PF2e to PF1e Conversion: Formian Mageslayer
Here is my latest conversion, and my last formian as far as I can see. The mageslayer is a particularly powerful and unusual formian caste, which appeared towards the end of the 2e Adventure Path Strength of Thousands. In the Paizo-verse, mageslayers were created by the King of Biting Ants, the main villain of that series. But I haven't included that part of the lore in my stats, so you can decide for yourself where the mageslayer comes from.
Enjoy!
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FORMIAN, MAGESLAYER
Image (c) Paizo, taken from the Archives of Nethys
This creature looks like a gigantic centaurian ant with an elongated body and delicate dragonfly wings. Its mandibles are wickedly curved, and its clawed arms glow with scarlet energy.
ooooooooo
FORMIAN MAGESLAYER CR 16
XP 76'800
LN Medium Monstrous Humanoid
Init +8 (+12 with hive mind); Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect magic, hive mind, tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +28 (+32 with hive mind)
Aura disrupting (30 ft.)
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DEFENSE
AC 32, touch 18, flat-footed 24 (+8 Dex, +14 natural)
hp 250 (20d10+140)
Fort +15, Ref +20, Will +18;
Immune sleep; Resist sonic 10
Spell Resistance 27
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OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., flying 30 ft. (average)
Melee 2 claws +28 (2d8+7 plus ether-ripping claws and stupefying touch), bite +27 (3d6+7 / 19-20 plus shred spell), sting +27 (1d6+7 plus poison)
Ranged acid spit +28 touch (8d6 acid)
Special Attacks acid spit, deadly bite, ether-ripping claws, poison, shred spell, stupefying touch
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 16th)
Constant - detect magic
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STATISTICS
Str 25, Dex 27, Con 24, Int 15, Wis 22, Cha 20
Base Atk +20; CMB +27; CMD 45 (53 vs. trip)
Feats Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Disruptive (B), Flyby Attack, Following Step, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Power Attack, Step Up, Step Up And Strike, Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills Fly +12, Intimidate +27, Knowledge (arcana) +18, Knowledge (nature) +14, Knowledge (religion) +14, Perception +28 (+32 with hive mind), Spellcraft +18, Stealth +24, Survival +21;
Languages Common; telepathy 100 ft.
Special Qualities disrupting aura, formian traits
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ECOLOGY
Environment warm or temperate land or underground
Organization solitary, team (2-4), platoon (1 plus 2-4 taskmasters and 6-12 warriors) or royal guard (1 plus 1-3 myrmarchs and 12-20 warriors)
Treasure standard
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
Acid Spit (Ex) A formian mageslayer can shoot a blast of acid as a ranged touch attack with no range increment. This attack inflicts 8d6 points of acid damage on a successful hit. Additionally, creatures damaged by a mageslayer's acid spit continue to take the same amount of acid damage for the next 1d3 rounds unless the acid is neutralized in some way.
Deadly Bite (Ex) A formian mageslayer's mandibles are particularly sharp, and threaten a critical on a natural roll of 19-20.
Disrupting Aura (Su) Formian mageslayers are surrounded by an aura of disruptive energy that disperses magical energy and makes spellcasting difficult for their enemies. Every time an enemy within the aura attempts to cast a spell or activate a magic item that is not use activated, the mageslayer makes an automatic attempt to counterspell it, as if it was casting a dispel magic spell (caster level 16th). If the mageslayer succeeds in this attempt, the spell or activation is lost, and the mageslayer gains a number of temporary hit points equal to twice the spell level for 1 minute. Free action activations disrupted by this aura may not be attempted again until the start of the activating creature's next turn.
Ether-Ripping Claws (Ex) A formian mageslayer's claw attack is considered as having the ghost touch weapon special ability for the purpose of attacking incorporeal creatures.
Poison (Ex) Sting - injury; save Fort 27; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Dex; cure 2 consecutive saves
Shred Spell (Su) A creature damaged by a formian mageslayer's bite attack is affected as though targeted by a greater dispel magic spell.
Stupefying Touch (Su) A creature damaged by a formian mageslayer's claw attack must succeed at a Will save (DC 25) or take 1d6 point of Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma damage, of the mageslayer's choice. On a critical hit, the ability damage becomes ability drain instead.
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Formian mageslayers are outliers of sorts in formian hives. That is because mageslayers are not a result of a natural evolution - they have been artificially engineered, forced into existence by the machinations of third parties in order to be ruthless exterminators of spellcasters. Mageslayers certainly show behaviors that demonstrate single-mindedness, and often fixate on eliminating arcanists at the expense of everything else. When not in conflict with spellcasters, mageslayers are aloof and surly, and are usually seen tirelessly standing guard over the hive. A mageslayer's artificial body structure makes it so that the creature does not need sleep to function, making them ideal sentinels - tireless, ruthless and incorruptible. However, this body conformation also leaves the mageslayer in constant discomfort at best, and in outright pain at worst. A mageslayer only finds temporary relief when it tears an enemy spellcaster apart.
Mageslayers radiate an aura of disruptive energy that makes it difficult for enemies to cast spells. Their claws are imbued with magical power, allowing it to easily cut through ethereal and incorporeal foes, and they are capable of stripping enemies of valuable magical enhancement with their preternaturally strong mandibles. Even the occasional enemy that manages to escape a mageslayer's disruptive aura will be targeted with blasts of searing acid, which the creature shoots with impunity. Mageslayers are relentless foes, always fighting to the death unless ordered to retreat by a myrmarch or by the queen.
Mageslayers occupy an odd position in formian hierarchy. While they are more powerful than observers and myrmarchs, they are still subservient to them. Observers particularly enjoy fighting alongside a mageslayer, who provides much needed muscle to the observer's weak offensive. Mageslayers, for their part, are just as loyal to the queen and the hive as any other formian, and see no contradiction in their subservient position.
