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 By Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Matthew Sernett, Eric Cagle, Andrew Finch, Christopher Lindsay, Kolja Raven Liquette, Chris Sims, Owen K.C. Stephens, Travis Stout, JD Wiker, Skip Williams
Your monster collection can expand by another tome with Monster Manual IV. Players will also find something for them if they take a peek at the Table of Contents that we provided a bit ago. As for you DMs out there, take a look at some of the creatures you'll find, and perhaps take one or two for a spin in your game to give them a try! The excerpts below include the black rock triskelion, the defacer, the dwarf ancestor, and the bluespawn godslayer (a spawn of Tiamat).
Bluespawn Godslayer, a Spawn of Tiamat
SPAWN OF TIAMAT
 The deity Tiamat, Creator of Evil Dragonkind, has long sought domination of the world for herself and her progeny. For eons she has struggled against Bahamut, the King of Good Dragons, in a conflict called the Dragonfall War, and most people believed that this battle would last for millennia to come.
Recently, however, Tiamat unveiled her latest and most terrifying tactic. She created diverse and numerous creatures with the blood of chromatic dragons and sent forth these spawn to spread destruction and evil. This incursion of evil dragonblood creatures threatens the balance of the war and, by extension, the world.
To thwart her ambitions, Bahamut created the noble dragonborn (Races of the Dragon 5), but the challenge of fighting evil dragonkind demands even more heroes than the Platinum Dragon can produce. Today, Tiamat has the upper hand. It might well fall to the player characters to prevent her spawn from permanently tipping the Dragonfall War in favor of evil.
Every spawn of Tiamat has some vestige of the power of the Queen of Evil Dragons in its blood. Many, though, are born not directly to her but to individual evil dragons throughout the world. Whether chosen by Tiamat herself or only by fickle chance, some chromatic dragon eggs hatch into the spawn described in this section. Usually a single egg is so touched, but occasionally an entire clutch produces spawn of Tiamat (which might not even be all the same kind). A given spawn is born only to a dragon that matches its color, which combined with the word "spawn," forms part of its name. Blackspawn raiders and blackspawn stalkers, for example, are born only to black dragons. Although spawn first began to appear within clutches of dragon eggs, most of them breed true and now are rapidly multiplying.
Evil dragons recognize the birth of a spawn of Tiamat as a fortunate omen, a sign of their creator's favor. That said, spawn rarely remain with their parents for long. They mature much more quickly than true dragons, reaching adulthood in only a few years. Spawn of Tiamat usually congregate with other creatures, whether in packs of their kind or with like-minded individuals of other races, particularly evil dragons. Reports have surfaced recently of hobgoblin clerics and warlords gathering spawn of Tiamat and other evil dragons for a great battle. Whether this is part of Tiamat's plan for the Dragonfall War or stems from the goblinoids' general antipathy toward other races is unknown.
Regardless of their place in the world, all spawn share an unswerving loyalty to Tiamat, which their would-be allies would do well to remember. The spawn of Tiamat also share her undying hatred of good dragonkind, and they look down upon nondragons of all sorts.
BLUESPAWN GODSLAYER
An enormous blue-scaled creature lumbers into view bearing a huge sword and bearing a dragon skull as a shield. Its head looks something like that of a blue dragon, and as it gnashes its teeth and bangs its sword against its shield, electricity sparks from its mouth and weapon.
 Bluespawn Godslayer CR 10
Usually LE Huge monstrous humanoid (dragonblood)
Init -2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +2, Spot +3
Languages Draconic
AC 23, touch 6, flat-footed 23
(-2 size, -2 Dex, +2 shield, +15 natural)
hp 138 (12 HD); DR 10/chaotic
Immune electricity, paralysis, sleep
SR 20
Fort +11, Ref +6, Will +8
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee +2 bastard sword +23/+18/+13 (3d8+12/17-20 plus 2d6 electricity) and
bite +15 (2d6+5 plus 2d6 electricity)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Base Atk +12; Grp +30
Atk Options Awesome Blow, Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, dragon slayer, outsider slayer
Abilities Str 30, Dex 6, Con 25, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 10
Feats Awesome Blow, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bastard sword), Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bastard sword)
Skills Climb +15, Jump +15, Listen +2, Spot +3
Advancement by character class; Favored Class fighter; see text
Possessions +2 bastard sword, heavy dragonskull shield
Dragon Slayer (Su) A bluespawn godslayer deals an extra 2d6 points of damage when it hits a dragon or dragonblood creature.
Outsider Slayer (Su) A bluespawn godslayer deals an extra 2d6 points of damage when it hits an outsider.
Bluespawn godslayers live for one purpose: to slay Tiamat's enemies. They delight in combat and take pride in their expertise with weapons. Godslayers guard the lairs of blue dragons and seek out and slaughter good dragons.
Strategies and Tactics
Bluespawn godslayers possess little skill with ranged weapons, and their melee attacks explode with electricity, so they rush to get foes within their reach. A bluespawn godslayer prefers to attack those it can readily identify as enemies of Tiamat. This category includes any dragons or outsiders that oppose them and anyone carrying symbols representing good dragons.
Against smaller foes, a godslayer moves adjacent and uses Awesome Blow to knock the foe away. When the fallen creature tries to rise from prone, still within reach, the godslayer makes an attack of opportunity against it and then makes a full attack on its next turn (providing that opponent did not flee).
In groups, bluespawn godslayers surround foes but keep them just within reach. Then, each uses Awesome Blow to knock foes through and into the reach of the others, allowing them to make attacks of opportunity.
Sample Encounters
Bluespawn godslayers are often encountered in small groups or with blue dragons, who protect the spawn from flying enemies. They guard blue dragon lairs or work with other spawn of Tiamat, serving as heavy hitters and anchor points in an army.
Patrol (EL 11-13): Blue dragons often deploy guard patrols containing bluespawn godslayers and bluespawn burrowers (see page 138).
EL 11: Brakanax, a bluespawn godslayer, and its "guard dogs," two bluespawn burrowers, patrol the caverns that lead to a blue dragon's lair. They attack any intruders. Brakanax blocks the passage while the burrowers tunnel behind interlopers to flank them and use their electricity sweeps.
Clutchmates (EL 12-16): Several bluespawn godslayers born to a single dragon might remain with their parent as guards and companions.
EL 14: Tusenmaug, a young adult blue dragon, soars high above the desert seeking a caravan to raid. Not far behind jog three bluespawn godslayers that attack the dragon's prey while the dragon strafes with lightning.
Ecology
Bluespawn godslayers are genderless and possess no means of procreation. Instead, they are born to blue dragons blessed by Tiamat. Blue dragons not devoted to the Chromatic Dragon often despise godslayers, but they recognize these creatures' value as guardians. They also fear invoking Tiamat's wrath, which might bring godslayers born of other blue dragons against them.
Godslayers are carnivorous creatures that devour anything that falls to their blades, including other spawn or even chromatic dragons that oppose them. They have the metabolism of dragons, gorging themselves in a spree of slaughter and then not eating for months at a time.
Environment: Bluespawn godslayers live in temperate and warm deserts, along with the blue dragons that gave birth to them.
Typical Physical Characteristics: A bluespawn godslayer stands about 18 feet tall and weighs nearly 18,000 pounds.
Alignment: Bluespawn godslayers are usually lawful evil. Sometimes neutral evil godslayers arise that are willful and often more intelligent. Thus, they are more likely to resist the influences of their mothers and other spawn. Chaotic and good godslayers are unheard-of.
Society
Tiamat designed bluespawn godslayers to kill enemy outsiders and metallic dragons, and to face the aspects of rival dragon gods. They are born to blue dragons who earn Tiamat's favor or who are near to foes of interest to the Chromatic Dragon.
Bluespawn godslayers know they are the favored spawn of Tiamat because they are born only to dragons, and because they hear her distant roars in their dreams. They instinctively recognize all spawn as children of Tiamat, but they believe godslayers to be superior to all the rest. Fortunately for smarter spawn and the blue dragons who foster godslayers as children, the creatures are dull-witted and rarely possess leadership ability. Nevertheless, all spawn of Tiamat and chromatic dragons are wary around godslayers; their reputation as dragon killers is well known among the worshipers of Tiamat.
Typical Treasure
Bluespawn godslayers carry little treasure. What valuables they find they give to their mothers or to whoever leads them against Tiamat's foes. Most are encountered just with their signature weapons and shields. Godslayers despise being slowed down on the battlefield, but a few leaders convince them to wear light armor, such as a chain shirt fashioned for a giant.
"Yes. I am blessed. I have borne Tiamat's child in Her stead. Holy be Her plans, and may those that use this godslayer come to fruition . . . swiftly."
-- Kazeranthamus, ancient blue dragon
Bluespawn Godslayers in Eberron
The birth of a bluespawn godslayer is considered a dire omen. Dragon custom dictates that the mother abandon the hatchling godslayer in some distant land and then go into seclusion to contemplate what the birth might mean for the Prophecy. This leaves bluespawn godslayers to live out their lives in solitude or in small groups of siblings throughout Eberron. Since the rise of the humanoid races on Khorvaire, blue dragons have taken to leaving godslayers in the Demon Wastes, the Blade Desert, and in wilderness areas on the continents of Sarlona and Xen'drik.
Bluespawn Godslayers in Faerûn
Bluespawn godslayers live where blue dragons make their homes. In particular, they roam Anauroch, the Calim Desert, and Raurin, the Dust Desert. Blue dragons consider the birth of a bluespawn godslayer to be a great boon. These spawn of Tiamat become able guardians of the dragons' lairs instead of future rivals. The godslayers happily serve in this role until Tiamat calls them to service. Each night, they hope to hear her call to them in their dreams, commanding them to take their place in her great armies.
BLUESPAWN GODSLAYER LORE
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (nature) can learn more about bluespawn godslayers. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs. Those who recognize the creatures' ancestry can also use Knowledge (religion) to learn more.
Knowledge (Nature)
DC Result
20 This creature is a bluespawn godslayer, a rarely encountered monstrous humanoid related to blue dragons. This result reveals all monstrous humanoid traits.
25 Bluespawn godslayers are immune to electricity, paralysis, and sleep, and their blows deliver a dangerous electrical charge.
30 Bluespawn godslayers hate good dragons and good outsiders. Their attacks against such creatures are particularly potent.
35 Bluespawn godslayers are born only to blue dragons by some twist of fate.
Knowledge (Religion)
DC Result
20 Bluespawn godslayers are some of Tiamat's spawn.
25 Bluespawn godslayers worship Tiamat and serve her armies as heavy troops.
30 Bluespawn godslayers are born to blue dragons blessed by Tiamat.
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