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Gray Goo

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Droplets of a silvery gray, slightly grainy goo gleam dully as they hang in the air.

Gray Goo CR 14

XP 38,400
N Fine construct (swarm)
Init +10; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +13

DEFENSE

AC 29, touch 29, flat-footed 18 (+10 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 size)
hp 123 (19d10+19)
Fort +8, Ref +18, Will +8
Defensive Abilities dispersion, swarm traits; Immune construct traits, weapon damage

OFFENSE

Speed fly 50 ft. (perfect)
Melee swarm (6d6 plus dismantle and distraction)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks dismantle, distraction (DC 21), infest

STATISTICS

Str 1, Dex 30, Con —, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 1
Base Atk +19; CMB —; CMD —
Feats Ability Focus (distraction), Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Lightning Reflexes, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Lightning Stance, Mobility, Toughness, Wind Stance
Skills Fly +26, Perception +13, Stealth +32 (+42 when dispersed); Racial Modifiers +10 Stealth when dispersed
Languages Common (can't speak)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Dismantle (Ex)

Creatures damaged by a gray goo must succeed at a DC 19 Reflex save or a random piece of their equipment takes the same amount of damage, determined as though the target rolled a natural 1 on a saving throw, using the rules for items surviving after a saving throw. In addition, unattended objects in the area of a gray goo take damage if the swarm chooses to harm them. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Dispersion (Ex)

As an immediate action, a gray goo can disperse, spreading itself across a cube-shaped area 30 feet on a side. While dispersed, the goo deals no damage and can't use its other special abilities until it reforms. A dispersed gray goo can hide in plain sight (as a ranger in her favored terrain) with a +10 bonus on its Stealth checks and doesn't take additional damage from area effects for being a swarm. It takes 2 rounds for a dispersed gray goo to reform.

Infest (Ex)

As a standard action, a gray goo can infest a Medium or larger creature (Fortitude DC 21 negates), including constructs and undead. The gray goo moves inside the creature's body, dealing double its normal damage to its host each round. It can't use its dismantle ability while infesting a creature. A host reduced to 0 hit points while infested by a gray goo is reduced to dust and destroyed (similar to disintegrate). A gray goo infesting a host can be expelled by any effect that cures disease, with a disease save equal to this ability's DC. The save DC is Constitutionbased and includes a +2 racial bonus.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, or storm (3–12)
Treasure none

Swarms of weaponized nanites—microscopic mechanical constructs designed to work in large groups to perform varied tasks—reduce anything in their path to wisps of dust. Called “gray goo” by those who don't understand the true nature of the creature's components, some of these horrific swarms were activated as weapons of mass destruction. Others were originally benign, intended to enhance crops and clean them of pests or combat diseases, but malfunctioned and abandoned their programming.

Nanites have limited intelligence and potentially respond to commands. Such controlled swarms are capable of relatively complex decision making, and they might spare the treasure their victims carry, for instance, allowing their masters to better loot the bodies.

Rumors of virulent clouds of gray goo spread every few years. The most recent tale speaks of a self-replicating swarm that uses its victims as incubators from which further swarms are born— a harrowing prospect if true.

Benign Nanites

Nanites meant for benign purposes that retain their original programming are capable of bringing benefits as great as the devastation wrought by their destructive kin, though it can be difficult to tell them apart.

Harvest nanites that tend a field can enhance production and eliminate pests and blight, increasing the yield as the plant growth spell. Medical nanites can infest a host body, using their infest ability, but choose not to damage the creature itself, instead surgically targeting invasive organisms, functioning as a remove disease spell with a caster level equal to the swarm's hit dice. Crafter nanites can dismantle objects to build others, as fabricate, and potentially even do the same with flesh, as regenerate.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 5 © 2015, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, John Bennett, Logan Bonner, Creighton Broadhurst, Robert Brookes, Benjamin Bruck, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, Thurston Hillman, Eric Hindley, Joe Homes, James Jacobs, Amanda Hamon Kunz, Ben McFarland, Jason Nelson, Thom Phillips, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Alistair Rigg, Alex Riggs, David N. Ross, Wes Schneider, David Schwartz, Mark Seifter, Mike Shel, James L. Sutter, and Linda Zayas-Palmer.

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Numeria, Land of Fallen Stars © 2014, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Jim Groves and Russ Taylor.