Warlock Bug (CR 4)

The first wielders of arcane magic

XP 1,200
CN Tiny Magical Beast (aquatic)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Tremorsense(30ft) Mana Sense; Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 16 (+4 Armor, +3 Dex, +2 size)
hp 16 (4d10 - 4)
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +4
Immunity: Gaze Attacks, Other Sight-dependent effects; Resist cold 10, electricity 10; SR 20

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft, Swim 50 ft, Climb 50ft
Melee bite +8 (1d3–1)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks Primordial Mana Conduit
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +7)
Constant—Arcane Sight
At will—Mage Armor (self only)
3/day—Magic Missile
1/day—Shield, Dispel Magic

STATISTICS

Str 8, Dex 16, Con 8, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 16
Base Atk +4; CMB +5; CMD 13
Feats Alertness, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +7, Climb +3, Fly +11, Perception +11, Stealth +18, Swim +11, Knowledge(Arcana) +11, Spellcraft +11, Use Magic Device +11
Languages Aquan, Auran, Ignan, Terran, Draconic
SQ: Water Breathing, Amphibious

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Primordial Mana Conduit (Su)

When a spell fails to penetrate their Spell Resistance, a Warlock Bug’s SR rises by 2 and they are healed for 5HP per level of the spell absorbed. Their Spell Resistance cannot rise above 30 in this way, and their SR returns to normal 1d4+1 rounds after it rises most recently. Additionally, a Warlock Bug can extend its SR to creatures that are occupying the same square as it and it cannot rise above its HP maximum with this healing, but for each round after the first that it extends its SR in this way the creature it is protecting must make a Will Save (DC 10 + 1/2HD + INTMOD + 2 for each consecutive save) or contract one minor spellblight. After 5 rounds of cumulative exposure in a 24 hour period, a creature automatically contracts a major spellblight.

Mana Sense (Ex)

Warlock Bugs can detect large concentrations of mana such as Leylines, the casting of spells 7th level or above, arcane spellcasters capable of casting 7th level spells or higher, and other large concentrations of mana or magical power in a radius around them equal to 1 mile per HD(4 miles for an average Warlock Bug).

Manahide (Ex)

Warlock Bugs resist magic in a way none but the primordial masters of it could, and creatures attempting to penetrate their SR gain no bonuses to do so from any source such as the Spell Penetration feat.

Light Blindness (Ex)

Due to lives lived at the bottom of the ocean Warlock Bugs have eyes that are mostly nonfunctional and unused to light, and are blinded for 1 round if exposed to bright light, such as sunlight or the daylight spell. They are dazzled as long as they remain in areas of bright light.

Description

The Primordial users of ancient magic, the Warlock Bugs are a race of aquatic beings that dwell at the bottom of the world’s deepest oceans, feeding off the leylines that crisscross the world and releasing the mana they eat in bursts of magical power that often takes the form of spells and other invocations. They are reclusive beings that are highly protective of their privacy, and though they are highly intelligent and capable of sentient thought, they rarely care to do so and instead simply play the act of the mindless animal, eager to let others pass them by in peace so they can continue to live their simple lives.
It was from the Warlock Bugs that the first sentient life learned how to wield the mysteries of Atlen for themselves, learning from the ancestors of the Warlock Bugs and mimicking how they absorbed and released the raw Atlen contained within the Leylines in primordial versions of spells…though now many Warlock Bugs look upon the wonders the descendants of their pupils have gone on to achieve with a light air of disdain for what they see as diluting the pure essence of Atlen with mortal manipulation, they nonetheless are proud of what they have wrought.
Proud, Egostistical, but simple creatures who are content to live out their relatively long lives on the ocean’s bottom as simple bottom feeders, they are not well understood even by modern societies, who view them as needlessly arrogant and annoying things best left alone.

Warlock Bug Familiars

Warlock Bugs often care little for other sentient creatures, especially magic casters and alchemists, whom they often see as meddlers who take Atlen and codify it, bind it by laws and formulae, and change it from its original wild and chaotic form, but often times a Warlock Bug can be persuaded into service to a Caster on the premise of “teaching” them how to properly use and wield the power they boast control over. Their egos are quite large, and they think themselves the best and superior users of Atlen, but they can be quite high-handedly willing to tag along with another if it means teaching them of the proper ways and educating them of what it means to use Atlen’s power.
Any Chaotic caster of 7th level or higher and who has the Improved Familiar feat may summon a Warlock Bug.

Lifespan

375 Years