Sandy petersens cthulhu mythos 303

Bhole
What You See
Darkness obscures the source of a
deep grinding sound. Something vast
and vaguely worm-like moves in the
gloom, wrenching the earth apart as
it moves.


CR 17

XP 102,400
CN Colossal magical beast
Init +3; Senses scent, tremorsense (360 ft.); Perception +28
Aura gloom (360 feet)
DEFENSE

AC 33, touch 1, flat-footed 33 (–1 Dex, +32 natural, –8 size)
hp 290 (20d10+180)
Fort +21, Ref +13, Will +11
DR 10/—; Immune acid, fire, disease, magical control,
paralysis, poison, sleep, stun; SR 28
OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft., burrow 50 ft.
Melee bite +29 (6d6+25/19–20 plus grab), slam +29
(3d8+25/19–20)
Space 30 ft.; Reach 60 ft.
Special Attacks overwhelming strength, swallow whole
(20d6 acid damage, AC 26, 29 hp), trample (DC 37)
S TAT I S T I C S

Str 44, Dex 8, Con 28, Int 3, Wis 21, Cha 23
Base Atk +20; CMB +45 (+47 bull rush, +49 grapple); CMD
54 (56 vs. bull rush, can’t be tripped)
Feats Awesome Blow, Critical Focus, Improved Bull Rush,
Improved Critical (bite), Improved Critical (slam), Improved
Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Staggering
Critical, Vital Strike
Skills Perception +28
Languages Aklo (rarely speaks)
ECO LO GY

Environment any underground (Dreamlands)
Organization solitary
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES

296

Aura of Gloom (Su) A bhole exudes a sort of “absence”
that cancels out the effects of sight to all creatures within
360 feet. Within this area, all forms of vision (including
darkvision and low-light vision) are obscured in a strange

shadowy gloom, regardless of more powerful light
sources in the area. Creatures relying on vision function
as if they are in dim light while in this area, and always
treat the bhole itself as if it were in an area of darkness. As
it is not technically a darkness effect, this aura cannot be
countered via light effects, but creatures that are immune

to vision-based attacks, as well as those under the effects
of true seeing, can see through a bhole’s aura of gloom.
Immune to Magical Control (Ex) A bhole is immune
to nearly all forms of mind control, including charm
monster, suggestion, and dominate monster spells. It is
similarly immune to magic jar and possession attempts.
Confusion and other mind-affecting effects that don’t
give another creature direct control over a bhole work
normally. Rare effects that allow a creature to manipulate
the exact effects of confusion on a creature provide one
of the few ways to control a bhole by magic—essentially
nudging it in the desired direction. Other methods,
particularly those tied to strange and powerful artifacts,
may work normally (GM’s discretion).
Overwhelming Strength (Ex) A bhole always applies
1-1/2 times its Strength modifier to all natural weapon
attacks.

The vanishingly rare bholes are colossal worm-like
entities with scraped rock-like hides and gaping
mouths full of drill-like teeth. They only appear
under conditions of absolute darkness, in which they
cannot normally be seen, so typically the only way to
become acquainted with their appearance is through
the discovery of the occasional dead specimen or by
touch—at which point it is often too late. They dwell
in the Dreamlands, burrowing in the Vale of Pnath to
eat the carrion and leavings therein. Bholes are mindnumbingly large: hundreds or even thousands of feet
long, weighing as much as battleships.
Bholes are a different form of the unthinkable

horrors known as dholes. When a mature dhole breeds,
its larvae do not emerge in the material universe, but
instead in the Vale of Pnath or another similar area
in the Dreamlands. This larva is known as a bhole
hatchling, which grows and develops under conditions
of absolute darkness until it reaches full maturity.
The mature bhole, still in the Dreamlands, can then
reproduce and deposit bhole hatchlings in the material