafted himself. Acting as lenses of deep crystal, Nihil is able to form his mind blades through the hilts for additional power; his mind blades have the defending, enlarging (from High Psionics: Soulknives; they make his mind blades function as if one size category larger. This doesn't stack with the Wielder of the True Blade feat), keen, and speed properties when the hilts are used. The two hilts may be used separately to form two weapons (Nihil’s preferred tactic) or joined together to form double weapons. Although Nihil can shape his mind blades into virtually any type of weapon, the fact that they do damage one die above his unarmed strikes means that it makes very little statistical difference how he shapes them; he usually only alters the shapes when the type of damage (e.g. bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing) matters.
Additionally, Nihil is able to form mind armor as well (which is treated as being light armor). This has an armor bonus of +8 and an enhancement bonus of +16; like with his mind blades, Nihil does not convert this into armor properties (though he can, as per his mind blades). Also like his mind blades, he is able to form and maintain his mind armor in an antipsionic field without making any Concentration checks. Forming his mind armor is a swift action. Nihil suffers no penalties for wearing this armor, including being able to use abilities that normally require being unarmored, thanks to his Light Armor Mastery feat.
Before engaging in melee combat, Nihil will try to use Improved Psionic Detection to look at the auras of his enemies and get a general idea of what their psionic and magical defenses are. He'll position himself near spellcasters and manifesters to take advantage of his Disrupt Manifestation and Spellcasting Harrier feats. His schismed mind will often use his Counterpower feat if it detects a truly dangerous power (that Nihil knows) being manifested against him. He has little fear of ranged attacks, since his Martial Deflection, Exceptional Deflection, and Infinite Deflection feats protect him from most ranged attacks; indeed, he'll often use Reflect Arrows to turn ranged attacks back on the attackers. If that isn't a feasible option, he'll close the distance with his vast speed (and if necessary, movement-based powers such as psionic fly).
While Nihil’s powers are vast, his greatest abilities are his awesome defenses. If he deems it necessary, he can – in the space of a single round – use the defending property on each of his mind blades (if without the crystal hilts he’ll take a full-round action to reconfigure them to have the defending property naturally, making them +15 weapons), his Combat Expertise feat, and manifest defensive precognition (augmented for 37 power points to grant a +13 bonus). If he still needs additional defensive power, he’ll (defensively) use his slice time ability, and manifest probability mantle, using biofeedback and his resilience power to lessen any damage that gets through. If he is still consistently being hit, he’ll try to escape (whether with a run action, psionic greater teleport, or some other method) and recover via body adjustment and true metabolism.
Among his many powers, Nihil is able to create a small army of astral constructs almost instantly. Thanks to his Id Companion feat, Nihil always has an astral construct with him, stats for which are given below. His astral constructs are created semisentient, with the ability to follow basic commands on their own, and act sensibly in carrying them out. Thanks to Nihil's enduring ectoplasm ability and Talented and Rapid Constructor feats, he can expend his psionic focus to manifest astral construct as a 42nd-level manifester as a standard action; he combines this with his astral reinforcements ability to (at the cost of 41 power points) create seven 9th-level astral constructs at once (with the same stats as his cohort), which last for 52 rounds. On the next round, after regaining psionic focus, he can then expend it again to use his astral legions power, manifesting astral construct twice as an immediate action as a 21st-level manifester (taking 2d8 damage, as he’ll use Overchannel to raise his manifester level by 1 for each manifestation), to create another four 9th-level astral constructs (with the same stats as the previous ones), which last for 33 rounds. He regains 9 power points whenever one of his astral constructs is destroyed.
If the situation warrants it, he can also manifest astral juggernaut for 37 power points to create a 44 HD astral juggernaut, the statistics of which can be found below. If he needs to take a break from battle, he’ll often ride inside the juggernaut to remain safe while he uses powers on himself, enhancing the juggernaut with ectokinesis.
Nihil has 16,000 XP that may be spent for powers with experience point costs, psionic item construction, etc.
Astral Construct[]
9th-level Astral Construct CR 10
N Huge Construct
Init +0 (+0 Dex); Senses darkvision 60’, low-light vision; Listen +9, Spot +9
AC 41 (+25 natural, +0 Dex, -2 size, +8 deflection), touch 16, flat-footed 41
hp 144 (19 HD); fast healing 2; DR 15/magic
Immune ability damage, ability drain, any effect that requires a Fort save (unless it works on objects or is harmless), critical hits, death effects, death from massive damage, disease, energy drain, exhaustion, fatigue, mind-affecting effects, necromancy effects, nonlethal damage, paralysis, poison, sleep, stunning
PR 29
Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +6
Spd 50 ft.
Melee 3 slams +30 (3d6+18) (+14 BAB, +18 Str, -2 size)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Base Atk +14; Grp +40
Abilities Str 47, Dex 11, Con --, Int --, Wis 11, Cha 10
SQ five abilities from Menu C (extra attack, extreme deflection, fast healing, improved slam attack, power resistance, muscle, natural invisibility, semisentient)
Feats Improved Natural Attack (slam)
Skills Intimidate +9, Jump +35, Listen +9, Spot +9
Natural Invisibility (Su): The astral construct is constantly invisible, even when attacking. This ability is inherent and not subject to the invisibility purge spell.
Astral Juggernaut[]
Advanced Astral Juggernaut CR 20
N Gargantuan Construct
Init +0 (+0 Dex); Senses darkvision 60’, low-light vision; Listen +0, Spot +0
AC 39 (+25 natural, +0 Dex, -4 size, +8 deflection), touch 14, flat-footed 39
hp 302 (44 HD); fast healing 2; DR 10/-- and 15/magic
Immune ability damage, ability drain, any effect that requires a Fort save (unless it works on objects or is harmless), critical hits, death effects, death from massive damage, disease, energy drain, exhaustion, fatigue, mind-affecting effects, necromancy effects, nonlethal damage, paralysis, poison, sleep, stunning
PR 54
Fort +14, Ref +14, Will +14; or as master
Spd 50 ft.
Melee 3 slams +50 (6d6+21) (+33 BAB, +21 Str, -4 size)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft.
Base Atk +33; Grp +66
Special Atks ectoplasmic salvo (see ectokinesis)
Psi-Like Abilities (ML 7th) at will – concussion blast (free action)
Abilities Str 52, Dex 11, Con --, Int --, Wis 11, Cha 10
SQ six abilities from Menu C (celerity, concussion, extra attack, extreme deflection, fast healing, improved slam attack, power resistance, muscle, natural invisibility)
Feats Improved Natural Attack (slam)
Carry Master (Ex): The creator of an astral juggernaut can enter a space within the juggernaut, from where he can find protection and grant the juggernaut a number of benefits. The creator must be able to touch the juggernaut. Entering or exiting the juggernaut is a full round action for the creator. Only the manifester who created the astral juggernaut can enter the juggernaut in this way.
Once inside the juggernaut, the creator is stored in a special compartment, and cannot move around inside the construct. He can breathe normally while inside, and can see and hear anything the juggernaut can (this includes the juggernaut’s darkvision and low-light vision). While carrying its master, the juggernaut uses its own saving throws or those of its master, whichever is higher. While the creator cannot be targeted by melee or ranged attacks (the space is completely contained giving him total cover), he is still vulnerable should the juggernaut be destroyed. Should the juggernaut reach 0 hit points while the creator is inside, he takes 10d6 points of damage. If the juggernaut dissipates or is destroyed while the creator is inside, he may appear in any space the juggernaut occupied of his choice.
The creator cannot be targeted or affected by powers or spells normally while inside the juggernaut, although powers enhanced with the Burrowing Power metapsionic feat can pass through the juggernaut to affect the creator inside. Likewise, the creator cannot affect targets outside of the juggernaut without use of the Burrowing Power metapsionic feat. The creator can use the juggernaut to deliver powers with a range of ‘Touch’, though. To do this, the astral juggernaut must either spend a standard action (in addition to the actions the creator took to manifest the power) to touch the target, or deliver the power through one of its natural attacks.
Ectokinetics (Su): If inside an astral juggernaut (see Carry Master, above), the creator can expend psionic power to make the juggernaut more powerful or activate special abilities. Enhancing the juggernaut in any of the following ways is a full round action for the creator. The creator’s may spend power points on one or more than one ectokinetics option per round, but the total cost may not exceed the creator’s manifester level.
Metaphysical Slam: The creator channels power into the juggernaut’s natural weapons. The astral juggernaut’s natural weapon attacks gain a +1 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls for every 4 Hit Dice it possesses. This effect lasts as long as the juggernaut does and costs the creator 7 power points.
Metaphysical Defense: The creator channels power into the juggernaut’s psionic defense systems. The astral juggernaut gains a +1 insight bonus to AC and all its saving throws for every 4 Hit Dice it possesses. This effect lasts as long as the juggernaut does and costs the creator 7 power points.
Rapid Repair: The creator channels power into repairing damage the juggernaut has sustained. The astral juggernaut is healed 10 points of damage for every power point the creator spends.
Master’s Enhancements: The creator opens up the juggernaut’s hidden abilities. The astral juggernaut gains a bonus feat from the following list even if it does not meet the prerequisites: Ability Focus, Awesome Blow, Empower Spell-Like Ability, Quicken Spell-Like Ability, Stand Still (Expanded Psionics Handbook). Unless otherwise noted, these feats are from the Monster Manual. This ability costs the creator 5 power points for each feat, and may be used more than once in the same round.
Ectoplasmic Salvo: The creator can expend psionic power to blast enemies with bolts of psychokinetically charged ectoplasm. Activating the salvo requires the creator to expend 10 power points, and after each use the creator must wait 1d4 rounds to before firing it again. The ectoplasmic salvo does 1d10 points of force damage to a single target for every Hit Die the juggernaut possesses. The creator must make a ranged touch attack to hit the target, although he may use his key ability modifier in place of his Dexterity modifier if he wishes. Ectoplasmic salvo has a maximum range of 200 feet.
Alternatively, the creator can choose to affect multiple targets with a single use of the ectoplasmic salvo. This requires making ranged touch attacks for each individual target, and the dice of damage are divided up between targets as the creator sees fit. For example, if inside a 24 HD construct and targeting three creatures, the creator could choose to deal 8d10 damage to all three, or 7d10 to two targets and 10d10 to the third, or any other combination adding up to no more than 24d10 damage. The creator must decide how the damage is to be divided before making the ranged touch attack rolls.
Natural Invisibility (Su): The astral juggernaut is constantly invisible, even when attacking. This ability is inherent and not subject to the invisibility purge spell.
Design Notes[]
Challenge Rating[]
Nihil’s CR was calculated using several educated guesses. As a 40th-level gestalt character, his CR was increased by 2 to account for his gestalt levels. The Superior template has a CR +1 increase. The Chosen template has no listed CR increase, but was interpreted to increase the base creature’s CR by +2 (this makes it match with the CR increase from the Superior template, as well as work with the formula [CR equals two-thirds of ECL] laid down by Upper_Krust). However, his CR is also lowered by 2 to account for him having almost no possessions at all. This brings his final CR to 43.
Ability Scores[]
Nihil’s ability scores were made as follows. The base scores were made with the “powerful array,” in the following arrangement: Str 12, Con 10, Dex 18, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 8. As an élan, he has a -2 Cha penalty. His attempt to increase the power of his élan transformation also gave him the Superior template (from Knowledge (current events) #13 [3]), which adds +2 to all of his ability scores, and the Chosen template (from Infinite [4]) which adds +4 to his ability scores. He also long ago found the legendary Hall of the Mountain King, which adds a +5 insight bonus to all of his attributes (it casts increase attribute five times on each ability score, from Practical Enchanter [5]). His character levels give him 10 discretionary points, 3 of which were given to Strength and Constitution, with the remaining ability scores each receiving 1 point. Finally, his great age gives him a +3 increase to his Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma (he has no penalties due to his timeless body ability).
Prestige Classes[]
The Savant PrC is from Paths of Power [6], by Distant Horizons Games. The Psychic Acrobat PrC is from Untapped Potential, by Dreamscarred Press. The Astral Centurion PrC is from Metablades, by Genjitsu Games.
Class Construction[]
As a gestalt character, Nihil effectively takes two classes at each level, using only the best hit die, BAB, base saves, and skill points, while gaining both class abilities. His level breakdown was constructed as follows:
Character level 1: gestalt monk 1-psion 1 (shaper)
Character level 2: gestalt monk 2-psion 2 (shaper)
Character level 3: gestalt monk 3-psion 3 (shaper)
Character level 4: gestalt monk 4-psion 4 (shaper)
Character level 5: gestalt monk 5-psion 5 (shaper)
Character level 6: gestalt monk 6-psion 6 (shaper)
Character level 7: gestalt monk 7-psion 7 (shaper)
Character level 8: gestalt monk 8-psion 8 (shaper)
Character level 9: gestalt monk 9-psion 9 (shaper)
Character level 10: gestalt monk 10-psion 10 (shaper)
Character level 11: gestalt monk 11-savant 1
Character level 12: gestalt monk 12-psion 11 (shaper)
Character level 13: gestalt monk 13-savant 2
Character level 14: gestalt monk 14-psion 12 (shaper)
Character level 15: gestalt monk 15-savant 3
Character level 16: gestalt monk 16-psion 13 (shaper)
Character level 17: gestalt monk 17-savant 4
Character level 18: gestalt monk 18-psion 14 (shaper)
Character level 19: gestalt monk 19-savant 5
Character level 20: gestalt monk 20-psion 15 (shaper)
Character level 21: gestalt monk 21-psion 16 (shaper)
Character level 22: gestalt monk 22-psion 17 (shaper)
Character level 23: gestalt monk 23-psion 18 (shaper)
Character level 24: gestalt monk 24-psion 19 (shaper)
Character level 25: gestalt monk 25-psion 20 (shaper)
Character level 26: gestalt psion 21 (shaper)-psychic acrobat 1
Character level 27: gestalt psion 22 (shaper)-psychic acrobat 2
Character level 28: gestalt psion 23 (shaper)-psychic acrobat 3
Character level 29: gestalt psion 24 (shaper)-psychic acrobat 4
Character level 30: gestalt psion 25 (shaper)-psychic acrobat 5
Character level 31: gestalt psion 26 (shaper)-psychic acrobat 6
Character level 32: gestalt psion 27 (shaper)-psychic acrobat 7
Character level 33: gestalt psion 28 (shaper)-psychic acrobat 8
Character level 34: gestalt psion 29 (shaper)-psychic acrobat 9
Character level 35: gestalt psion 30 (shaper)-psychic acrobat 10
Character level 36: gestalt monk 26-astral centurion 1
Character level 37: gestalt monk 27-astral centurion 2
Character level 38: gestalt monk 28-astral centurion 3
Character level 39: gestalt monk 29-astral centurion 4
Character level 40: gestalt monk 30-astral centurion 5
Psionic/Magic Alterations[]
Several of Nihil’s magical abilities were changed to be psionic equivalents, such as making Diamond Soul grant him power resistance instead of spell resistance. This was done to give the character a greater psionic flavor. These changes have virtually no mechanical impact, unless there’s no transparency between magic and psionics.
Nihil's astral constructs have the semisentient (Menu A) construct ability, from The Practical Enchanter. This gives them a bonus on Intimidate, Jump, Listen, and Spot equal to the level of the power used to create them, as well as the ability to carry out simple orders on their own.
Attacks[]
When making a full attack, Nihil makes use of the two-weapon fighting rules, in addition to making a flurry of blows. Further, when throwing his mind blades, Nihil is effectively detaching the blades from the crystal hilts; therefore, his thrown mind blades gain no benefits from them. The speed enhancement is an exception to this, as it takes effect when making the attack, before the mind blade is detached.
Skills[]
Nihil has a grand total of 510 skill points. For his first 25 character levels, he is assumed to have an Intelligence of 23 (from his natural Int score, the templates, and 1 point of aging bonus). His remaining 15 character levels are assumed to use an Int score of 30 (from the increase attribute spell, 1 point of discretionary spending, and 1 point of aging bonus – his final aging increase was applied after he’d gained all of his character levels). Note that all of the applicable skills Nihil can make checks with are listed in his stat block, even if he doesn’t have ranks in them. This is the breakdown for all of his skill bonuses:
Appraise 0 ranks (+10 Int, +2 synergy (Craft) to Appraise checks for gems and weapons)
Autohypnosis 5 ranks (10 points) (+9 Wis, +4 synergy (Concentration))
Balance 20 ranks (+10 Dex, +2 synergy (Tumble), +10 Int (psycogenic athleticism))
Bluff 0 ranks (+5 Cha, -4 Freak, -3 Mute)
Climb 20 ranks (+8 Str, +10 Int (psychogenic athleticism), +2 synergy (Use Rope) to checks involving rope)
Concentration 30 ranks (+7 Con)
Craft (gemcutting) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Craft (weaponsmithing) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Craft (all others) 0 ranks (+10 Int)
Diplomacy 0 ranks (+5 Cha, +2 synergy (Knowledge (nobility and royalty)), +2 synergy (Sense Motive), -4 Freak, -3 Mute)
Disguise 0 ranks (+5 Cha, -4 Freak)
Escape Artist 10 ranks (+10 Dex, +2 synergy (Use Rope) to checks involving rope)
Forgery 0 ranks (+10 Int)
Gather Information 0 ranks (+5 Cha, +2 synergy (Knowledge (local)), -4 Freak, -3 Mute)
Heal 0 ranks (+9 Wis)
Hide 20 ranks (+10 Dex)
Intimidate 10 ranks (20 points) (+5 Cha)
Jump 20 ranks (+8 Str, +2 synergy (Tumble), +10 Int (psychogenic athleticism), +48 speed bonus)
Knowledge (arcana) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Knowledge (architecture and engineering) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Knowledge (dungeoneering) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Knowledge (geography) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Knowledge (history) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Knowledge (local) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Knowledge (nature) 10 ranks (+10 Int, +2 synergy (Survival))
Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Knowledge (psionics) 25 ranks (+10 Int, +2 synergy (Autohypnosis))
Knowledge (religion) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Knowledge (the planes) 10 ranks (+10 Int)
Listen 25 ranks (+9 Wis)
Move Silently 20 ranks (+10 Dex)
Perform (all) 0 ranks (+5 Cha, -4 Freak)
Psicraft 25 ranks (+10 Int, +2 synergy (Knowledge (psionics)), +2 synergy (Use Psionic Device) to address power stones)
Ride 0 ranks (+10 Dex)
Search 10 ranks (20 points) (+10 Int, +2 synergy (Knowledge (architecture and engineering) involving secret doors and similar compartments)
Sense Motive 10 ranks (+9 Wis)
Spellcraft 10 ranks (20 points) (+10 Int, +2 synergy (Knowledge (arcana)), +2 synergy (Use Magic Device) to decipher scrolls)
Spot 25 ranks (+9 Wis)
Survival 10 ranks (20 points) (+9 Wis, +2 synergy (Knowledge (dungeoneering)) when underground, +2 synergy (Knowledge (geography)) to keep from getting lost or avoiding hazards, +2 synergy (Knowledge (nature)) in aboveground, natural environments, +2 synergy (Knowledge (the planes)) when on other planes, +2 synergy (Search) when following tracks)
Swim 10 ranks (+8 Str, +10 Int (psychogenic athleticism))
Tumble 10 ranks (+10 Dex, +2 synergy (Jump), +10 Int (psychogenic athleticism))
Use Magic Device 5 ranks (10 points) (+5 Cha, +2 synergy (Spellcraft) involving scrolls)
Use Psionic Device 10 ranks (+5 Cha, +4 synergy (Psicraft) involving power stones)
Use Rope 10 ranks (+10 Dex, +2 synergy (Escape Artist) involving bindings)
Feats[]
Nihil has a grand total of seventy-five feats. The manner in which he gained so many is outlined below. Note that, because of his Chosen template, Nihil is able to take epic feats at sub-epic levels, presuming that he can meet all of the other prerequisites.
40 from normal character level progression - Nihil gains a feat at each level, as outlined in the Book of Experimental Might [7]
15 from savant levels (none of these were used for epic feats; as those count as two feats when gained via Savant levels)
5 psion bonus feats (psionic feat, metapsionic feat, or psionic item creation feat)
3 epic psion bonus feats
3 monk bonus feats (Stunning Fist, Combat Reflexes, and Improved Trip)
2 epic monk bonus feats
3 from multiple uses of reality revision (according to Practical Enchanter, multiple uses of wish can grant up to three feats, just like it can grant insight bonuses to ability scores. Reality revision was used here to the same effect)
1 was gained as an offset for his flaw
1 was gained as an offset for his Defect
1 was gained from levels in Astral Centurion (Id Companion)
1 was gained from levels in Psychic Acrobat (Spring Attack)
Note that all of the Kensai feats in High Psionics: Soulknives (as well as the Adamantine Mind Blade feat from Dragon #341) were counted as being Mind Blade feats, as they’re thematically the same. The Mind Unveiled stipulates that monks who have a mind blade may automatically use it as a monk special weapon. All of the feats that aren’t found in the SRD are summarized here, categorized alphabetically by source.
Advanced Gamemaster’s Guide [8]
Weapon Kata – A weapon you have Weapon Focus for does damage as per your unarmed strikes. You may make grapple and trip attacks with it.
Complete Psionic [9]
Practiced Manifester – Gain +4 to your manifester level, for up to four non-manifesting class levels.
Dragon #341 [10]
Adamantine Mind Blade – Mind blade is treated in all ways as if made of adamantine.
Epic Feats & Familiars [11]
Additional Iterative Attack – Gain an additional attack during a full attack action, at -5 below your last iterative attack.
High Psionics: Countermeasures [12]
Counterpower - You may counter psionic powers the same way a spellcaster counters spells. This works on augmented and metapsionicked powers, as well as on spells that are the same version of the psionic power (e.g. psionic disintegrate and disintegrate).
Disrupt Manifestation - When a creature manifests defensively, you make a Psicraft check. If it's higher than their Concentration check, you may attack them as though they were not manifesting defensively.
High Psionics: Psionic Feats [13]
Automatic Metapsionic Capacity - You are considered to have 2 free power points that may, each round, only be spent on the cost of metapsionic feats. These free power points are not subject to your maximum limit of power points spent when manifesting a power. If Quicken Power is entirely paid for via this feat (which may be taken multiple times) the power manifested is considered to be a swift action.
Improved Psionic Detection - When using Psionic Detection, you can concentrate for a second round to determine the position and strength of all auras. You may also use Track to track lingering auras.
Psionic Detection - You automatically detect psionic auras, as per detect psionics after concentrating for 1 round, when psionically focused. You can concentrate for 1 round to detect the number of auras and strength of the most potent aura in 30 feet.
Rapid Constructor - Astral construct requires only a standard action to use.
High Psionics: Soulknives [14]
Blade of Might – Mind blade is weightless, and has your alignment for purposes of overcoming DR.
Improved Mind Blade Shaper – Shape your mind blade into any weapon or combination of two weapons.
Improved Soul Armor – Enhancement bonus on soul armor equals that of your mind blades.
Master of the Dual Blades – Reduce the penalty for fighting with two mind blades by 2, both blades have full enhancement bonuses.
Mind Blade Shaper – Shape your mind blade into any kind of weapon.
Soul Armor – Form mind armor as well as a mind blade.
Soul Warrior – Gain a +1 bonus to mind armor AC, and to attack and damage rolls with mind blades. Mind armor doesn’t need Concentration checks in an antipsionic field.
Student of the Dual Blades – Reduce the penalty for fighting with two mind blades by 1.
Wielder of the True Blade – Mind blade is treated as being one size larger, as a force effect, and doesn’t need Concentration checks in an antipsionic field.
The Immortal's Handbook Ascension [15]
Metapsionic Focus - You do not need to expend your psionic focus to use metapsionic feats.
Uncanny Two-Weapon Fighting - Your off-hand attacks use your full strength bonus.
The Immortal’s Handbook Epic Bestiary Vol. 1 [16]
Light Armor Mastery – The wearer suffers absolutely no penalties for wearing light armor.
Mega-Feats Volume II [17]
Martial Deflection - You may use Deflect Arrows (and similar feats) with a particular weapon.
Metablades, Expanded Edition [18]
Id Companion - Have a permanent astral construct for your cohort.
The Mind Divine [19]
Diverging Devotion – Gain access to a second psionic devotion (such as egoist, telepath, etc.) of your choice.
The Mind Unveiled: Feats [20]
Elan Sight - Gain 60 ft. darkvision.
The Mind Unveiled: Mind Blade Feats [21]
Epic Mind Blade – No limit on the enhancement bonus your mind blade has; overcomes DR as an epic weapon.
Form Mind Blade – Create a mind blade as a soulknife (enhancement bonus equals the number of mind blade feats you have, to a maximum of one-half your character levels. Enhancement bonuses can be traded for special weapon properties).
Reforge Mind Blade – Change your mind blade’s allotment of bonuses and special weapon properties in 10 minutes instead of 8 hours, or as a full-round action (provokes an AoO) with a Concentration check (DC 25).
Shape Mind Blade – Change your mind blade into a weapon shape you’re proficient with, or two weapons at a reduced enhancement bonus.
Soulblade Warrior – Form your mind blade as a swift action (or throw as many mind blades per round as you have melee attacks).
Throw Mind Blade – Throw your mind blade(s) as a ranged weapon; range increment 30 ft.
Power of the Mind [22]
Cerebral Dominance - When killed, your mind survive if you make a DC 20 Fortitude save (auto-fail on an effect that destroys your brain; auto-success on a decapitation effect). (See above for the specifics of what this feat does when Nihil dies).
Races of the Mind: Elan [23]
Elan Vigilance – Sleep is unnecessary, though eight hours of rest is required to regain power points and spells.
Untapped Potential
Improved Power By Proxy - This metapsionic feat requires 4 power points and psionic focus. It works as Power By Proxy, but may follow a chain of psychic bonds until it reaches the target you want the power to affect.
Power By Proxy - This metapsionic feat requires spending 2 power points and psionic focus. You may use a single-target power (that works on more than just you) which does not require an attack roll against a creature in range; if the creature has a psychic connection to another creature (e.g. a familiar's empathic connection, a mindlink, etc.) the power affects that creature, and not the target you use. The target in range need not be a viable target for the power, so long as the creature on the other end of the psychic connection is.
Subconscious Containment – Contain a second psionic focus in your subconscious mind.
Web of Influence - This metapsionic feat costs 8 power points and psionic focus. It works as Improved Power By Proxy, but the power used may affect an additional creature/2 manifester levels along the chain of psychic bonds. Powers that require concentration or give you information only work on one creature at a time (switchable as an immediate action).
Flaws[]
Nihil has a flaw, which grants a compensatory feat. The flaw and its source are laid out below.
Octavirate Expansions: Feared and Hated [24]
Freak – You look so different that you take a -4 penalty to all Charisma-based skills and checks, save for Diplomacy and spellcasting/manifesting-related checks.
Defects[]
Mechanically, Defects function almost exactly like flaws (see above). The only differences are that Defects may be taken above 1st level, and you may have any number (though you only gain feats from them equal to the number of feats you'd normally have). Defects are originally from Nuisances: Director's Cut [25] by Skirmisher Publishing. The Defect Nihil has, and its source, are laid out below.
Skirmisher Publishing forums [26]
Mute - You are unable to speak. You cannot use spells with verbal components, nor magic items that require a command word. You also take a -3 penalty to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Gather Information checks.