By Christopher Wissel, By Tyler Walpole

The demon lord Juiblex has little use for his worshipers. He is content to simply exist in his realm, idly destroying everything in his path. Unfortunately for his many thralls, they usually find themselves consumed as well, in both body and mind.

Ella Mornel was born to a pair of blind apothecaries. Her father was inattentive, distracted by his work in the labs below their cottage. Her mother was fretful and afraid to have a child that could see. As a result, Ella was forced to remain indoors during her early years, helping the family sniff chemicals and mix rare ingredients. Her environment was dimly lit and without mirrors, and Ella often cried out in terror to her mother, who was oblivious to the many cockroaches and other creeping things that flitted about the shadows of the darkened cottage.

As the years went by, Ella became withdrawn and emotionless. She left home and made her way to a port city, where she lived in the darkness under the city’s docks, watching barnacles and sea brine collect in the tide pools, occasionally feasting on rotting fish. She became horribly agoraphobic, and cringed from reflective surfaces and daylight. At first she ran from the peasants and sailors who visited the area, but eventually she started to waylay and kill them instead, using a stolen wand of polymorph to destroy them, and taking the meager coppers from their purses for better food.

After years of living like an otyugh, she became deeply depressed, mixing horrid-smelling stews and killing anything that came near. Then one starless midnight, a reaver (Monster Manual II, page 178) slithered up from the city’s deepest sewers. Ella quickly became enamored with strange ooze, as it was capable of absorbing the intelligence, appearance, and capabilities of its prey. She expanded her grisly killings and began stalking spellcasters and other intelligent creatures in the city. During the moments of lucidity after a meal, the creature’s oozing face would speak to Ella of the formless countenance of Juiblex.

Vile Feats

• Deformity (clawed hands): Ella’s hands are twisted into claws. She can make 2 claw attacks that each deal 1d6 damage.
• Thrall to Demon: Once per day, while committing an evil act, Ella gains a +1 luck bonus on an attack roll, skill check, ability check, saving throw, or level check.
• Willing Deformity: Ella gains a +2 deformity bonus on Intimidate checks.

Inspired by this perspective, she returned home and caught up with her parents. Blind and old, they were no match for her, and she joyfully fed them to the slavering ooze. For this horrible act, she became a fledgling thrall of Juiblex.

Unfortunately, Ella’s joy was short-lived. The Faceless One has never had much use for his worshipers. Despite sensing his presence and unrelenting power, the Faceless One ignored her completely.

Since the patricide, Ella wandered the countryside alone, trying in vain to commune with Juiblex through the sacrifice of intelligent beings. She creates short-term lairs in remote wilderness areas, or sometimes inside abandoned ruins of larger cities. Eventually, after she claims enough victims to satiate her madness, the lair collapses or locals begin investigating. Either way, Ella moves on.

Appearance

Ella is slim and unattractive, her greasy skin smelling of rotten cheese and old smoke. Her tangled hair hangs down her back, and her bloodshot eyes constantly dart about. She avoids eye contact, staring past others instead.

She wears whatever rags are convenient and wraps her deformed hands in bloodstained bandages. Though she prefers her natural form, she uses alter self to disguise her hands when necessary.

Tactics

Ella prefers stealth and ambush. If she attacks, she begins with defensive and summoning spells, attempting to trap victims alive to feed her ooze.

If overwhelmed, she flees. If captured, she remains catatonic until an escape presents itself. If forced to speak, she screams until left alone.

Her lairs are filled with oozes and foul smoke, discouraging survivors from returning.

Development

Ella is a loner and rarely seeks companionship. Occasionally she interacts with unusual creatures or adventurers, but her instability inevitably drives her to flee or kill them.

On rare occasions she may temporarily join a party, seeking structure or connection, but her obsession with Juiblex ultimately destroys any bonds she forms.

Ella Mornel Stat Block

• CR: 14
• Race/Class: Female human rogue 6 / fighter 4 / thrall of Juiblex 4
• Alignment: CE Medium humanoid
• Init: +5
• Senses: Listen –1, Spot –1
• Languages: Common, Abyssal

• AC: 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15
• HP: 91 (14 HD)
• Resist: acid 10
• Saves: Fort +14, Ref +17, Will +10

• Speed: 30 ft.
• Melee: 2 claws +18 (1d6+1)
• Base Atk / Grp: +12 / +12

• Abilities: Str 10, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 13
• Feats: Deformity (clawed hands), Dodge, Iron Will, Mobility, Spring Attack, Thrall to Demon, Weapon Finesse, Willing Deformity
• Skills: Balance +10, Bluff +6, Disguise +8 (+10 acting), Escape Artist +23, Hide +15, Intimidate +20, Knowledge (religion) +3, Move Silently +15, Use Magic Device +19

Special Abilities

• Alter Self (Su): Ella can change her appearance at will, as the spell alter self (CL 4).
• Sickening Slime (Ex): Creatures within 5 ft. must make a DC 16 Fortitude save or take a –1 penalty on attacks and skill checks.
• Corrosive Touch (Ex): Her next attack deals an extra 2d6 acid damage.
• Summon Ooze (Sp): Summons ooze creatures as summon monster (CL 4).
• Contagion (Su): Functions as the contagion spell (CL 10).