Energon, Xac-Yij
DESCRIPTION: The xac-yij is the embodiment of the chemical energy that is contained in every kind of matter. Most planewalkers associate xac-yij with acids, but it turns out these energons are rather more complex than that. They appear as bubbling, fizzling balls of liquid with wispy tentacles protruding from them, but in fact like other energons, their bodies are incorporeal. The sizzling, corrosive slime they constantly weep though, is very real, and droplets sear pock-mark holes in surfaces they contact. They naturally levitate, and use their whip-like tentacles to propel themselves forward, leaving faint chemtrails of green mist as they move, that seem to burn the air itself. They exude a nauseating acrid stench of burning metal and sulfur that burns away nose hairs and scours the lungs.
PREFERRED HABITAT: Xac-yij dwell in the acidic reaches of the Inner Planes, particularly within the Paraelemental Plane of Ooze where it borders the Swamp of Oblivion, and its caustic currents. Graybeards have not yet settled on the question of the home plane of the xac-yij, but it is known that they prefer open spaces where reactive and corrosive chemicals are concentrated. The plane of Limbo, the fetid bogs of Minauros, the ice of Ocanthys, and the acidic jungles of Carceri are all known to attract these creatures. They hunt near natron lakes, in sulfuric rainstorms, and burning quickmire fields scattered across the Inner Planes. On rare occasions, they drift into the Prime through planar rends, especially in regions where acidic conditions or alchemical disasters have tainted the land. They avoid places of solid, inert matter, such as caves and the Elemental Planes of Earth, Salt or Ash. Xac-yij are repelled by noble metals, especially gold, which they cannot corrode.
PHILOSOPHY / SOCIETY: These beings represent entropy through corrosion, embodying how all material eventually breaks down under the hunger of chemical reaction. To the xac-yij, permanence is a lie told by leatherheads—their philosophy is the inevitability of dissolution. They derive satisfaction in hastening the corrosion of matter and life, taking an alien joy in reducing solid forms into toxic sludge. Though usually solitary, when several xac-yij gather they form dreaded Caustic Congregations that unmake anything in their path. In rare instances, they acknowledge other energrons with begrudging respect, coexisting to accelerate entropy from different angles of elemental destruction. There is no xac-yij concept of society though, only temporary collectives that part once the need passes.
Imagine saltwater.
—A thinker of the Sinkers
Salt is inert, frozen in crystalline cubes.
But dissolution sets it free by pulling the crystal apart, allowing the salt to move, react, and corrode.
Entropy is not destruction, but a beautiful way of bringing about a multiverse of impossible variation.
ECOLOGY: Xac-yij sustain themselves on reaction exotherms—particularly from the breakdown of organic tissue, metal, limestone, or any other matter that can be digested by acid or alkali. They envelop prey with their tentacles, dousing it in corrosive moisture until only liquefied remnants are left, which they draw into their core as nourishment. They grow stronger the more matter they dissolve, their bodies becoming larger and more active when fed well. As for reproduction, they undergo fission: when an individual has absorbed too much, its dripping mass swells until it ruptures, splitting into two or more smaller orbs that drift away immediately. Each new xac-yij develops its tentacles within hours, inheriting the same hunger and corrosive drive as its progenitor. Their life cycle is endless disintegration and renewal, a perfect reflection of their belief in inevitable decay.
COMBAT:Â For reasons unknown, if presented with a choice, xac-yij will preferentially attack a smaller target before a larger one. They aren’t mindless though; they’ll defend themselves if threatened by a creature of any size. While these energons are typically associated with acids, they can manipulate any kind of chemical energy and injure even creatures immune to conventional or magical acid or poison by manipulating chemical energy at a fundamental level. Some alchemists believe that xac-yij have such a fine degree of control over matter, that they would be able to transmute coal into diamonds or flesh into air and water. Although trying to train a xac-yij to do these tricks on command, well that’s been less than successful. To be honest, it’s difficult to contain the sods, as they have a habit of dissolving their way out of any kind of cage, apart from a solid gold one. And frankly, if you can afford a solid gold cage, you don’t need a xac-yij in the first place.
Like many other energons, xac-yij can move through any matter. However, they treat chemically inert substances like glass or certain kinds of rock as difficult terrain, and vacuum as greater difficult terrain. A xac-yij can move at double its usual speed through liquids. In hot environments, xac-yij become more active too, their tendrils thrashing around faster, and they act as if under the effects of a haste spell. Conversely, in cold environments they are slowed.
VARIANTS:Â A couple of Guvners and Parallelists believe that just as the xor-yost and xac-yel, and the xeg-yi and xag-ya are mirrors of each other, so might other energons have their equals and opposites. The as-yet unencountered mirrors of xac-yij have been dubbed xit-yit, and are theorised to be creatures that drain chemical energy away, reducing all matter to inert dust gas. Of course, those berks have no idea where such a creature could even exist. Quasi-Planes of Salt and Vacuum come to mind, or perhaps the far reaches of Mechanus, where everything is supposedly undecaying, but frankly, good luck finding your way to one of these places.
Sources
Full Statistics: [ D&D3e / PF1e ]
Canonical Source: Planar Handbook [3e] p121
Source: Margarita and Jon Winter-Holt