Ethereal Ooze

Ethereal oozes are creatures native to the Ethereal Plane that hunt and feed off material beings. Their terrifying, seemingly unstoppable attacks have given rise to countless myths about the wrath of gods and stories of mysterious disappearances.

A typical ethereal ooze has a shape similar to that of a gelatinous cube. It is filled with a turgid swirl of fleshy color and the remains of its previous meals.

Combat

Much like a ghost, an ethereal ooze lurks in material form on the Ethereal Plane until it detects a creature on the Material Plane large enough to attract its interest (at least Small in size). The ethereal ooze then manifests and moves toward the creature, hoping to move over it incorporeally and become ethereal before it can run away.

Acid (Ex): An ethereal ooze secretes a digestive acid that dissolves flesh. Any melee hit against a creature on the Ethereal Plane deals acid damage.

Blindsight (Ex): An ethereal ooze’s entire body is a primitive sensory organ that can ascertain prey by scent, vibration, and sound within 60 feet. An ethereal ooze usually does not need to make Spot or Listen checks to notice creatures within range of its blindsight. An ethereal ooze on the Ethereal Plane can ascertain creatures and objects on the Material Plane within 60 feet. Material objects still block sounds from the Material Plane, and a silence spell blocks the ethereal ooze’s perception of creatures and objects on the Material Plane.

Constrict (Ex): With a successful grapple check (grapple bonus +24), an ethereal ooze can constrict a grabbed opponent, dealing automatic slam and acid damage.

Engulf (Ex): Although it moves slowly, an ethereal ooze can simply mow down Large or smaller prey on the Ethereal Plane as a standard action. It cannot make a slam attack on the round it engulfs prey. The ethereal ooze merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as many as it can cover. Opponents can make attack of opportunity against the ethereal ooze, but if they do, they are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex save (DC 20) or be engulfed; on a success they are pushed back or aside (opponents choice) as the ethereal ooze moves forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the ooze’ constrict damage and are considered grappled and trapped within its body. A creature so trapped cannot breathe and must hold its breath or suffocate.

Etherealize (Su): After manifesting on the Material Plane, an ethereal ooze can attempt to etherealize material targets. To do so, it moves over them, covering as many targets of Large size or smaller as it can. These targets can make attacks of opportunity against the ethereal ooze, but it is incorporeal. The ethereal ooze can then make use ofits etherealize ability as a standard action. Creatures covered by its body must make a Will saving throw (DC 20) or be drawn into the Ethereal Plane inside the ethereal ooze. ture is then considered engulfed.

Should a victim manage to win its way free of the ethereal ooze on the Ethereal Plane, the ooze continues to attack. Creatures freed of the ooze while ethereal remain in that state, and they must find their own way back to the Material Plane.

Improved Grab (Ex): If an ethereal ooze hits an opponent on the Ethereal Plane that is at least one size category smaller than itself with a slam attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity (grapple bonus +26). If it gets a hold, it constricts on the same round. Thereafter, the ethereal ooze has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use its pseudopod to hold the opponent (-20 penalty on grapple check, but the ethereal ooze is not considered grappled). In either case, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals slam and acid damage.

Manifestation (Su): An ethereal ooze dwells on the Ethereal Plane. As an ethereal creature, it cannot affect or be affected by anything in the material world (except that it can be targeted by force effects and abjurations that originate on the Material Plane). When an ethereal ooze manifests, it partly enters the Material Plane and becomes visible but incorporeal on the Material Plane. A manifested ooze cannot harm material opponents except by using its etherealize ability. A manifested ooze remains partially on the Ethereal Plane, where is it not incorporeal. A manifested ooze can be attacked by opponents on either the Material Plane or the Ethereal Plane. The ethereal ooze’s incorporeality helps protect it from foes on the Material Plane, but not foes on the Ethereal Plane.

Source: Find Folio, page 63. Changes applied as per the D&D^® v.3.5 Accessory Update.