Gaian Nanite

The deliberate bonding of matter at a molecular level

This audio recording is preserved in rose quartz for longevity.
It is entitled: "Research into the Plurality of Available Dynamic Physics

in a Semi Permeable, faceted Magical Auditory Matrix (MAM)"
Orated by Trae von Lichtenherz, 23 Taug 5319

The Bardic College Campuses, Parabiology Department

The subject, which until very recently has been called by many 'Devil Dust', is in fact named 'Gaian Nanites', a tidbit gleaned randomly when a researcher actually survived to record his findings. He had to dictate them telepathically, because technically it had only been his brain that survived, but that never stopped him from being the life of the faculty Kings Day parties for years afterwards.
Seemingly just a coating of superfine dust particles found randomly throughout the world, we have four references to them including Professor Brians (no, the irony was not lost upon him; stout fellow, was old Brians) ahem! award winning body of work. Excuse me, sir? Oh, ha ha! No sir, that was not meant as irony, that time, but your style is, as always, unassailable. No, sir. Not sarcasm. Noooo.


As I was saying before all of the bimbleherferating going on here, for whichever unfathomable reason you have glommed on to, Professor Knowles, I believe my record speaks for itself. Yes, sir. Yes. That is correct, sir. No, sir, I was never convicted for that. Yet as hilarious as you are, sir, har...yes, har, har...whenever you are ready? Ah? Yes? One more harrumph? Well done, sir. It took me years to perfect my sanctimonious laughter.

Seeming as naught else but a fine, light dust, it will suddenly all form together into one form or another with which to attack someone, or many someones. It can fade into a puff of cloud to avoid attack much of the time, and yet can also mirror spell like effects. Now please, bear with me here, for I believe I have stumbled upon something. I keep using the word, 'it'. I should really be using the word 'they'. This is but dust! But a dust of some technological source. There is no magical energy at play within them. The tiny, powder-tiny, machines are capable of bonding themselves together in such a way as to accomplish whatever it is they are there to accomplish.

---

Tellus' Standard Reference

Ancient Anomaly CR: 20

Gargantuan tech, chaotic evil

Armor Class: 21

Hit Points: 240

Speed: 50 ft , fly: 120 ft , burrow: 30 ft , swim: 30 ft , climb: 50 ft , can hover

STR

22 +6

DEX

20 +5

CON

12 +1

INT

12 +1

WIS

5 -3

CHA

15 +2

Saving Throws: Str, Dex

Skills: They can only really do what they were last told to do. These in particular were last programmed to strip the surface of organic material, in order to make way for the growth of the necessary biomes to sustain humans and, come to find out, everyone and everything else.

Damage Vulnerabilities: Cold

Damage Resistances: Slashing, Piercing, Fire, Cold, Lightning

Damage Immunities: Psychic, non magical attacks

Condition Immunities: Stunned, poisoned, frightened, charmed

Senses: All available light spectrums, sound wavelengths, magnetic and gravitational fields.

Languages: None

Challenge Rating: 20

+8 to hit with spell attacks, DC 20. The nanites will swarm in such a way as to imitate spell effects they have encountered. It is a 9th level spellcaster.

At will:

• Lightning Lure
• Eldritch Blast
• Toll the Dead
• Magic Stone
• Sacred Flames
• Vicious Mockery

1/day:

• Chain Lightning
• Fireball
• Spiritual Weapon
• Magic Missile

2/day:

• Dissonant Whispers
• Lightning
• Web

3/day:

• Call Lightning

Pseudopod: The nanites are self assembling, and can simulate slashing, bludgeoning, and piercing damage.
Multiattack: The anomaly will attack all enemies within 10' of it on it's turn.
Spellcasting: These little bastards can replicate almost anything they have ever encountered.
Reach: The anomaly is amorphous enough to be able to simulate polearms and spears, etc.
Absorb Lightning: Once per day, the nanite cloud can essentially turn itself into a supercapacitor, taking no damage and instead regenerating a number of hit points equal to whatever the damage would have been.
Mobile: Difficult terrain does not hinder the mass of nanites.

Actions

Multiattack: The mass of nanites will attack every opponent in melee range (10')

• Pseudopod: +10 to hit, 2d8+8 damage (any)
• Constrict: If hit by a pseudopod character must make a DC15 STR save or be grappled. Any grappled character can be slammed.
• Slam: Any grappled character can be lifted 12' into the air, and forcibly slammed into the ground or other surrounding objects, for 3d12 +4 bludgeoning damage.
• Spell Attack: +8 to hit with spell attacks, DC20

Ranged Attack: +8 to hit,2d6+8 damage. The mass of nanites can shoot missiles of self-assembled nanites.
Legendary Actions: On initiative 20 every round, losing ties to the player characters, the ancient anomaly can take one of its legendary actions.
Lair Actions: On initiative 10 of every round the mass can use a Lair Action.

Reactions

Counterspell: Any time a spell is cast at or on the anomaly, roll a d20. on a 1-5, the nanites recognize the spell as it is cast and neutralize it.
Amorphous: Non-magical ranged attacks have no effect on the hive; if the anomaly makes it's saving throw and would normally take half damage, it takes no damage.
Mirror Attack: Any time the anomaly is hit, roll a d20. On a 1-5, it will attack with an approximation of the same weapon, same to hit roll, same damage roll, and same effects as was inflicted upon it.
Mimic Countenance: As part of their incredible set of abilities, the nanites can read surface thoughts as per the 'Detect Thoughts' spell, and will take the shape of loved ones, or beloved pets, or creatures born out of horrible phobias.

Legendary Actions

On initiative 20, the nanite mass can take one of the following actions:

• Heat Metal, as per the spell. The nanites can excite the atomic makeup of metallic objects to that particular point of cherry-red heat that blacksmiths so adore.
• Scourge: The mass will make an attack against every opponent on the field that is not behind full cover.
• Whirlwind: The mass will spin at speeds that approximate a cyclone. Unless they make a DC20 STR saving throw, they are pushed 20' away. Without a DC 20 Acrobatics check, the character also falls prone.

Lair Actions

Electric Surge: The mass activates a criss-crossing matrix of lighting, arcing from wall to wall, within the elevator shaft, causing 6d8 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success.
Anti-Gravity Field: As per the spell. The mass will either keep them up there, shooting at the poor bastards, or drop them like confetti from 100' up for 10d6 points of bludgeoning damage.

They can fill the space they occupy up to 1200² feet. This set of nanites was set here to guard this entrance; not from people going in, so much, as from something coming out. It consists of a square vertical shaft, one hundred fathoms deep, with alcoves off of each side at regular intervals. It, at one point, had terminated on the surface in a specialized building housing heavy equipment. A schematic found close by led researchers to believe that it is an ancient elevator shaft, but no researchers except Trayvon the Lighthearted have ever returned from the site.
The square shaft terminates, at the bottom, in a mudroom and secured entry to the detention center. Within the detention center, preserved in blocks of crystal, are the bodies of those great villains the Travelers saw fit to step in and stop before they (the villains) conquered entire populations and brought misery unchecked upon thousands of thousands.
It is a bleak stone and metal affair, although the environment is kept very cool and dry.

Regional Effects

Control weather

A collection of misfiring nanites that started misfiring on the quantum network and were discarded from the matrices. They find common purpose is various duties, some are innocent and fun. Others are more dangerous than most people on Tellus could imagine.

Suggested Environments

Any

Utility

It is unknown what this was used for...one theory is that they were some sort of destructive force, a sort of purging layer of polishing dust used to ready the ground for something else.

Children Technologies

• Oozenberg Worms

Access & Availability

There have been two accounted for since discovery in 5122NG.

Complexity

The unimaginable complexity of micro-machines bonding themselves together, at any shape and at will, has quite frankly baffled any and all science or folklore the author has been able to find.

Discovery

The popular theory is that they were first discovered when one of Sheherizade's favorite slaves was making a delightfully hopeless break for 'freedom'. The man ducked into a cave, and was torn apart by clouds of dust.