Scion of Kyuss

Greyhawk Creature

Scion of Kyuss
General information
Size:	Medium
Alignment:	Chaotic evil
Type:	Undead
Patron deity:	Kyuss
First appearance:	Dragon #307 (May 2003)

Scion of Kyuss is a creature template built for modifying existing creatures, published in third edition. They are a type of wormspawn.

Description

"Scions of Kyuss are undead creatures created by Kyuss, a powerful evil cleric turned demigod. These creatures have a great hatred of all living things and a great desire to create more spawn in the thrall of Kyuss. Scions of Kyuss resemble well-rotted zombies and ordinary spawn of Kyuss. Unlike these lesser undead, scions are both intelligent and cunning, retaining the skills and abilities they had in life."

Kyuss has created many horrific things, chief amongst them are wormspawn. The main distinction between scions of Kyuss and spawn (or sons) of Kyuss, is that the creatures who become scions are more powerful, and more dangerous. Lesser, or lower level, creatures with fewer hit dice (HD) became non-intelligent spawn (or favored spawn).

Abilities

Scions of Kyuss speak the languages they spoke in life, as well as the saving throws and skills they had in life.

The base creature's natural armor increases.

Special Attacks

If the base creature does not have a better natural attack, it gains a slam attack that deals damage based on the creature's size.

A scion of Kyuss retains all the base creature's special attacks and gains those listed below..

• Create Spawn (Su): A creature killed by a scion of Kyuss rises as an undead creature within four days after death. The victim returns as a spawn of Kyuss if it is a giant, humanoid; or monstrous humanoid that does not qualify for the scion of Kyuss template and as a scion of Kyuss if it does. Other creatures do not rise as undead.
• Fear Aura (Su): A scion of Kyuss continuously radiates a fear effect. This ability functions like a fear spell (caster level 15th), except that it affects all living creatures within a 40-foot radius.
• Implant Worm (Su): Once per round as a free action, a scion of Kyuss can transfer a worm from its own body to that of an opponent. It can do this whenever it hits with a natural attack, but it can also make the transfer by means of a successful melee or a ranged touch attack, hurling a worm at a foe from up to 20 feet.
• Worm Expulsion (Su): Once per day, a scion of Kyuss can cause a 20-foot burst of worms from its body. Each creature in the area is coated with worms.

Special Qualities

A scion of Kyuss retains all the base creature's special qualities and gains those listed below.

• Fast Healing (Ex): A scion of Kyuss regains lost hit points at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not restore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or suffocation, and it does not allow the scion of Kyuss to regrow or reattach lost body parts.
• Turn Resistance (Ex): A scion of Kyuss has +4 turn resistance.
• Undead Traits: Immune to mind-influencing effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless it also works on objects. It is not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, ability drain, energy drain, or death from massive damage. A scion of Kyuss cannot be raised, and resurrection works only if it is willing. The creature has darkvision (60-foot range).
• Abilities: Increase from base creature as follows: +8 STR, +1 INT, +2 WIS, and +6 CHA. Being undead, a scion of Kyuss lacks a Constitution score.
• Feats: Scions of Kyuss gain Alertness and Toughness.

Creative origins

Scions of Kyuss are inspired by the Spawn of Kyuss (also called "Sons of Kyuss"). Scions were created by Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel.

See also

• Wormspawn
• Spawn of Kyuss
• Favored spawn of Kyuss

References

Bibliography

• Kestrel, Gemdolyn F. M.. "Risen Dead II". Dragon #307. Bellvue, WA: Paizo Publishing, May 2003.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

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