Ogre (Nyssian Racial HD Advancement)

Ogres are brutes that use their strength and toughness to force their way among allies and enemies alike as they have little else to resolve issues.  Most are evil as their hunger or other appetites lead them to commit vile actions, and once they begin to act they are committed regardless of consequences. Despite their low intelligence and charm, they are often accepted into any army as their brute strength and size offers useful skills. Magic or intimidation are the two ways ogres are usually led - they understand little else.

The very few non-evil ogres are individuals that were somehow separated, whether by choice or accident, and found allies that encouraged a non-violent expression of their hunger and other tendencies. Fey in particular will sometimes capture an ogre and charm it for several weeks trying to show it another way, before releasing it and hoping their efforts have subtlety influenced it to become a willing ally.


Ogre
NE Large humanoid (giant)
Init –1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +5

DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 8, flat-footed 17 (+4 armor, –1 Dex, +5 natural, –1 size)
hp 30 (4d8+12)
Fort +6, Ref +0, Will +3

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft. (40 ft. base)
Melee: Greatclub +7 (2d8+7)
Ranged: Javelin +1 (1d8+5)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

STATISTICS
Str 21, Dex 8, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 7
Base Atk +3; CMB +9; CMD 18
Feats Iron Will, Toughness
Skills Climb +7, Perception +5, Knowledge (local)+2 , Profession +2, (Any One); Survival +2
Languages Giant

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate, cold hills or forests
Organization solitary, pair, gang (3–4), or family (5–16)
Treasure standard (hide armor, greatclub, 4 javelins, other treasure)

Advancement
5 HD   +2 Str or Con; +3 in skills; 1 Dmg Reduction, Lesser Feat, Rage
6  HD Increased Natural Weapon Damage (1d8 Claws); +1 in Natural AC, Lesser Feat; +3 in skills
7 HD +2 Str or Con; +3 in skills; 2 Dmg Reduction,  Lesser Feat; +1 in Natural AC
8 HD Increased Natural Weapon Damage  (1d10 Claws / 1d4 Bite); Roar, Lesser Feat, +3 in skills
9 HD +2 Str or Con; +3 in skills;  4 Dmg Reduction, Advanced Feat
10 HD +2 Str or Con; +2 in Natural AC; Leader's Fury, Advanced Feat, +3 in skills
11 HD +3 in skills; Increase Natural weapon Threat Range (18-20), 6 Dmg Reduction, Adv Feat
12 HD +4 Str & Con;Increased Natural Weapon Damage  (2d8 Claws / 1d10 Bite); +7 in skills; +3 in Natural AC, Advanced Feat

Rage - As per Barbarian's Rage ability; (1+ Constitution Bonus / day)
Roar - Instill Rage in other creatures that can hear their screams (2 / day)
Leader's Fury - Lesser allies will be influenced by the ogre's rage by being in his presence and witnessing his fury (2 + Charisma Bonus / day)

Typical Skills: Climb, Perception, Knowledge (Local, Geography, Nature, Tribal), Handle Animal, Profession, Survival

Lesser Feats: Power Attack, Power Swing, Natural Armor (+2), Improved Initiative, Frenzy Rage, Rage

Advanced Feats (Higher than 8 HD) Imp Natural armor (+4), Improve: Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma by +2, Speak other Language (local), Increase Critical, Stunning Head-Butt,

Few Ogres advance in HD or levels above 12 HD.  Those that do typically advance as barbarian or fighter class. Ogres cannot take non-racial levels until they complete the listed HD.

Cadaver - base undead

Cadaver (Nyssian Zombies)

This is the base undead found on Nyssa. Cadavers appear the same as zombies at lower levels - slow speed, flesh hanging off them with rotting organs always eager to devour living flesh. As they age, they lose all of their flesh and organs, becoming skeletal in appearance. Just as significant, most of them gain in intelligence and charisma, so they become a very different type of threat at higher levels.

At the start, they are low intelligence beings whose only purpose seems to be hunt and devour living creatures. While believed to be ruthlessly evil this is not entirely true, at their youthful stages and HD they seek to feed on the flesh of living beings. Those that advance often become neutrally aligned, as higher HD ones usually wish for solace, and will only feed only on living beings who disturb their slumber. Some believe it is their transition to undeath which causes the hunger for flesh, as there have been good aligned Cadavers, while incredibly rare, who are not inflicted with these pangs.

At higher level HD, a Cadaver is incredibly influential and charismatic to other undead, in fact this is how many undead hordes converge. Some of these undead are destroyed by their Cadaver Lord if they do not comply with their commanders orders to control where and when they feed.

Cadaver CR 1

XP 600

NE (N)                                           Medium undead

Init +2                                            Senses darkvision 120 ft.; Perception +5

DEFENSE

AC 13, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+1 Dex, +2 natural)

hp 5 (1d8)

Fort +0; Ref -1; Will +3

DR 2/slashing; Resist cold 20, undead traits

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.

Melee Weapon +2 (1d6+1)

SQ Regeneration

STATISTICS

Str 13, Dex 7, Con 10, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 5

Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 13

Skills: Climb +5, Perception +5, Stealth +5, Knowledge (Religion) +5

Feats Improved Initiative

 ECOLOGY
Environment       Any
Organization       Team (3-6)
Treasure Value    Quarter Standard (Usually worn clothing, jewelry or weapons)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Regeneration (Su) When reduced to 0 hit points or less, a cadaver is not destroyed; rather it falls inert and begins the process of reanimating.  Hit points lost to magical weapons or spells are regained at the rate of one per day, those lost from non-magical weapons are regained 1 every hour. When the creature reaches its full hit point total, it stands up, ready to fight again.  They are permanently destroyed if interned on a holy site or if a holy weapon is used to inflict the damage.

HD Advancement

Gain +2 skill points only in skill options (not just their base skills) 

Gain +2 in charisma reaction to other undead creatures
Gain +1 in natural AC every other HD

2 HD Pact of Peace (Other Low Level Undead); SR 5; Gain 1 Feat

3 HD Bone Reading,  +2 to any three ability scores; Dmg Reduction 4/bludgeoning or magic

4 HD Speak with Living (1/day) Gain 1 Feat; Move 30 ft

5 HD Pact of Peace (Animals); SR 10;  Dmg Reduction 6/bludgeoning or magic

6 HD Pact of Peace (Faeries & Good Aligned Outsiders) , +2 to any four ability scores, Move 40 ft

7 HD Gain 1 Feat; Speak with Living (3/day); SR 15; Dmg Reduction 8/bludgeoning or magic

8 HD Pact of peace (Lawful Creatures, Death Figures and Religious); No Scent; Gain 1 Feat

9 HD Immunity to Ward Against Death, +2 to any three ability scores; SR 20; Dmg Reduction ,10/magic, Move 50 ft 

Bone Reading: Touching a piece of bone will reveal the name, race and class of who the bone belonged to. Usable 3 / day

Speak with Living: Undead have no workable body parts, so this spell enables them to communicate with the living. It can enable communication for up to five minutes.

Pacts of Peace: Cadavers emit a non-threatening aura for the creatures listed, unless the undead takes violent action, those listed just ignore the undead as non-threats. It is the intent not the actions, if undead are even considering breaking the peace, the creatures will not recognize the peace pact. Their pacts of peace are for NPCs only, not PCs or their companions.

No Scent: At this point, cadavers emit no scent and cannot be tracked in a standard manner

Immunity to Ward Against Death: Spells or effects that normally affect undead have no affect on Cadavers (this includes clerical turning). This only works if the Cadaver is in their home base. Once a Cadaver leaves their home, they can be affected normally.

Feats Options:
Quick Strikes (Ex): With this feat, a zombie can make one additional attack at its highest base attack bonus.

Death Burst (Ex): When a zombie dies with this feat, it explodes in a burst of decay. All creatures adjacent to the plague zombie are exposed to its plague as if struck by a slam attack and must make a Fortitude save or contract zombie rot.

Sameel's Sugar Shack

Someone was running a mini-contest on one of the boards about magical locations. I remember starting this and couldn't hack down all the details I wanted at the time...but here it is.

Sameel's Sugar Shack

An infamous sugar shop well known for sweets and a unique tasting experience has recently come back on the market. Plain looking store in a rough area of any city. It is always busy as its customer base is very loyal and protective of their favored sweet shop.

Exquisite furnaces and cold-boxes, all custom made for this shop, as well as a sitting area for up to twelve patrons at a time.  There are larger room upstairs but they are not available for rental anymore. The current workers are unsure but some older patrons say that these rooms were rented out in other worlds, and when they would enter the rooms they would then be able to come to this location.  It is not known if these still work, if these legends are true, or if one could visit other worlds through it any longer. **

Scattered through-out every foot in the interior of the building are stones and quasi-precious gemstones from many differing worlds.  They are arranged so they appear to be candies in various decorative patterns such as a child riding a tricycle, teddy-bear, carousel, etc along the wall in configuration with the stones.  The rumored sugar faeries are real and entertain the little ones and protect the shop. Anyone that even appears to threaten the shop finds themselves outside, hung over and usually tied up within three rounds - the sugar faeries protect this shop as their own.

Anytime food or drink is imbibed in this room (even if not prepared at the shop), there is a 2% chance that they are filled with an overpowering and magical taste. There is a 20% chance if the food is prepared and eaten at the shop. It was said that the original owner Sameel could make the number rise to 50%, and pre-determine the taste. The current owner, named Sameel as well is the third or fourth generation of his family that runs the sugar shack.

Most patrons come for the lovely candies and experiencing the sugar faeries that are rumored to lair in the building. The price is 2 nobles (silver pieces), and both the child and adult get their pick. Children get any ten pieces and adults get two non-special flavored pieces.

For those willingly to pay more 150 crowns (gold pieces), they can pick out some special flavors and roll 2d10. They can have only two picks. If they pay 500 crowns, they can chose one piece from selection 3-12 and get a bucket flavoured candy piece.

Customers can only come to the Sugar Shack once every 50 days or once a month, if they try to come back they are unable to purchase the sweetest types.  Only those who purchase the sweet magic can use them.

Roll 2d10 - Sweetest Flavor Types

2 - 3. Desert's Dry Sand: taste of sand fills ones mouth; +7 on exhaustion or dehydration checks for the next 48 hours

3. Sour: filled with vinegar, your teeth feel like they are about to fall out; +5 on poison saving throws

4. Salty: you begin to feel the power of the salty ocean, you can breathe underwater for 2-12 rounds

5. Metalic: your mouth feels and tastes like its filling with cold metallic coins; 50% chance to avoid critical hits for the next 24 hours

6. Bitter: sharp bitter stinging; +4 on saving throws on charm spells and effects, always get a second save the following round if you fail the first but no bonus

7. Cheesy: strong bad ale; you feel `happy drunk` for an hour, but smell really bad for the next twenty-four hours; +6 on charm saving throws for 24 hours

8. Disgusting: taste of ooze fills the nose; +5 on perception checks to notice items in dungeons or other dark places for the next six hours

9. Deathly: taste of sand from a crypt; +3 on all necromancy saving throws for the next 24 hours

10.super tangy drops:  sharp sour taste, 2 invisible sugar faeries come and tease you, taking things away in jest - they stay with you for 12 hours. They will make you invisible if any threats appear.

11. Sticky Cloudiness: cotton candy - 85% you start to float a foot or more, 15% you are completely weightless, strong winds will carry you away

12. Heavenly: divine taste of euphoria; +5 on the first saving throw made in the twenty-four hours, +2 to any others in the same period

13  - 19: Bucket taste, almost metallic but it is a long lasting flavor; adds 1d3 temporary hit points for the next 24 hours

20 Roll 2d6 - they get two pieces lumped together for the price of one, the duration of that type is doubled.


** The legend is true, visitors from other worlds used to come when Sameel's father ran the shop. They would come not for the sweets but the cages that could hold any beast which is the lower defunct areas. These cages would remove the magic from any large-sized creature or smaller if they were imprisoned for 1000 days.  The cages no longer work, and nobody is quite sure of what happened.

District - Sea of Stones

One of my districts that I have used in many games.

Sea of Stones

An area in the South East naturally protected from the cold, containing the only known large body of unfrozen water. A tropical temperature dominates with jungle environments found on many small islands that dot the region. It is also the last living vestige of the Hembrian Empire, the people blamed for bringing the Great Winter to the land. Those who live here best exemplify the ancient traditions, both good and bad, of the lost people.

Two main nations exist, Tharon & Lazell, each represent an extreme opposite outlook. Lazell is ruled by a mix of clerics and knights, voted into power by all of the citizenry. Isolated to one island, they represent an ideal as they are the only known location that has a compliant dragon population to help keep them safe. They do not accept an influx of refugees or visitors, only those of noble heritage or those of extreme wealth are permitted to reside here, outside of their citizens. 

The strongest nation, certainly in terms of size and population is Tharon, a human empire ruled by wizards, according to the ancient Hembrian customs. Everyone in Tharon society belongs to a caste; wizards are on top, followed by knights, priests, nobility, soldiers, guild-men and serfs. Each has a distinct set of responsibilities, but only the male wizards truly have power. Most bureaucracies in Tharon are determined by local counsel, and controlled by a family clan or house. Both the clan and bureaucrats keep these lucrative positions for as long as they prove successful.

The eldest male wizard has complete control of their noble house if they can manage it. If they cannot, family members may kill them without political or criminal consequence. Family issues are considered an in-house problem, and only failure of duty brings official prosecution. In fact, the eldest son is required by tradition to kill their fathers to grab the ring of power. The fathers do not resent them for trying, only for failing to do so. It is a weird power game that most non-Tharons fail to grasp. Fratricide is common, as positions within the family are also fought for as is the political connections for specific bureaucracies. Women, as a general rule are outside the political arena, thus, they are not prey to the same kind of machinations. However, once women throw their hat into the ring, they are fair game. Most women do not however play these games, many prefer to work behind the scenes to get wealthy rather than for pure power. Others try to gain power by getting involved in the church of Keran.

Beyond this, while other Tharon nobles cannot directly use force to gain new positions, there is much bloodshed and sponsored violence to eliminate other threats and failures. Those playing this game must be careful, for while murder in the family is ignored, between houses it is not; and failure is punished on both the individual and the house.

On a wider scale, there are seventeen districts each ruled by a Lord, and each has complete authority in their region. While district competition is rife violence is frowned upon the High Counsel. Each Lord has the requirement to attend the High Counsel at least three times a year where regional disputes are settled. They elect a High Lord, who essentially acts as a judge between the regions, and has direct taxation powers. The High Lord has, in theory, complete authority but there have been times when these kings have been silently replaced if they fail to act in the best interest of the Tharon people. Of course, those who try with a coup must make sure they are successful, as those who fail lose more than their power.

Knights fall under the auspices of the local houses, while not officially the power-arm of the nobility they are often treated as such. There are three kinds of knights; lesser nobles who fail magical training, guild-sponsored knights who serve a specific purpose for a special group, and lastly, military knights who arose from successful service in the military to be awarded their positions. All three types are in a given bureaucracy and serve their masters with great autonomy. Violence between knights is forbidden. The only way to grow beyond this position is through valuable service.

Priests are next on the line of power, but they serve a very limited function of succor, aid and advice. While in previous times, the priesthood could also serve as nobles, this was taken away as too many Keranic priests used their position to serve the church before the needs of the nation. With this being said, most family members do try to sponsor a few clerics in addition to their wizards, as it is useful for the house armies to access the healing and prophecy capacities. Most families tend to worship two or three of the powers, and make sure that some of their family members are in the hierarchies of these groups. Women, in particular are asked to serve and almost 65 % of all clerics are priestess. Often the youngest sisters of powerful older brothers in line for the knife…or ready to backstab the father are asked to serve. Sometimes, however, these priestess’ realize the futility of the entire Tharon power structure, and turn away from their family and their role, which is an utter disgrace to the house. Another role the priests serve, especially the lawful ones of Casna, Zalia, and Keran is to act as judges between houses in times when the local lord does not have to get involved.

Next are the noblemen and women - most serve charities or non-military functions. This is probably the most ignored and safest positions, as there is very little violence for those who don't seek power. Left alone, they help guide the nation in their quiet ways. They are always encouraging trade and communication between both the island districts and various races. They are one of the few groups that can hire independent soldiers, body guards and bounty hunters as long as things are recorded in the bureaucratic towers. They are one of the few groups to have strong non-family connections, so knight, wizard, priest and guild-man all have a few nobles as comrades, ready to bribe to sway things their way.

Soldiers and guild-men are next, and these form the bulk of the lower classes. They do every role except for farmer, which is usually reserved for tenderfoot slaves. Guild-men in particular while having no significant rights do have great chance for wealth if they are cunning or just lucky. Commerce is open in Tharon, and while they can not compete with a Noble House directly, what often happens is that two or three Houses tear each other apart (either literally or just in business) while the lower guild-men come up through the middle, having a fine business in dealing with the non-nobleman. Business is cut-throat and many guilders like it this way, as Nobles are just as busy with politics to realize what is going on. An even more so, due to the strict Tharon laws, many items are expensive and there are vast amounts of crowns (gold coins) to be made with smuggling.

Soldiers serve either in a bureaucracy or serve as part of a house’s standing army. Their lot is cruel; they get paid little and asked to risk their life constantly. Many flee, and willing to risk their lives among the pirates and monsters of the seas as sailors, than serve in a death march. For those who survive, the chance of becoming a knight with a lower house and all the privileges awaits.

At the bottom of the soldiers are two forms of scum: sailors and slaves. Sailors are treated as miscreants in Tharon, there to serve on the waters and be tucked away in the worst areas of the cities. They risk their lives every time they go to sea. Their pay is significant, but then again it has to be to get anyone in the open water. When they are on land, they live to drink and whore and waste their lives with jube and crake…and then when out of coin, to go back to the sea. This is actually the only half way decent life an elf can make officially in Tharon; usually they are killed when coming into the Common. But this is also a great way for criminals and escaped slaves to make a living.

Below even sailors, are slaves, or better put anyone other than human, dwarf or Minotaur. Tharon are slavers and do not give these non-humans full rights. Tenderfeet have an open bounty for capture. Elves are usually killed on sight, unless they are under a sea captain. Anyone else, they are usually captured, imprisoned and if they are not found to have a useful skill, are put to work in the fields. This is their life, unless they can escape.

Dwarves are the only race to have full rights within Tharon, and one of the reasons is that Tharon need the political and commerce connections that many Dwarven nations can provide. They are seen as guilders without guild, and do not need papers to walk freely in the cities. Many cities in fact have Dwarven ghettos, or the largest, actual embassies. Dwarven knights and mercenaries, while having no place under Tharon law, flourish for the same reason as guildmen - they can be trusted to do their job, and not betray their employer for wealth or prestige.. 

Minotaurs were the only significant threat the Tharon Empire ever faced. (Lazell is a political & philosophical enemy, while they may have fought skirmishes, they have never been at war.) However, more than five hundred years ago, after a millennium of war the Tharons finally won. They respected the Minotaurs for their strength and battle prowess, and rather than reducing them to mere slaves, they created a place for these hulks in their society. As spell-less creatures, Minotaurs serve a unique role for the nobles, body guards, without the usual fear of magical reprisals. Those who grow to maturity serve the nobles directly for significant pay. 

Laws

Taxes: Paid once a ten-day, depending upon role. Reasonable rates; most pay with service not coin

Prostitution: Officially sanctioned; much cheaper and non-reported in port areas

Weapons: Soldiers and knights only. Sell-swords only with a mark of standing.

Jube and other drugs: officially banned, but readily available in port areas

Magic Items: officially banned, many are readily available

Necromancy: banned, ruthlessly enforced by Jackalla who also hunt undead

Slavery: Any non-Tharon human or dwarf; without a Mark of Freedom, can be seized for service 

Thievery: Imprisonment or loss of rights.

Psionics: Banned and imprisoned/killed on sight

Wizard Spells: Rigidly controlled. Non-Tharon Nobles will be arrested on sight.

Clerical Spells: Taxed 300% at any obelisk or Temple
Sorcerer Spells: Treated the same as clerical spells
Gambling: Open; but no official guilds

Duels: Only soldiers, knights, men of standing and nobles. Note it is illegal for a non-noble to duel a noble unless it is sanctioned during Sword Day. This is the only way to legally kill a noble.

Style: The Sea of Stones is reminiscent of the Greek islands during the days when their city states ruled the Mediterranean. In terms of the military, nothing comes close to threatening their rule; while the green elves, giants, and lizardith harass the fringes, they are insignificant challenges to Tharon dominance of the region.

The greatest danger nobleman face is internal, as the rich and powerful outwit each other for wealth and favor. While there are many laws that prevent virtually any danger or vice, corruption is rampant, many cities have marketplaces set up to cater to the needs and whims of the criminal element. Assassins, poison, black magic, and even marks of authority or nobility are available without too much effort. Nobody acknowledges what lurks beneath the veneer of Tharon society.

Officially, adventurers exist to protect the borders, but many make their living by facing each other in the alleyways at night, sneaking into their rival houses, sabotaging trade or even planting evidence of betrayal. For those that can play the game, there is much profit to be made. The two side activities are pirating and adventuring in the desert Pharonic lands where there seems to be an endless supply of riches to find. Nobles lead in both of these activities, sometimes publicly but most often quietly. Virtually every noble house has at least one pirate ship, and they attack their rivals, especially traders in other districts. As long as cities are safe, and are not invaded, the royal houses allow the petty nobles to play their games.

Coin is not the most important tenet of Tharon society, but it is critical. Nobility understand that wealth is a means of showing and acquiring power. Territorial gain is exceedingly limited, as to the south the phastian desert lies, to the north and east – the wasteland, and to the west, the Endless Sea itself. So, those who provide tribute, are the ones who keep the favor of the royalty.

Inhuman Subtype

Many of the creatures that I create could in other game or styles be called mutants. I have mixed feelings about that term. Instead, in my fantasy games I prefer to use Inhuman to designate creatures that have been altered through either accident or perversion to be something beyond the human type creature.

Inhuman Subtype
A humanoid subtype that has two arms, two legs, and one head; many are initially undetectable as different than a typical human from the geographic region they are from, Inhumans have a minimum of one supernatural or extraordinary ability that helps define them. They rarely form entire societies as they reside in small numbers. Most survive in specialist niches a part of larger societies within urban environments.  They breed with other humanoids, their offspring is noted in their description if they breed true or revert back to their original form. They are Medium sized.

Start as humanoids with 1 Hit Die and can grow in power level and stature in their Inhuman Hit Dice. They can abandon their Inhuman advancement and grow in an NPC or PC class but if they do then they are unable to further advance in their natural Inhuman talents.

Inhumans have the following features:

• d8 Hit Die.
• Base attack bonus equal to 3/4 total Hit Dice (medium progression).
• One good save, usually Fortitude.
• Skill points equal to 6 + Int modifier per Hit Die or by character class. The following are class skills for those without a character class: Bluff, Climb, Craft, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Knowledge (Any 1), Profession, Stealth and Survival. Humanoids with a character class use their class's skill list instead. Humanoids with both a character class and racial HD add these skills to their list of class skills.

Traits: A humanoid possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature's entry).

• Proficient with all simple weapons.
• Proficient with light or medium armor. They are able to take heavy armor as a feat at higher levels. Unless the Inhumans are noted for a shield proficiency in their description, they will not be proficient with them, 
• Inhumans breathe, eat, and sleep.

Nyssian Creature Listing

One of my favorite things about gaming is the creation of both the story adventures and monsters, well, especially the creatures. I have so many new, different or just modified creatures that I will make up on the spot. Others I have been using for a long time, some more than 20 years.  Others, are creatures I thought of and wrote up just for my blog posting. In case you want to peruse, the listing of what I posted to the blog over the last few years to this game blog are below. Many more are to come!

(A) Alt Creature - Nyssian Version of creature
(B) Base Race - Generally open to players
(C) PC Race - Open to players but not at lower levels
(F) Fan devotion

1 Jahlen - Golden Horned Ram Humanoid   (Horn Kin)                                                 (B)
2 Charr - Barbarian with supernatural tribal weapon                                                       (B)
3 Nyssian Piercer                                                                                                              (A)
4 Purple Owl - Favoured Creature of Lawful Forces
5 Leaf-Kin, Children of the Forest                                                                                   (C)
6 Medusa Elder - More snakes, more spells                                                                     (A)
7 Phaetox - Flame Winged Phoenix Humanoids,  Unable to tell lies                              (B)
8 Shal - Enhanced Lizardith-female
9 Nyssian Imp - Long-Tailed Imp                                                                                    (A)
10 Chaonaos - Orb of Magical Chaos
11 Nyssian Troll                                                                                                                (A)
12 Clockwork  - Golem Like Intelligent Machine                                                            (C)
13 Snow Nymph                                                                                                                (A)    
14 Nareg Gargoyle                                                                                                             (A)
15 Cat Sphinx - Common pet, smart and magical
16 Wooren - Furred, Strong Armed, Noble Savage aka wookies
17 Gammorec - heavy-set, green brutish thugs  aka Gammorean or Alt Orcs                   (A)
18 Jawatha - Desert bandits & Traders - Jawas
19 Tuthken -Desert Nomads & Raiders -Tusken Raider
20 Primal - Racial Animal Humanoid   aka Lycanthropes                                                  (A)
21 Nyssian Leprechaun                                                                                                       (A)
22 Ter Falcana - Magical Avian
23 Fae-Nom:  Faerie Race                                                                                                   (C)
24 Necrites - Undead Character Race                                                                                  (C)
25 Shandar-Kai - Shadowy Urban Fey
26 Favoured of Keran -  Warrior Servant of an Evil God
27 Lego d20  - Small-sized block humanoid                                                                        (F)
28 Lizardith  - Lizard Man PC                                                                                              (B)
29 Vottinna - Blue Skinned, Magic-Item Destroying Humanoid
30 Elemental Options - Pick Your Own: Plug and Play Beasts                                           (A)
31 Charity and Hopes - Angelic figure spreads goodwill with magical butterflies
32 Giff - Heavy Hippopotamus Humanoid                                                                          (A)
33 Abandoned - Lost Dabus, From Planescape, surviving in mortal lands                          (A)
34 Cenobite - Cool Horror Movie Monster                                                                           (F)
35 Skin Devils - Ability Score Thieves
36 Tenderfeet (Nyssian Halflings)                                                                                        (A)
37 Tame -  Avian Headed Noble Creature with artistic bent
38 Sharavan - Pleasure Genie
39 Minion -- Communal Yellow-Skinned Golem-like Servant                                            (F)
40 Rogue Modron - Abandoned Visitor from Lawful Worlds                                             (C)
41 Corona Salarius - Magical Aura that helps adventurers
42 Sand Dwarves (Zinth) Dwarves whose magical abilities revolve around sand               (B)
43 Spawning creatures and their never lonely Creator Mistress
44 Orynix - Gazelle Humanoids (Horn-Kin)                                                                        (B)
45 Nyssian Centaur                                                                                                               (A)
46 Orange Slaad                                                                                                                    (A)
47 Nyssian Beholder (Black, Blue, Gold, Purple, Red, Black)                                            (A)

Pack of Useful Items (Simple Magic Item)

I am planning to institute this as a gifted item for all players of 3rd level or higher, especially for one shot games.

All players have a small, unadorned Pack of Useful Items when examined has virtually no weight or items within. Any item from the players handbook of worth less than 20 gp, less than 1 foot in diameter and 10 pounds in weight and are considered common and non-magical to their home location is assumed to be in their pack. It is a standard action to reach into their pack to grab any single item a player will want. The owner can retrieve any specific item 2 times a day (or 4 for small items) but no more than 10 items total can be retrieved on any given day. These packs will only work for their owner or an ally, if stolen, they cease functioning after 24 hours. Items that are not listed in the players handbook are not available until added by the character. Some items, the DM can rule, are too rare to be added to the pack. Items such as cloaks, which can be folded into a one foot diameter, can be summoned in this way.

These items are assumed to be payments for previous missions completed for churches or magic users. Individuals with oaths of poverty or other restrictions with wealth may not have one of these crafted items. These gifts are meant to assist the character in completing missions, not to make wealth, trying to summon items just to sell will make the pack go inert.

Aura faint (gray or rust) or moderate (tan) conjuration; CL 7th
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, secret chest; Cost 1,250 gp

Nyssian Centaur

Never really liked the typical centaur write-up found in the monster books - always seemed too weak in terms of their HD. So I changed them to fey and increased their HD. Unlike many other of my creatures, I didn't think this one appropriate to be a small little pony, and then change from their natural HD to levels, so I just wrote this as a 10 HD fey creature. Also, unlike like their Grecian horse-fathers, the Nyssian version are wonderful alcoholics, loving to share in the fruits of their work. Only the older ones settle in human communities, the others are on the run, in the wild, meeting friends and battling foes .

NYSSIAN CENTAUR

N(G)      Large Fey     CR 10
Init +2   Perception +12

DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+2 armor, +2 Dex, +4 natural, +2 shield, –1 size)
HD:     10d8+30 (61 hp)
F +6, R +9, W+9

OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft. (35 ft. in armor)
Combat +13 / +8
Melee longsword +16/+11; 2 hooves +7 (1d6+1)
Ranged Bow +15 / + 9 (1d8+2/×3)

STATISTICS
Str 17, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 11
Base Atk +8; CMB +8; CMD 20 (24 vs. trip)
Feat Trees - Archery, Expertise & Strength Focus (See Below)
Skills Acrobatics + 5*, Appraise +6, Perception +12, Survival +15, Craft (Any trade) +10, Knowledge (local & nature) +8,  *Acrobatics: Centaurs gain a +15 to their score for jumping
Languages Common, Faerie, Giant
SQ undersized weapons
Advancement  By Character Class

ECOLOGY
Environment temperate forests and plains
Organization solitary, pair, hunt (3–10), tribe (110–300)
Treasure standard (gems and jewelry are preferred)

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Undersized Weapons (Ex) Although a centaur is Large, its upper torso is the same size as that of a Medium humanoid. As a result, they wield weapons as if they were one size category smaller than their actual size (Medium for most centaurs).

Nyssian centaurs are powerful and wise creatures found through-out the domain in small herds.  Like many other types of fey, they are creatures of extremes - peaceful in their homes, but wild and uncontrollable when facing an enemy or celebrating. They have considerable knowledge of wildlife, crafting practice and local traditions as well as their communal connections with other fey. Renown for their ability to handle copious amount of alcohol and the calming effect it has on them. While the typical trade is weapon making (Fletcher) there are also artists, chefs, musicians, engineers, etc.

Centaurs live a nomadic lifestyle, roaming from one large grassland to another in small tribes, coming together with fey-kin to trade, share information and socialize. They own little in physical belongings as they usually prefer to be able to pick up and move on a moment's notice.  They can hunt for what they need, but some experts make their living as guides for human populations, spending their time between the town and tribe. Elders who are starting to slow down, sometimes settle in small human or elven communities and survive through their crafting. Fey young centaurs ever adopt a set community as they would miss the freedom of running wild with kin.

They use simple weapons that they can easily create themselves (bow, mace, spear) but those who work as guides or mercenaries often have access to much better equipment.

They usually advance by taking character classes - barbarian, bard, druid, fighter, or ranger are the most typical selection. They rarely advance as clerics, and wizards are virtually non-existent.

Archery Feats -  Alertness: Point Blank Shot, Deadly Aim, Spirited Charge, Weapon Focus (Bow)
Combat Feats - Expertise, Weapon Focus, Power Attack, Dazzling Display, Gr Weapon Focus*
Strength Attack - Power Attack, Weapon Focus,  Cleave, Imp Bull Rush, Imp Overrun

The Pan - Faerie Enhanced Prestige Class

I just finished the Peter Pan novel a while ago and have to say that I really enjoyed it. Darker than I thought it would be but a nice ambivalent story, not screaming about the inherent superiority of either adulthood or childhood just the events that happened to take place. It inspired me to create a playable game version.

The Pan

This Pan is a wandering pirate-like figure that haunts both the wild and communities by the sea. Many live simple lives of exploring and fighting local threats, most live life to its fullest never dedicating themselves to selfish intentions but not to the holy ones either, always somewhere betwixt the two. They are beings of charm, whimsy and grace, eager to show off their skills or rush in to help their many friends. They are especially enamored by fey, always willing to go out of their way to help these mischievous beings. Many times they take this class as a title for their adventuring names.

Role: These beings mix charm, speed, and, at higher levels, flight to perform heroic acts. They disdain armor and heavier weapons for finesse. The abilities of a Pan complement those of bards, rogues or fighters who wish to accentuate their fighting prowess. They fight in the forefront, deftly avoiding the blades of their opponents while expertly targeting their foe's vulnerabilities. They are also adept at spying, flying, taunting foes and interacting with Fey.

Requirements
To qualify to become a Pan, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Base Attack Bonus: +3
Skills: Acrobatics 4 ranks, Perform 3 ranks.
Feats: Dodge, Mobility
Special: Interaction with a fey. Must have made a positive social connection with a fey

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Pan prestige class.

Alignment: Pan can be of any non-lawful alignment.
Hit Dice: d10.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Pan is proficient with all simple and martial weapons. Pan are proficient with light armor and small shields but rarely use them after 4th level.

Skill Ranks at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class Skills
The Pan's class skills are Acrobatics, Bluff , Diplomacy, Disable Device, Disguise, Escape Artist, Fly, Handle Animal, Knowledge (Any), Perception, Perform, Sense Motive. Stealth, Survival, Swim, Use Magic Device

Table: Pan
Level BAB     Fort     Ref     Will            Special
1st           +1 +0      +1       +0                 Pan`s Parry & Faerie Companion
2nd          +2 +1 +1       +1                 Navigate, Lesser Shadow Creep
3rd           +3 +1   +2    +1                 Fearless, Knowledge (Piracy)
4th           +4       +1 +2     +2                 Assisted Flight, Radiate No Alignment
5th           +5       +2 +3    +3                 Riposte, Pact of Peace
6th           +6 +2      +3    +3                Quick to React, Shadow Spy
7th           +7     +2  +4    +4                Parry 360 Degrees, Taunt Victim
8th           +8     +3      +4        +4                Full Flight, Stir Bravery
9th            +9 +3  +5        +5                Deflect Arrows, Superb Tactics
10th          +10     +4      +6        +6                Share Flight, Summon Fey

Pan`s Parry (Ex) Experts at combat, they exist to duel as it is their primary method of protecting themselves and to gain an advantage in combat. Pan's gain +1 to their parry, and an additional +1 for every two levels to be used agaisnt a single adjacent foe - they must hit an AC higher then the attacking enemy. If the attacker scores higher, the Pan takes the hit, otherwise the Pan deflects the attack. This affects any one melee foe and is done primarily to keep an enemy at a safe distance.

Faerie Companion: Pan's gain a faerie ally, that willingly serves as a friend and ally. They do not risk their lives foolishly but don't shy away from shared causes either If anything should happen to the companion that was not directly caused by the Pan, they can summon another companion with a 12 hour ritual. If the Pan abuses the fey, and is given in-game warnings, the fey may leave the Pan's service. Typical companions: Use the Fey Summoning table below.

Lesser Shadow Creep: Pan can release their shadow for up to 10 rounds once / dexterity bonus. The Shadow is able to move and act as the Pan to investigate, but it cannot take forceful action. These rounds do not have to be consecutive.

Navigate: Gain as a key class skill. They are able to add 8 plus Dexterity Modifier and a +1 for every additional level until 10th. If this number is not high enough to succeed, then roll as normal:
d20 + dex mod + class levels + skill ranks

Fearless: Pan gain Immunity to spells or fear effects when it is unavoidable. If a Pan can choose to not enter a field of fear, and do so anyway, then they willingly face the fear, at these times it can affect a Pan, but they gain +1 / Pan level on these saves.

Knowledge (Piracy) : Gain as a key class skill. They are able to add 12 plus Dexterity Modifier and a +1 for every additional level until 10th. If this number is not high enough to succeed, then roll as normal:  d20 + dex mod + class levels + skill ranks.

Radiate No Alignment : Pan do not radiate alignment.  Pan can also use any item if normally restricted by alignment. They may still suffer penalties for doing so.

Assisted Flight: With the help of a faeries dust, a 4th level Pan gains flight (Fly +8, Poor, Speed 20) once a day for one hour + 20 minutes per charisma bonus. They gain an additional flight every level until 7th level as long as they are with a faerie. Treat as a 3rd level spell for dispel or cancel magic affects.

Riposte: Pan can make an attack of opportunity against any creature whose attack she successfully parries, so long as the creature she is attacking is within reach.

Pact of Fey Peace: Pan has reached a state of understood peace with Fey, they may not like or agree with a Pan, but none will ever attack or take action against a Pan. This ends if a Pan physically attacks a Fey - bu they can trick or steal from them which doesn't go over the line. If they break the pact they lose the capacity to gain new Pan levels.

Quick to React: Gain +4 to reaction rolls. If the Pan does not act first, they gain +1 every additional round up to their Pan level or they have won initiative. If they delay for any reason, they do not gain this reaction bonus.

Shadow Spy: Pan are able to release their shadow as a semi-intelligent servant, able to travel independently of a Pan and take limited actions. The Shadowy Pan figure has 25% of the Pan's HP and half the skill scores and AC. They can move no more than 1 mile away from the Pan.  While their true shadow is gone, the Pan is left with a pale imitation. If anything should ever happen to the shadow spy, it returns in one day after it has been released.

Parry 360 Degrees; At this point, a Pan can use their Pan`s Parry against any number of creatures that are using light or medium weapons against them. This is a full round action and they cannot do a 360 degree parry and attack.

Taunt Victim: Their target must beat DC 15 + Cha Bonus + level difference to chase the Pan for a minimum of five rounds (4+D6). At the end of this time frame, if the target is still able to see the Pan, they must re-save or the affect lingers for another d8 rounds.

Full Flight: At 8th level, a Pan gains Full Flight, able to fly at will (Fly +15, Good, Speed 50). Treat as a Natural Ability. If dispelled, they will float down to the ground and regain as soon as the dispelled effect ends.

Stir Bravery: By making a DC 16 Diplomacy or Perform Check, they can add +1 for every Pan level to bravery or saving throws for mental effects for comrades who hear their performance.

Superb Tactics: At this level, Pan have so mastered their tactical swordplay that they can mark one target, and each round they they parry in 360 degrees - and can attack them once a round in addition to parrying everyone else.

Share Flight: By sprinkling the faerie's dust on companions, he can assist companions to fly. They can share in his flight path and never be more than 1 mile away from the Pan or the affect will end.

Summon Fey: In times of trouble, the Pan is able to use a ritual to ask their Fey sisters for help. They can summon  d6 X 10 HD of fey creatures once a season (four times a year at most.) They come in small groups as determined by the below list. If a Pan ever abuses his summoning to call creatures for a selfish purpose, they lose access to this Fey Summoning ritual for the future.

% Roll     Fey Type                         Level
1   - 11 Atomie                 CR 1          
12 - 22 Brownie                 CR 1
23 - 27 Buckawn                 CR 2
28 - 29 Dryad                 CR 3
30 - 39 Faun                 CR 1
40 - 44 Forgotten One                 CR 2
45 - 54 Gathlain                         CR 1/2
55 - 59 Leprechaun                 CR 2
60 - 61 Pixie                                CR 4
62 - 63 Satyr                 CR 4
64 - 68 Twigjack                 CR 3
69 - 98     Sprite or Sprite Swarm   CR 5
99 - 00     Swan Maiden                 CR 6

Orynix - Gazelle Humanoids (Horn-Kin)

This is one of my core basic races, one of the Minotaur or Horn-Kin peoples that are found mostly on the cold barren plains. While intelligent and sophisticated, most of them disdain the lifestyle of abundance found in most civilizations. They are naturally high-speed runners whose speed matches that of a horse when they carry little.  Rangers or anyone that can provide food or other necessities in dire times are highly appreciated, they place the Survival skill as key to ensure the safety of the tribe.

Orynix

Personality: Determined and extremely focused, they are like athletes who never waver from their goal. Sometimes they can seem distant, but to allies they are warm, friendly and inviting. The capacity to run is a central motif to them and to perform the best they must always carry little as their speed is determined by how much they carry thus the Orynix put little value in material things. They believe strength lies in flexibility and they never carry something for decoration alone.

Physical Description: Gazelle humanoids, muscular and lean with short white silver fur with long strong legs, standing 6 ½ feet tall not including their foot-high, sharp, silver horns.

Relations: Orynix get along well most druids, nomads, barbarians and others who live off the land. They are comfortable with elves, halflings and centaurs, but they are reserved with humans and dwarves or those who are more lawful based. They have no preset judgement on other Horn-Kin, as they judge them based on how they live and if they are a team player or not.

Alignment: They tend towards neutrality and good. They care about little else other than for the needs of the tribe. Avoiding trouble whenever possible, they use their speed to get away;intervening only when allies are in trouble .

Lands: They are nomads, living off the land harmoniously. They tend to thrive in areas far from civilized lands only coming in to trade or share information.

Religion: They are strongly druidic, following the nature spirits that abound in the land and waters.

Language: They speak Minotaur, Jahlen, Centaur, Faerie, Orynix & the common tongue.

Adventurers: Orynix, quite like their Jahlen cousins, believe that individuals must chart their own course in life. Sometimes that means you run with the tribe and other times, you must run alone. But always, you return to share your experiences with the tribe. And, of course, all Orynix are there when the tribe needs help.

Racial Traits
+1 Natural Armor Bonus
Unencumbered Speed: 60 (see below)
Natural Weapon: Anthril Coloured Horns 1d6 *
+4 Constitution, -1 Intelligence, -1 Charisma
+2 Survival, +2 Knowledge (Geography), +2 Perception
Low-light Vision
Endurance Feat, Skill Focus (Survival)
Racial Hit Dice: 2d8; Attack Bonus and Saving Throws as Cleric;

Base 12 skill points; more if they have exceptional intelligence, to use on their core skills

Core Skills: Climb, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Heal, Hide, Knowledge (Geography), Move Silently, Perception, Sense Motive, Survival

Encumbrance Level   Max Speed
              Light                  60
              Medium             40
              Heavy                30

Preferred Classes: Bard, Barbarian, Druid, Fighter, Ranger, Rogue or Sorcerer

Anthril Horns:
Anthril is a silver coloured magical metal found on Nyssa. It has the equivalent of silver and +1 magic items found on other worlds. At lower levels, Orynix have silver or Anthril coloured horns. Many elders and high ranking tribe members go through ceremonies to turn their horns into True Anthril. Assume any 6th level or higher non-Barbarian class will have magical horns enabling them to hit magical creatures using their horn attack. These horns are one of the major reasons Orynix tribes are attacked by evil creatures.

Sand Dwarves (Zinth)

Sand Dwarves or Zinth

One of the first generations of Dwarf-kin born on Nyssa. They are most often found in the Zinthar desert apart of small family tribes of less than two hundred individuals. Unlike their other blood-kin, the Zinth are bound to specific sites and are very unlikely to go far away unless they are in mortal danger.


Sand Dwarves have thin bodies almost always appearing as near starving. Their faces are normally covered by a hood - it is an expression of deep respect for them to talk with someone with an uncovered face. Males tend to grow their hair long and unkempt but many keep stylish goatees. Women can grow beards but few do, they keep their hair short, using jewelry and tattoos to decorate themselves. Both sexes fight for their community as equals, but females with children stay out of all but the most desperate combats.

Their expression: “Of the stone but in this world” is their way of expressing themselves as both 
mortal and planar beings. This means that both beneficial and baneful spells that name out planar creatures, affect the Zinth.

Best known for their intricate stone statues of their elders and heroes - these act as a receptacle so when a specific Zinth dies, their spirit is reborn.These highly respected individuals can be considered virtually immortal but most also sleep until called on. Individuals may have only one statue-receptacle at any point and it takes months to prepare one. If their personal statue is not ready, their spirit is lost forever. Some believe that Zinth are neither born nor alive, merely sentient stone - but the Zinth do not bother to correct them as it is unimportant what others think of them.

Individuals can exhibit excellent skills as a worker, warrior and artist; they are one with the stone just as much as they are with other living creatures. When young, their life pattern resembles other mortals - eating, sleeping, trading, loving. As they age, they become more "of the earth." Their elders do not eat or drink in a traditional manner, they absorb their nutrients by absorbing via touch, usually during the hour before or after sunset. This is a highly personal act they rarely share with outsiders.

While they do not starve, when overwhelmed by their surroundings, they go into a comatose state emerging when the environment is safer. Stories of creatures reviving from petrification can be traced to these dwarves awakening from slumber.

Typically, Zinth do not adventure with others and stick to their own caravans or towns. When a noble deed is proposed that will help the overall community, they volunteer. They respect others as long as the rights for all are likewise reciprocated.

Sand Dwarves                                 CR 2
N (30% Good; 10% Evil)               Humanoid (Mountains & Desert)
Init +0;                                          Senses darkvision 60 ft.

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 11    (+4 from Armor, +1 from Natural AC)
hp 13 / 2d8+2
Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +0

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.
Melee: Mace +1 (1d6+1 dmg)
Typical Weapons: Mace, Scimitar and Crossbows.

STATISTICS

Str 11 Dex 13 Con 14 Int 10 Wis 10 Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 12
Minor Skills: Craft (Carving), Climb, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Perception, Use Magic Device +2
Major Skills:  Any 2 of Knowledge (dungeoneering, engineering, local) +5
Typical Feat Choices: Agile Maneuvers, Alertness, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Point-Blank Shot, Weapon Finesse
Languages: Dwarven, Zinth & Phastian

LISTED FEATURES:

Every primary level grants a +1 natural AC bonus.

2 HD: +10 skill points in listed skills; Gain Two Feats, Speak with Stones  (2/day)
3 HD: Gain +2 attribute points; +6 skill points;Blend with Rocks or Sand (2/day, Gain +10 on hide)
4 HD: Gain +2 attribute points; +6 skill points; Gain Feat; Change into Sand Form (2/day, 5 min)
5 HD: +6 skill points; Change into Rock Form & Speak Earth Elemental (2/day)
6 HD: Gain +2 attribute points; +6 skill points; Gain Feat; Summon Rock Allies (1/day)
7 HD: Gain +2 attribute points; +6 skill points; Stone State (1/day)
8 HD  +6 skill points; Gain Feat; Heal from Rock (5 X Constitution Bonus - 1/day)
9 HD  Gain +5 attribute points (no more than 2 in any specific ability score); +10 skill points;                            Summon Earth elemental (2/day); Stone state (3/day)

At 10 HD and higher, they gain in a character class. Preferred classes are: Bard, Fighter, Monk, Psion, Ranger, Rogue & Sorceror.

Sand Dwarves do not need to advance up this listed level chart. They can gain non-Zinth levels at any time, however, if they ever gain non-Zinth HD they are unable to further advance in their natural Zinth class levels again.

CLASS ABILITIES

Speak with Stones: Sand Dwarves can speak to stones, which can only tell them what has been in an area within the last 24 hours

Blend with Rocks or Sand: If the Sand Dwarf does not move, and is near sand can gain a +10 to their stealth check 2/day

Change into Sand Form: Can temporarily change into sand. They cannot move far, but can seep through small holes. Only small weapons and other small items change into sand - not armor or heavy weapons.

Change into Rock Form: Zinth can change into stones, gaining +20  to their stealth scores. They cannot move. When in this form they gain +3 to their AC. Only small weapons and other small items change into rock form - not armor or heavy weapons.

Speak Earth Elemental: Zinth learn the earth elemental language

Summon Rock Allies: Can summon small stone creatures from the Elemental Plane of Earth. These are the equivalent of dogs, cats or birds that can perform small or short actions for the Sand Dwarf.

Stone State: Gain Rock form for 10 min. +6 to AC, plus 1-8 dmg for punching.

Heal from Rock: Can change small stones into healing potions. It can heal creatures 5 times their constitution bonus score (1=5, 2 = 10, etc) to any number of people up to their listed total. If the potions are not used within five minutes, the potions revert back to small stones.

Summon Earth elemental: Can summon a medium earth elemental to either stay and protect an area for 30 minutes, help with manual labour for an hour or complete an attack action. They can perform this summoning twice a day, but never more than once an hour.

Corona Salarius

This was an idea that I was playing around with for a while - an outsider spirit that would inhabit mortal creatures and give them a shimmery golden glow and a bunch of powers. Then I realized it was kind of done before - the Incarnate from the 2nd Planescape Monster Compendium (Second Edition). 

Anyway, this is a neat little way to give players a bump-up without increasing their actual levels for a one-shot adventure.

Corona Salarius

Type                Usually Small Outsider

AC                  As per host

HD                  As per host

Saves               Fort +2 Ref +2 Will +2 (Add to host's base)

Init                   +1                               (Add to host's base)

Speed               --

BAB       --      CMB   --    CMD --

Special Defenses +6 on saves versus alignment affecting spells or affects, Lesser Telepathy

Str   --   Con   --    Dex +2                    (Add to host's base)

Int   --   Wis   +5   Cha +5

Skills: Any five: Acrobatics, Climb, Escape Artist, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcana, history, magic, planes or religion), Sense Motive, Survival, or Use Magic Device plus Perception

Typical Feat Selection: Alignment Channel, Alertness, Blind-Fight*, Channel Smite, Deadly Aim, Dodge, Mobility, Eschew Materials, Extra Channel, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Spell Focus, Spell Penetration

Lesser telepathy: Corona can communicate with mortal creatures that are physically near (within 20 feet) their remains or a piece of jewelry their spirit inhabits.

Best known as a shimmering bright halo that surrounds mortal creatures. These “shining lights” are the remains of souls of former outer planar beings that did not depart when their physical forms were defeated on the mortal planes. The heavenly spectres clung to a dungeon on a physical plane, waiting for help from mortals to complete a mission.

Good aligned Corona usually watch mortals to ensure their potential host have similar views to their own. When finding a match, they will ask if they can inhabit the mortal body to complete a specific goal – explaining in detail what is needed and the risks. They accept the answer even if it's not the one they want. 

A mortal's eyes glow golden when utilizing the spells or feats their guest provides for them. Once the task is completed, most Corona depart for the heavens. It is interesting that Corona gives their host the capacity to turn spirits, but they cannot be turned as their host and them form a bond that is only broken when the Corona wishes to depart.

Evil aligned Corona are summoned to the mortal planes by evil clerics for help in their dark plans. These spirits give their hosts apparent freedom, but don't hesitate to exit a host for another of higher level or more useful to them. Some evil Corona may have alternate magics to the spells listed below. They won't hesitate to inhabit lesser beings if they need to escape.

Most Corona inhabit their host as guests and whisper helpful suggestions. In times of stress, they may take a more active role, their hosts exhibit other forms. For good aligned Corona: they take on Golden Halo, Wings, Angelic Appearance. For evil-aligned ones it is small sharp horns, devilish features, and deep sharp claws.

3 HD Detect Alignment*, Curse, Magic; +15 skill points in only their selected skills; Turn as 3^rd level cleric

4 HD Gain + 2 to any Ability Score; Turn as 4th level cleric; +5 skill points in their selected skills

5 HD Gain Align Weapon, Remove Curse & Disease;+5 skill points in their selected skills

6 HD Gain Circle against Evil & Discern Lies; Turn as 5th level cleric; +5 skill points in their selected skills

7 HD Gain + 2 to any Ability Score; +5 skill points in their selected skills 

8 HD Dispel Magic & Cure Medium Wounds (2/day); Turn as 6th level cleric; +5 skill points selected skills

9 HD Smite (2/day); Turn as 7th level cleric; +5 skill points in their selected skills

10 HD Blade Barrier (2/day); Turn as 8th level cleric; +5 skill points in their selected skills

11 HD Gain + 2 to any 2 Ability Scores; +5 skill points in their selected skills

12 HD Regenerate Other (2/day); Turn as 12th level cleric

Unlike standard creatures, the levels for a Corona do not change. When a Corona and a mortal merge, the mortal gains the level abilities for the HD or level that they are at.  Also, Corona do not increase skill levels beyond their normal maximum point, so they are not added or increases a character's current skill levels. 

*Spells are cast at the Cleric level indicated or the minimum needed to cast the spell

Minion -- Communual Yellow-Skinned Golem-like Servant

Inspired by the many commercials, books and toys my little Peach shows me every time she sees them. This is a way to have a funny referential servant creature in your games that will be a shared joke but still be functional and fitting to either a castle or dungeon setting.

Minion *

Minions were thought to be a golem-like creature from another dimension (sometimes called Deesneey) brought to the mortal plane a long time ago as a type of servant.  When they have strong leaders from the summoning group and are treated well - they serve extraordinarily efficiently, otherwise they just return to their home plane.

Unlike many other creatures Minions don't really evolve as a group, they exist to follow simple directions and then be left alone to complete their task.  However just because the creature doesn't evolve individuals do change, adapting to service a need when it is recognized. They learn special features (listed below) to better survive in their location, in fact there are few creatures better or quicker at adaption.

They appear as small sized yellow skinned humanoids with small legs and arms.  They are in fact a solid blob form, meaning they have no blood or true shape and are immune to bleeding effects. Minions live to a set age, then dissipate. Different tribes have different top-ages but most are between 50-75 years. They often wear a basic uniform of their team or unit with little variation. Most times Minion teams are brought together to perform a service such as maintaining a prison or bridge. They take jobs that are most in need and learn the function. As long as they are treated well, have companionship with their own kin and have enough to eat - they continue to serve. They form extremely tight-knit communities in remote areas, servicing their own needs without interacting with others.  Many times Minions are found in remote locations, they are maintaining a site that has long been forgotten about, by long dead masters but their basic orders are still being followed.

The standard routine is when they are summoned between 1-6 Minions come into the mortal plane by the first level Summon Minion Spell.  If conditions enable, within a week, they summon another 1-4 Minions themselves. The process continues repeatedly until there is enough Minions to service their functions, they are at capacity for their food or space supply, they are either mistreated, suffer loses from the environment or other threats. Barring these negative conditions, Minions continue to summon their own kind until at capacity or there are 100 Minions, they then stop and maintain for a year. After the year point, their top capacity increases by 50% every year, barring no other problems. Minions who are mistreated or starved, just vanish and this usually leads to the entire Minion team leaving service.

As a general rule, Minions fit in and conform to the processes around them. They are not cruel but they seem to ignore these actions if they are not done to their own kind. Many evil masters have tried to summon these simple servants to take care of the non-military aspects of running an empire but the overwhelming majority of times they fail well before the year point, and lose all of the summoned minions.


Minion                                       CR 1
N (tend to LN)                                 Humanoid (Mountains & Desert)
Init +2                                  Senses-  Darkvision 30 ft.

DEFENSE

AC 12, touch 10, flat-footed 10
hp 3 (1d8-1)
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will -1

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.
Melee: Bow -1 (1d6), Flail or Mace -2 (1d6)

STATISTICS

Str 7 Dex 12 Con 8 Int 8 Wis 9 Cha 8
Attack -2; CMB -2; CMD 9
Feat: Share Skill Knowledge
Base Skills:  Climb, Disable Device, Any 1 Knowledge (Nature, Magic, Plane, Engineering), Perception, Use Magic Device +2
Typical Feat Choices: Agile Maneuvers, Alertness, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Point-Blank Shot, Weapon Finesse
Languages: Minion-kin and pick one of Goblin, Dwarven or Common

NEW FEAT

Share Skill Knowledge: If able to spend three uninterrupted hours watching another minions perform a specific skill action, they gain +3 to their skill level. Minions can only benefit from this once a month - if they go through the watching ritual again, they lose the bonus and do not re-gain it to a new skill. If they do not go through the performance ritual every month, they lose the skill bonus.

LISTED FEATURES:

1 HD:  Limited Telepathy, Co-Operate, Share health, Small Size
2 HD: Gain 1 advanced Feature; +4 skill points; Gain Feat, Summon Other Minion
3 HD: Gain +3 attribute points; +4 skill points; Immune to Alignment affecting spells or effects
4 HD: Gain +3 attribute points; Gain 2 advanced Features; +4 skill points; Gain Feat  
5 HD: Immune to Charm Spells; +4 skill points, Minion Telepathy (50 ft)
6 HD: Gain +3 attribute points; +4 skill points; Gain Feat
7 HD:  Gain +3 attribute points; Gain 3 advanced Features; +4 skill points
8 HD  Immune to Illusion Spells; +4 skill points; Gain Feat, Minion Telepathy, Greater (500 ft)
9 HD  Grow to Medium Size; Gain +6 attribute points (no more than 2 in any specific ability score); +10 skill points; Gain 4 advanced features

+1 HD Gain level in character class (Bard, Monk, Psion, Ranger, Rogue & Fighter are preferred classes)

Minions do not need to advance up this listed level chart. They can gain non-Minion levels at any time, however, if they ever gain non-Minion HD they are unable to further advance in these natural class levels again.

BASIC FEATURES:

1st Level: Limited Telepathy: Minions have a basic empathy with each other, picking up on the raw emotions of other minions within 100 ft.

1st Level: Share health: Minions can share their hit points through touch. They do this to minimize injuries. They can do this to non-Minions but only if the Minions know and trust them.

1st Level: Co-Operate: Gain +1 to a skill check for every five additional Minions that have the same skill ranking. Twenty-Four Minions with +7 in crafting for example would gain +7, then another three +1, so in total +10 to the skill check.

2nd Level: Advanced Feature. Roll below on the advanced feature listing to determine their learned ability. (20% of tribes share the same features)

5th level: Minion Telepathy:  Minions at this level gain full telepathy with all other Minions within 50 ft radius. as long as one minion with this ability is in the radius, all other Minions share the same mental-link

2nd level: Summon Other Minion: As communal creatures, Minions do not feel comfortable alone. As long as they have the basics needs, a Minion is able to summon others of his kind. They are fine in a community of between 6-10 Minions. Once they are at this point, they do not summon more of their own kind unless it is needed to perform basic functions to their specific location.

3rd Level: Immune to Alignment Affecting Spells: Gain +5 to avoid alignment affecting spells if alone, and another +1 for every three additional minions in a 50 ft radius,

5th Level: Immune to Charm: Immunity to charm person spell. They gain +5 on charm related spell saving throws. For every three additional minions in a 100 ft radius, they gain another +1 on saving throws related to charms spells

8th Level: Immune to Illusions: Gain +5 on illusion spell saving throws. For every five other minions in a 300 ft radius, they another +1 on saving throws related to Illusions

Advanced Features (Roll d100)

1 Choose any Feature from Number 90 or lower
2 Gain +2 on any Ability Score
3  Gain +2 on any Saving Throw
4 Ability Damage and Drain (Ex or Su)
5 All-Around Vision (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
5-6 Amorphous (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
7-8 Amphibious (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
9-10 Attach (Ex) Same as Trait of same name plus +4 to maintain Grapple
11-12 Blindsense (Ex) Blindsense at 30 ft.
13-14 Blindsight (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
15-16 Burrow (Ex) Gain Burrow movement at 20 ft
17-18 Climb                         Gain +15 to their climb skill
19-20 Compression (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
21-22 Stench (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
23-24 Curse (Su) Victims must make a D12+ D-Minions Charisma Score Bonus or                suffer a -3 to physical skill checks for 48 hours
25-26 Disease (Ex or Su) Disease - Itching (Ex) Scratch—injury; save Fort DC 15, onset                    1d2 hours, effect 3 Con damage, cure 2 consecutive saves
27-28 Distraction (Ex) Distraction (DC 15) or nauseated for 1-2 rounds
29-30 Earth Glide (Ex) Same as Trait of same name, can use the ability 3 times / day
31-32 Sound Mimicry (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
33-34 Fear (Su or Sp) As Fear Ray, Will save (DC 12 + racial HD + creature's Cha                         modifier) 3/day
35-36 Ferocity (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
37-38 Flight (Ex or Su) Can sprout wings twice a day @ 30 ft. (average)
39-40 Fortification (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
41-42 Freeze (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
43-44 Frightful Presence (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
47-48 Greensight (Su) Same as Trait of same name
49-50 Heat (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
51-52 Hold Breath (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
53-54 Immunity (Ex or Su) Immune to one type: acid, charm, cold, fire, illusion, paralysis                           (roll d6)
55-56 Incorporeal (Ex) Can become incorporeal for up to five rounds - twice a day
57-58 Keen Scent (Ex) Gain the scent ability
59-60 Lifesense (Su) Same as Trait of same name
61-62 Low-Light Vision (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
63-64 Natural Attacks Gain a natural claw attack (1d6) as a natural attack
65-66 No Breath (Ex) They gain breath through their skin at will
67-68 Paralysis (Ex or Su) Touch effect 3/ day, Will save (DC 12 + racial HD + creature's                            Cha modifier)
69-70 Plant Traits (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
71-72 Poison (Ex or Su) Contact Poison (Fort DC 15 - onset 1d2 hours, effect 3 Con                               damage, cure 2 consecutive saves)
73-74 Pounce (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
75-76 Resistance (Ex)                     Roll: 10 resistance in one of 1-2 Air, 3-4 Earth,  5-6 Electrical, 7-8                     Fire or 9-10 Water
77-78 See in Darkness (Su) Same as Trait of same name
79-80 Spell Resistance (Ex) Gain SR 15
81-82 Telepathy (Su) Gain Telpathy 100 ft, Unlike the creatures base version of this                           affect, can work with non Minion creatures
83-84 Summon (Sp)   Able to summon a specific local small creature 3 times a day.
85-86 Tremorsense (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
87-88 Web (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
89-90 Water Breathing (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
91-92 Unnatural Aura (Su) Same as Trait of same name
93   Breath Weapon (Su) Choose (Fire, Cold, Electricity, Stone) DC 15, 3d6 dmg; 3 / day
94   Change Shape (Su) Change into one creature same as spell effect of same name 2/day
95   Damage Reduction (Su) Gain +10 Dmg Reduction
96   Construct Traits (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
97      Regeneration (Ex) Regenerate 2 hp / rnd
98      Summon Summon Monster Level 4 - Able to cast 2/day
99      Burn (Ex) Same as Trait of same name
100    Greater Flight Sprout wings at will. Speed 50 ft. (average)

* This idea is borrowed from a very popular movie franchise - no copyright infringement is intended*