Psurlon

Psurlons are wormlike creatures with formidable mental powers. They dwell in the deep desert and pose a considerable threat to passing travelers or nearby settlements. Psurlons detest humanoids of any sort, and go to considerable lengths to kill or drive off any they come across. From time to time, they seek to foment trouble by manipulating leaders, dealing with evil folk who are willing to accommodate the psurlons’ wishes in exchange for psurlon assistance, or duping weak-minded creatures such as goblinoids or gnolls into fighting for them.

A psurlon has a long, tubular, pink body divided into subtle rings or segments, just like an earthworm’s body. It also has two arms and two legs, also segmented. The psurlon’s head is little more than a blunt end to its tubular body. Its only facial feature is a large, circular mouth filled with gnashing teeth. It has visual organs (for darkvision) spaced evenly around the head. The typical psurlon wears a decorative or utilitarian belt fitted with straps and hooks to carry items, but no other clothing or armor.

Psurlons are clever, malicious, and deceitful. While their psionic powers are telekinetic in nature and offer little ability to directly control an enemy’s mind, they are skillful liars that inveigle the unwary. They always seek to misinform and mislead their enemies, and delight in arranging for their foes to fight one another.

Psurlons choose to live solitary lives, but sometimes form small communities called clusters. The most powerful elder in a psurlon cluster leads the group, although elders are frequently replaced by younger, more ambitious psurlons when their plans go awry.

Psurlons can speak Undercommon but rarely do so. Instead, they rely on their natural telepathic powers.

Combat

Psurlons never use melee weapons. They can fight with their bare claws and teeth, but they are not particularly formidable in melee combat. Instead, they attack with their psionic powers, battering foes with telekinetic blasts or immobilizing them with mental energy.

Immunities (Ex): Psurlons are immune to sleep, charm, and compulsion effects.

Skills: Psurlons gain a +4 racial bonus on Escape Artist checks due to their soft and flexible bodies.

Psurlon Varieties

Psurlons come in three different varieties: average psurlons, elder psurlons, and giant psurlons. Most average psurlons advance by Hit Dice until they reach 12 Hit Dice, at which point they become elder psurlons and gain additional mental powers. Elder psurlons advance by class, and most eventually take levels in psion, sorcerer, or wizard.

A small number of psurlons that reach 12 Hit Dice fail to manifest the advanced mental powers of an elder psurlon. Instead, they continue to grow physically larger and more powerful. Giant psurlons gain few new mental abilities, but they are dangerous opponents in physical combat.

The statistics block below contains details for more than one shape, size, or type of psurlon. Use the horizontal scrollbar below it to display the desired one or select from the links below that. The last three are psionic variations of the first three to substitute if the Expanded Psionics Handbook is in use.

Standard Psurlon: Average • Elder • Giant
Psionic Psurlon (if XPH is used): Average • Elder • Giant

Average Psurlon ⬆️

This creature resembles a bipedal, man-sized earthworm, with a pink tubular body and a blunt, circular maw for a head. Its arms and legs are long and flexible. Small, dark eye-dots ring its mouth.

Most psurlons are average psurlons. Dangerous and malevolent when encountered as solitary hermits, hunters, or spies, they sometimes are found in small bands known as clusters. Average psurlons hardly consider themselves average in any way, and each member of a cluster regards itself as the rightful leader and most intelligent example of its kind. They frequently plot and scheme for status within the cluster, seeking the right to challenge and replace the elders over them.

Psurlons are suspicious, bad-tempered, and cruel. While they lack the ability to enslave with the power of the mind, they are certainly capable of taking slaves through threat of force.

An average psurlon stands about 5 feet tall and weighs about 130 pounds.

Combat

Although they do not relish combat, average psurlons are perfectly willing to attack an enemy if they feel they possess the advantages of position or surprise. They use invisibility to set up ambushes whenever possible.

In battle, psurlons make frequent use of their telekinesis ability, hurling their foes against nearby walls or into dangerous terrain, or pelting their enemies with heavy boulders if a foe is too heavy to fling. Average psurlons save their dimension door ability to escape from a battle they are in danger of losing.

Average psurlons have the ability to use mage armor at will, so the statistics above include mage armor in the psurlon’s Armor Class.

Psionics (Sp): At will⁠—​detect thoughts (DC 15), mage armor, sound burst (DC 15); 3/day⁠—​hold monster (DC 18), invisibility, lightning bolt (DC 16), telekinesis (DC 18); 1/day⁠—​dimension door. Caster level 7th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Elder Psurlon ⬆️

This bloated monstrosity has a brick-red body and a blunt, circular maw for a head. Its arms and legs are tipped with vicious-looking claws. Small, dark eye-dots ring its mouth.

Average psurlons that survive long enough eventually transform into elder psurlons. Elder psurlons are cluster leaders, the masterminds of their kind. Experienced, resourceful, and gifted with superior mental abilities, an elder psurlon has the respect of its lesser fellows—at least until a younger psurlon approaches its own transformation into an elder.

An elder psurlon stands about 6 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds. It is noticeably darker in color than an average psurlon; its skin is a deep, brick-red color.

Combat

Elder psurlons use much the same tactics as average psurlons do, but they are more likely to direct the battle from the rear while their underlings bear the brunt of the fighting. They have a limited ability to compel and subvert their enemies’ minds, and seek to do so early in an encounter.

Psionics (Sp): At will⁠—​detect thoughts (DC 17), mage armor, sound burst (DC 17), suggestion (DC 18); 3/day⁠—​dimension door, hold monster (DC 20), invisibility, telekinesis (DC 20); 1/day⁠—​chain lightning (DC 21), dominate person (DC 20), mass suggestion (DC 21). Caster level 12th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Giant Psurlon ⬆️

A lean, wormlike monster the size of an ogre lurks here. Its tubular body is a light blue color, subtly banded and segmented like the body of an earthworm. It has long, clawed arms and legs, and a blunt, circular maw for a head. Small, dark eye-dots ring its mouth.

From time to time, average psurlons undergoing the transformation to elder do not manifest their new psionic powers, but instead undergo startling physical growth. Giant psurlons are every bit as intelligent and deceitful as their average comrades, but defer to the will of the ruling psurlon elder in a cluster.

A giant psurlon stands 12 feet tall and weighs about 900 pounds.

Combat

A giant psurlon prefers to attack from afar, hammering foes with telekinetic attacks and lightning bolts before closing in to finish them in melee. It makes good use of its Quicken Spell-Like Ability feat to launch a dizzying barrage of psionic and physical attacks against its foes.

Psionics (Sp): At will⁠—​detect thoughts (DC 16), mage armor, sound burst (DC 16); 3/day⁠—​hold monster (DC 19), invisibility, lightning bolt (DC 17), telekinesis (DC 19); 1/day⁠—​dimension door. Caster level 18th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Psionic Average Psurlon ⬆️

This creature resembles a bipedal, man-sized earthworm, with a pink tubular body and a blunt, circular maw for a head. Its arms and legs are long and flexible. Small, dark eye-dots ring its mouth.

Most psurlons are average psurlons. Dangerous and malevolent when encountered as solitary hermits, hunters, or spies, they sometimes are found in small bands known as clusters. Average psurlons hardly consider themselves average in any way, and each member of a cluster regards itself as the rightful leader and most intelligent example of its kind. They frequently plot and scheme for status within the cluster, seeking the right to challenge and replace the elders over them.

Psurlons are suspicious, bad-tempered, and cruel. While they lack the ability to enslave with the power of the mind, they are certainly capable of taking slaves through threat of force.

An average psurlon stands about 5 feet tall and weighs about 130 pounds.

Combat

Although they do not relish combat, psionic average psurlons are perfectly willing to attack an enemy if they feel they possess the advantages of position or surprise. They use invisibility to set up ambushes whenever possible.

In battle, psionic psurlons make frequent use of their telekinetic powers, hurling their foes against nearby walls or into dangerous terrain, or pelting their enemies with heavy boulders if a foe is too heavy to fling. Average psionic psurlons save their dimension door ability to escape from a battle they are in danger of losing.

Average psionic psurlons have the ability to use inertial armor at will, so the statistics above include the basic inertial armor in the psurlon’s Armor Class.

Psi-Like Abilities: At will⁠—​concussion blast (3d6), inertial armor, read thoughts (DC 15), 3/day⁠—​brain lock (all types, DC 15), cloud mind (DC 15), energy bolt (7d6, DC 17); 1/day⁠—​psionic dimension door, telekinetic maneuver (+11 check modifier), telekinetic thrust (300 lb., DC 16). Manifester level 7th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Psionic Elder Psurlon ⬆️

This bloated monstrosity has a brick-red body and a blunt, circular maw for a head. Its arms and legs are tipped with vicious-looking claws. Small, dark eye-dots ring its mouth.

Average psurlons that survive long enough eventually transform into elder psurlons. Elder psurlons are cluster leaders, the masterminds of their kind. Experienced, resourceful, and gifted with superior mental abilities, an elder psurlon has the respect of its lesser fellows—at least until a younger psurlon approaches its own transformation into an elder.

An elder psurlon stands about 6 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds. It is noticeably darker in color than an average psurlon; its skin is a deep, brick-red color.

Combat

Elder psurlons use much the same tactics as average psurlons do, but they are more likely to direct the battle from the rear while their underlings bear the brunt of the fighting. They have a limited ability to compel and subvert their enemies’ minds, and seek to do so early in an encounter.

Psi-Like Abilities: At will⁠—​concussion blast (4d6, two targets), inertial armor, psionic suggestion (ML 3rd, one target, DC 17), read thoughts (DC 17), 3/day⁠—​brain lock (all types, DC 17), cloud mind (DC 17), psionic dimension door; 1/day⁠—​energy bolt (12d6, DC 21), psionic dominate (all types, DC 21), psionic suggestion (five targets, DC 17), telekinetic maneuver (+19 check modifier), telekinetic thrust (425 lb., DC 18). Manifester level 12th unless otherwise noted. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Psionic Giant Psurlon ⬆️

A lean, wormlike monster the size of an ogre lurks here. Its tubular body is a light blue color, subtly banded and segmented like the body of an earthworm. It has long, clawed arms and legs, and a blunt, circular maw for a head. Small, dark eye-dots ring its mouth.

From time to time, average psurlons undergoing the transformation to elder do not manifest their new psionic powers, but instead undergo startling physical growth. Giant psurlons are every bit as intelligent and deceitful as their average comrades, but defer to the will of the ruling psurlon elder in a cluster.

A giant psurlon stands 12 feet tall and weighs about 900 pounds.

Combat

A giant psurlon prefers to attack from afar, hammering foes with telekinetic attacks and lightning bolts before closing in to finish them in melee. It makes good use of its Quicken Spell-Like Ability feat to launch a dizzying barrage of psionic and physical attacks against its foes.

Psi-Like Abilities: At will⁠—​concussion blast (5d6, four targets), inertial armor, read thoughts (DC 16), 3/day⁠—​brain lock (all types, DC 16), cloud mind (DC 16), energy bolt (ML 12th, 2d6, DC 20); 1/day⁠—​psionic dimension door, telekinetic maneuver (+22 check modifier), telekinetic thrust (575 lb., DC 17). Manifester level 18th unless otherwise noted. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Psurlon Characters

Most average psurlons advance by Hit Dice, not by character class, but there are occasional exceptions. Psurlons worship Mak Thuum Ngatha, an entity of the Far Realm. Psurlon clerics can choose from the domains of Destruction, Knowledge, Madness, or Travel. A psurlon’s favored class is wizard.

Source: Lords of Madness, page 162. These versions correct and supersede the psurlons depicted in Monster Manual II, page 171.