[Commissioned by @lolicrusader. In Sandy Petersen’s Cthulhu Mythos, hunting horrors are said to be extensions of a single Great Old One that shares all their intelligences. The commissioner wanted me to make that monster. I got a ton of lore info from them, and incorporated some of it into the flavor text of this entry, but there was no way to cover all of it; I’m sure they could share it if there’s an interest. These statistics draw on both the Sandy Petersen version of the hunting horror and the Paizo official version.
Great Old One, Tretarax CR 26 CE Aberration This creature is a nightmarish abomination the size of a building, in the shape of a writhing, flying worm. Slime oozes from its semi-liquid body, and a three-lobed burning eye glares from over its maw of scissoring teeth.
Tretarax The Maw Betwixt, That Which Remains, The Root of Horror CE Great Old One of consumption and rebirth DomainsChaos, Evil, Repose, Trickery SubdomainsCorruption, Deception, Greed, Souls Worshipersevil dragons, hags, witches Minionsdaemons, devourers, hunting horrors Unholy Symbol A spiral shaped maw filled with jagged teeth Favored Weapon flambard (bastard sword if not using)
Tretarax, the Maw Betwixt, is a wound in reality, a festering scar that seeks to devour the souls of entire planets full of life. The name Tretarax, and the memories that come with it, originally belonged to a great red wyrm who sought divinity, and came to blows with Trelmarixian, the Horseman of Famine, over it. Trelmarixian attempted to eat Tretarax right out of existence, but in so doing sprung a leak in the fabric of space and time. This blow to reality was mended by Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos, who used this as an opportunity to invest what little remained of Tretarax into the consciousness of his hunting horrors, using Tretarax as a hub to direct them and allow them even greater movement through the cosmos. Tretarax’s shattered and reconstituted intelligence now seeks godhood, to serve Nyarlathotep and to devour indiscriminately, rendering its influence a dangerous blot on the River of Souls.
Tretarax enters combat with only utter destruction as a goal. As a hunting horror like entity, it is sensitive to sunlight, but the bright shining of a star does not burn its flesh the way lesser horrors are affected. This sunlight sensitivity is contagious, with whole cities turning from the light as Tretarax undulates past their people. It seeks to crush enemies in its coils and devour their essences with its gnashing teeth. Although Tretarax would rather close to melee in order to feel the life ebb from its victims, it will use its mastery of magic to blast foes who keep their distance. Tretarax rarely fights without lesser hunting horrors by its side, although it cares little for their safety or survival.
The cult of the Maw Betwixt grew from those who served the original dragon that gives Tretarax its name. It has further been seeded by Nyarlathotep’s efforts, although what exactly the Crawling Chaos has to gain by its minion being worshiped by mortals is unclear. Cultists of That Which Remains seek to prolong their own lives by draining the souls from others and weaken planar boundaries to allow monstrous things free access to the Material Plane. Many of their cults maintain levels of organization that seem harmless or even benevolent. These seek to slowly corrupt their worshipers to greater depravities—if this fails through guile, Tretarax can force the issue by sending foul dreams that warp people to chaos and evil. Cultists of Tretarax share common ground with the nihilism of daemons, but spitefully disrupt the plans of Trelmarixian specifically. Some of them support his rivals to the throne of Famine, such as CaracallaorHexxus.
Tretarax CR 26 XP 2,457,600 CE Colossal aberration (Great Old One) Init+21;Senses darkvision 300 ft., Perception +30, scent, see in darkness, true seeing Aura mucus (20 ft.), unspeakable (Will DC 34, 300 ft.) Defense AC 44, touch 20, flat-footed 36 (-8 size, +7 Dex, +1 dodge, +24 natural, +10 insight) hp585 (30d8+450); fast healing 20 Fort+24,Ref+19,Will+27 DR15/—;Immune ability damage, ability drain, acid, cold, death effects, disease, electricity, energy drain, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, petrifaction; SR37 Defensive Abilitiesamorphous,freedom of movement, immortality, insanity Weaknesses susceptible to sunlight Offense Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft. (perfect) Melee bite +32 (8d8+18/19–20 plus grab plus energy drain), tail slap +32 (4d8+18 plus grab), 2 wings +30 (4d6+9) Space30 ft.; Reach 30 ft. (50 ft. with tail slap) Special Attacks constrict (4d8+27), crush, dreams of corruption, energy drain (1d4 levels, DC 34) fast swallow, mythic power (10/day, 1d12), squeezing coils, swallow whole (4d6 acid and 4d8+27 bludgeoning damage and energy drain, AC 22, 58 hp), telepathic assault Spell-Like Abilities CL 26th; concentration +35 (+39 casting defensively) Constant—detect scrying,freedom of movement,true seeing At will—dream(M), enervation (M), gaseous form (M),greater teleport (self only), locate creature, locate object,nightmare (M)(DC 24), plane shift (M)(self only), telekinesis (M) (DC 24) 3/day—demand (DC 27), quickened scrying (DC 24) wish (M) (to duplicate sorcerer/wizard spells of 8th level or lower only) (DC 28) 1/day—discern location, ethereal jaunt, interplanetary teleport, meteor swarm (M)(DC 28), summon (9th level, CR 20 of hunting horrors), vision M = can use the mythic version of this spell Statistics Str46,Dex25,Con39,Int23,Wis30,Cha28 Base Atk+22;CMB +48 (+52 when grappling); CMD 76 (can’t be tripped) FeatsCombat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Greater Vital Strike, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Improved Vital Strike, Lightning Reflexes, Multiattack, Power Attack, Quicken SLA (scrying), Stand Still, Toughness, Vital Strike Skills Acrobatics +31 (+34 when jumping), Bluff +33, Fly +31, Intimidate +36, Knowledge (arcana, geography, planes, religion) +27, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +30, Perception +34, Sense Motive +36, Spellcraft +30, Stealth +17, Survival +42; Racial Modifiers +8 Survival Languages Aklo, Common, Draconic; telepathy 300 ft. SQ contingency, hunter, manipulate magic, otherworldly insight, powerful tail, shared consciousness Special Abilities ContingencyTretarax maintains a contingency effect on itself to cast deeper darkness centered on itself if it is exposed to sunlight.
Crush (Ex) Tretarax can land on foes as a standard action, and then use its lengthy coils to crush them. This attack is effective only against creatures of Large size or smaller, and affects as many creatures as fit in Tretarax’s space. Any creature in the affected area must succeed at a DC 39 Reflex saving throw or be pinned, automatically taking 4d8+27 points of bludgeoning damage each round it is pinned. If Tretarax chooses to maintain the pin, it must succeed at a combat maneuver check as normal. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Dreams of Corruption (Su) Any creature that has inflicted a negative level on another creature, or who has witnessed a hunting horror, is susceptible to Tretarax’s dreams of corruption, regardless of distance (even across planar boundaries). When Tretarax targets such a creature with its nightmare spell-like ability, the creature must also succeed a DC 35 Will save or have its alignment move one step towards chaotic evil; first moving from law to chaos, then from good to evil. This shift in alignment is permanent, although it can be changed back through atonement or similar means. This is a mind-influencing ability, and the save DC is Charisma based.
Hunter (Ex) Tretarax gains a +8 racial bonus on Survival checks. When Tretarax succeeds at a Survival check to follow a creature’s tracks, it can declare that creature to be its prey. If there are multiple sets of tracks from a group of creatures traveling together, Tretarax can choose which specific creature becomes its prey if it knows the target is among those in the group; otherwise, its chosen prey is determined randomly. The next time Tretarax begins a battle against its prey, it gains a +10 bonus on its initiative check. In addition, its prey takes a –2 penalty on all saving throws against Tretarax’s spell-like abilities and unspeakable aura. Tretarax can have only one creature as its designated prey at any one time, and if 24 hours pass without Tretarax succeeding at a Survival check to follow that prey’s trail, that creature ceases being Tretarax’s prey.
Immortality (Ex) If Tretarax is slain, no hunting horror may use any teleportation effect until it is reborn. Tretarax will be recreated in the depths of space the next time two black holes collide.
Manipulate Magic (Sp) Tretarax can use wishthree times per day as a spell-like ability without material components, but only to duplicate a sorcerer/wizard spell of 8th level or lower. Tretarax uses this ability to maintain a contingency effect on themselves as well.
Mucus (Su) Tretarax’s “flesh” constantly weeps thick foul mucus, seemingly melting off its serpentine frame as swiftly as it rebuilds and restores its shape. When Tretarax lands on a surface, the mucus swiftly spreads out in a twenty foot radius around the creature and hardens into a thick mud-like consistency. This area is treated as difficult terrain by all save hunting horrors. Each round a creature other than a hunting horror begins its turn within this area, it must make a successful DC 39 Reflex save or become entangled for as long as it remains within the area. The mucus evaporates 1 minute after Tretarax leaves the area. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Powerful Tail (Ex) A hunting horror’s tail slap is treated as a primary natural attack.
Shared Consciousness (Ex) Tretarax shares his consciousness with all hunting horrors; it can see through the eyes of any other hunting horror by concentrating as long as they are on the same plane, regardless of distance. If Tretarax is encountered among other hunting horrors, none of them are considered to be flat-footed unless they all are.
Squeezing Coils (Ex) A creature that takes damage from Tretarax’s constrict ability after being struck by its tail slap attack must succeed at a DC 43 Fortitude saving throw or fall unconscious for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Strength-based.
Susceptible to Sunlight (Ex) Tretarax is considered to be sickened and shaken when in an area of natural sunlight.
Swallow Whole (Ex) Tretarax’s body constantly reforms and repairs itself. The hole created when a creature cuts its way out of Tretarax instantly seals as soon as the escaping creature exits.
Telepathic Assault (Su) As it attacks, Tretarax bombards its prey’s consciousness with its mind, sending grisly and horrific images into the victim’s thoughts in an attempt to undermine the potential meal’s defenses and to flavor the flesh with the tang of fear and despair. Whenever Tretarax attacks a creature, regardless of whether the attack successfully hits or not, that creature must make a successful DC 34 Will save or be staggered for 1 round by despair and horror at the images projected. An already staggered creature that fails this saving throw is also stunned for 1 round. This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Unspeakable Presence (Su) Failing a DC 34 Will save against Tretarax’s unspeakable presence causes the victim to gain Tretarax’s susceptibility to sunlight permanently until removed. This is a curse effect, and the save DC is Charisma based.
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Los ejemplares completos tienen una semejanza tan impresionante con ciertos seres de los mitos primigenios que resulta inevitable pensar en su existencia milenaria fuera de la Antártida. Dyer y Pabodie han leído el Necronomicón y han visto las pinturas de pesadilla de Clark Ashton Smith basadas en el texto, y comprenderán lo que quiero decir si hablo de los Primordiales, supuestos creadores de la vida terrestre como broma o por error.
Inktober Day 30- “Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!” is the noise that is heard as little dog runs for her life through the twisted halls of the frozen city of the Elder Things; desperate to escape the slithering, writhing horror that is a hungry Shoggoth!
