[MW Batch 2] Volcore - CR 13 Huge Ooze

Fire, Underdark, Ooze, Legendary

“Alright lads, ye know the drill! When we go in ta slay this beastie, we strike hard an’ fast. Leave it completely non-pulsed."

"Er… Sorry, boss. D’ye mean nonplussed?"

"Nay."

— Rallying speech by Ari Timya, Leader of the Heartbreakers

Volcores are natural disasters given form—volcanic oozes with an explosive temper and an insatiable need to continuously grow. Though they wield the power to create and destroy in equal measure, they indulge far more readily in the latter, reshaping entire landscapes with earthquakes, landslides, and relentless eruptions. A single one of these creatures can level a town with frightening ease… several converging upon the same area are a cataclysm waiting to happen.

Searing Blood. A volcore begins with the death of a mighty creature attuned to Elemental Fire, such as a red dragon or a fire giant magician. When great amounts of the slain creature’s blood are spilled in an area suffused with magic, they coalesce into an unstable proto-ooze that instinctively seeps underground, seeking sources of heat to sustain it. Those fortunate enough to discover a magma chamber promptly absorb the molten slag, transforming themselves into a core of boiling magma encased by a heart-shaped crust of cooled rock. Thus, a volcore is finally born.

Volcanic Parasites. Once a volcore settles into its form, it starts syphoning magma from the earth’s depths, consuming it to fuel its growth in both size and strength. Even greedier than they are ravenous, volcores draw magma at a faster rate that they can use it, eventually causing catastrophic eruptions. This is, of course, completely irrelevant to the ooze, which is content to nestle at the centre of its new volcano, pulsing with each explosive release of ash and lava. A volcano created by a volcore will never go dormant so long as the creature remains alive… but few are brave enough to delve into the magma-choked caverns of the ooze’s lair in order to vanquish it.

Vital Targets. Slaying a volcore after its volcano becomes active is a grueling, agonising, and, more often than not, discouragingly fatal endeavour. Numerous adventuring groups and hunting guilds have therefore specialised in detecting and eliminating the troublesome oozes before disaster strikes. Chief among these are the Heartbreakers—a company of hardened dwarven warriors renowned across the realms for their countless victories against these cardiac calamities. Despite their legendary status, the Heartbreakers offer their services at surprisingly competitive rates, drawing the bulk of their profits from harvesting the molten cores of their fallen prey—powerful magical components coveted by blacksmiths the world over.

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• Get the stats for this fearsome foe DOWN BELOW;

• Enjoy the gorgeous rendered art for it HERE;

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