Malcanthet (3.5e Monster)
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Information About Malcanthet
Alternative Names and Titles: Angel of Iniquity, Astara, The First-Tempted
Symbol: A heart being crushed by a snake
Portfolio: Ruin, bringing down anything good about everything, seduction
Domains Granted: Chaos, Corrupt, Evil, Seduction, Trickery
Favoured Weapon: Whip-dagger
Malcanthet's Statistics Block
Malcanthet, Worlds' Ruin | |
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Size/Type: | Medium Outsider (Chaotic, Evil, Extraplanar) |
Hit Dice: | 23d8+230 (414 hp) |
Initiative: | +13 |
Speed: | 50ft, fly 150ft (perfect) |
Armor Class: | 50, touch 31, flat-footed 41 (+6 armour, +9 Dexterity, +19 natural, +6 deflection) |
Base Attack/Grapple: | +23/+35 |
Attack: | Melee touch +43 melee (touch of dark ecstasy) |
Full Attack: | Melee touch +43 melee (touch of dark ecstasy) |
Space/Reach: | 5ft/5ft |
Special Attacks: | Alter reality, dispel good (see spell description), dispel law (see spell description), rapture of rupture (see spell description, ravage form, spell-like abilities, touch of dark ecstasy |
Special Qualities: | Darkvision 60ft, cloak of chaos (see spell description), dark blessing, fallen angel, godlike, immune to acid, cold, electricity, petrification and poison, invisibility (see spell description), lord of the Abyss, low-light vision, nondetection (see spell description), protective aura, regeneration 25 (see the Bloodmare Stone), resistance to fire 25, sexual embrace, spell resistance 35, telepathy 1000ft, tongues, true mistress of temptation, unholy aura (see spell description), |
Saves: | Fort +34, Ref +33, Will +35 |
Abilities: | Str 35, Dex 29, Con 30, Int 32, Wis 33, Cha 32 |
Skills: | Appraise +37, Bluff +38, Concentration +36, Diplomacy +37, Disguise +37, Gather Information +38, Intimidate +38, Knowledge (arcana) +37, Knowledge (history) +37, Knowledge (nature) +37, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +37, Knowledge (religion) +37, Knowledge (the planes) +37, Listen +38, Perform +37, Sense Motive +38, Spellcraft +37, Spot +38, Use Rope +35 |
Feats: | Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Craft Staff, Craft Wondrous Item,Flyby Attack, Goad, Gripping Vice, Improved Initiative |
Environment: | A chaotic-evil aligned plane |
Organization: | Solitary or orgy (Malcanthet plus any number creatures the GM deems suitable) |
Challenge Rating: | 23 |
Treasure: | The Bloodmare Stone, plus any treasure the GM deems acceptable |
Alignment: | Always chaotic evil |
Advancement: | - |
Level Adjustment: | - |
Although the most beautiful nude woman you can imagine stands before you, twirling her red hair and looking at you with her red eyes full of passion, your gaze is strangely drawn to the amulet she wears around her neck. Even the bare breasts just beneath it do not distract you from gazing at its beautiful deep red colour, its silver setting and its beautiful chain. Once you tear yourself away from gazing at it, you see that she is indeed perfectly formed to seduce, and your blood runs just thinking about her. You hardly notice her slight horns and her six batlike wings unfurled behind her back. As her red eyes gaze at you, you forget everything but the thought of her wrapped around you.
Like Abaddon, Malcanthet was also once an angel, but unlike Abaddon, her fall from grace was quite different - perhaps as different as it is possible to get. However, one thing they have in common is that it was the circumstances of the Time of Mercy that led to their falls, and that were it not for the policy of interference, she may have never ended up the way she was.
To understand the nature of her fall, it is important to know that angels do not conceive of the idea of sex for pleasure, or as a form of control or corruption. While they understand the importance of sexual reproduction for the purposes of strengthening and continuation of a species, and see the enjoyment of the act of sexual intercourse as an important part of this, it is at this point that their curiosity stops - they simply see no need to extend this notion further. This is not to say that they do not conceive of the idea of rape, for example - however, they view it in the broader scheme of a violent or hateful act, rather than as something related to sex specifically. Thus, during the Time of Mercy, it seemed only natural to them to appoint an angel to oversee the procreation of the humanoid races, and to protect them from all of the pitfalls that this could have. They appointed an planetar, named Astara, this task.
Little could they have known that Astara would learn far, far more from this than they ever expected.
At first, Astara took to her duties with zeal and dedication, seeking to ensure that the humanoid races reproduce in a way that was healthy and non-destructive, while avoiding violence or oppression of others. However, as she witnessed more and more sexual pairings, she began to realise that there was much more to all of this than simple procreation. She witnessed sex purely for pleasure, prostitution and other such things, and was at first bemused. An angel herself, she could simply not make sense of these occurrences. She also saw the consequences of sexual reproduction on an emotional level: the pain of loss, the manipulation of others with sex, the madness that it could drive others to, and once again, felt she simply had no understanding of what it meant. She wished desperately to protect her charges, all those who engaged in such practices, or, indeed, were harmed by them, but felt that until she could understand the problem, she couldn't do much about it.
At the same time, Pale Night was watching. She saw Astara's confusion, and felt that the situation could be one she could profit from. Although the Material Plane had been cleansed of much of the Abyssal energy that had once created it, during these early times, Pale Night still had some power over it. She used this power to create a love-venom so powerful that it could even infect an angel, and planted this venom into the body of a young man, whose name was Adam. It was then merely a matter of time before the already-curious Astara came upon this bizarre man, whom women lusted after in a way that could only be described as unnatural.
And sure enough, it happened. It wasn't too long before the High Angelic Council dispatched Astara with an urgent order to investigate this strange occurrence, and to take all necessary measures to prevent it. Astara departed for the location, little-knowing what awaited her there.
She found Adam in mid-orgy, surrounded by nude or near-nude women, and the light in his eyes and vigour in his muscles shone with the power of the Abyss. Horrified by what she saw, Astara tried to summon her energy to destroy the energy, but as she was about to unleash the full extent of her power, Adam looked up at her. His red eyes met hers, and she froze, the gathered energies dissipating around her. He then spoke but three words that set Astara's blood ablaze and awoke desires in her that no angel before had experienced.
"Come to me."
What followed was a lovemaking unlike anything that the Material Plane had ever seen. The two spent six days in almost constant, uninterrupted sex, Astara fuelled by her angelic essence and Adam by the Abyssal love-venom that coursed through his veins. Astara experienced every form of sex that their imaginations could conceive of, and finally began to understand exactly why all of the things that mortals did for sex, and around sex, made sense. As the sixth day drew to a close, she felt she had enough understanding, and was almost ready to depart, but it was only then that she realised two things. Firstly, that Adam's body could not handle that kind of exertion, and that he was dying, although the essence inside him made him keep going regardless. Secondly, that several dozen angels were observing the scene with looks of abject horror on their faces, unable to understand what had just happened or why.
As Adam lay dying, the angels began to question Astara as to what had just happened, and why she did what she did. The more they asked, the less Astara understood why she took the actions she just had. The angels' questions became more and more insistent, and the more insistent they grew, the less Astara could answer them. Eventually, their discussion became a debate, and eventually it had devolved into an argument - all while Adam's life bled away into the ground around them. Just as his life was about to depart him, the love-venom bled away, and he could see everything with his own eyes again. Just before he expired, he beckoned to Astara to hear him speak. He then said one simple phrase before passing away:
"Thank you. I can now die happy."'
If Astara had been confused before, she became even more confused now, as all of the feelings of loss, anger and other emotions she had simply not known as an angel flooded through her. She blamed herself for what had happened, for her loss of control and inability to perform her duties, but also felt anger at this man and what he had made her do, and toward the angels that engaged her in this pointless discussion as the first man to give her physical love lay dying at her feet. All of this mad mental racing boiled over, and Astara shrieked to the skies, her cry mixing with a strange hissing roar that seemed to bellow from the Abyss itself.
It was then that the love-venom truly struck. Taking the form of a snake, it bit her on her ankle, and rushed up into her body. None saw what had happened to her, and she perhaps was not aware of it either, but it had entered her. Having taken the life of Adam, the venom took on an intellect of its own, and was ready to begin the true ruin of Astara.
Although she had been thoroughly debriefed, none suspected that Astara was any worse for wear. Her mental fortitude had seen her through everything that had transpired, and the High Council, ever-forgiving, decided that she should resume her duties - even claiming that this experience with a mortal, although bizarre and inexplicable, would prove a useful piece of learning in her future work as a protector of humanoid races. Astara, although still feeling confused and strange at everything that had happened, agreed to this, and returned to her duties. However, she now saw things very differently, coloured by her experience and by the venom flowing through her body.
She realised that prior to her experience of sex, and then loss, she had been ignorant about the world and its truths. She did not know anything, and had to see everything anew, with her new eyes. Additionally, she felt that everyone had to go through this experience - and who better than her, a protector of humanoid races, a higher being, to put them through this? She had also felt the power of sex through her experience, and this understanding showed her its true power. Her subsequent experiences of 'granting' this gift to others she encountered, male or female, also showed her just how powerful it made her. No longer a humble servant of humanoids and a protector, she became a master of control, manipulation - and ruin. Of course, Astara saw this as only natural - if all learned of the power of the body, and of her true status, they would come out of this better-aware and stronger. Those who didn't survive... well, acceptable losses. Didn't a part of her die with Adam too?
It was around this time that she began to be called by another name, which she eventually adopted - Malcanthet.
Her true fall occurred only later, when her actions and their consequences began to filter back to the High Council. Not suspecting her a unique case, the High Council felt it was their duty to protect humanoids from the angels - and vice versa - and thus issued the Edict of Observation. They also sent a notice of official censure to Malcanthet, telling her to stop in her activities and return directly to the High Council, without going to the Place of Gathering.
Once this news reached her, the venom made its presence known, flooding into her eyes and turning them their red colour that they retain to this day. Pale Night's voice spoke in Malcanthet's mind, revealing to her the truth of her actions. Malcanthet came to realise that in fact, her actions and current thoughts fitted the Abyss' pattern perfectly, and that ruin and chaos were to the benefit of the Material Plane. However, the imminent danger of censure and punishment would mean that her work would no longer be done - and with the Edict of Observation about to come into effect, none else could do it for her. Pale Night had a solution for this too - she could continue her work as an agent of the Abyss, but she had to hide her angelic essence so that the High Council couldn't find her. Following the instructions of Pale Night, Malcanthet foreswore her angelic nature, and bound it into a gemstone, which she now wears. What remained of her joined with the love-venom to become her new, current form - Malcanthet, Worlds' Ruin.
Combat
Malcanthet is a lover, not a fighter - she will attempt to use her magic to convince her enemies to fight each other, or better still, not fight at all. If this is impossible, however, Malcanthet will not hesitate to gently caress the life away from her enemies, or even crush them between her sensuous thighs. Her spell-like abilities also give her a wide range of options for dealing with her enemies - or escape, if needs be.
Alter Reality (Sp): Malcanthet has the ability to advance her portfolio. This is considered identical to the wish spell, but may only be used to produce effects appropriate to Malcanthet's portfolio or goals. Malcanthet may only use this ability once per minute.
Dark Blessing (Su): Malcanthet has a resistance bonus on all saves equal to her Charisma modifier (+11 by default).
Fallen Angel (Ex): While she no longer calls herself an angel, Malcanthet still shares many of their traits. At the same time, while not being a true demon, Malcanthet has taken on many of their traits. This gives her darkvision 60ft, low-light vision, immunity to acid, cold, electricity, petrification and poison, resistance to fire 25, and telepathy out to 1000ft.
Godlike: Although Malcanthet is not a true deity, he has many of the powers of such. She can grant spells to clerics, and gives access to the Chaos, Corrupt, Evil, Seduction and Trickery domains. Her favoured weapon is the whip-dagger and her portfolio is ruin, bringing down anything good about everything and seduction.
Additionally, Malcanthet is immune to any attack that changes her form, mind-affecting effects, ability damage, ability drain and energy drain, unless such an effect comes from a creature that has a caster level or character level (or CR, for monsters) over 20.
Lord of the Abyss (Su): Malcanthet is an ancient evil, and one of the greatest of her kind. As a result, she receives a +8 enhancement bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls, a +8 resistance bonus to all saves (although this is superceded by her Dark Blessing ability) and a +6 deflection bonus to AC. Malcanthet also has maximum hit points per hit die.
Additionally, the Abyss itself protects Malcanthet from any attempt to scry on her. Anyone that uses a divination effect on Malcanthet or the area within 1 mile of her must make a DC 32 Will save or become dazed for 1 round, and ending the effect automatically. Additionally, if the save is failed and Malcanthet wishes it, she can use an immediate action to transport herself over to the location of the user of the divination effect, even if it is on a different plane.
Lastly, Malcanthet's very presence is a blight on the surrounding area. She radiates a desecrate spell effect to a radius of twenty miles, and the innermost mile of this is subject to an unhallow effect instead, both at caster level 23rd.
Protective Aura (Su): Just like other angels, Malcanthet radiates a protective aura, although hers is very different in its nature to that of other angels. This aura provides a +4 deflection bonus to AC and a +4 resistance bonus on all saves to all allies within 40ft of Malcanthet against any abilities from good or lawful creatures. Additionally, it functions as a magic circle against good, magic circle against law and a globe of invulnerability out to a radius of 40ft (caster level 23rd). These are not included in Malcanthet's statistics block.
Ravage Form (Sp): As a full-round action, Malcanthet may bestow her ravage on a creature eligible to gain a level. That creature gains its first level in the ravaged by Malcanthet racial paragon class. If Malcanthet attempts to ravage an unwilling creature, it receives a DC 32 Will save to resist (Cha-based).
If Malcanthet wishes, she can attempt to share the senses of a creature that has at least one level in ravaged by Malcanthet. This works identically to a scrying spell, except it must be centred on the creature in question. The creature doesn't get any say in the matter. Malcanthet may use this ability at will. This has a caster level of 23rd.
Additionally, if any creature with at least one level in ravaged by Malcanthet attempts to affect Malcanthet or the area within 20 miles of her with any ability, Malcanthet may choose to use dominate monster on that creature as a free action that she can use even outside of her turn. The creature receives a DC 32 save as normal. This has a caster level of 23rd, and the DC is Charisma-based.
Sexual Embrace (Ex): Malcanthet has learned to use her body to hold her opponents (and lovers) in ways that should not be possible. She ignores any immunity to grappling a creature possesses, and causes any size modifiers to grapple checks for her opponents to become inversed (i.e. bonuses become penalties and vice-versa).
Spell-Like Abilities: At-will - animate objects, blasphemy, chaos hammer (can be used as a swift action), charm monster, cloak of chaos, confusion (can be used as a swift action), create undead, desecrate, disguise self (can be used as a swift action), dispel good, dispel law, dominate monster, dream, Elush's elemental extraction, Elush's epiphyseal erosion, Elush's explosive exsanguination, Elush's eye-blasting explosion (can be used as a swift action), Erzebet's skull bomb (can be used as a swift action), false vision (can be used as a swift action), greater dispel magic (can be used as a free action 3/round), greater teleport, invisibility (can be used as a swift action), Ishara's enticing directive (affects up to one creature per caster level, can be used as a swift action), magic circle against good, magic circle against law, mass hold monster, mass suggestion, mislead, nondetection (can be used as a swift action), protection from good, protection from law, rapture of rupture, screen, shatter (can be used as a swift action), suggestion (can be used as a swift action), summon monster IX (chaotic or evil creatures only), symbol of persuasion, unholy aura, turn to the Abyss (can be used as a swift action), unholy blight (can be used as a swift action), word of chaos; 1/day - apocalypse from the sky, demise unseen, gate, mage's disjunction, polymorph any object, time stop. Caster level 23rd. Save DCs are Charisma-based (32 by default)
Tongues (Su): Malcanthet can speak to any creature, as if under the effects of a tongues spell (caster level 23rd). This ability is always active.
Touch of Dark Ecstasy (Su) Malcanthet's touch is one of the most intensely pleasurable experiences one can feel, but it also steals away the soul. Any touch by Malcanthet, as well as any successful grapple checks, inflict one negative level per Malcanthet's CR (23 by default). Assuming the creature survives, the Fort save to remove these negative levels is Charisma-based (32 by default). Her touch also causes so much pleasure that it requires a DC 32 Will save (Cha-based) from the touched creature, or it becomes dazed with pleasure for 6 rounds. Those who fail this save are also afflicted with a suggestion that forces them to seek out the touch again, no matter the cost.
Those killed by this ability transform into succubi instead of wights.
Malcanthet may use her touch instead of a normal attack for the purpose of attacks of opportunity.
True Mistress of Temptation (Ex): Malcanthet can tempt almost anything, even those that would normally be immune. She ignores the following immunities on any creature whose CR or character level is lower than 20: charms, compulsions, fear effects, enchantments and mind-affecting effects. If the immunity comes from a spell, Malcanthet only ignores it if its caster level is below 20th.
Malcanthet's Equipment
The Bloodmare Stone
Although Malcanthet rarely wears clothes unless she has to, this blood-red stone, set in silver and suspended by a thick chain, also of silver, is never far from her body, usually hanging just above her breasts. It almost forces the eye to gaze upon it, and within it, souls can be seen to writhe. It is believed that the stone was the place where Malcanthet hid her angelic essence, and that her angelic sword was melted down to make its setting. If this is true, then breaking this amulet could potentially release this essence - although what this could cause is unknown.
The Bloodmare Stone can be commanded to appear as a suit of any kind of clothing. This is not an illusion - it actually transforms into those clothes. If removed, they rapidly decay to nothingness. The Bloodmare Stone is always clearly visible as part of such an outfit, although its precise form might change - it might appear as a large decorative jewel on a dress, or a large ring, etc. Commanding the Bloodmare Stone to become a suit of clothing, to change this clothing, or to return to its normal form all require a swift action.
Additionally, those gazing at Malcanthet feel their eye intensely drawn to the stone, making them distracted and unable to focus. Every time a creature attacks Malcanthet, or uses an ability on her requiring line of sight, it must make a DC 32 Will save (Cha-based) or take a -6 penalty on any rolls and any DCs for any action affecting Malcanthet this round. Success grants immunity to this ability for 24 hours.
Lastly, Malcanthet has regeneration 25 and a +6 armour bonus to AC as long as she wears this stone, as she can draw on the power of her angelic essence. The armour bonus also applies to touch attacks against Malcanthet, and nothing can bypass the regeneration. This makes Malcanthet incredibly difficult to kill, and she must be parted from the stone before she can be truly destroyed.
Malcanthet's Worshippers
Malcanthet has a relatively broad base of worship, as many seek the gifts of her sexual abilities and the way it can control others. Cults to her tend to be quite secretive, however, as they risk exposure on more fronts than most. Her clerics tend to be women, but the vast majority of ordinary cultists are instead men. They seek to use sex and its power to ruin and destroy as much as possible - relationships, friendships, cities, nations... even worlds if possible. Always seeking to be the power behind the throne, such cults are hard to locate, and even harder to root out, as they draw upon the most fundamental of passions.
In the Abyss, Malcanthet's most numerous servants are succubi, whose patron (if not outright creator) she is considered to be. A large number of the monstrous nalfeshnees also serve her.
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Alignment | Always chaotic evil + |
Author | MisterSinister + |
Challenge Rating | 23 + |
Environment | A chaotic-evil aligned plane + |
Identifier | 3.5e Monster + |
Level Adjustment | - + |
Rating | Undiscussed + |
Size | Medium + |
Subtype | Chaotic +, Evil + and Extraplanar + |
Title | Malcanthet + |
Type | Outsider + |