TEXT: THIS PRODUCT IS 4E COMPATIBLE
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  • Venomous •
  
  Written and Created by
  Aeryn “Blackdirge” Rudel
  Editing/Proofreading
  John Ball
  Playtesting
  Erik Nowak, Jeremy Nowak,  
  Samantha Styles, Christopher Vasey
  Illustrations
  Jesse Mohn and Edward Bourelle
  Graphic Design & Layout
  Erik Nowak
   BLACKDIRGE’S TEMPLATES: VENOMOUS • Published by Blackdirge Publishing, ©2009
  Reference to other copyrighted material in no way constitutes a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material.  
  Blackdirge Publishing and the Blackdirge Publishing logo are trademarks of Aeryn Rudel. All rights reserved.  
  Illustrations are ©2009 Jesse Mohn or Edward Bourelle, as credited. All rights reserved.
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  • venomous •
  
  2
  VENOMOUS 
  TEMPLATE
  Venomous creatures are those that can produce a powerful 
  toxin, used to kill or incapacitate their foes. Most venomous 
  creatures are a rare but natural mutation commonly found 
  among reptilian monsters. They appear in most ways as 
  normal members of their species, but often bear different 
  coloration or distinct markings. In addition, such things as 
  puncturing fangs and a pair of venom sacs behind the jaw  
  are indicative of the creature’s poisonous nature.
  Prerequisites: Beast, humanoid, or magical beast
  Illustrations: Jesse Mohn
  Blackdirge’s Templates: Venomous
  Venomous 
  Elite Lurker or Skirmisher
  Beast, Humanoid, or Magical Beast 
  XP Elite
  Resist 5 poison 
  Level 11: 10 poison 
  Level 21: 15 poison 
  Saving Throws +2
  Action Point 1
  Hit Points +8 per level + Constitution score (skirmisher) or +6 
  per level + Constitution score (lurker)
  Envenomed ✦ Poison 
  A venomous creature’s melee basic attack provokes a 
  secondary attack on a hit. Secondary Attack: Level +3 vs. 
  Fortitude; ongoing poison damage equal to 1 + the 
  venomous creature’s Constitution modiﬁer (save ends).  
  Level 11: Ongoing poison damage equal to 3 + the 
  venomous creature’s Constitution modiﬁer. 
  Level 21: Ongoing poison damage equal to 5 + the 
  venomous creature’s Constitution modiﬁer. 
  R Spew Venom (minor; recharge 56) ✦ Poison 
  Ranged 5; level +3 vs. Reﬂex; 1d6 + Constitution modiﬁer 
  poison damage, and the target is blinded until the end of 
  the venomous creature’s next turn.  
  Level 11: 2d6 + Constitution modiﬁer poison damage.  
  Level 21: 3d6 + Constitution modiﬁer poison damage. 
  Venom Master 
  A venomous creature’s attacks with the poison keyword 
  ignore up to 5 points of its target’s poison resistance.  
  Level 21:  Ignore up to 10 points of poison resistance. 
  Skills Venomous creatures gain training in Stealth
  
  3
  SAMPLE VENOMOUS CREATURES
  Two example monsters created with the venomous template 
  are provided below. (See the D&D 4E Monster Manual) 
  BLIGHTSCALE LANCER
  Certain tribes of lizardfolk are possessed with a rare mutation 
  that allows them to generate a potent toxin in glands behind 
  the jaw. Although this mutation does not occur in every 
  lizardfolk in such a tribe, it is common enough to give such 
  tribes a distinct advantage over their enemies.  
  BLIGHTSCALE LANCER LORE
  Nature DC 15: Blightscale lancers are elite warriors in 
  lizardfolk tribes that bear a rare, venomous mutation. They 
  can generate a potent toxin from venom sacs behind their 
  jaws, and either coat spear and arrowheads with poison or 
  even spit streams of venomous saliva at foes. 
  Nature DC 20: The venom of a blightscale lancer is 
  rumored to be so toxic that even those resistant to poison 
  have little chance of avoiding its dire effects. 
  BLIGHTSCALE LANCER TACTICS 
  A blightscale lancer begins combat by spitting venom at the 
  most likely spellcaster among its foes, hoping to blind such an 
  individual. It then enters melee with its venom-coated spear, 
  targeting the nearest enemy warrior. It uses sidestep attack to set 
  up ﬂanking attacks with allies, and uses its action point when 
  spew venom recharges.
  ENCOUNTER GROUPS 
  Blightscale lancers often lead groups of lizardfolk raiders. 
  They also enjoy the company of other venomous creatures, 
  and frequently keep giant vipers and other poisonous 
  creatures as pets. 
  Level 6 Encounter (XP 1,350) 
   
  • 1 greenscale marsh mystic (level 6 controller)  
   
  • 2 blightscale lancers (level 4 elite skirmisher) 
   
  • 2 deathrattle vipers (level 5 brute)
  Illustration: Edward Bourelle
  Blackdirge’s Templates: Venomous
  Blightscale Lancer 
  Level 4 Elite Skirmisher
  Medium natural humanoid (reptile) 
  XP 350
  Initiative +6  
  Senses Perception +8
  HP 116; Bloodied 58
  AC 18; Fortitude 17, Reflex 14, Will 13
  Resist 5 poison
  Saving Throws +2
  Speed 6 (swamp walk)
  Action Points 1
  m Spear (standard; at-will) ✦ Poison, Weapon 
  +9 vs. AC; 1d8 + 3 damage, and the blightscale lancer makes 
  a secondary attack against the same target. Secondary Attack:  
  +7 vs. Fortitude; ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends).
  M Sidestep Attack (standard; at-will) ✦ Poison, Weapon 
  The blightscale lancer shifts 1 square and makes a melee 
  basic attack.
  R Spew Venom (minor; recharge 56) ✦ Poison 
  Ranged 5; +7 vs. Reﬂex; 1d6 + 4 poison damage, and the 
  target is blinded until the end of the blightscale lancer’s next turn. 
  Venom Master 
  A blightscale lancer’s attacks with the poison keyword 
  ignore up to 5 points of its target’s poison resistance. 
  Alignment Unaligned  
   
  Languages Draconic
  Skills Athletics +10, Nature +8, Stealth +9
  Str 17 (+5)  
  Dex 15 (+4)  
  Wis 12 (+3)
  Con 18 (+6)  
  Int 8 (+1)  
  Cha 8 (+1)
  Equipment light shield, spear
  Description This robust lizard man has deep green scales and a 
  bright red crest with a single yellow eyespot. It grips a crude iron-
  tipped spear and carries a wicker shield. 
  
  4
  SCOURGEWING VROCK
  The unending chaos of the Abyss has given rise to many strange 
  and loathsome creatures, many of which are simply extreme 
  mutations of more common demons. The scourgewing vrock  
  is such a creature, and is typically found on Abyssal layers 
  choked with poisonous gasses or thick with jungles full of 
  venomous creatures. 
  SCOURGEWING VROCK LORE
  Arcana DC 20: Scourgewing vrocks hail from Abyssal 
  layers were venomous creature are common. They are 
  somewhat tougher than standard vrocks, and combine a 
  number of venomous attacks with a vrock’s standard array  
  of offense abilities. A number of demon lords with dominion 
  over poison use scourgewing vrocks as elite skirmishers in 
  their demonic hordes. 
  Arcana DC 25: Scourgewing vrocks have a number of 
  potent venomous attacks. Their long claws can inject poison 
  directly into an enemy’s ﬂesh, and they can vomit forth a 
  stream of poisonous bile that both blinds and envenoms. 
  SCOURGEWING VROCK TACTICS 
  A scourgewing vrock prefers to attack from the air, using 
  ﬂyby attack to rake enemies with its venomous claws. It 
  targets spellcaster and enemies with ranged attacks with spew 
  venom while in the air. When forced to enter melee on the 
  ground, the scourgewing vrock begins combat with stunning 
  screech, and then spends an action point to rip into the 
  nearest enemy with its claws.  
  ENCOUNTER GROUPS 
  Scourgewing vrocks are often encountered with other 
  poisonous creatures, and may lead groups of common  
  vrocks in demonic hordes. 
  Level 14 Encounter (XP 5,200) 
   
  • 1 scourgewing vrock (level 13 elite skirmisher)  
   
  • 1 medusa warrior (level 13 elite soldier) 
   
  • 2 medusa archers (level 10 elite artillery)
  Blackdirge’s Templates: Venomous
  Scourgewing Vrock Level 13 Elite Skirmisher
  Large elemental humanoid (demon) 
  XP 1,600
  Initiative +12  
  Senses Perception +13; darkvision
  HP 268; Bloodied 134; see also spores of madness
  AC 27; Fortitude 25, Reﬂex 23, Will 23
  Resist 10 poison, 10 variable (2/encounter; see glossary)
  Saving Throws +2
  Speed 6, ﬂy 8; see also ﬂyby attack
  Action Points 1
  m Claw (standard; at-will) ✦ Poison 
  Reach 2; +18 vs. AC; 2d8 + 6 damage, and the 
  scourgewing vrock makes a secondary attack on the same 
  target. Secondary Attack: +16 vs. Fortitude; ongoing 9 
  poison damage (save ends).
  M Flyby Attack (standard; at-will) 
  The vrock ﬂies up to 8 squares and makes one claw attack 
  at any point during that movement. The vrock doesn’t 
  provoke opportunity attacks when moving away from the 
  target of the attack.
  R Spew Venom (minor; recharge 56) ✦ Poison 
  Ranged 5; +16 vs. Reﬂex; 2d6 + 6 poison damage and the 
  target is blinded until the end of the scourgewing vrock’s 
  next turn. 
  c Stunning Screech (standard; recharge 6) 
  Close burst 3; deafened creatures are immune; +17 vs. 
  Fortitude; the target is stunned until the end of the 
  scourgewing vrock’s next turn.
  c Spores of Madness (free, when ﬁrst bloodied; encounter)  
  ✦ Poison 
  Close burst 2; demons are immune; +16 vs. Will; 1d10 + 4 
  poison damage, and the target is dazed (save ends).
  Venom Master 
  A scourgewing vrock’s attacks with the poison keyword 
  ignore up to 5 points of its target’s poison resistance. 
  Alignment Chaotic evil 
   
  Languages Abyssal
  Skills Bluff +15, Insight +13, Stealth +15
  Str 23 (+12)  
  Dex 19 (+10)  
  Wis 15 (+8)
  Con 22 (+12)  
  Int 12 (+7)  
  Cha 19 (+10)
  Description This horriﬁc avian monster stands upright on two 
  powerful, bird-like legs, and is covered in virulent green feathers. 
  Its hands and feet are both equipped with long, ripping talons, 
  and its vulture-like head feature a sharp, tearing beak. 
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/3rd Party/4th Edition/Blackdirge Publishing/Blackdirges Bargain Templates - Venomous.pdf