The Athasian Elemental Planes Part Ten: New Paraelemental Creatures

Magma Brute
The magma brute is a native of the Paraelemental Plane of Magma. It appears as a rough man-shaped creature with no neck and a single tentacle arm. Magma brutes are not very intelligent, but greatly enjoy burning and melting things
It walks and swims through the plane of magma, melting anything that has not already been consumed by the plane. They also happily fight against earth and fire forces in the elemental war.
When attacking, the magma brute whips its foes with its tentacled arm, inflicting 2d8 damage. The Magma Brute can also hurl a ball of magma up to 100 feet. Creature's hit by the ball of magma take 2d6+2 points of damage. Every creature adjacent to a struck victim takes 1d6 damage, unless a saving throw versus breath weapon is successful.
Magma brutes cause 1d4 heat damage to all creatures adjacent to it. In addition, wooden weapons burst into flame if they make contact with the brute's body.

Magma Brute
Climate/Terrain: Paraelemental Plane of Magma
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Ash
Intelligence: Semi- (2-4)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 2
Movement: 12
Hit Dice: 6+3
Thac0: 15
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attacks: 2-16
Special Attack: Magma Ball
Special Defense: Immune to Magma, Half Damage from Fire
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: M (6' long)
Morale: Elite (13-14)
XP Value: 1,400

Feathered Viper
The feathered viper is a native of the Paraelemental Plane of Rain. It appears as a green-blue feathered snake with large feathered wings and a feathered tuft at the end of its tail. The feathered viper has an improved sense of smell and can find prey in near total darkness.
It flies through the plane, hunting birds and other small flying creatures. It serves the paraelemental lords and high level rain paraelemental priests.
The feathered viper bites its foes, inflicting 2d6 damage. In addition, the feathered viper has a breath weapon attack. This breath weapon is a 5' wide lightning bolt that streaks 60' in a straight line from the beast's mouth. The damage of this lightning bolt is 3d6 to all creatures caught in the stream. Victims may save vs. breath weapon for half damage. The beast must wait 1d4 rounds between breath weapon attacks.

Feathered Viper
Climate/Terrain: Paraelemental Plane of Rain
Frequency: Very Rare
Organization: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Carnivore
Intelligence: Low (5-7)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 2
Movement: 12, fl16 (B)
Hit Dice: 5+5
Thac0: 16
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attacks: 2-12
Special Attack: Breath Weapon
Special Defense: Immune to Lightning
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: L (12' long)
Morale: Elite (13-14)
XP Value: 975

Silt Maggot
The silt maggot is a native of the Paraelemental Plane of Silt. It appears as a brownish-green worm with tentacles at its mouth and two large mandibles. The silt maggot has horrible smelling breath. Silt maggots are blind, but have excellent hearing, so do not have blind fighting penalties.
It half swims, half flies through the plane, devouring everything it can. It enjoys feasting on carrion most of all. Silt maggots bite their prey for 2d6+2 points of damage.
The silt maggot's breath weapon is a cloud of noxious acidic gas. The cloud is 25 feet long, 15 feet high, and 20 feet wide. Creature's caught in the cloud suffer 1d8+4 points of acid damage. Creatures may save vs breath weapon for half damage. In addition, those in the cloud must save vs poison, or be sickened for 1d4 rounds. Sickened characters suffer a -2 penalty to all actions due to retching. After using their breath weapon, the silt maggot must wait 1d4 rounds before using it again.

Silt Maggot
Climate/Terrain: Paraelemental Plane of Silt
Frequency: Uncommon
Organization: Solitary or Pack
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Carnivore
Intelligence: Animal (1)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 2
Movement: 12
Hit Dice: 6+3
Thac0: 16
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attacks: 4-14
Special Attack: Breath Weapon
Special Defense: Immune to silt/sand attacks.
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: M (7' long)
Morale: Elite (13-14)
XP Value: 975

Sun Terror
The sun terror is a bizarre creature that is a native to the Paraelemental Plane of Sun. It appears roughly humanoid in shape with a head of solar fire. Sun terrors cause 1d6 heat damage to all creatures adjacent to it. They attack prey with their sun hot claws, scratching for 2d8+2 damage.
It hops and runs through the plane, burning everything flammable. It gladly fights in the elemental war and sometimes serves as assassins for high level sun priests.
The sun terror can shoot a solar ray from its head at a range of 120 feet. This ray fires in a 5 foot wide straight line and effects all targets in its path. A sufficiently strong, non-flammable barrier can block the ray. The ray does 2d6+4 points of damage to each target, unless a saving throw vs breath weapon is successful. A successful save indicates half damage.

Sun Terror
Climate/Terrain: Paraelemental Plane of Sun
Frequency: Uncommon
Organization: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Solar Rays
Intelligence: Semi (2-4)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 2
Movement: 15
Hit Dice: 6+4
Thac0: 15
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attacks: 4-18
Special Attack: Solar Flare
Special Defense: Immune to Fire Damage
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: M (6' tall)
Morale: Elite (13-14)
XP Value: 1,400

The Athasian Elemental Planes Part Ten: New Elemental Creatures

Hainu
The hainu is a native of the Elemental Plane of Air. It appears as a brown dog with feathered wings on its back. Hainu have incredible senses of smell and can find prey easily in total darkness.
It flies through the plane, hunting birds and other small flying creatures. It serves the elemental lords and high level air elemental priests.
The hainu's breath weapon is an icy blast of air that is 70 feet long, 15 feet high, and 15 feet wide. Creature's caught in the blast suffer 2d6 +2 points of damage from cold and flying ice crystals. Creatures may save vs breath weapon for half damage. After using their breath weapon, the hainu must wait 1d4 rounds before using it again.

Hainu
Climate/Terrain: Elemental Plane of Air
Frequency: Very Rare
Organization: Solitary or Pack
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Carnivore
Intelligence: Animal (1)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
No. Appearing: 1-8
Armor Class: 2
Movement: 14, fl16 (B)
Hit Dice: 5+3
Thac0: 16
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attacks: 1-8
Special Attack: Breath Weapon
Special Defense: Immune to Cold
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: M (4' long)
Morale: Elite (13-14)
XP Value: 650

Burrower
The burrower is a native of the Elemental Plane of Earth. It appears as a fanged and horned brown worm, with a purple underside. The burrower has no eyes, but can sense vibrations on/in the ground. As such, it has a difficult time attacking flying creatures.
Burrowers dig through the plane of earth, searching for things to eat and doing the bidding of the elemental lords and high level earth elemental priests.
The burrower's breath weapon is a 5' wide stream of acid that extends 30' in a straight line from the burrower's head. Creature's caught in the line suffer 2d6 +1 points of damage, in addition, any of the creature's equipment caught in the stream must save vs. acid or be destroyed. Creatures may save vs breath weapon for half damage. After using their breath weapon, the burrower must wait 1d4 rounds before using it again.

Climate/Terrain: Elemental Plane of Earth
Frequency: Very Rare
Organization: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Carnivore
Intelligence: Animal (1)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 2
Movement: 12, bw12
Hit Dice: 5+3
Thac0: 16
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attacks: 2-12
Special Attack: Breath Weapon
Special Defense: Immune to Acid
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: M (7' long)
Morale: Elite (13-14)
XP Value: 650

The Athasian Elemental Planes Part Nine: The Plane of Sun

The Paraelemental Plane of Sun

The dark crimson sun drifts lazily through the emerald sky, baking the soil of Athas. The sun scorches all it touches and increases the paraelementals power. Only clouds decrease the power of the plane of sun and those are exceptionally rare.
The Paraelemental Lords of Sun were the first lords to seek the total destruction of the planes of air and fire, convincing the lords of magma and silt to join them. Over the millennia, the plane of sun changed from an intensely hot, active blue, to a cooler, lazy yellow, and it is now a cool, crazed crimson. The sun lords are in constant plain, freezing and driven mad by the outside forces that changed them.

Hazards

Unprotected visitors to the Paraelemental Plane of Sun are instantly burned to ash. Even the darkest areas of the plane are over a hundred times hotter than the hottest Athasian day. In addition, the air is toxic and the plane has no surface to stand upon. The plane is a gigantic sphere that has a center and inner layers, but no outer boundary.
The Paraelemental Plane of Sun is divided into seven layers. In the very center of the plane is the core, with the other layers forming concentric spheres around it. Most of the planes natural inhabitants live on the fifth, sixth, and seventh layers of the plane. Moving between the layers is obvious, as pressure, gravity, and heat increase or decrease noticeably.
Interestingly, the inhabitants of the Paraelemental Plane of Sun will not go out of their way to attack visitors. They do not fear invasion and see visitors as curiosities at best. They're winning the Elemental War and are confident in their eventual success.

The Athasian Elemental Planes Part Eight: The Plane of Silt

The Paraelemental Plane of Silt

The Silt Sea is an outward manifestation of the power that silt has on Athas. Silt chokes the air and erodes the land and it's spreading across the face of the Tablelands, determined to grind everything into dust. The Plane itself is an endless silt storm that chokes any breathing creature caught in it.
It is whispered that the Paraelemental Plane of Silt was once the Paraelemental Plane of Mud, but there hasn't been enough moisture to sustain it for thousands of years. It is said that the loss of moisture drove the lords of mud, now silt, mad and that is why they seek to destroy everything in their path. Whatever the plane used to be, it is now an open, empty place, swept with dry winds and scouring grains of silt.

Hazards

Visitors will find that the Paraelemental Plane of Silt is very dangerous. There is air to breath, but it is so choked with silt and dust that it is not breathable. The silt also abrades the visitors skin and leaves them a bloody mess. The Paraelemental Plane of Silt is unwelcoming and unforgiving.

The Athasian Elemental Planes Part Seven: The Plane of Rain

The Paraelemental Plane of Rain

The minuscule amount of rain that falls on the face of Athas is a welcome site to all. The endless green sky of the Paraelemental Plane of Rain was once filled with clouds that poured rain into each other. Like the endless skies of the Elemental Plane of Air, there is no end to the plane. Dark clouds drift through the sky, pouring out water and sending out flashes of lightning.
Once, these storm clouds filled the endless sky and soaked travelers to the bone. The clouds crackled with lightning and roared with thunder. The entire plane was one giant storm. Now, the plane is more empty sky than dark clouds. The rain still comes, but it is more of a drizzle than a downpour. Lightning less commonly crashes between the clouds and when thunder rings out, it sounds like a lament for what once was.

Hazards

Visitors will find that the Paraelemental Plane of Rain is very welcoming. There is air to breath and, while the temperature is warm, it is not too hot. However, visitors much be weary of lightning storms and boiling hot rain

The Athasian Elemental Planes Part Six: The Plane of Magma

The Paraelemental Plane of Magma

A churning mass of molten stone forms an ocean of lava that spews acid and poison into the air. Jagged crags made of obsidian and basalt rise out of the magma and reach for the endless toxic sky. Anyone who travels to this plane unprepared will not live long to regret it.
Long ago, the Paraelemental Plane of Magma was small and lazily drifted toward the Planes of Earth and Fire. The inhabitants of the plane were content to wade and swim leisurely through the molten stone. Now, huge storms that form cyclones of magma and acid rain rage across the plane; while the inhabitants of the plane howl in madness and cry for the destruction of all that will feed their plane.

Hazards

The largest pits of lava on Athas cannot compare to the destructive might of the Paraelemental Plane of Magma. The heat and pressure of the liquid stone are sure to burn and crush anything that enters it. A simple protection from fire spell would not protect a visitor from the crushing pressure or toxic gas.

The Athasian Elemental Planes Part Five: The Plane of Water

Symbol by Vedeskaja.

The Elemental Plane of Water

It is very difficult for a vast majority of Athasians to imagine an infinite amount of water. There is no surface or floor on the Elemental Plane of Water, just endless water. During their entire life, most Athasians might see a barrel of water that holds tens of gallons, or an underground cistern that holds hundreds, but the idea of endless water is often unfathomable.
Once, the water of the Plane of Water was cool and fresh. Some areas were salty, but some creatures preferred it. The plane was rich in nutrients and oxygen for the creatures living there. Now, much of the Plane of Water is fouled by mud and gives no life giving oxygen to its inhabitants. The endless sea has also lost nearly all of its coolness and there are huge portions of it that have become too hot to live in.

Hazards

Visitors with the right magic or psionics and the ability to swim will find the Elemental Plane of Water one of the most hospitable elemental planes. However, with the degradation of the plane and the constant bombardment of the forces of the Paraelemental Plane of Silt, the Plane of Water is becoming more and more hazardous.

The Athasian Elemental Planes Part Four: The Plane of Fire

Symbol by Vedeskaja.

The Elemental Plane of Fire

Death awaits any traveler who comes to the Elemental Plane of Fire unprepared. This plane is destruction incarnate and destroys anything that comes to it without adequate protection. The plane appears as a burning ocean of liquid fire under a sky of flame.
Once, the flames were a plethora of different colors, such as red, orange, and white, the colors were based upon how hot they burned. Now, the flames are almost universally red. They are still hot enough to cook a visitor, but not always hot enough to melt copper or iron. The flame that makes up the plane grow colder as the Plane of Fire slowly becomes super heated air, or molten slag.

Hazards

You'd have to be pretty thick headed to think that the Elemental Plane of Fire is a safe place. This plane hungrily consumes all it touches, fire rules supreme here. If a thing can burn, it burns immediately upon entering the plane. Even some things that normally can’t burn do so in certain places on the Elemental Plane of Fire. Visitors traveling here unprotected suffer damage just by being on the plane. Worse, travelers have to figure out some way to breathe fire or they’ll suffocate faster than they’ll burn to death.

Avasori - Ruvoka of Athas

The Avasori are ruvoka from the Elemental Plane of Water. They travel the planes easily, but on Athas they are bound to certain locations. They often work with druids. It is said druids who reach 18th-level or higher can become an avasori. Avasori have their own language, but with other intelligent beings use a limited form of telepathy.
Avasori have blue or blue-green skin, webbed hands and feet, pointed ears, and white or black hair. When engaged in combat, the Avasori wear coral, leather (crafted from a sea creature), or no armor. They use long daggers or harpoons that are generally enhanced with elemental water magic.

Stats after the jump.

The Athasian Elemental Planes Part Three: The Plane of Earth

Symbol by Vedeskaja.

The Elemental Plane of Earth

Aarakocra would go mad on the Elemental Plane of Earth. The only way to get around is through tunnels and not many of them are very wide. Anyone even slightly claustrophobic wouldn't be able to stand the enclosed earthen walls.
That is not to say that the Plane of Earth is nothing but unyielding rock, there is variation. Every type of stone and dirt can be found here. Of course there's granite, slate, and sandstone; but there's also marble, pumice, and obsidian. There's even soil that is so rich, the plants on Athas could thrive on it for a millennia. Of course that soil is slowly being replaced by dead, dry dust, or is being melted into molten slag.

Hazards

If a traveler is not claustrophobic, the Elemental Plane of Earth is not too difficult to traverse; as long as one is willing to dig. Also, a visitor would have to bring their own source of air, as the Elemental Plane of Earth does not have native air to breathe. On top of that, the Plane of Earth actively tries to fill in the tunnels that are made through it. Tunnels will eventually close at a rate of one foot per Athasian day. Anyone trapped in a closing tunnel will be crushed by the earth of the plane itself and take 1d2 points of damage per round. It is possible to prevent the plane from closing these tunnels, but only the natives of the plane know the secret.

The Athasian Elemental Planes Part Two: The Plane of Air

Symbol by Vedeskaja.

The Elemental Plane of Air 

Ancient writings say the Elemental Plane of Air was once clear and pure. That gentle breezes were common and the air was fresh and clean. They mention clouds rolling through the emerald skies, some even say the sky used to be blue. Today, the Elemental Plane of Air is much different.
Now, the air is stale and dry. Dust swirls through the plane and clouds are as rare as a cool breeze. While it is unlikely a traveler will suffocate, the air in the Elemental Plane is not as refreshing as it once may have been.
All natives of the Elemental Plane of Air have geared their societies and themselves in the battle for their home. This Elemental War rages across all Elemental and Paraelemental Planes. This war has been raging for untold millennia and is not going well for the Elemental Plane of Air.

Hazards

Even though the Elemental Plane of Air is stale and listless, it is still the most inhabitable Elemental Plane for Athasian travelers. The most common dangers a visitor can expect, besides the inhabitants of the Plane itself, are storms, heat waves, and black blizzards. Storms are becoming more uncommon as the plane slowly gives way to the Planes of Sun and Silt. Heat waves and black blizzards are growing in regularity and strength.

The Athasian Elemental Planes Part One

The Elemental Planes of Dark Sun.

The Elemental Planes of Athas are separate from the Elemental Planes in the rest of the Multiverse. This series of articles will attempt to explain the differences and give dungeon masters some ideas, as their players characters take part in the battle for the survival of all creation.

The Elemental Planes are the physical, tangible, material that birthed Athas and all of its creations. Due to the tampering of defilers, life-shapers, and nature benders some of the elemental planes have been altered. Possibly forever.
When most Athasian residents think of the elemental planes, they often only think of just the four elemental planes. They picture the raging inferno of the Elemental Plane of Fire or the endless emerald skies of the Elemental Plane of Air. They envision the unfathomable depths of the Elemental Plane of Water and the crushing stones of the Elemental Plane of Earth. Such thinking is limited in scope, for there is a lot more to the Elemental Planes than these four.
The Elemental Planes are very different from Athas itself. Everything in the Elemental Planes appears and feels more real. The Elemental Planes are raw, powerful, and deadly. They care little for the inhabitants of Athas, save those who can help or harm the planes themselves.
The Elemental Planes consist of four major planes and four minor ones. The major planes are the elemental planes of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. The four minor planes are the paraelemental planes of Silt, Sun, Magma, and Rain. Although they are called minor, it does not mean the power in those planes is weaker than the major planes.

Elemental Lords, Living Vortices, and Sorcerer Kings

This is the history of Athas from the point of view of the elemental lords.

The elemental planes; earth, air, fire, and water, have existed since time began. The inhabitants of these realms are elementals, they can be both powerful and feeble. They were born of the substance that surrounded them and made up their homes. They battled each other for dominance for countless millennia and these clashes created the battlegrounds of the paraelemental planes, magma, sun, rain, and mud.
Then something happened that they did not expect, the paraelemental planes gave birth to their own forms of life. These paraelementals were not as powerful as their elemental cousins, but they were recruited as fodder for the elemental wars, lead by genies and other true elementals. As time passed, the paraelementals grew in power and intelligence. They threw off the yoke of the elementals and began warring with them.
These battles caused the combatant's respective elements to drift into the prime material plane as scattered matter. These pieces of matter did not concern the elementals, for their planes were vast and endless. However, a powerful sun paraelemental visited the prime material plane and used the pieces of scattered matter to create an azure orb of pure paraelemental sun.

"He looks better in red." - River Tam

This organized sun matter imbued the paraelemental and the paraelemental plane with even greater power, creating the first paraelemental lord. The other elementals saw what the paraelemental had done and were quick to organize their own matter on the material plane. For the first time since time began, the elementals stopped fighting and began working together to organize the matter in the universe. Water, air, and earth quickly worked together in the process of creation, with fire joining them reluctantly later.

The culmination of their joint efforts was the creation of a world with living things. Plants and animals thrived, each imbued with a little of each of the four main elements and some with portions of the paraelements as well. There was no sentient life on the prime material plane, as the elemental lords had no reason to create it.
One day, things changed. The elemental lords noticed other creatures encroaching into their domain. They quickly sealed off these entrances, but allowed a small group of these curious creatures to live on one of their creations. The creatures were small and, when compared to the elemental lords, weak. Once the inhabitants discovered they could not return to their homes, they settled and adapted. Some of these inhabitants, who called themselves Halflings, discovered the presence of the elemental lords are offered their servitude in exchange for small portions of the elemental's power. The Halfling's named the world they lived on Athas, which meant "joy or gladness" in their ancient tongue.

Greater Paraelemental of Rain

Second edition AD&D failed to make paraelementals for Dark Sun, so I will be creating some. I started with the lesser paraelementals and now it is time to end with the greater paraelemental of rain. I hope they were found useful.  Feedback is welcome.

Rain Elemental by HoiHoiSan

 Stats after the jump.

Greater Paraelemental of Sun

Second edition AD&D failed to make paraelementals for Dark Sun, so I will be creating some. I started with the lesser paraelementals and now it is time to introduce the greater paraelemental of sun. Feedback is welcome.

I got six at the sun stare.

Stats after the jump.

Greater Paraelemental of Magma

Second edition AD&D failed to make paraelementals for Dark Sun, so I will be creating some. I started with the lesser paraelementals and now it is time to introduce the greater paraelementals. Feedback is welcome.

"Burn everything! Magma for life!"

Stats after the jump.

Greater Paraelemental of Silt

Second edition AD&D failed to make paraelementals for Dark Sun, so I will be creating some. I started with the lesser paraelementals and now it is time to introduce the greater paraelementals. Feedback is welcome.

Feel the power of the Silt!

Stats after the jump.

Paraelemental of Rain

Second edition AD&D failed to make paraelementals for Dark Sun, so I will be creating some. I've decided to start with the lesser paraelementals and eventually get to the greater paraelementals.
I've posted all of the lesser paraelementals, so now I'm moving on to the full paraelementals. Feedback is welcome.

Rain Elemental by HoiHoiSan

 Stats after the jump.

Paraelemental of Sun

Second edition AD&D failed to make paraelementals for Dark Sun, so I will be creating some. I've decided to start with the lesser paraelementals and eventually get to the greater paraelementals.
I've posted all of the lesser paraelementals, so now I'm moving on to the full paraelementals. Feedback is welcome.

Goodness, Gracious...

Stats after the jump.

Paraelemental of Magma

This is the only official paraelemental that TSR created. It comes from a Planescape Montrous Compendium. I will make minor tweaks to fit with the setting, but it is basically copied from official sources.

"I'm official!"

Stats after the jump.