Protean, Rifti

Rifti CR 1

XP 400
CN Tiny outsider (chaotic, extraplanar, protean, shapechanger)
Init +4; Senses blindsense (vibration) 30 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5

DEFENSE

HP 16
EAC 12; KAC 12
Fort +3; Ref +3; Will +3
Defensive Abilities amorphous; Immunities random energy

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft. (Su, perfect)
Melee bite +5 (1d4 plus confusion)
Ranged random energy ray +5 (1d4+1 random type)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st)

1/day—mind thrust (DC 14)
3/day—holographic image (DC 14)
At will—ghost sound (DC 13), psychokinetic hand, token spell

STATISTICS

Str -3; Dex +4; Con +1; Int -1; Wis +0; Cha +2
Skills Acrobatics +10 (+18 to fly), Bluff +5
Languages Common, Protean
Other Abilities fleeting, shifting form

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Confusion (Su) A creature damaged by the rifti’s bite attack must succeed at a DC 12 Will save (14 on a critical hit) or become confused for 1 round.

Fleeting (Ex) The chaotic energies that create a rifti degrade, and most riftis cease to exist within 1d100 hours of forming. However, some individuals live much longer.

Random Energy (Su) A rifti’s unstable shape grants it fluctuating energy attacks and immunities. Each round, to determine which energy applies, roll 1d8: 1–2 acid, 3–4 electricity, 5–6 sonic, 7 cold, 8 fire.

Shifting Form (Su) A rifti’s shape shifts each time it takes a turn. The rifti might look like other Tiny creatures, but it can resemble objects, abstract energies, or shards of matter. These changes don’t affect the rifti’s statistics.

ECOLOGY

Environment any (Maelstrom)
Organization solitary, pair, or muddle (3–13)

Riftis arise from entropic energies released in the Maelstrom or by planar travel, such as the plane shift spell or faulty interplanar portals. They usually exist only briefly and form groups, most often with other riftis born at the same time. Drift engines are shielded against releasing energies that birth riftis, but a defective or damaged engine can cause a starship passing between the Drift and the Material Plane to become home to cackling, cavorting riftis.

A rifti’s “normal” body is like a four-armed serpent. However, riftis shift form without control. The chaotic little creatures revel in this novelty, enhancing changes with illusions, strange noises, and token spell effects to make their surroundings more surreal. A typical rifti’s body pops like a bubble after mere days.

Equally unstable is a rifti’s personality. A rifti that meets other creatures might do anything, changing its mind from moment to moment. It’s possible to reason with a rifti, but any agreements rarely last long.