Energon

Energons are sentient energy that has coalesced into an alien form of life. These beings wander the energy planes of Irian and Mabar.[1][2]
Contents[show]
SpeciesEdit

Two different species of energons have been discovered:
Xag-YaEdit

The Xag-Ya are native to the plane of Irian, and are infused with positive energy. They will harm any undead they come into contact with, and bolster any deathless.
Xeg-YiEdit

The Xeg-Yi are native to the plane of Mabar, and are infused with negative energy. They will harm any deathless they come into contact with, and bolster any undead.[1][2]

Appearance & PersonalityEdit

Energons appear as translucent globes roughly two feet in diameter. Emerging from the "rear" of the globe are anywhere from six to twelve tentacles that aid the energon in locomotion. Energons float in the air, and use their tentacles to move. Energons give off an aura (either of heat for the Xag-Ya or cold for the Xeg-Yi). Within the translucent globe are a pair of spots that vaguely resemble eyes.

Energons are barely sentient, and usually do not get involved with matters of the Material Plane. However, they may be captured by necromancers or other undead mystics and used to bolster their forces.[2]
AbilitiesEdit

In addition to their ability to fly and their incorporeal nature, energons can project an energy blast: Xag-Ya can project a positive energy blast, while Xeg-Yi can project a negative energy blast. When an energon is destroyed, it explodes in a wave of whatever power it contained.

Energons possess no strength, and a great deal about them is still a mystery: how they sense the world, how they consume food, and how they procreate. Energons cannot speak, nor do they seem to even be able to communicate with each other.[2]
Behind the ScenesEdit

A number of other energons were outlined in the 3rd edition Planar Handbook, including the Xac-Yel, Xac-Yij, Xap-Yaup, Xong-Yong, and Xor-Yost. However, none of these energons were placed in the Eberron campaign setting, so they are not listed.[3]


Ah, life – there’s no spot in the multiverse where it hasn’t managed to take hold. Perhaps, in a tome dedicated to the creatures of the inhospitable Inner Planes, such a concept should be a theme, or even the theme. There’s life everywhere.

The Positive and Negative Energy Planes are no exception to this rule. Somehow, on both of these seething planes of force, consciousnesses formed and adopted bodies made of the essence around them. The Positive Energy Plane — a brilliant sea of explosive vitality — spawned the creature known as the xag-ya, whereas the Negative Energy Plane — a cold pit of devouring darkness — brought forth the xeg-yi.

On the other hand, some say that neither creature is a true native of its plane at all. These folks claim that the xag-ya and xeg-yi came into existence elsewhere (perhaps on the same plane, perhaps on different planes), forming in isolated pockets of positive and negative energy. The beasts might even have been created by some intelligent agency for an unknown purpose.’Course, this is just idle speculation, but it comes about for a very good reason. The Positive Energy Plane is practically life incarnate. How could a creature attain enough true individuality in such a place to achieve consciousness and an ambulatory body? And the Negative Energy Plane is as antilife as a basher can conceive, which makes the idea of a living creature of negative energy seem a bit of a contradiction.

The graybeards can rattle their bone-boxes all they like about these problems, but the fact is that no one really knows how or why the xag-ya and the xeg-yi exist. The two creatures are similar and yet opposite in appearance and nature — so much so that it makes a body wonder if their geneses didn’t have something in common.

In any event, both are spherical beings with multiple tendrils of energy writhing about them, almost like the tentacles of an octopus. Each creature’s main body is a globe of energy that’s unremarkable except for two narrow spots that suggest eyes. These eyes, in turn, suggest an unknowable and alien intelligence. At first glance, there’s only one way to tell the two creatures apart: The xag-ya appears silvery and lustrous, while its negative counterpart is black and dull.

Combat: Both monsters attack foes by striking with their whiplike tendrils of energy. The touch of the xag-ya carries with it a powerful jolt that overloads living creatures and causes them 1d6+6 points of damage. Combustible, nonliving items such as paper, cloth, and wood catch on fire when exposed to this raw force.

Every other round, the xag-ya can fire a bolt of this cnergy at a target up to 10 feet away. Like the touch of the creature’s tendrils, the bolt ignites combustibles and inflicts 1d6+6 points of damage, but it also heats metal objects. Such items glow white-hot and remain so for 1d4 rounds. During that time, they cause 1d4 points of damage per round to anyone in contact with them. Magical metallic items are allowcd a saving throw versus electricity to resist being heated.

The life-draining tendrils of the xeg-yi corrode whatever they touch. They inflict 1d6+6 points of damagc on living targets and cause nonliving items such as paper, cloth, and wood to age and rot.

Every other rotund, the xeg-yi can discharge a bolt of negative energy with a range of 10 feet. It has the same effect as the touch of a tendril, corroding materials and inflicting 1d6+6 points of damage, but it also rots sturdy materials like metal and stone. Such items must make a successful saving throw versus electricity or become corroded and worthless.

A basher’s got to have a weapon of +1 or better enchantment in order to harm either creature. And rather than discuss what kind of magic the pair is immune to, it’s easier to list the few spells that do affect them. Xag-ya are vulnerable to cold-based spells, while xeg-yi are harmed by magical fire. Both are subject to disintegration and magic missile, and neither can penetrate a shield spell. If a cutter runs into either monster elsewhere in the multiverse, he can send it back to its home plane with one of the following spells: abjure, banishment, dismissal, dispel magic (treat the level of magic as twice the creature’s Hit Dice total), holy word, limited wish, plane shift, or wish. No other spells can affect them.

A rod of absorption or a wand of negation can thwart the attack of a xag-ya, while a rod of cancellation or a mace of disruption provides protection from the assaults of a xeg-yi. What’s more, these four magical items can’t be harmed by either creature.

If a xag-ya or xeg-yi is slain, it explodes in the appropriate release of energy – either an overloading jolt or an enervating drain). This burst has a radius of 10 feet, and all within the area suffer 2d6+12 points of damage. Victims and objects are also affected as if struck by a bolt of energy loosed by the creature (thus, certain items must make saving throws).

Habitat/Society: Neither the xag-ya nor the xeg-yi seems to interact with other creatures – not even those of their own kind. Though they’re thought to be highly intelligent, they have no language or real means of communication. They’re completely solitary beings. Still, they’re also quite curious about what lies beyond their own planes and oftcn wander about the multiverse, observing.

While they’re not outright hostile, their touch endangers virtually all things, so it’s inevitable that they find themselves in combat fairly often – others can’t help but perceive them as a threat.

Should a xag-ya and a xeg-yi ever meet, they instantly rush toward each other. If they come into contact, they annihilate themselves in a conflagration of energy that inflicts 4d6+24 points of damage to every living thing in a 30-foot radius. The blast randomly corrodes or heats nonliving objects within this area. No one knows exactly why the creatures do this; some bloods believe it0146s motivated by hatred, while others think it’s due to some other need or flaw.

Ecology: Xag-ya and xeg-yi feed on all sorts of energy. Their means of reproduction is unknown but must be asexual — after all, individuals of these species never interact.


Until now, only two types of energon have been documented
by planar travelers—the xag-ya and the xeg-yi,
native inhabitants of the Energy Planes (see Manual of
the Planes for details). But other kinds of energons wander
the multiverse as well, including the xac-yij (acid), the
xor-yost (cold), the xap-yaup (electricity), the xac-yel
(fire), and the xong-yong (sonic). In the statistics given
for each kind below, the indicated environment is one
of the more likely places in which to encounter that particular
energon.
The purpose of the energons remains enigmatic. They
fi nd great releases of energy, especially of their particular
type, to be attractive. They congregate at scenes of natural
and created cataclysms. Sometimes one will peacefully
follow a spellcaster whom the energon witnessed casting a
powerful, energy-based spell.
Energons also exhibit curiosity about gates and portals,
often choosing to go through them, if able. Because of this,
energons can be found on almost any plane, even though the
creatures have no natural ability to travel between planes. A
lone energon can reproduce; energons procreate asexually
by simply advancing to 15 Hit Dice and choosing to split
into three energons of the same kind with 5 HD each. Few
energons advance far enough to produce offspring, so while
energons exist throughout the planes, they remain unusual
and uncommon creatures.
An energon is a translucent globe about 2 feet across that
fl oats and shimmers in the air, giving off an aura fi tting to its
particular type of energy (acidic, frosty, ozonelike, burning,
or thrumming). A pair of spots on the upper hemisphere of
the globe suggests eyes. Beneath the lower hemisphere of
the globe, six to twelve tentacles dangle and curl. Energons
spread and contract their tentacles when they move, much
as an octopus or squid does.
As incorporeal creatures, energons ignore terrain.
Large amounts of energy of their type will tend to attract
energons. They often lurk, watching a spellcaster or creature
who uses energy attacks. They rarely start fi ghts, but
occasionally seek to touch other creatures—a very painful
prospect for most.
If in combat with a group of creatures, each type of energon
has a preferred type of target that it will attack, if able.
Energy Ray (Ex): An energon’s energy ray has a range of
30 feet.
Explosion (Su): If an energon is reduced to 0 hit points,
its body is instantaneously destroyed in an explosion that
deals 1d8+9 points of damage of its energy type to everyone
in a 20-foot-radius burst (Refl ex DC 16 half).
Incorporeal Traits: An energon is harmed only by other
incorporeal creatures, magic weapons, spells, spell-like
abilities, and supernatural abilities. It has a 50% chance to
ignore any damage from a corporeal source, except for force
effects or attacks made with ghost touch weapons. It can
pass through solid objects, but not force effects, at will. Its
attacks ignore natural armor, armor, and shields, but defl ection
bonuses and force effects work normally against them.
An incorporeal creature always moves silently and cannot
be heard with Listen checks if it doesn’t wish to be.
Outsider Traits: An energon cannot be raised, reincarnated
or resurrected (though a limited wish, wish, miracle, or
true resurrection spell can restore life). It has darkvision out
to 60 feet.
Energons do not speak, even among themselves.

The xac-yel prefers an exceptionally hot, dry environment.
This fi re-based energon and its cold-based cousin,
the xor-yost, tend to be the most social of all energons. If
encountered on a cold or wet plane, such as the Elemental
Plane of Water or some levels of the Abyss, it is usually
very agitated and desperately seeking a means of leaving.
If anyone is kind enough to open a gate or usher a xac-yel
toward one, it may follow that individual for a time to do
him or her a favor before departing.

The xac-yij prefers open-air environments and exhibit
an aversion to enclosed spaces such as underground
passages.

The xap-yaup lingers in areas of the planes with natural electrical
phenomena. On the Material Plane, it often accompanies
a fi erce, lightning-fi lled storm.

The xong-yong enjoys being in noisy places.

The xor-yost prefers exceptionally cold environments. This
cold-based energon and its fi re-based cousin, the xac-yel,
tend to be the most social of all energons. If encountered
on a hot plane, such as the Elemental Plane of Fire or some
parts of the Nine Hells (such as Dis), a xor-yost is usually
very agitated and desperately seeking a means of leaving. If
anyone is kind enough to open a gate or usher the energon
toward one, it may follow that individual for a time to do
him or her a favor before departing.

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