My Dad’s Monster Manual – Purple Worm

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The work on My Dad’s Monster Manual continues. You can check out all the previews on this blog here. There are also a few on my Patreon!

Today I wanted to show off my father’s version of the purple worm, which is far more than a monster. This giant creature is the doorway to another world!

Keylog (Purple Worm)

These artists do like spikey spiked teeth and stuff, don’t they?

Lucian J. Introcaso

Keylogs are enormous worms nearly fifty feet long with giant, gaping mouths and spiked hides that shift between all the colors of the rainbow.

Portal Gullets. Keylogs are native to the Astral Plane, though they sometimes pass through gateways into another world. Like their home plane, the inside of a keylog is filled with swirling, colorful portals. When the worm swallows another creature whole, that creature falls into one of the portals and is sent to another plane of existence. Daring adventurers seek out keylogs to travel the planes but must be aim carefully. Those who miss their desired portal are sure to fall into another.

Seeking Restless Souls. Restless souls in need of a change or a challenge draw keylogs like flames draw moths. Though they do not possess a vast intellect, the worms can innately sense such creatures and swallow them whole, shaking up their existence as the creatures travel to another plane.

Spine Missiles and Tail Slaps. The bite of a keylog does not hurt as much as one might think, but the creature can shoot the spines from its body and smack its tail with devastating effect.

Keylog

Gargantuan aberration, chaotic neutral


Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

Hit Points 217 (14d8 + 70)

Speed 50 ft., burrow 30 ft., fly 120 ft.


STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
26 (+8) 10 (+0) 20 (+5) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)

Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +9, Wis +4, Cha +3

Senses darkvision 120 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., passive Perception 11

Languages

Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)


Banish Immune. The keylog is not affected by spells of 8th-level or lower that send creatures to other planes of existence, unless it wishes to be.

Magic Resistance. The keylog has has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack. The keylog makes two attacks with its tail or uses Spike Hurl twice.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: The target is sent to a plane of existence on the Astral Color Pools table in chapter 2 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. The target must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, roll randomly on the table to determine which plane the target goes to. On a success, allow the target to pick which plane it goes to.

Spike Hurl. Ranged Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, range 120/480 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (4d6 + 8) piercing damage.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 26 (4d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage.

Coming Soon to DMs Guild

Great news! More than 80 stat blocks inspired by my dad’s version of D&D creatures should be hitting the DMs Guild sometime this Summer. In the meantime, keep checking back here for previews of My Dad’s Monster Manual!

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