New Basic Psionic Creature: Phthisic

Like the cerebrilith from a couple of weeks ago, this is not so much a "new" creature, as it is a B/X adaptation of an existing creature (using the Basic Psionics Handbook). As with the cerebrilith, you'll notice there are a couple of psionic abilities listed that don't appear in the Basic Psionics Handbook, and weren't part of the new powers post from the same week as the cerebrilith. Have no fear. Those abilities will be showing up on this blog in the next couple of days, including: catapsi and skate.

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PHTHISIC ARMOR CLASS: 6 HIT DICE: 6+6** MOVE: 90'(30') ATTACKS: 2 claws/1 bite DAMAGE: 1-6/1-6/ 1-6+special NO. APPEARING: 1 SAVE AS: Fighter:6 MORALE: 11 TREASURE TYPE: Nil ALIGNMENT: Chaotic PSIONIC ABILITIES PSIONIC LEVEL: 6 (30 PSPs) Attack modes: ego whip, mind thrust Defense modes: mental barrier Psychometabolic: S) cell adjustment Telepathic: S) brain lock, catapsi Psychoportative: D) dimension slide, skate

A phthisic is a living, breathing neurosis, wrung from the deepest part of a repressed mind and made flesh. These creatures are created with the use of a twisted form of psychic surgery known only by the most depraved and evil of psionicists. The sole goal of a phthisic is to feed on the mental energy of other beings, which can leave their mind permanently damaged. A phthisic stands 10' tall and weighs 600 pounds. It vaguely resembles the person from whose mind the phthisic escaped, but is severely distorted (there is a base 25% chance, plus 5% per point of Intelligence, that someone who knows the individual from whom the phthisic was sprung will note the resemblance). A phthisic that hits with its bite attack also deals 1d4 points of Intelligence damage (no saving throw). Victims of Intelligence loss will regain lost Intelligence at a rate of 1 point per 12 turns (2 hours). If this effect reduces the opponent’s Intelligence score to 0, the drain becomes permanent—the victim cannot think and is unconscious in a coma-like stupor. Permanently lost Intelligence points can be recovered through the use of psychic surgery. A phthisic regenerates at a rate of 1 hit point per round, and cannot be permanently destroyed except by fire or acid. If a phthisic is damaged enough to kill it (reduced to 0 hit points), it will continue to regenerate and stand again to fight after 2d4 rounds. A phthisic speaks the primary language of the mind that birthed it, usually common.