Symbiont, Living Breastplate

Initially, this odd creature could be mistaken for an overgrown mollusk, but as it shifts and slithers, it is clear that the shell is made of disjointed parts and the center of the body is hollow. Upon closer examination, the shells fit the pattern of the hard plates of armor and the interior is covered in thousands of wiggling tendrils.

Symbiont, Living Breastplate

CR 5

XP: 50

LE Small Aberration (Symbiont)

Init: -1; Senses: Darkvision 60'; Perception +15

DEFENSE:

AC: 21, Touch 12, Flat-Footed 20 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +1 natural, +8 armor)

HP: 77 hp (10d8+22)

Fort: +7; Ref: +4; Will: +9

DR: 10 / byeshk

OFFENSE:

Speed: 5 ft

Melee: Bite +5 (1d6-2)

Space: 5 ft.; Reach: 0 ft.

STATISTICS:

Str 6, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 15, Chr 14

Base Atk: +7; CMB: +4; CMD: 16

Feats: Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Skill Focus (Stealth), Toughness

Skills: Escape Artist +14, Knowledge (Planes) +13, Perception +15, Stealth +18

Languages: Does not speak, but understands Undercommon and Daelkyr.

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

As One (Ex): See Symbionts for details.

Attachment (Ex): Living breastplates deal 1 point of permanent Strength damage.

Collective Ego: Living breastplates have an Ego Score of 16, as per the symbiont sub-type. Unless created otherwise, living breastplates are always lawful evil and are always in the service of the daelkyr lords of Xoriat. Anyone that touches the living breastplate is subject to the effect of it's Ego score, not just those that are wearing it. Those that fall victim to the effect are commanded to immediately put on the Living Breastplate.

Item Slot (Ex): Living breastplates attach to the armor slot.

Host Benefits:

Armor (Ex): When the living breastplate is worn, the host is considered to be wearing medium armor with a +8 armor bonus, an Armor Check penalty of -1, spell failure chance of 15%, no reduction in speed and a maximum Dexterity bonus of +5. The wearer is automatically proficient with the Living Breastplate. While worn, the living breastplate is considered to take up the armor slot.

Damage Reduction (Ex): When the living breastplate is worn, the host also gains damage reduction of 10 / byeshk.

Enhance Constitution (Su): When the living breastplate is worn, the host also gains a +4 enhancement bonus to their Constitution score.

Light Fortification (Ex): When the living breastplate is worn, the host gains Light Fortification, as per the armor enchantment of the same name.

Stabilization (Ex): When the living breastplate is worn and the host drops below 0 hit points, the living breastplate will automatically stabilize the host as an immediate action by dealing 1 point of Strength damage. The host will do this automatically without any action from the host and regardless of the host's intention or desire.

Telepathy (Su): A living breastplate can communicate telepathically with its host, if the host has a language.

ECOLOGY:

Environment: Underground

Organization: Solitary

Treasure: None

Role: None

Source: ECB, pg. 299

Living breastplates are one of the pinnacle examples of daelkyr fleshcrafting. It is said that these creatures were once actual mollusks or crustaceans that were warped and re-purposed into armor. Whether or not the daelkyr knew that their opposition, the hobgoblins of the Dhakkani, often claimed the armor of their victims and thus were easy prey to the telepathic presence of the living breastplate is unknown, but assumed to be true. The Living Breastplate is based on a Mithral Breastplate +2 of Light Fortificaiton with a combined Belt of Mighty Constitution +4 and a permanent Stoneskin effect, altered to be overcome by byeshk, increased Wisdom and Charisma scores and an at-will Stabilize effect, as per intelligent magical items.

Construction:

Aura: Overwhelming Transmutation; CL: 20th

Slot: Armor; Rules: Symbionts Price: 187,400 gp

Construction Requirement: Craft Symbiont, Bear's Endurance, Magic Vestment, Polymorph Any Object, Stabilize, Stoneskin, Stabilize

Construction Cost: 93,700 gp