An Aspect is a religious figure - a living embodiment of one of the gods. They appear to serve both the living god and to be a boon to the faithful. The idea comes from the D&D 3.5 Miniature Handbook, and I still use the equivalents for most of the gods in my world, except for a few where I've set them out like the figure for Bacchus below.
Aspect of Bacchus CR 10
CN Medium Outsider
Init +10 Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +25
DEFENSE
AC 24 touch 16, flat-footed 18 (+6 Dex, +8 natural)
hp 126hp (12d10+60 con)
Fort +13, Ref +14, Will +9
Defensive Abilities Damage Reduction 5/epic, Immune to cold, electricity, paralysis, enchantment, necromancy, poison & sleep, Resist Acid & Fire 20, SR 21
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft. Flight 60 (A)
Melee +4 Mace-Lute+15 (1d10+11)
Ranged Weapon +18 Javelin (1d10+7)
Special Attacks See Invisibility, Telepathy 1000 ft, Turn Undead (See Below)
STATISTICS
Str 17, Dex 23, Con 20, Int 17, Wis 16, Cha 24
Base Atk +12 CMB +15 CMD 31
Feats Weapon Finesse, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Cleave, Power Attack
Skills Balance +20, Bluff +24, Diplomacy +21, Perform (All) +21, Knowledge (Arcana) +18, Knowledge (History) +18, Knowledge (Nobility) +24, Perception +25, Sense Motive +20, Intimidate+20, Fly +20, Knowledge (Music) +30
Other Gear Multiple musical instruments
Languages Common, Dwarf, Elf, Faerie, Minotaur, Gamorec, Phaetox
Environment Any land or urban (Often an obelisk or Temple or Music Site)
Organization Solitary with 3-30 0 - 1st level entourage (No more than 1 aspect to a single god is ever in a 10,000 mile radius.)
Treasure Value Triple
Advancement: By Character class (Bard)
Aspects are religious figures that are best understood as a living embodiment's of a divine ideal. While not actual gods but they do best represent an immortal representative and come to serve the faithful in the mortal planes. Most Aspects are heavily aligned to one of the alignment radials - Lawful, Chaotic, Good or Evil. They serve this radial and the deity equal.
The truest representative form of an Aspect of Bacchus is a ten-foot tall reveler, wearing a toga, sandals and a laurel of ivy in their hair. They often have a lute or other musical instrument on hand, as well as kegs of alcohol nearby. Most times in mortal planes, they appear as mortal size and either in the Bacchanalian attire or something more appropriate to their local religious followers. Most are followed by a throng of devotees that come to listen to the god-like music they play at virtually any occasion. Either they or their devotees splurge in an excess of celebrations – wine, music, games. An Aspect of Bacchus is always about imbibing to extremes.
The best way to influence a Bacchanalian is to play music. Beating a perform check of DC 25 will make the aspect neutral to you; a perform check vs a DC 30 will make them positive. Lower than 20 perform, and the aspect will treat you with disdain. Increase the DCs by 5 if the performer attempts to sing or any other non-instrument type of perform. (I use this rule generally, musicianship is associated with playing instruments, not other forms of entertaining.) Attempts to use magic to influence the music is seen as cheating and is disdained and rebuked by the faithful. So having a +5 musical instrument is okay, casting a spell to enhance your musicianship isn't kosher.
An Aspect of Bacchus has the Bardic abilities of a 12th level Bard (minimum.)
Intoxicating Voice: Any mortal that listens to an Bacchus Aspect sing or play music must make a DC 18 Will check or fall into a drunken stupor equivalent of being staggered. They are able to take a single move action or standard action each round (unable to take full round actions.) Dispel Magic or Purify Poison will purge the effect. An Aspect can activate or dispel this at will, usually by clapping his hands or laughing.
Turn Undead: Most Aspects represent living faiths, as such they turn as 20th level clerics in their home temples/obelisks. For a Bacchus Aspect they turn at
between 15th-18th level in urban areas and between 8th-10th in all other spots. Regardless of location, they turn at their optimum at parties and fests with large groups of followers and revelers. They turn at the worst in dungeons or wild natural areas.
Aspect of Bacchus CR 10
CN Medium Outsider
Init +10 Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +25
DEFENSE
AC 24 touch 16, flat-footed 18 (+6 Dex, +8 natural)
hp 126hp (12d10+60 con)
Fort +13, Ref +14, Will +9
Defensive Abilities Damage Reduction 5/epic, Immune to cold, electricity, paralysis, enchantment, necromancy, poison & sleep, Resist Acid & Fire 20, SR 21
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft. Flight 60 (A)
Melee +4 Mace-Lute+15 (1d10+11)
Ranged Weapon +18 Javelin (1d10+7)
Special Attacks See Invisibility, Telepathy 1000 ft, Turn Undead (See Below)
STATISTICS
Str 17, Dex 23, Con 20, Int 17, Wis 16, Cha 24
Base Atk +12 CMB +15 CMD 31
Feats Weapon Finesse, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Cleave, Power Attack
Skills Balance +20, Bluff +24, Diplomacy +21, Perform (All) +21, Knowledge (Arcana) +18, Knowledge (History) +18, Knowledge (Nobility) +24, Perception +25, Sense Motive +20, Intimidate+20, Fly +20, Knowledge (Music) +30
Other Gear Multiple musical instruments
Languages Common, Dwarf, Elf, Faerie, Minotaur, Gamorec, Phaetox
Environment Any land or urban (Often an obelisk or Temple or Music Site)
Organization Solitary with 3-30 0 - 1st level entourage (No more than 1 aspect to a single god is ever in a 10,000 mile radius.)
Treasure Value Triple
Advancement: By Character class (Bard)
Aspects are religious figures that are best understood as a living embodiment's of a divine ideal. While not actual gods but they do best represent an immortal representative and come to serve the faithful in the mortal planes. Most Aspects are heavily aligned to one of the alignment radials - Lawful, Chaotic, Good or Evil. They serve this radial and the deity equal.
The truest representative form of an Aspect of Bacchus is a ten-foot tall reveler, wearing a toga, sandals and a laurel of ivy in their hair. They often have a lute or other musical instrument on hand, as well as kegs of alcohol nearby. Most times in mortal planes, they appear as mortal size and either in the Bacchanalian attire or something more appropriate to their local religious followers. Most are followed by a throng of devotees that come to listen to the god-like music they play at virtually any occasion. Either they or their devotees splurge in an excess of celebrations – wine, music, games. An Aspect of Bacchus is always about imbibing to extremes.
The best way to influence a Bacchanalian is to play music. Beating a perform check of DC 25 will make the aspect neutral to you; a perform check vs a DC 30 will make them positive. Lower than 20 perform, and the aspect will treat you with disdain. Increase the DCs by 5 if the performer attempts to sing or any other non-instrument type of perform. (I use this rule generally, musicianship is associated with playing instruments, not other forms of entertaining.) Attempts to use magic to influence the music is seen as cheating and is disdained and rebuked by the faithful. So having a +5 musical instrument is okay, casting a spell to enhance your musicianship isn't kosher.
Intoxicating Voice: Any mortal that listens to an Bacchus Aspect sing or play music must make a DC 18 Will check or fall into a drunken stupor equivalent of being staggered. They are able to take a single move action or standard action each round (unable to take full round actions.) Dispel Magic or Purify Poison will purge the effect. An Aspect can activate or dispel this at will, usually by clapping his hands or laughing.
Turn Undead: Most Aspects represent living faiths, as such they turn as 20th level clerics in their home temples/obelisks. For a Bacchus Aspect they turn at
between 15th-18th level in urban areas and between 8th-10th in all other spots. Regardless of location, they turn at their optimum at parties and fests with large groups of followers and revelers. They turn at the worst in dungeons or wild natural areas.
