Deep Dive - The Sibriex
Where to start when talking about the Sibriex. Should it be how hideous the creature is? Maybe we should start with the chains and stomach acid it uses against you. Let’s not forget about its main feature: manipulating flesh into something no one should have to look at. If you aren’t into watching your flesh melt and reform into a new shape, we suggest reading about adorable kittens, like the Displacer Beast!
3e - Sibriex
Always CE Large outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar, obyrith)
Init –4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., true seeing; Listen +25, Spot +25
Aura form of madness (60-ft. radius, Will DC 25)
Languages Abyssal; telepathy 100 ft.
AC 25, touch 5, flat-footed 25 (–1 size, –4 Dex, +20 natural)
hp 217 (15 HD); fast healing 10; DR 15/cold iron and lawful
Immune acid, mind-affecting spells and effects, nausea, poison
Resist cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10; SR 26
Fort +19, Ref +5, Will +16
Weakness immobility
Speed fly 20 ft. (good) (4 squares)
Melee 4 chains +20 (2d6+6) and bite +15 (1d8+3)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (15 ft. with chains)
Base Atk +15; Grp +25
Atk Options Combat Expertise, Improved Trip
Special Actions animate chains, instant graft, squirt bile
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th): At will—charm monster (DC 23), greater command (DC 24), hold monster (DC 24), greater dispel magic, major creation, sending 3/day—feeblemind (DC 24)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 3, Con 30, Int 25, Wis 24, Cha 25
SQ flight, obyrith traits
Feats Combat Expertise, Dark Speech*, Graft Flesh (fiendish grafts), Greater Spell Focus (enchantment), Improved Trip, Spell Focus (enchantment)
Skills Bluff +25, Concentration +28, Decipher Script +25, Diplomacy +29, Gather Information +25, Heal +25, Intimidate +27, Knowledge (arcana) +25, Knowledge (the planes) +25, Listen +25, Search +25, Sense Motive +25, Spellcraft +27, Spot +25, Use Magic Device +25 (+29 scrolls)
Advancement 16–29 HD (Large); 30–45 HD (Huge)
You know a creature will be one of pure evil and malice when it is first found in the Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss (2002). The Sibriex is an obyrith and is something out of your worst nightmares. We know we are always claiming that a creature we’ve discussed in the past is the ugliest out there. One look at the Sibriex art, and you’ll have to agree it is, at the very least, the top 3 disgusting creatures of all time. You could use horror, vile, horrendous, and hideous words when describing the Sibriex, but nothing does justice to how ugly it is. Thank goodness there are only so many in existence, usually only one per layer of the Abyss.
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, 2006 Wizards of the Coast / Thomas M. Baxa
Appearing in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (2006) the Sibriex is hard to look at, let alone describe. They are giant flesh balloons that are 15 feet tall and weigh over 1,500 pounds, but that barely describes these malformed blobs of horror. They are masters of grafting flesh on themselves, and on others, which means no two Sibriex look the same. What they share in common is that their floating blob of a body is basically a massive head with their entrails hanging below them, dripping acid and bile from open organs.
If their looks don’t throw you off, their cruel and vile intelligence might. The Sibriex are experts in altering creatures through a grafting process. They are artists, and their medium is flesh. They utilize raw Abyssal chaos to make creatures more powerful in a way that serves the Sibriex. Some creatures are happy to succumb to this process, craving the enhancements of having their flesh twisted and transformed. We recommend you forgo this process since there's a good chance you'll end up being the Sibriex's slave, not to mention what it will probably do to your Charisma score.
Luckily they do have two weaknesses. First, they are kind of slow and just float there. They use a chain harness and animate the chains to shoot out and drag them through life so you can probably outrun the Sibries. Second, if you are renowned and feared for being intelligent, they may avoid you. Its ego and vanity will not allow it to think you can outsmart it, so it will just choose to ignore you and go after easier prey. Of course, you have to be feared for your intelligence and we all know you dumped that stat at character creation, so you are probably doomed.
They are also bullies and fearmongers, tormenting creatures less intelligent than them. Think of the area where the Sibrex lives as high school, and you're the kid that plays in the band and likes anime. If you are a big-brain individual, the Sibriex will avoid you. Its ego and vanity will not allow it to think you can outsmart them.
The Sibriex are ancient creatures that the Queen of Chaos beckoned to serve her during the Upheaval, a thousand year stretch of time where there were cosmic shifts in balance. Her goal was to have the Sibriex graft her ancient demon armies with abilities that would allow her to crush her enemies. The problem was that the Sibriex wanted nothing to do with all that fighting. It's not that they are lovers, not fighters, but why put yourself in harm's way when you can sit back and watch the chaos? Instead, they stayed on the sidelines, riding the bloodshed out. Currently, they sit in their Abyssal fortresses where they can continue their work and be surrounded by their treasure.
Now that you have probably decided to never encounter a Sibriex if you can help it, what happens if you do get dragged before these creatures? Unless you are willing to have your flesh manipulated like putty, you are probably going to have to fight it. We hope you aren’t planning on fighting in melee with it as you must overcome the sheer horror of its presence. Being near the creature can subject your mind to buckle at the sight of it, inflicting you with a form of madness. This makes it easier for the Sibriex to make you think you are great friends and your companies are the bad guys. Maybe we were wrong, and they do want to be your friend. The problem is you now think your comrades are your enemies. Spellcasters may think they are safe because of how smart they are, but remember, the Sibriex believes it's always the most brilliant creature in the room. To ensure that it remains the most intelligent, it will cast a feeblemind spell on any spellcaster that dares try to out-smart them.
We've talked about the chains it uses to walk, so we wanted to remind you to be careful of them. They are more than a mobility aid as a Sibriex can flick those chains out with surprising speed and accuracy for such a big and bloated creature. If it does get close to you, the Sibriex will bite you, but usually as a last resort if it can’t use its chains or spray you with bile. Oh, we probably should’ve mentioned that. The creature can spew bile at you, though no range is listed. We sure hope that doesn’t mean it can hit us from across the planes like some sort of planar-sniper. If you do get hit by the bile, it can deal up to 72 acid damage, probably melting your wizard in a single hit. We hope you don’t think too hard about being turned into a pile of dissolved mush.
4e- Sibriex Chain Master
Level 26 Elite Soldier
Large elemental magical beast (demon) / XP 18,000
HP 484; Bloodied 242
AC 42; Fortitude 347 Reflex 38, Will 37
Speed 4, fly 6 (hover)
Immune disease; Resist 15 all; Vulnerable 10 radiant (if the Sibriex takes radiant damage, its Sibriex horror is inactive until the Sibriex reactivates it as a minor action)’
Initiative +21
Perception +21 Darkvision, blindsight 10
Saving Throws +2; Action Points 1
Sibriex Horror (fear, psychic) ✦ Aura 3 Any enemy that ends its turn within the aura takes 15 psychic damage and is slowed until the end of its next turn.
Chain (weapon) ✦ At-Will Attack: Melee 3 (one creature); +31 vs. AC Hit: 2d12 + 8 damage, and the target is immobilized until the end of its next turn.
Chain Flurry ✦ At-Will Effect: The sibriex uses chain twice against two different creatures.
Flailing Chains ✦ Recharge Attack: Close burst 3 (creatures in burst); +29 vs. Reflex Hit: 4d12 + 8 damage, and the target falls prone.
Bile Spout (acid) ✦ Encounter Attack: Clomon, the Sibried will always bse blast 5 (creatures in blast); +29 vs. Fortitude Hit: 2d10 + 10 acid damage, and ongoing 15 acid damage (save ends). Miss: Half damage.
Skills Arcana +27, History +27, Intimidate +21
Str 24 (+19) Dex 22 (+19) Wis 26 (+21) Con 26 (+21) Int 28 (+22) Cha 17 (+16)
Alignment chaotic evil / Languages Abyssal, Common, telepathy 10
Equipment four chains
Demonomicon, 2010 Wizards of the Coast / Steve Ellis
If you were hoping for more Sibriexes, the Demonomicon (2010) has you covered. There are now three types slowly, horrifically floating towards you with chains being launched at all angles, dragging their balloon-corpses with them. We have the Sibriex Chain Master, Sibriex Flesh Crafter, and Sibriex Spawn.
Like before, the Sibriex are demons, though they are spawned from obyriths, which are elder demons who came in from an alien universe. They are most often found in the Abyss, often doing all sorts of evil and chaotic deeds, like murder and torture. Sibriex prefer to be freelancers, looking out only for themselves and their sick desires, but they have been known to work for other creatures. They have to be forced into such an arrangement, often through violence and their master being incredibly powerful. But their master better be wary. No matter how tough you might be, a Sibriex is going to be constantly looking for a way to free itself and enslave its previous master.
Looking at each of the Sibriex, which we don’t recommend since they will all drive you insane with their appearance, we will first discuss the Sibriex Chain Master. The Chain Master loves to soar above you and your companions. It's got to be quite the sight: a giant deformed head with chains attached to its underside. That's strange, even for the Abyss. As its name implies, the Chain Master likes to use its chains to attack and rip apart their enemies, even knocking them prone and dumping acidic bile all over your prone form.
The Sibriex Flesh Crafter is the one who specializes in creating all sorts of terrible-looking things with its Instant Warp ability. This flesh-warping attack is listed as a polymorph ability, but not in a fun way, like transforming you into a pixie or a dragon. It's now a painful disease that infects you, slowly pushing you down a disease track until you perish from your wounds. They like to use their chains to restrain you, which does not excite us. Once it has you where it wants you, pinned and terrified, it then unleashes a powerful mind attack that stuns you and begins warping your body.
Finally, there is the little Sibriex Spawn. We say little because they are only medium-sized creatures, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous than their larger brethren. A Sibriex Spawn lives to make their powerful master happy. To do so, they expose as many people to their horrifying guise as possible. Those who fall victim to looking at these disgusting creatures take psychic damage and are slowed. Which is when the Spawn attacks. They bite when possible, but they are also happy to spray you with acidic bile. Their stomach juices cause acid damage and weaken you. None of this is good for your health or, we dare imagine, your looks.
5e - Sibriex
Huge fiend (demon), chaotic evil
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 150 (12d12 + 72)
Speed 0 ft., fly 20 ft. (hover)
STR 10 (+0) DEX 3 (-4) CON 23 (+6) INT 25 (+7) WIS 24 (+7) CHA 25 (+7)
Saving Throws Int +13, Cha +13
Skills Arcana +13 , History +13 , Perception +13
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses truesight 120 ft ., passive Perception
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 18 (20,000 XP); Proficiency Bonus +6
Contamination. The sibriex emits an aura of corruption 30 feet in every direction. Vegetation withers in the aura, and the ground in the aura is difficult terrain for other creatures. Any creature that starts its turn in the aura must succeed on a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or take 14 (4d6) poison damage. A creature that succeeds on the save is immune to this sibriex’s Contamination for 24 hours.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the sibriex fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The sibriex has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Multiattack. The sibriex makes three Chain attacks, and it uses Squirt Bile.
Chain. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (2d12 + 7) force damage.
Squirt Bile. The sibriex targets one creature it can see within 120 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or take 31 (9d6) acid damage.
Spellcasting. The sibriex casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 21):
At will: command, dispel magic, hold monster
1/day: feeblemind
Warp Creature. The sibriex targets up to three creatures it can see within 120 feet of it. Each target must make a DC 20 Constitution saving throw. On a successful save, a creature becomes immune to this sibriex’s Warp Creature. On a failed save, the target is poisoned, which causes it to also gain 1 level of exhaustion. While poisoned in this way, the target must repeat the saving throw at the start of each of its turns. Three successful saves against the poison end it, and ending the poison removes any levels of exhaustion caused by it. Each failed save causes the target to gain another level of exhaustion. Once the target reaches 6 levels of exhaustion, it dies and instantly transforms into a living manes (see the Monster Manual) under the sibriex’s control. The transformation of the body can be undone only by a wish spell.
Legandary Actions. The sibriex can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The sibriex regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Cast a Spell. The sibriex uses Spellcasting.
Spray Bile. The sibriex uses Squirt Bile.
Warp (Costs 2 Actions). The sibriex uses Warp Creature.
Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, 2018 Wizards of the Coast
The Sibriex is introduced in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (2018) and later reprinted in Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse (2021) with very few changes between the two sources. Sibriex largely remain the same horrific creatures of the Abyss, though, they may very well be older than the demon-filled plane they like to call home. Or maybe they prefer to call it ‘mine’. We aren’t sure, but we are definitely not going to volunteer to ask them.
Despite their entire shape and using chains to help drag them through the Abyss, the Sibriex are also planar travelers. They like to hoard knowledge and information, the same way a dragon hoards gold or a kobold hoards gold like the real dragon it is. This wealth of knowledge causes other creatures, especially demon lords, to turn to them as advisors and act as their own personal information desk. What these creatures don't know is that the Sibriex do this in a way that exploits and indirectly controls them to serve their needs.
Another reason demons seek them out is their ability to graft new parts onto them, just like before, making the monsters even more powerful. Nothing in this world or the Abyss is free, so the Sibriex will demand treasure or a favor as payment. In their free time, the Sibriex is constantly creating rutterkins, who serve as the sentries and guards for a Sibriex’s fortress. Rutterkin also exist to protect the Abyss from non-demons, so really it’s a community service the Sibriex are performing.
If you get too close to their Sibriex, watch out as they have an aura that is called Contamination. As you might expect, it contaminates. It kills plant life, poisons nearby creatures, and transforms the land into difficult terrain. If you are hoping that you can safely launch spells from a distance, well, Sibriex can now cast spells again, though they still have their chains and bile that they can launch and shoot at you.
Of course, a Sibriex isn’t a Sibriex if it can’t twist and warp your flesh. Warp Creature isn't so much about transforming your flesh but about poisoning you while stacking on exhaustion. We hope you make your saving throws because when you reach six levels of exhaustion, you die…but then get better! You used to turn into a living abyssal wretch, but with the updates in Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse (2022), you become a manes. Either way, you now serve your new Sibriex master as a low-level demon, and unless you have a wish spell to undo it, start rolling a new character.
If you are hoping to watch your flesh morph and change before your very eyes, get ready for Flesh Warping. This ability reshapes your body into something that not even your mother could love. There's even a table for the Game Master to roll on, giving them plenty of options to torment your character’s body. You cold have your eyes pushed out of your head at the end of stalks, teeth turning into tusks, or your head tripling in size just to visualize a few.
The Sibriex can also be found in Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus (2019), which seems appropriate, given that a lot of the adventure takes part in the Nine Hells where demons are attacking as part of the Blood War. Believe it or not, you're not supposed to fight the Sibriex but free it. The demon lord Bel has captured a Sibriex, and its minions are torturing it to gain any knowledge they can. It will try to convince you and your friends to free it in return for information. Of course, it has no intention of doing so because, let's remember, the Sibriex are in it for themselves, no matter the edition. You can try to convince the creature to give you one piece of accurate information as a show of good faith. But the torturers will attack you the second you free it, and the Sibriex will flee as quickly as possible. Hopefully you weren’t planning on the Sibriex actually being helpful.
The Sibriex is as dangerous as it is ugly. While some people may like the idea of transforming themselves into something more powerful, we advise avoiding the Sibriex transformation route. Nothing good comes from a demon flesh warping your body.
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