Shadow Of Its Former Self. This creature has the HP, AC, Resistances and Immunities of its former host, but it loses the ability to cast spells.
(TO CONVERT ANY MONSTER TO AN AETHEROK CYPHON, ADD CYPHON STRIKE TO ITS MELEE ATTACK/SPECIAL ABILITIES AND DELETE ANY MAGICAL ABILITIES THAT THE CREATURE HAS.)
Cyphon Strike. In addition to physical damage by weapon or unarmed strike, if the Cyphon strikes a player (unarmed or with a melee weapon) this effect is prioritized as:
1. A magic user will lose one of their highest spell slots. Each Cyphon can do this one time. Being hit by more that one Cyphon will remove more spell slots starting at the highest one. If there are no spell slots then see 2. below.
2. A non-magic user will gain one level of exhaustion. Each Cyphon can do this one time. Being hit by more than one Cyphon will add additional levels of exhaustion.
Note: A player character touching or striking an Aetherok Cyphon does not incur a Cyphon Strike.
Behavior. The Cyphon may exhibit some signs of behavior that resemble its original host. The Cyphon physically attacks according to the host monster's stat block.
Melee Attack. As per the host monster's stat block. The Cyphon may use the melee weapons of its host. Cyphon Strike carries through the weapons.
Ranged Attack. Aetherok Cyphons (with rare exception) do not perform ranged attacks. If there is no melee weapon in hand, then the creature will attack via unarmed strike.
Reaction. Opportunity Attack
Legendary Action. Aetherok Cyphons may take non-magical Legendary Actions that their hosts would.
Mythic Action Name. Aetherok Cyphons may take non-magical Legendary Actions that their hosts would.
Description
Magic use has the chance to provoke incursions by otherworldly beings known as the Aetherok Cyphons. They are believed to be the living incarnations of phlogiston. These creatures are drawn to magic It is unknown whether this drive is from instinct, design or edict. To manifest in a physical plane (or any heavenly body contained in within the crystal spheres), Aetherok Cyphons assimilate hosts. Hosts may have been taken previous encounters or may even be from different realms. With these parasitic infections, the phlogiston can exist inside of crystal spheres. In this seemingly living form, the normally flammable phlogiston is no longer combustible nor dissipative.
If a spell level is cast at 5th-9th level, there is a 30% chance that an incursion will occur.
If a spell level is cast at 1st-4th level, there is a 10% chance that an incursion will occur.
An incursion will produce a large monolith-like crystal that can either erupt from ground, spontaneously appear, or descend from the sky.
The monolith will produce:
1d2 Cyphons if the average party level is 4 or less. (host creatures CR 0-4)
1d6 Cyphons if the average party level is 5-8 (host creatures CR 4-8)
1d8 Cyphons if the average party level is 9-12 (host creatures CR 9-12)
1d12 Cyphons if the average party level is 13-16 (host creatures CR 13-16)
1d20 Cyphons if the average party level is 17-20 (host creatures CR 17-20)
Aetherok Cyphons appear as any creature would in the realm— but in shape only. Distinctive features, colors, eyes and orifices are nothing more than smoothed over surfaces and indentations. Cyphon base color is a dull luminescent white with a black and red fluidic “lava lamp”-like flow emanating from the dorsal part of the creature that coats approximately 60% of its body, but never fills in the front or underbelly. The luminescent parts glow in the dark.
While the incursion of the Aetherok Cyphons has only happened recently, there are accounts of mysterious monoliths fitting current descriptions appearing throughout history as far back as -339 DR.
Underground black and red crystalline lattices were discovered in a radius around the crystal monoliths. This was accompanied by the death of local fauna and flora. While they were a curiosity to most, the crystalline formations were studied fervently by an order of monks known as The Way of the Inevitable: Predator Castigant.. The monks believed that these mineral formations were a crystalline form of phlogiston—the flow that permeates the heavens. Predator Castigant monks are charged with hunting down and destroying Aetherok Cyphons.
Lair and Lair Actions
Aetherok Cyphons are capable of any non-magical Lair Actions or Regional Effects as their hosts.
Lair Actions
See host monster's stat block.
Regional Effects
See host monster's stat block.
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