The shivhad is an otherworldly creature that dwells in remote glaciers and atop high peaks.
Description[]
Appearance[]
Shivhads are immense creatures that slightly resemble 40-foot tall spiders. In the center of the creature's body, three chitinous claws and six rubbery tentacles dangle at the ready, to attack or to interact with its environment. Each tentacle is tipped by a shark-toothed maw that speaks with uncanny, unaccented linguistic capability - though with a booming loudness. Its body is dotted with small, black eyes.[1]
Personality[]
Shivhads are usually chaotic evil, and extremely intelligent, but their motives are alien and difficult to understand.[1]
Abilities and traits[]
Shivhads are able to perceive all that happens upon their home glacier, even when hidden, invisible, or in private, thanks to a mystical bond. A shivhad not only exudes an aura of chilling cold, but it also absorbs cold energy, which heals its wounds. However, they are vulnerable to fire. The creature can feed on others' life-force with its maw, draining all capability slowly, and can also crush opponents with its immense bulk. Shivhads possess darkvision and are highly magic-resistant.[1]
Ecology[]
Nothing is known of their environment or biology, save that they live in cold, mountainous regions.[1]
Society and culture[]
Shivhads spend much of their time slumbering beneath their chosen glaciers. They have no other clear motives, and do not seek to expand their territory or reproduce; they only demand worship of local tribes, typically frost giants or ogres. Their worshipers sacrifice creatures to the shivhad by abandoning them on the shivhad's glacier, after which the shivhad torments their prey until eating it. They have no known dedicated enemies, and only powerful white dragons can challenge their territory.[1] Shivhads have no known religion of their own.
Shivhads speak all the languages known in their region, and do so perfectly (and loudly).[1]
Notable shivhads[]
For a full list of shivhads, see Category:Shivhads.
Publication history[]
D&D 3rd edition[]
The shivhad was introduced in Frostburn (2004).
Creative origins[]
The shivhad was created by James Jacobs.[2]
Reception and influence[]
The shivhad as it appeared on Dungeons & Drawings.
The shivhad was a featured creature on Dungeons & Drawings.[3]