Writhing Altar

Armor Class 13 Membrane

Hit Points 30 (4d8 + 12)

Speed 5 ft., climb 5 ft.

STR

7 (-2)

DEX

8 (-1)

CON

15 (+2)

INT

2 (-4)

WIS

20 (+5)

CHA

11 (+0)

Saving Throws WIS +7

Skills +4

Damage Vulnerabilities Piercing, Radiant, Slashing

Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Necrotic

Damage Immunities Acid

Condition Immunities ,

Senses 80 ft. (Blind past this range), 10 ft. (Blind past this range), Passive Perception 18

Languages --

Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Proficiency Bonus +2

Traits

Alerting scream. If a Writhing Altar detects a creature within 30 ft. of itself that isn't a member of the Iron Cult, it will produce a loud screech that can be heard from up to 1 mile away.

Innate Spellcasting (Psyonics). The Writhing Altar is a 1st-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +3 to hit with spell attacks). The Writhing Altar has following Warlock spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): Eldritch Blast, Sword Burst, Infestation, Mind Sliver,
1st level (3 slots): Arms of Hadar, Hex, Hellish Rebuke.

Actions

Innate Spellcasting. The Writhing Altar casts a spell.

Haunting Scream(1/day). The Writhing Altar lets out a horrific scream directed to 1 target that can hear the Altar; that target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be Frightened of the Altar for 10 minutes. If the target fails this saving throw by 5 or more, they are instantly Frightened by all Writhing Altars they see in the future, this fear cannot be bypassed by anything less than modifying the target's memories.

Reactions

Betrayed Scream. If the Writhing Altar is attacked by a creature is perceives as being friendly to it; it can cast the spell Psychic Scream at 9th level. The spell save DC for this spell must be made by all creatures in the range, and any creature who's hit points are reduced to 0 by this spell is knocked unconscious instead of having their head explode. This reaction can be used once each day.

Fearful Scream. If a creature the Writhing Altar perceives as dangerous ends its turn within 5 ft. of it, it can use its reaction to scream at the creature; that target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of the Writhing Altar for 1 minute.

Description

The Iron Cult began experimenting on the use of corpses to build their altars; imbuing these horrendous effigies with dark magic, they brought their god-defying creations to life.

The Writhing Altars are piles of flesh, eyes, mouths, and other parts of a humanoid's body that have all been melted together and brought to life; their purpose is slightly ambigious, but one can assume the cultists use them as a mobile location of worship. Because of the dark magic powering them, they have slight magical capabilities, ibuing members of the Iron Cult with powerful boons. The altars seem to be able to detect when a person is not of the Iron Cult, crying out in pain as if it has been clawed open whenever it notices a person is from outside the cult.

BASIC INFORMATION

Anatomy

The altar appears like a sort of pustular growth, with a thin white membrane around its body protecting its innards like a sort of shell; underneath, the altar is a deep red, as if its whole body was made up of the parts of a fresh corpse instead of one long dead. Its body is covered in many eyes, all of which have dilated to the point where it looks to be only the pupil.

Genetics and Reproduction

The altars reproduce by consuming corpses, after a fresh corpse has been absorbed into the body of the altar, it will digest the flesh and bone of the corpse and begin to grow in size until it nearly doubles in volume, it will then go through a process similar to mitosis and produce a new Writhing Altar.

Growth Rate & Stages

The altars will not grow outside of reproduction, but their membrane will change in color over time as they gather dirt and grime, changing from a light, milky white color, to a tan-ish brown.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The altars are rather slow-often compared to a snail in terms of their mobility-and have no natural ways to defend themselves. In order to gather food, they must make their way to corpses-oftentimes humanoid-and absorb them. Writhing Altars have no need for sustenance in order to produce energy, but they are often driven by a supernatural urge to produce more altars.

Behaviour

Writhing Altars seek to assist those who are members of the Iron Cult, often granting them magic in return for corpses.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The altar has surprisingly bad eyesight, despite having multiple eyes. It can detect creatures far away through tremors in the ground, but it struggles to notice creatures in the air.

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