Tangle Terror (3.5e Monster)

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Author: Eiji-kun (talk)
Date Created: 7-13-14
Status: Complete
Editing: Clarity edits only please
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Tangle Terror
Size/Type: Medium Aberration (Extraplanar)
Hit Dice: 11d8+77 (126 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: fly 40 ft (perfect)
Armor Class: 23 (+5 deflection, +3 dex, +5 natural), touch 18, flat-footed 20
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+16
Attack: Tentacle +16 melee (1d4+8 plus grab, 20/x2)
Full Attack: Three Tentacles +16 melee (1d4+8 plus grab, 20/x2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: Improved Grab, Paralyzing Gaze, Passage of the Warp, SLAs
Special Qualities: All-Around Vision, DR 10/magic, Engulf, Fast Healing 5, Force Vulnerability, Gravity Aura, Immunities, See In Darkness, Tangled Body, SR 18
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +11
Abilities: Str 26, Dex 16, Con 24, Int 15, Wis 15, Cha 21
Skills: Hide +14, Knowledge The Planes +14, Search +14, Spot +14
Feats: Whirlwind AttackB, Power Attack, Cleave, Lightning Reflexes, Iron Will
Environment: Far Realm
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: None
Alignment: Often Chaotic Neutral
Advancement: 12-22 HD (Medium), 23-33 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment:

A complex ball of black tentacles is tangled up in mid-air, and a single giant eye stares out from the squirming mass gazing directly at you. Worse, it looks like your eye...

The tangle terror is a frightening being from beyond space and time, born of the far realm and resembling all too closely a spherical ball of black tentacles with a single eye within. The eye is a matter of puzzlement, for the eye is always facing forward and staring at a creature regardless what angle it is viewed at, resulting in differing claims on which direction the eye is facing from more than one creature. In addition the eye always resembles that of the observer, enhancing its troubling nature. In spite of its baleful appearance, it is not inherently malicious, but is often dangerous. When a tangle terror appears (the means and methods still not understood entirely) it comes with a mission unknown to all but itself. The mission may range from something as benign as observing a sunrise, to as hostile and complex as bringing about the apocalypse, and it moves with purpose and vigor to achieve its goals. All too often the purpose may be to filch away certain objects or creatures to parts unknown, engulfing them within its infinite form.

There is a terrifying rumor about the tangle terrors, claiming they result from botched castings of black tentacles, but others have claimed it worse; that the spell black tentacles is a warped and corrupted version of the original spell which brings these nightmares into existence.

Tangle terrors are a 5 ft sphere of tentacles, completely silent as they float through the air by unknown means. They do not speak, but seem to understand all languages.


Tangle terrors are difficult to predict, as they may or may not be hostile based on whatever mysterious mission they may be following. When non-hostile, a tangle terror typically evades combat situations and is not afraid to run, but when hostile (or it cannot escape) it proceeds to attack with aggression. It focuses on battlefield control, limiting the number of creatures it needs to deal with at once and grappling and engulfing creatures, then either crushing them or dragging them through the far realm.

All-Around Vision (Ex): The tangle terror is always looking in all directions at once (in spite of only having one eye). It cannot be flanked, but takes a -4 against gaze attacks.

Engulf (Ex): The tangle terror is "hollow", of sorts. The tangle terror can make a grapple check against an opponent it is grappling to try and engulf them. If the creature is engulfed they are transported into the interior of the tangle terror, a uniformly hollow sphere (complete with the eye still visible and staring). The inside is warped space and the tangle terror can store an infinite number of creatures of any size within it, each apparently within its own separate "stomach". When engulfed the creature is grappled, but the tangle terror is not considered grappled itself. It can continue to make grapple checks to maintain the grapple for free, use spell-like abilities, or its gaze attack.

When a creature breaks the grapple they are placed in the nearest empty space. If the tangle terror dies, all engulfed creatures and items spill out in the nearest valid empty spaces. There is a 10% chance ejected creatures and objects are ejected onto a different random plane instead.

Gravity Aura (Su): A 20 ft radius around the tangle terror is subject to warping space and time. Once per round as a free action the tangle terror can move any number of creatures closer or farther away to it by 5 ft, no save. If it tries to move a creature into its space it can make an grapple check to engulf the target. If it fails the creature remains in its original space.

Immunities (Ex): Tangle terrors are immune to blinding, dazzling, disease, charms, compulsions, paralysis, poison, petrification, and polymorphing. As it has no legs it cannot become prone.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a tangle terror must hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Paralyzing Gaze (Su): As a standard action a tangle terror can glare at a creature within 60 ft and force a Will save against paralysis for 1d4 rounds.

Passage of the Warp (Sp): The tangle terror can pass into the far realm to transport. It has passage of the warp at will, but it has a 1 round casting time. Those who have been engulfed and come along with it are NOT subject to the horrors of the warp, making this one of the few ways to travel the far realm safely.

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): At will- arcane eye, daze (DC 15), detect magic, detect scrying, detect thoughts (DC 17), dimension door, locate creature, locate object, nondetection, scrying (DC 19), true strike; 3/day- black tentacles, dispel magic, fear (DC 19), knock; 1/day- bestow curse (DC 19), confusion (DC 19), see invisibility, sepia snake sigil (DC 18). The saving throws are Charisma based.

Tangled Body (Ex): The tangle terror's entire body is tentacles, with no clear surface or presence upon it. Manufactured weapons which strike the tangle terror are subject to a free disarm attempt (once per round) after damage is rolled as the tentacles tear the weapon out of their hands. Natural weapons and unarmed strikes are subject to a grapple attempt instead.

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Eiji-kun's Homebrew (4802 Articles)
AlignmentOften Chaotic Neutral +
AuthorEiji-kun +
Challenge Rating8 +
EnvironmentFar Realm +
Identifier3.5e Monster +
Level Adjustment+
RatingUndiscussed +
SizeMedium +
SubtypeExtraplanar +
TitleTangle Terror +
TypeAberration +