Protean Scourge

The statistics block below contains details for more than one type of protean scourge. Use the horizontal scrollbar below it to display the desired one or select from the links below that.

Protean Scourge • Protean Scourge Arcanist

Cases of mistaken identity are common with protean scourges, which just adds to their reputation as deadly assassins. With their crimson skin and long, demonic horns, protean scourges are often mistaken for fiends from the Abyss. Still other protean scourges find themselves mistaken for doppelgangers because of their innate shapeshifting ability. A protean scourge uses its shapechanging and potent magical abilities to great effectiveness. Protean scourges are naturally deceptive and have keen powers of observation.

Protean scourges have red, pebbled skin in their natural form that looks scaly from a distance. Their yellow eyes add to the overall demonic look, as do the two thick, foot-and-a-halflong horns that grow from their foreheads, curving only slightly to razor-sharp points. A protean scourge’s legs are abnormally long for its size, giving it a better than average land speed. Its clawed hands are lethal in their own right, but most protean scourges also carry a scythe that they wield in deadly fashion, mostly to add to the myth that the creature is some sort of evil outsider.

Protean scourges love to kill. Most find that their natural abilities make them highly effective assassins, able to get close to a target without its knowledge, then strike when the moment is most opportune. Other protean scourges find service in the forces of evil warlords, who use them as spies. Still other protean scourges find work in thieves guilds, usually as leaders. As long as it has an opportunity to shed blood, a protean scourge can be content.

A protean scourge is roughly 7 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds.

Protean scourges speak Common, Infernal, and Abyssal.

A protean scourge strikes from the shadows, using its magic to lead its opponents into traps or separate them into easily slaughtered smaller groups. Once it is ready to strike, a protean scourge uses its claws or its scythe and horns to gouge a foe. A protean scourge’s deadliest surprise only becomes apparent when it has been damaged in battle: It splits into two protean scourges, each one with the strength and capabilities of a normal protean scourge. Many an unknowing foe has seen a protean scourge use this ability and assumed it to be some other illusion, only to learn too late how real the double really is.

Spells: Protean scourges cast spells as 8th-level sorcerers. They generally favor illusion and transmutation magic over other schools.

Typical Sorcerer Spells Known (6/7/7/6/4): 0⁠—​acid splash (+16 ranged touch), dancing lights, daze (DC 14), detect magic, ghost sound (DC 14), mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation; 1st⁠—​charm person (DC 15), color spray (DC 15), mage armor, ray of enfeeblement (+16 ranged touch), ventriloquism (DC 15); 2nd⁠—​mirror image, scorching ray (+16 ranged touch), spider climb; 3rd⁠—​displacement, haste; 4th⁠—​greater invisibility.

Split (Su): When damaged, a protean scourge splits into two identical versions of itself. This ability is not an illusion; each new protean scourge is fully capable of dealing real damage and poses a real threat. Each version of the protean scourge has all the current statistics and access to all the current abilities of a single creature, including any remaining uncast spells. However, any spells cast by either split protean scourge come from the total pool of remaining available spells. So, the two versions share access to remaining spells; each does not get its own spell list or spells per day. Neither half of the protean scourge can change shape as long as the creature remains split.

Each version has the protean scourge’s current hit point total (they do not split remaining hit points), and both versions of the protean scourge must be slain to kill the creature.

The split protean scourges can recombine into a single creature in a process that takes 1 minute. While it recombines, the protean scourge is helpless.

Change Shape (Su): A protean scourge can assume the shape of any Medium humanoid. In humanoid form, a protean scourge loses its natural attacks. A protean scourge can remain in its humanoid form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, but a protean scourge reverts to its natural form when killed. A true seeing spell or ability reveals its natural form.

Skills: A protean scourge has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always take 10 on Climb checks, even when rushed or threatened. Protean scourges also have a +4 racial bonus on Bluff, Disguise, Intimidate, Listen, and Spot checks. When using its change shape ability, a protean scourge gets an additional +10 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks.

The protean scourge arcanist has practiced and refined its natural arcane spellcasting ability by taking levels of sorcerer. More powerful than an ordinary protean scourge in nearly every respect, a protean scourge sorcerer might be encountered manipulating the politics of an entire country or plotting to seize control of valuable underground resources. With its versatility and cunning, it makes a formidable foe in any environment or adventure.

The protean scourge sorcerer presented here had the following ability scores before racial adjustments and Hit Dice ability score increases: Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 15.

A protean scourge arcanist casts various spells on itself before entering combat, starting with displacement, haste, and greater invisibility. Its tactics otherwise mirror those of an ordinary protean scourge.

Spells: A protean scourge sorcerer has access to more powerful magic, casting spells as a 12th-level sorcerer.

Typical Sorcerer Spells Known (6/8/8/8/7/6/4): 0⁠—​acid splash (+20 ranged touch), dancing lights, daze (DC 17), detect magic, ghost sound (DC 17), mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic; 1st⁠—​charm person (DC 18), color spray (DC 18), mage armor, ray of enfeeblement (+20 ranged touch), ventriloquism (DC 18); 2nd⁠—​ghoul touch (+21 melee touch, DC 19), mirror image, scorching ray (+20 ranged touch), spider climb, spectral hand; 3rd⁠—​displacement, haste, suggestion (DC 20), vampiric touch (+21 melee touch); 4th⁠—​confusion (DC 21), enervation (+20 ranged touch), greater invisibility; 5th⁠—​baleful polymorph (DC 22), dominate person (DC 22); 6th⁠—​disintegrate (+20 ranged touch, DC 22).

Source: Monster Manual III, page 126.