Q 189: I remember seeing a monster that was shaped like a sword. I've been trying to track it down, but the only monster name that comes up is xaver. The description of xaver sounds right, but when I try to find out what book it's in, the only things that come up are very old sources I've never laid eyes on. Where have I seen this creature?
The creature catalog. The site seems to be having problems right now, but here is the direct link to a PDF of the converted monster stats:
creaturecatalog.enworld.org/converted/pdf/aberration/xaver.pdf
And here is the text:
[spoiler]Xaver
Small Aberration
HD: 3d8+6 (19 hp)
Init: +3 (Dex)
Speed: 20 ft
AC: 22 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +8 natural)
Attacks: Blade +6 melee
Damage: Blade 1d4+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: Metal corrosion
Special Qualities: SR 20, darkvision 90 ft,
immunities, cold vulnerability
Saves: Fort +3 Ref +4 Will +3
Abilities: Str 12 Dex 17 Con 15 Int 11 Wis 11
Chr 10
Skills: Hide +13, Jump +7, Move Silently +12,
Search +5, Spot +5
Feats: Weapon Finesse (blade)
Climate: Any land and underground
Organization: Solitary or family (2-4)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always lawful neutral
Advancement: 4-6 HD (Small); 7--9 HD
(Medium-size)
Xaver are curious little creatures shaped like
bladed weapons, that corrode metal in a similar
manner to rust monsters. A xaver?s diet consists
entirely of rust from ferrous metals and alloys,
including iron, steel, mithral, and adamantine.
They are more intelligent than rust monsters,
and will not ignore a tasty meal like a suit of
armor or pile of weapons for a mere snack like a
handful of spikes or nails.
A xaver looks exactly like a sword, usually a
short sword or longsword. Their hard, silvery
bodies have a smooth metallic appearance to
them, and are flat and tapered to a point on the
upper end. The other end of the monster is
bulbous and resembles the handle of a blade,
which is set with six faceted green eyes that
resemble tiny gems. The hilt-like end has 8-inch
long retractable worm-like legs, set between
each eye, on which the creature scuttles about,
and can retract them with lightning speed to
hide from danger. It has no senses of hearing or
smell, but its eyes provide it with darkvision and
normal vision. Xavers give off no body heat or
sounds, and do not breathe in the same manner
as most living creatures do, absorbing solar heat
and gases through the bladelike part of its body.
Xavers prefer rocky, even mountainous lairs.
Sometimes they lair in a large treasure hoard,
such as that of a dragon, abandoning it when
they have eaten all the digestible metal. They
have no treasure of their own, but they are
often found among treasure. They live for
centuries, and can go for years on end without
eating, so they are not aggressive hunters.
Xavers are solitary by nature, but not territorial
and never fight each other for any reason.
COMBAT
Xavers can lie motionless as other creatures
approach, looking like an inert weapon, then
attack when characters carrying lots of metal
come near. They cut with their razor sharp
edges, swinging their bodies in a series of wild,
circular slashes that form a battle dance.
Metal Corrosion (Ex): A xaver causes ferrous
metal to corrode instantly on a touch. If a xaver
scores a successful melee hit on a metal weapon
or item, or if the item otherwise comes into
contact with the xaver, the item will crack and
fall into many tiny useless metallic shards, which
the creature will attempt to eat. A xaver cannot
control this power, but can choose not to touch
metallic items.
Immunities (Ex): Metal of any sort passes
harmlessly through a xaver as if the creature did
not exist, and therefore metal weapons cannot
harm a xaver. Arrows and metal-tipped spears
will still harm a xaver as it will take bludgeoning
damage from being struck by the wood, but the
metal itself will cause no damage.
Heat and electricity do not harm a xaver, but its
metallic body can conduct this energy to any
beings touching it. They are totally unaffected
by any sort of poison or venom.
Cold Vulnerability (Ex): Xavers are
particularly vulnerable to cold-based attacks,
and receive a -4 penalty on saves against cold-
based effects.
Skills: Xaver receive a +8 racial bonus to Move
Silently checks.
1986 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Originally found in Dragon #94[/spoiler]
