The * Frilond * Campaign
Hacamuli

In honor of the passing of the great D&D designer Tom Moldvay, here's a conversion of one of his creations: the demon lord Hacamuli. Moldvay edited the wonderful red-cover basic D&D set and was also the author of some of my favorite adventures, including the Isle of Dread, Castle Amber, and the Lost City.

Hacamuli appeared in Moldvay’s excellent article "Demons, Devils, and Spirits" in Dragon 42, and I never understood why no one ever resurrected this horror. Hacamuli played an important part in our Frilond campaign, as he was imprisoned beneath the ruins of Lorn Abbey. This conversion updates Hacamuli to 3.5 and draws on material from the Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss.

This demonic monstrosity appears as a pale, gaunt horse with hazy black eyes. Flies crawl over his mangy, sore-infested body.

Aspect of Hacamuli CR 18

Nightmare

Detail from "the Nightmare" by Johann Heinrich Füssli (1802).

CE Large outsider (chaotic, demon, evil, extraplanar)

Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., true seeing; Listen +23, Spot +23

Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Draconic, telepathy 100 ft.

AC 34, touch 12, flat-footed 31
(-1 size, +3 Dex, +22 natural)

hp 270 (20 HD); DR 20/cold iron and good

Resist acid 10, cold 10, fire 10; SR 29

Immune critical hits, electricity, poison

Fort +21, Ref +15, Will +17

Spd 30 ft. (6 squares); Run

Melee* right hoof +26 (1d10+11 plus wither) and left hoof +26 (1d10+11 plus disease)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Base Atk +20; Grp +33

Atk Options Blind-Fight; aligned striked (chaos, evil), disease (DC 27), rusting touch (DC 29), wither (DC 27)

Special Actions draining gaze (DC 27), summon undead

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 20th)

At Will—astral projection, blasphemy, deeper darkness, desecrate, detect good, detect law, detect thoughts (DC 19), dominate monster (DC 26), greater dispel magic, greater teleport, insanity (DC 24), plane shift (self only), telekinesis (DC 22), tongues (self only), unhallow, unholy blight (DC 21)

3/day—quickened deeper darkness

* 2-point Power Attack

Abilities Str 28, Dex 17, Con 28, Int 19, Wis 21, Cha 24

Feats Blind-Fight, Dark Speech, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (deeper darkness), Run, Track

Skills Bluff +21, Concentration +27, Diplomacy +29, Gather Information +25, Hide +9, Intimidate +26, Jump +19, Knowledge (arcana) +13, Knowledge (religion) +18, Knowledge (the planes) +27, Listen +23, Move Silently +12, Search +27, Sense Motive +23, Spot +23, Survival +28 (+30 on other planes or following tracks), Swim +19

Disease (Su) Any living creature stuck by Hacamuli's left hoof must make a DC 27 Fortitude save or become inflicted with a supernatural rotting disease. Incubation period 1 round; damage 1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Draining Gaze (Su) As a standard action, Hacamuli can drain energy from a living creature within 30 feet with a look. The target creature must succeed on a DC 27 Fortitude save or gain three negative levels. The DC is 27 for the Fortitude save to remove a negative level. The save DC is Charisma-based. For each such negative level bestowed, Hacamuli gains 5 temporary hit points.

Rusting Touch (Su) Whenever Hacamuli damages an opponent with a hoof attack, any metal armor worn by the opponent corrodes, disintegrating in a shower of rust and becoming useless immediately. Magic armor must succeed on a DC 29 Reflex save or be dissolved. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Summon Undead (Sp) Once per day Hacamuli can attempt to summon 2d6 fiendish shadows with a 60% chance of success, or 1d4 fiendish vampire spawn with a 50% chance of success. This ability is the equivalent of an 8th-level spell.

True Seeing (Su) Hacamuli has a continuous true seeing ability, as the spell (caster level 20th).

Wither (Su) Any living creature stuck by Hacamuli's right hoof must make a DC 27 Fortitude save or suffer 1d4 points of Strength damage and 1d4 points of Constitution damage. If Hacamuli scores a critical hit, the damage from that hit is permanent ability drain. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Hacamuli is one of the messengers of Orcus. In battle, Hacamuli rears up on his hind legs, striking with both front hooves.