Philosopher Worm Teleologarch

Philosopher Worm Teleologarch CR 16

XP 76,800
LG Large monstrous humanoid
Init +0; Senses blindsight (thought) 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +28
Aura soothing presence (30 ft., Will DC 24)

DEFENSE

HP 280
EAC 30; KAC 31
Fort +16; Ref +14; Will +21 SR 26 vs. mind-affecting effects only

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.
Melee claw +28 (6d8+18 P)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Offensive Abilities reality storm
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 16th; ranged +29)

1/day—telepathic jaunt, vision
3/day—divination, greater dispel magic, greater synaptic pulse (DC 23), mind probe (DC 22), retrocognition
At will—augury, command (DC 19), detect thoughts (DC 19), discern lies (DC 22), mind-link, mind thrust (4th level; DC 22), psychokinetic hand, status, telekinetic projectile, telepathic bond

STATISTICS

Str+2; Dex +0; Con +4; Int +8; Wis +7; Cha +7
Skills Culture +28, Diplomacy +33, Life Science +28, Medicine +28, Mysticism +33, Physical Science +28, Sense Motive +33
Languages telepathy 60 ft., truespeech
Other Abilities evaluate

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Evaluate (Su)

A philosopher worm can cast detect thoughts as a swift action, and when cast, the spell works as if it had been active for 3 rounds. If the worm reads a creature’s surface thoughts and the creature fails the saving throw against the spell, the worm also learns the creature’s defensive abilities, weaknesses, and active defenses from items or spells.

Reality Storm (Sp)

This ability works like the cosmic eddy spell (Reflex DC 22), except the damage it deals has the force descriptor.

The philosopher worm teleologarch can have only one reality storm present at a time, but this ability can otherwise be used every 1d4 rounds.

Soothing Presence (Su)

A creature in the aura must succeed at a DC 24 Will saving throw to attempt to harm the philosopher worm. A creature that succeeds at the saving throw or is attacked by any philosopher worm is immune to this aura from any philosopher worm for 24 hours. The philosopher worm has a +4 insight bonus to Diplomacy checks made to influence affected insectile creatures of any creature type in this aura. Although the aura is a mind-affecting compulsion, mindless vermin aren’t immune to it.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary

A philosopher worm has only a few arthropodan features. It has an insectile thorax and six arms, but its lower body resembles that of a segmented worm. Its head is a flat, half-moon shape—a vertical semicircle of hardened flesh bearing a line of illuminated runes along its curved edge. The philosopher worms’ runes, which pulse in time with the beating of its three hearts, are manifestations of innate psychic magic and act as the creature’s sensory organs.

An average philosopher worm is 8 feet long and weighs 500 pounds, but they grow throughout their long lives. The oldest can be up to 16 feet long and weigh more than 2 tons.

Philosopher worms occupy a unique role in the Forever Queen’s government. Although a vital part of church and state, they remain separate from both, acting with autonomy. The worms focus their minds on deciphering the intricacies of the universe. Through a mixture of magic and teleological reasoning, the worms study what they describe as the “metaphysical threads” from which the gods wove reality, manipulating them to learn hidden knowledge or future events. They use what they learn to educate the Forever Queen and challenge her thinking on matters of state, ensuring she benefits from their scholarship.

Only the most prestigious and accomplished worms warrant regular audiences with the queen. Most significant among these is the teleologarch, who acts as the queen’s primary advisor and is second only to her in authority. Philosopher worms who have yet to rise to such positions either assist their elders or organize other Nchaki citizens for institutional projects. Numerous trox serve the philosopher worms directly, most often working as the muscle and face to the worms’ intellect and political wishes.

Most such trox serve as explorers, laborers, or sentinels, but some are aides, diplomats, or students. These trox act as surrogates for the worms in the wider galaxy, facilitating the worms’ aims and studies. This connection between the two species, which the trox are unforthcoming about, has led to all sorts of conspiracy theories about the nature of the philosopher worms. However, the trox speak the truth when they say the worms loyally serve the benevolent Forever Queen.

Shirrens are second only to trox in their service to philosopher worms.