Asteroth: Demon Liche
Asteroth is an ancient demon who through a bizarre series of events and a strange curse survived his own destruction. Now, by the use of his arcane powers, he persists as a liche.
In the centuries since then he has served as a mercenary wizard, enchanter and sage to many of the most powerful and important personages of the underworlds. None know where his sanctum lies.
Asteroth is the creator of the spell Asteroth’s Snare.
His normal form is a towering skeletal humanoid with the skull of a jackal and glowing, red eyes, but often he appears in other guises. He leaves a trail of ash wherever he walks.
Asteroth CR 22
Size Large Undead Outsider (Evil)
Wizard 17
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Languages: Abyssal, Telepathy to 100 feet
Senses: darkvision, Listen +12, Spot +15
Initiative: +6
AC: 26 (flatfooted 19, touch 14), +1 dodge bonus against one target, +4 with Shield cast, +4 vs. attacks of opportunity when moving
DR 15 / bludgeoning and magic and 10 / adamantium from Stoneskin
Hit Dice: (22d12)
Hit Points: 136
Saves: Fortitude: +11, Reflex: +13, Will: +21
Immune: cold, electricity, paralysis, mind-affecting attacks, poison, acid
Resist: 20 cold, 20 fire
Aura: fear (affects creatures of 5 HD and less within 60 feet, Will DC 24 negates)
Turn Resistance: +4
Spell Resistance: 29
Speed: 40 ft.
Attacks: +13 negative energy touch
Damage: 1d8+5 (Will DC 24 halves) and permanent paralysis (Will DC 24 negates)
Face / Reach: 10 ft. / 10 ft.
Feats: Combat Casting, Craft Wand, Craft Wondrous Item, Dodge, Forge Ring, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Scribe Scroll, Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration
Special Abilities & Qualities: See Below
Abilities: STR 17 (+3), DEX 15 (+2), CON – (-), INT 28 (+9), WIS 18 (+4), CHA 19 (+4)
Skills: Appraise 10; Balance 2; Bluff 5; Concentration 29; Decipher Script 9; Diplomacy 9; Hide 11; Knowledge (Arcana) 28; Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 10; Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 9; Knowledge (Geography) 10; Knowledge (History) 13; Knowledge (Local) 14; Knowledge (Nature) 10; Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 14; Knowledge (Religion) 12; Knowledge (The Planes) 15; Listen 12; Move Silently 10; Ride 4; Search 17; Sense Motive 13; Spellcraft 30; Spot 15; Survival 3; Swim 1;
Possessions: Amulet of Natural Armor +3; Ring of Protection +3; Bracers of Armor +4; Cloak of Resistance +4; Headband of Intellect +4; Wand of Cat’s Grace; Wand of Scorching Ray (11th level caster); Wand of Lightning Bolt (10th level caster); Wand of Magic Missile (9th level caster); Wand of Polymorph; Wand of Suggestion;
Spell-like Abilities (as 17th level wizard, save DC 19 + spell level): At-Will: alter self, greater teleport. 3/Day: geas, true seeing
Wizard Spells:
Spell Save DC:19 + spell level
Mana: 193
Level 0 (4 / day): Arcane Mark, Daze, Detect Magic, Touch of Fatigue
Level 1 (7 / day): Identify, Ray of Enfeeblement x 2, Shield, True Strike, Charm Person, Protection From Good
Level 2 (6 / day): Mirror Image, Detect Thoughts, Invisibility, Resist Energy, Touch of Idiocy, Web
Level 3 (6 / day): Blink, Slow, Fly, Fire Ball, Vampyric Touch, Protection From Energy
Level 4 (6 / day): Enervation, Fire Shield, Greater Invisibility, Mass Reduce Person, Stoneskin, Resilient Sphere
Level 5 (6 / day): Feeblemind, Baleful Polymorph, Telekinesis, Dominate Person, Wall of Force, Cloudkill
Level 6 (5 / day): Flesh to Stone, Globe of Invulnerability, True Seeing, Greater Dispel Magic, Repulsion
Level 7 (4 / day): Mage’s Sword, Spell Turning, Finger of Death, Force Cage
Level 8 (3 / day): Horrid Wilting, Clenched Fist, Temporal Stasis
Level 9 (2 / day): Mass Hold Monster, Time Stop
Summon Daemon: once per day, Asteroth can summon 3d6 Canaloths or 2d4 Nycaloths with 100% chance of success, or 1d6 Nycoloths or 1 Ultroloth with a 50% chance of success. See the Manual of the Planes for statistics of these fiends.
Fear Aura (Su): Liches are shrouded in a dreadful aura of death and evil. Creatures of less than 5 HD in a 60-foot radius that look at the lich must succeed on a Will save or be affected as though by a fear spell from a sorcerer of the lich’s level. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the same lich’s aura for 24 hours.
Turn Resistance (Ex): A lich has +4 turn resistance.
Immunities (Ex): Liches have immunity to cold, electricity, polymorph (though they can use polymorph effects on themselves), and mind-affecting attacks.
Posted in 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons / d20 fantasy / Pathfinder, Creature and tagged creature type: demon, outsider, undead by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Memory Eater
This floating, mostly-mandible creature eats memories, dealing XP damage rather than normal damage. Watch out for crits!
Memory Eater
Size/Type: Small Aberration (Evil, Psionic)
Hit Dice: 8d8+15 (50 hp)
Initiative: +7
Speed: fly 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 24 (+1 size, +6 Dex, +7 natural), touch 17, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+3
Attack: Bite +8 melee (1d3+1)
Full Attack: Double bite +8 melee (1d3+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Psi-like abilities, steal memory
Special Qualities: Blindsight 60 ft., damage reduction 10/adamantine, immunity to fire, power resistance 23, resistance to electricity 15, vulnerability to protection from evil, shift alignment
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +8
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 23, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 14
Skills: Bluff +15, Concentration +11, Hide +16, Listen +16, Move Silently +16
Feats: Combat Manifestation, Toughness, Up the Walls, Wild TalentB
Environment: Underground
Organization: Solitary or pod (2-4)
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: standard coins of various sorts; double goods; standard items
Alignment: Always chaotic
Advancement: 9-12 HD (Medium), 13-16 (Large)
Level Adjustment: +7
Memory eaters understand common and all the tongues of the Dream and Astral Planes, and can understand any of the languages of prey whose memories they have stolen.
Combat
Steal Memory (Su): Upon a successful critical hit (range 18-20) on a creature, memory eaters steal memories from the creature, dealing 5d20 xp damage. Exactly which memories are taken is up to the DM. If the memory eater is killed, the memory is split among the party, who all feel as if they have the memory all to themselves. The XP taken is also split back among the party.
Psi-Like Abilities
Like their rival yet much smaller brethren, intellect devourers, memory eaters have supernatural mental abilities, including: at will—cloud mind, compression, detect psionics, ego whip (2d4, DC 16*), empty mind (+5 on Will saves*), id insinuation (three targets, DC 16*); 3/day—body adjustment (2d12*), intellect fortress, painful strike. Manifester level 7th.
The save DCs are Charisma-based.
*Includes augmentation for the memory eater’s manifester level.
Blindsight (Ex): A memory eater can use nonvisual means to ascertain all foes within 60 feet as a sighted creature would.
Alignment Shift (Ex): Memory eaters’ alignments shift based on the experiences they have experienced second-hand.
Skills
Memory eaters have a +4 racial bonus on Bluff checks. They also have a +8 racial bonus on Move Silently checks and Listen checks. Finally, they enjoy a +8 on all Knowledge checks, since they have learned more than their physical bodies have experienced.
Posted in Creature by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Cut-up Construct
Cut-ups are magically created automatons of varying power. Constructing one involves a decoupaged collage of scroll parchment and the employment of summoning magic, which pulls together the components for the Cut-up out of the ether. The tasks to be performed by the Cut-up must be written along the edge of the collage in a magical runic script. This is usually done in chalk so the collage may be reused.
The animating force for a Cut-up is a spirit from the Ethereal Plane. The process of creating the Cut-up assembles the component corporeal matter and breathes a temporary life into them, subjecting the ethereal spirit to the Cut-up’s creator, at least until their servitude is complete, as dictated by the tasks set forth in runes.
Combat
Since they are collections of multiple life forces all bent on competing their tasks and thus being set free, Cut-ups are strong-willed and tenacious in combat. They make any and all decisions based on this drive for freedom. They follow instructions explicitly and are incapable of any strategy or tactics outside this fundamental urge. For this reason, some may even attack their creators, if their creators are not careful to make their tasks clear.
Fatal Flaw
Cut-ups are destroyed if the collage used to summon them is destroyed, whether by fire, evisceration, or even a simple tear down the center of the parchment. Creators of Cut-ups must thus stow their collages with care, especially if they intend to reuse them.
Construction
The cost to create each Cut-up includes the cost of the scroll parchment used to breathe life into the collages and a bag of holding to provide the link the Ethereal Plane. Completing the Cut-up’s creation drains 50 XP from the creator. The bag of holding is not consumed in the creation, and once the Cut-up returns to the Ethereal Plane, the bag is left on the ground.
The resulting Cut-up can be up to 1’x1’ per level of the spellcaster. For instance, Mialee, a 14th-level spellcaster, creates a collage, and summons the ethereal energy to manifest a Cut-up up to 14’x14’. This creature is included in the stat block below.
The physical characteristics of a Cut-up come from its design on parchment, so there is infinite variation in their final forms.
Mialee’s Cut-up
Size/Type: Large Construct
Hit Dice: 14d10+30 (105 hp)
Initiative: 0
Speed: 30 ft.
Armor Class: 23 (-1 size, 0 Dex, +14 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+19
Attack: Slam +14 melee (2d8+8 plus deep cut)
Full Attack: 2 slams +14 melee (2d8+8 plus deep cut)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Deep cut
Special Qualities: Construct traits, fatal flaw, flip sides, fold space, damage reduction 10/bludgeoning and piercing, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to magic, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +5
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 11, Con Ø, Int Ø, Wis 11, Cha 1
Skills: —
Feats: —
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary or gang (2-4), up to ¼ the level of the caster
Challenge Rating: 11
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 15-21 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: —
Cut-ups take the forms depicted on their collages.
A Cut-up cannot speak or make any vocal noise. It moves with a wide gait like the folding of paper. It appears weightless, yet is strangely corporeal.
Combat
Flip Sides (Ex): Every round a Cut-up is in combat, there is a 5% chance each round that it will determine that the easiest path to setting its ethereal energy free is to flip sides, turning on its creator. While fighting against its creator, there is a 5% chance that the Cut-up will return to its creator’s side.
Deep Cut (Ex): Since Cut-ups are made of pure ethereal energy, damage dealt by a Cut-up doesn’t heal naturally and resists healing spells. A character attempting to cast a healing spell on a creature damaged by a Cut-up must succeed on a DC 10+ the constructor’s caster level check, or the spell has no effect on the injured character.
Vulnerable to Blades (Ex): Cut-ups are especially susceptible to damage from slashing weapons, which deal double damage.
Immunity to Magic (Ex): A Cut-up is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below.
A blade barrier spell or other non-magical blade slows the Cut-up (as the slow spell) for 1d6 rounds and deals 2d6 points of damage.
Fold Space (Su): At will, Cut-ups can take shortcuts through the Prime Material Plane by folding themselves through the ether as per the spell ethereal jaunt.
CL 11th; Craft Construct, animate objects, resurrection, caster must be at least 11th level; Price 5,000gp in fine scroll parchment, a bag of holding; Cost 21,500gp, 1,540xp.
Posted in Creature and tagged construct by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Giant Pipefish
Slithering out from the the reef, a giant eel of a beast swims toward you.
Giant Pipefish
Size/Type: Large Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 12d8+46 (107 hp)
Initiative: +8
Speed: Swim 90 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 27 (-1 size, +6 Dex, +12 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +10/+23
Attack: Bite +17 melee (2d6+5)
Full Attack: Bite +17 melee (2d6+5)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, constrict
Special Qualities: Keen scent
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +15, Will +8
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 23, Con 15, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Listen +14, Spot +10, Swim +24
Feats: Improved Natural Attack (bite), Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Cold aquatic
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 10
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 13-18 (Huge); 19-32 (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: —
Giant pipefish attack anything they perceive to be edible, even larger creatures, constricting them until they stop breathing.
This monstrous fish can grow to a length of 25 feet and weigh more than 4,000 pounds.
Combat
Giant pipefish entangle their foes in their long, tentacle-like bodies.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire shark must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe in the following round.
Constrict (Ex): A creature with this special attack can crush an opponent, dealing bludgeoning damage, after making a successful grapple check. The amount of damage is given in the creature’s entry. If the creature also has the improved grab ability it deals constriction damage in addition to damage dealt by the weapon used to grab.
Keen Scent (Ex): A giant pipefish can notice creatures by scent in a 180-foot radius and can detect blood in the water at a range of up to 1 mile.
Skills
A giant pipefish has a +12 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered, and get a free tumble check to move through opponents spaces, avoiding attacks of opportunity.
It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
Posted in 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons / d20 fantasy / Pathfinder, Creature and tagged animal by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
A Princess of the Aurochs
Iejir’svern is a member of the royal family of the Aurochs, a civilization of dragonborn and lizardfolk who inhabit the swamps of southern Soguer – a land they call Veth’achuak’arux (our green valley). The royal family are also the shamanistic priesthood of the Aurochs, and Iejir’svern is a young but powerful spiritual leader of her people – she is well-liked by her subjects. She publically lives out the priesthood’s principals of harmony with nature, respect, patientce, and wisdom.
Currently she has been kidnapped by the Saurians, a group of priests in the Auroch society that worship gods rather than nature – a new phenemon within their society that has sprung up in the last few generations. They mainly revere Tiamat and Bahomet, viewing them as powerful complimentary dieties that extol them to become mighty, wealthy and powerful. Some among them also worship other dieties such as Errithul and Hextor. The Saurians resent the power and respect the royal line holds in Veth’achuak’arux and many among them wish to usurp the religious leadership of their people from the Aurochs. A bold group of Timat worshipers among them has kidnapped Iejir’svern to remove her charismatic hold over the people. But this treasonus sacralige was not their own plan – it was suggested to them by an agent of Brashel Ocktor – the priest of Orcus who is carefully building up his power in these lands.
A slender young dragonborn female with light blue-green scales, a small frill above her head, and curving horns, Iejir’svern tends to tap her fingers when nervous, and has a star-shaped patch of white scales on the end of her snout.
Iejir’svern ✦ Level 9 Shaman
medium natural humanoid ✦ XP 400
Initiative +5 Senses Perception +9
HP 64; Bloodied 32
AC 20; Fortitude 21, Reflex 18, Will 23
Speed 6
At-Will Powers
Companion Spirit – Sprit’s Shield – opportunity action – when an enemy leaves a square adjacent to the spirit companion. wisdom vs reflex – 4 damage.
Watcher’s Strike – Wisdon vs. Reflex, 1d8 + 7 damage and you and allies gain +1 to attack and +5 to perception for 1 turn.
Defending Strike – Wisdon (+12) vs. Reflex, 1d8 + 7 damage and you and allies gain +1 power bonus to AC while adjacent to the spirit companion.
Encoutner Powers
healing spirit – spend healing surge + 2d6 hp
speak with spirits
Dragon Breath – close blast 3, +8 vs Reflex, 1d6 + 6 lightning damage.
Thunderstorm Spirit – ranged 5, Wisdom (+12) vs. Reflex, 1d12 + 7 lightning and thunder damage, and when you and your allies hit a target adjacent to the spirit companion they deal an extra 1d6 lightning and thunder damage.
Daily Powers
Raging Storm Spirit – area burst 5 within 10, Wisdom (+12) vs. Reflex, 3d6 + 7 damage. Effect: creates a zone of thunder that grants allies within it 1d6 extra thunder damage on enemies within the zone.
Blessing of the Iron Tree – one bloodied ally withing 5 gains resist 5 to all until the end of the encounter.
Alignment neutral Languages Common
Skills Arcana +10, Heal +14, History +12, Nature +14
Str 13 (+5) Dex 13 (+5) Wis 18 (+9)
Con 16 (+7) Int 12 (+5) Cha 17 (+7)
Equipment: leather armor, dragon totem, mace
Posted in 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons, Character, Creature and tagged subplot: Lament of the Aurochs by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
The Tyrant
When the tyrant arrives upon the scene, he seems a mere boy. Young and as impetuous as the PC’s liege Ludwig, he seems a child among giants next to the players. But even in the first encounters he speaks with eloquence, emotionally manipulating his listeners with skill. After speaking to him, most feel used, that that they have agreed to do something that makes them feel dirty. With his innocent appearance he makes an appeal to his audience’s vanity, be it to their morals or desire for power, offering them a course of action that is presented as furtherance of that goal and plays them like an apprentice’s lute.
When next they meet him, during the war for Aguies County he is with the Count Aguies, and outfitted in the regalia of war. His shield bears a gold guantlet holding 3 swords on a red field, and he wears a holy symbol of Hextor.
Trent ✦ Level 9 Paladin (Soldier)
Medium natural humanoid ✦ XP 400
Initiative +5 Senses Perception +4
HP 83; Bloodied 41; Healing Surge: 20; Healing Surges: 1
AC 28; Fortitude 22, Reflex 23, Will 23
Speed 6 (10 on warhorse)
Powers
triple-headed flail ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, melee weapon, melee basic
Attack: +13 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 6 damage
Enfeebling Strike ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, Melee, melee weapon
Attack: +12 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 8 damage. If marked, the target takes -2 to attack rolls until the end of Trent’s next turn.
Divine Challenge ✦ At-Will, Minor Action, Close burst 5, Divine, Necrotic
Effect: the target is marked, taking a -2 penalty to attacks that do not include Trent as a target, and the first time the target makes such an attack it takes 8 points of necrotic damage.
Lay on Hands ✦ 4 times / Encounter, Minor Action, Melee Touch Divine, healing, Divine Reverence ✦ Encounter, Standard Action, Close burst 1Divine, Necrotic, implement
Attack: +12 vs Will
Hit: 1d8 + 8 necrotic damage, and the target is dazed until the end of your next turn.
Necrotic Pulse ✦ Daily, Standard Action, Ranged 10
Divine, Necrotic
Attack: +12 vs Fortitude
Hit: 1d10 + 8 necrotic damage, and make a secondary attack
Secondary Attack: +12 vs Fortitude on each enemy adjacent to the primary target.
Hit: 1d10 + 8 necrotic damage and the target is pushed 3 squares.
Sustain Minor: repeat the secondary attack.
Wrath of the Gods ✦ Daily, Minor Action, Close burst 1, Divine
Trent and each ally in burst gain +5 to damage rolls until the end of the encounter.
Alignment neutral Languages Common
Skills religion +9, bluff +13
Str 16 (+7) Dex 12 (+5) Wis 10 (+4)
Con 11 (+4) Int 14 (+6) Cha 21 (+9)
Equipment: layered plate mail (A.V.), heavy shield, cape of the mountebank +1, triple-headed flail, holy symbol of hextor, heavy warhorse
Posted in 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons, Character, Creature and tagged Campaign: Heir of Soguer, subplot:The Tyrant by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Byzozius
Byzozius is an ancient unicorn who lives in the Forest of Light on Solania, a subplane of Celestia, accessible from a portal in the center of Trangúll Dřevo, a giant elven forest in Farghoal full of fey creatures. It is by making connections with them, and serving them for a time, that he is able to be encountered.
Byzozius lives on, but has grown weak and withered without his horn. Byzozius’ horn was carved by Kardâsuan, an elven carver who didn’t know its origin.
Fully restored with his horn, Byzozius has the following stats. Without his horn, Byzozius is roughly as powerful as a heavy war horse. This makes his very vulnerable until restored with his horn.
Byzozius (Level 11 Celestial Charger)
Size/Type: Large Magical Beast (Extraplanar, Celestial)
Hit Dice: 8d10+11d8+75 (177 hp)
Initiative: +10
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 27 (-1 size, +5 Dex, +7 natural, +5 bracers of armor +6), touch 13, flat-footed 20
Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+26
Attack: Horn +24 melee (1d8+10)
Full Attack: Horn +24 melee (1d8+10) and 2 hooves +16 melee (1d4+3)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Turn undead 13/day, smite evil, ride-by attack, spells
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/magic, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to poison, charm, and compulsion, low-light vision, magic circle against evil, resistance to acid 10, cold 10, and electricity 10, scent, spell-like abilities, spell resistance 20, wild empathy
Saves: Fort +18, Ref +14, Will +20
Abilities: Str 24, Dex 20, Con 20, Int 13, Wis 29, Cha 22
Skills: Concentration +15, Knowledge (nature) +10, Knowledge (planes) +12, Knowledge (religion) +8, Listen +15, Move Silently +19, Spellcraft +12, Spot +17, Survival +15 (+17 aboveground)*
Feats: Alertness, Combat Casting, Extra Turning, Improved Initiative, Improved Turning, Run, Skill Focus (Survival)
Environment: Celestia
Organization: Unique, solitary
Challenge Rating: 17
Treasure: None
Alignment: Chaotic good
Advancement: 11 Cleric levels
Level Adjustment: +12 (cohort)
Byzozius is an 11 HD celestial unicorn with eleven levels of cleric.
A unicorn has deep sea-blue, violet, brown, or fiery gold eyes. Males sport a white beard.
A typical adult unicorn grows to 8 feet in length, stands 5 feet high at the shoulder, and weighs 1,200 pounds. Females are slightly smaller and slimmer than males.
Unicorns speak Sylvan and Common.
Skills
Unicorns have a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks. *Unicorns have a +3 competence bonus on Survival checks within the boundaries of their forest.
Combat
The save DC for this celestial charger’s neutralize poison ability (DC 20) is adjusted for its greater Hit Dice and altered Charisma score.
Byzozius’ natural weapons are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Smite Evil (Su): Three times per day, Byzozius can make a normal melee attack to deal 15 points of extra damage against an evil foe.
Magic Circle Against Evil (Su): Three times per day, Byzozius can create a 20′ magic circle against evil, as the spell, with the larger area of effect.
Cleric Spells Prepared (6/7/6/5/4; save DC 18 + spell level)
0th: detect magic, detect poison (2), light, virtue (2)
1st: bless (2), calm animals*, obscuring mist, remove fear, sanctuary, shield of faith
2nd: aid* (2), animal messenger, lesser restoration, remove paralysis, shield other
3rd: prayer, protection from energy, remove curse, searing light (2)
4th: air walk, divine power, holy smite*, restoration
5th: atonement, flame strike, spell resistance
6th: blade barrier, wind walk
*Domain spell. Domains: Animal and Good.
Posted in Creature and tagged Celestia, farghoal, forest, solania, unicorn by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Armies of Count Aguies
After months of preperation and diplomacy the players recieve word that Aguies is on the march. Allies are gathered and battle is joined at the bridge over the Mistwash just south of the village Clommel.
Battle on the field with Aguies’ army
- Aguies outnumbers the heroes by a large margin, but many of his troops are conscripted peasants.
- When the Count’s army arrives, he will take some time to take stock of the situation.
You stand on the wooden bridge spanning the Mistwash River. The waters push up against the soggy banks, heavy with spring rain and melted snow from the Kitel woods far upstream. The troops of your liege, Ludwig Staledwo, are camped behind you to the north, weapons near at hand.Ahead, to the south, you see movement through the woods. Nearly a mile away a group of knights on horse ride out of the woods, at the head of a column of footmen. The shields and standards of the knight in the lead bears the red boar on a black field above three blue chevrons – Aguies’ coat of arms. Beside him is another black shield, this one bearing a gold crown over a red fist holding 3 swords.
The knights pull their horses to a halt and survey your forces.
Envoys may be sent, but their army makes camp and begins deploying or making some siege gear of their own while standing more or less at the ready. Their archers make a dozen tower shields / standing walls from which they can shoot. - The Count’s attack on the bridge will consist of several waves of attackers.
- First some footmen will be sent across supported by the archers.
level 7 – 1200 xp
10 x human lackey – xp 75 ea.
4 x guards – xp 150 ea. - Another wave of footmen, with some skirmishers in the group.
level 9 – 1575 xp
1 x human lackey – xp 75 ea.
3 x pikemen – xp 250 ea.
3 x light infantry – xp 250 ea. - A wave of knights will attack – trying to bull rush / trample their way through the defenders. Trent will be a part of this wave, and will show Hextor-like power once bloodied – he gains resist 10 to all damage. The priest of Hironeous will beseech his god to help, and one of the players will get Herionous-like power too – allowing that character to ignore Trent’s resist 10, and be able to turn the tide. Trent turns and runs once reduced to 1/3 HP.
level 9 – 1625 xp
Trent – xp 400
4 x pikemen – xp 250 ea.
3 x human lackey – xp 75 - A final wave of Knights and foot attack with Aguies leading the charge and some controllers to help take the bridge. Aguies turns once it is obvious they are loosing. At this point the Count’s forces are re-grouping away from the bridge and the players have the opportunity to counter-attack.
level 10 – 2375 xp
Aguies – xp 700
Trent – xp 400
War-Sorcerer – xp 400
2 knight – xp 250 ea
5 x lackey – xp 75 ea - If they counter-attack there is a final battle with mixed forces and a weakened Aguies and Trent, who flee, with the army in a rout, when bloodied.
level 9 – xp 2000
Aguies – xp 700
Trent – xp 400
War-Sorcerer – xp 400
Pikemen – xp 250 ea
light infantry – xp 250 ea - If they do not counter-attack, and take a 5 minute rest or longer, the opposing army gets an opportunity to regroup & heal, and the next battle is much harder. The players can either counter-attack, or wait until the next day when Aguies will attack again – this time supported by a small catapult they built overnight. This encounter should be fairly overwhelming, perhaps a level 13 encounter.
Pikemen ✦ Level 6 Soldier
Medium natural humanoid ✦ XP 250
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +3
HP 71; Bloodied 36
AC 22; Fortitude 18, Reflex 16, Will 15
Speed 5
Powers
Pike ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, Reach 2
melee weapon
Attack: +13 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 4 damage, and the target is marked until the beginning of the pikeman’s next turn.
Pike Push ✦ Encounter, Standard Action, Reach 2, Recharge (5,6)
melee weapon
Attack: +13 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 6 damage, and target is pushed 2 squares.
Crossbow ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, Range 15/30
ranged weapon
Attack: +12 vs. AC
Hit: 1d8 + 3 damage.
Alignment neutral Languages Common
Skills athletics +11, endurance +10
Str 16 (+6) Dex 15 (+5) Wis 11 (+3)
Con 15 (+5) Int 10 (+3) Cha 13 (+4)
Equipment: chain mail, pike, crossbow, 10 bolts
Medium natural humanoid ✦ XP 250
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +3
HP 71; Bloodied 36
AC 20; Fortitude 16, Reflex 18, Will 15
Speed 6
Powers
Short Sword ✦ At-Will, Standard Action
melee weapon
Attack: +11 vs. AC
Hit: 1d6 + 6 damage.
Backstab ✦ Encounter, Standard Action, Recharge (5,6)
melee weapon
Attack: +11 vs. AC
Hit: 3d6 + 4 damage, and target is dazed until the end of the Light Infantry’s next turn.
Shortbow ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, Range 15/30
ranged weapon
Attack: +12 vs. AC
Hit: 1d6 + 3 damage.
Fleet of Foot✦ At-Will, Move Action, Personal
Shift 1.
Alignment neutral Languages Common
Skills athletics +11, endurance +10
Str 14 (+5) Dex 16 (+6) Wis 11 (+3)
Con 15 (+5) Int 10 (+3) Cha 13 (+4)
Equipment: leather armor, shortsword, shortbow Knight of the Realm ✦ Level 6 Soldier
Medium natural humanoid ✦ XP 250
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +3
HP 71; Bloodied 36
AC 24; Fortitude 18, Reflex 16, Will 15
Speed 5 (10 on warhorse)
Powers
Lance ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, Reach 2
melee weapon
Attack: +12 vs. AC
Hit: 1d12 + 5 damage, and the target is marked until the beginning of the pikeman’s next turn.
Longsword ✦ At-Will, Standard Action
melee weapon
Attack: +13 vs. AC
Hit: 1d8 + 4 damage, and the target is marked until the beginning of the pikeman’s next turn.
Heavy Lance Charge ✦ Encounter, Standard Action, Reach 2, Recharge (5,6)
melee weapon
the Knight charges and attacks with the lance
Attack: +12 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 7 damage, and target is pushed 2 squares.
Crossbow ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, Range 15/30
ranged weapon
Attack: +12 vs. AC
Hit: 1d8 + 3 damage.
Alignment neutral Languages Common
Skills athletics +11, endurance +10
Str 16 (+6) Dex 15 (+5) Wis 11 (+3)
Con 15 (+5) Int 10 (+3) Cha 13 (+4)
Equipment: chain mail, heavy shield, lance, longsword, crossbow, 10 bolts War-Sorcerer of Soguer ✦ Level 9 Artillery
Medium natural humanoid ✦ XP 400
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +9
HP 72; Bloodied 36
AC 20; Fortitude 19, Reflex 21, Will 25
Speed 6
Powers
Burning Spray ✦ At-Will, Standard Action Close blast 3
Arcane, Fire, Implement
You fling your arm in a wide arc, casting liquid fire at your foes.
Target: Each creature in blast
Attack: +12 vs. Reflex
Hit: 1d8 + 8 fire damage.
Chaos Bolt ✦ At-Will, Standard Action Ranged 10
Arcane, Implement, Psychic
A bolt of many-colored light leaps from your hand and screams toward an enemy’s head.
Primary Target: One creature
Primary Attack: +12 vs. Will
Hit: 1d10 + 8 psychic damage.
Effect: If you rolled an even number for the primary attack roll, make a secondary attack.
Secondary Target: One creature within 5 squares of the target last hit by this power
Secondary Attack: +12 vs. Will
Hit: 1d6 psychic damage. If you rolled an even number for the secondary attack roll, repeat the secondary attack.
You can attack a creature only once with a single use of this power.
Chaos Storm ✦ Encounter, Standard Action Area burst 1 within 10 squares
Arcane, Implement, Lightning, Teleportation
A storm of lightning pounds your enemies. When the storm clears, everyone has teleported to new positions by your magic.
Target: Each creature in burst
Attack: +12 vs. Reflex
Hit: 2d6 + 8 lightning damage.
Effect: You teleport each target hit by the attack to any other space within the burst.
Contagious Curse ✦ Daily, Standard Action Ranged 10
Arcane, Implement, Poison
A cloud of poison gas coils around your foe, warding off help.
Target: One creature
Attack: +12 vs. Fortitude
Hit: 2d10 + 8 poison damage.
Effect: You slide the target a number of squares equal to your Charisma modifier. The target is poisonous to your enemies (save ends). While the target is poisonous, any enemy that starts its turn adjacent to the target takes 1d10 poison damage.
Wild Magic: If you rolled an even number on the attack roll, any enemy that starts its turn within 2 squares of the poisonous target takes 1d10 poison damage.
Unfettered Power: When you roll a natural 20 on an attack roll for an arcane power, you slide the target 1 square and knock it prone after applying the attack’s other effects.
Alignment neutral Languages Common, Draconic
Skills Arcana +9, Insight +9, Perception +9
Str 13 (+5) Dex 17 (+7) Wis 11 (+4)
Con 12 (+5) Int 10 (+4) Cha 21 (+9)
Equipment: staff, dagger, robes Trent ✦ Level 9 Paladin (Soldier)
Medium natural humanoid ✦ XP 400
Initiative +5 Senses Perception +4
HP 83; Bloodied 41; Healing Surge: 20; Healing Surges: 1
AC 28; Fortitude 22, Reflex 23, Will 23
Speed 6 (10 on warhorse)
Powers
triple-headed flail ✦ At-Will, Standard Action,
melee weapon
Attack: +13 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 6 damage
Enfeebling Strike ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, Melee
melee weapon
Attack: +12 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 8 damage. If marked, the target takes -2 to attack rolls until the end of Trent’s next turn.
Divine Challenge ✦ At-Will, Minor Action, Close burst 5,
Divine, Necrotic
Effect: the target is marked, taking a -2 penalty to attacks that do not include Trent as a target, and the first time the target makes such an attack it takes 8 points of necrotic damage.
Lay on Hands ✦ 4 times / Encounter, Minor Action, Melee Touch
Divine, healing,
Divine Reverence ✦ Encounter, Standard Action, Close burst 1
Divine, Necrotic, implement
Attack: +12 vs Will
Hit: 1d8 + 8 necrotic damage, and the target is dazed until the end of your next turn.
Necrotic Pulse ✦ Daily, Standard Action, Ranged 10
Divine, Necrotic
Attack: +12 vs Fortitude
Hit: 1d10 + 8 necrotic damage, and make a secondary attack
Secondary Attack: +12 vs Fortitude on each enemy adjacent to the primary target.
Hit: 1d10 + 8 necrotic damage and the target is pushed 3 squares.
Sustain Minor: repeat the secondary attack.
Wrath of the Gods ✦ Daily, Minor Action, Close burst 1
Divine
Trent and each ally in burst gain +5 to damage rolls until the end of the encounter.
Alignment neutral Languages Common
Skills religion +9, bluff +13
Str 16 (+7) Dex 12 (+5) Wis 10 (+4)
Con 11 (+4) Int 14 (+6) Cha 21 (+9)
Equipment: layered plate mail (A.V.), heavy shield, triple-headed flail, holy symbol of Hextor, heavy warhorse Count Aguies✦ Level 12 Fighter (Soldier)
Medium natural humanoid ✦ XP 700
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +9
HP 109; Bloodied 54; Healing Surge: 26; Healing Surges: 2
AC 32; Fortitude 31, Reflex 27, Will 25
Speed 5 (10 on warhorse)
Powers
Bastard Sword ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, Melee
melee weapon
Attack: +21 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 12
Combat Challenge
Any target Aguies has attacked may be marked, and takes -2 to attack rolls that don’t include Aguies as a target. Aguies can make a bastard sword attack against any marked target that shifts or makes an attack that does not target him.
Sweeping Blow ✦ Encounter, Standard Action, Close burst 1
Attack: +24 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 12 damage.
Reckless Strike ✦ Encounter, Standard Action, Melee
Attack: +19 vs. AC
Hit: 3d10 + 12 Damage.
Victorious Surge ✦ Daily (Reliable), Standard Action, Melee
Attack: +21 vs. AC
Hit: 3d10 + 12, and regain 26 HP.
Defensive Training ✦ Daily, Stance, Minor Action, Personal
Effect: Gain a +2 power bonus to Fortitiude, Reflex or Will defense.
Inexorable Shift ✦ Daily, Move Action, Personal
Effect: Shift into any adjacent square and push any target occupying that square 1.
Alignment neutral Languages Common
Skills athletics +18, endurance +12
Str 24 (+13) Dex 12 (+7) Wis 16 (+9)
Con 13 (+7) Int 17 (+9) Cha 11 (+6)
Equipment: wyvernscale armor, heavy shield, bastard sword
Posted in 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons, Creature, Encounter and tagged Campaign: Heir of Soguer, creature type: humanoid, creature: heroic skirmisher, creature: heroic soldier, creature: paragon soldier, subplot:The Tyrant by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Bog Maid
Size/Type: Medium Fey Humanoid (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 7d8+14 (45 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: Walk 40 ft. (8 squares), Swim 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 19 (+3 Dex, +6 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+18
Attack: Claw +13 melee (1d6+5)
Full Attack: 2 claws +11 melee (1d6+5) and rancid bite +6 melee (2d6+1)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, rake 1d6+7, rancid bite 2d6+1, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 2/bludgeoning, darkvision 60 ft., shape change, spell resistance 19, swamp walk
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +6
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 14
Skills: Bluff +6, Diplomacy +4, Disguise +6 (+8 when shape changed), Hide +6, Intimidate +2, Listen +10, Spot +10
Feats: Alertness, Great Fortitude
Environment: Marshes, bogs and swamps
Organization: Solitary or covey (3 maids of various enticing forms)
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: —
These sirens of the swamp have been known to lure many an adventurer into brackish waters and bramble patches.
Combat
Bog maids usually draw upon their shape change ability to alter its physical form to appear as a beautiful young female elf, half-elf, or other humanoid. Then, they grapple their opponents in what seems a lustful embrace, proceeding to bite into them with their rancid maws.
Rancid Bite (Ex): The rancid bite of a bog maid deals 2d6+1 damage. In addition, a DC 18 Fortitude save is required to avoid 1d4 temporary Con damage.
Skills
Shape Change (Ex): Bog maids have the natural ability to change their shape into other humanoid forms, typically choosing a beautiful maiden of a humanoid species.
Swamp Walk (Ex): Because of their innate knowledge of the terrain, bog maids can move at normal speed through swamp, marsh, and bog.
Thanks to Rakehell over at Tailslap for the 4e version of this creature!
Posted in Creature and tagged bog, fey, monstrous humanoid by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.