Dream Riders (Horsemen or Lords of the Apocalypse)

The Horsemen of the Apocalypse in my campaign-verse defend the deep Ethereal, where according to the Appocrypa, something sinister waits End Times. These riders protect the gates and prevent Apocrphal Monsters from escaping. They are feared due to their awesome combat and spell-casting.

Dream Riders

Large Sized Outsider

Hit Dice: 199hp (21d8+105 con)
Initiative: +7 (+3 dex, +4 imp initiative)
Speed: 60 ft (on Steed); Fly 80 ft (perfect)
AC 44 touch 13, flat-footed 41 (+3 Dex, +26 natural, +5 Full Plate)

Base Atk +15 CMB +24 CMD 37
Attack: By Weapon +40 / +30 / +23 (1d10+14)  (See Below)
Space/Reach: 10 ft by 10 ft
Special Attacks: Spells and By Weapon or  Horn
Special Qualities: Astral Jaunt, Immunities: alignment, charm, elemental, mind, 6^th level and lower spells; Dmg Reduction 15/Holy, SR 25; Command Undead as 25th level Cleric

Fort +14, Ref +12, Will +20
Abilities: Str 28, Dex: 17, Con: 21, Int: 14, Wis: 22, Cha: 20
Feats: Blind-Fight, Cleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Sunder, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Improved Initiative

Skill +23 Acrobatics , +19 Diplomacy, +23 Fly , +25 Intimidate , +20 Knowledge (Magic, Religion) , +26 Perception , +26 Spellcraft , +13 Stealth , +26 Survival, +30 Ride

Environment: Deep Ethereal (Dream Realm or Apocalypse)
Organization: Solitary (Only 4 are known to exist)
Challenge Rating: 20
Treasure: None
Alignment: Radiate Neutral Evil

These foreboding figures are the Protectors of the Dream Realm, both it’s inhabitants and legitimate visitors. They appear as armoured skeletal figures riding 15 HD Cauchemar Nightmare with their unique Dream Horns ready .

They travel the deep ethereal plane in the realm bordering dreams. Whenever a threat appears, they appear to destroy it within minutes. They do not negotiate or warn, they come at full throttle to eliminate the creatures. There are some legends of them meeting travelers and warning them to stay way from the Dreamlands, but this hasn't happened in hundreds of years.

They radiate a powerful evil, yet they are immune to spells and effects that target evil creatures. Some clerics say they are in fact powerful lawful forces but their weapons and armor radiate evil which they control to better defend their homeland. 

Stories tell of individual Horseman being defeated in battle, yet they always reappear. Others believe the victorious will take the place of the defeated Horseman in the Deep Ethereal as any time they are properly called (with an 8th level individual summoning ritual) one will appear to serve a just or holy cause.

Green Horseman

+4 Trident of Puncturing +40 / +30 / +20 (Dmg: 2-20 +14; 1d6 points of con drain)

Horn of Ultimate Fear (DC 26, -8 to saves, no immunities, Range 1 mile)

Spells of 13^th level cleric / 11^th level Sorcerer

Regenerate 15 hp / rnd

Ultimate Fear causes a -8 penalty to attacks, saves, checks and damage rolls for a period of 24 hours. It cannot be dispelled, and saving from the effect does not prevent new checks each time the Horseman blows their horn.

Black Horseman

+4 Mace of Shattering +40 / +30 / +20 (Dmg 2-16+14) drain 1-4 permanent hit points each strike / inflicts 2d6+14 item damage each strike to the armor or items of it’s target

Horn of Everlasting Hunger (DC 26, -8 to saves, no immunities, Range 1 mile)

Spells of 13^th level cleric / 11^th level Sorcerer

Regenerate 15 hp / rnd

Everlasting Hunger is an effect where creatures must consume whatever food they can for a period of 16 hours. It cannot be dispelled, and saving from the effect does not prevent new checks each time the Horseman blows their horn.

White Horseman

+4 Bow of True Striking +40 / +30 / +20 (2-16 +10)

Horn of Rage (DC 26, -6 to magical adjustments, Range 1 mile)

Spells of a 17^th level Druid

8 Named Arrows of Slaying (Adjust arrow’s slaying properties as its knocked)

Regenerate 15 hp / rnd

Unending Rage is a powerful celestial spell that immediately bypasses any magical resistance. Those who fail the saving throw must combat any creature they share an alignment with in preference to any other. The effect lasts for one hour and cannot be stopped with magic less than a Wish Spell. Any actions that a creature takes while under this affect is immune to potentially alignment changing actions.

Red Horseman

+4 Vorpal, Thundering Bastard Sword +40 / +30 / +20 (2-24 +18)

Horn of Unceasing Death (DC 26, -6 to magical adjustments, Range 1 mile)

Spells of a 17^th level Wizards

Regenerate 15 hp / rnd

Unceasing Death is a powerful celestial spell that prevents all creatures in the area from using healing spells or undead affecting magic, even regeneration magic from spells or magic items will not be effective. Natural effects such as a paladin's or monk's healing touch on oneself works but not spells, such as when druids change into creatures with regeneration properties.

Questions for New Players

Questions for New Players:

1. Are you from this world?

2. Do you belong to this military unit?
   b. How Long have you been apart of the unit? Short (2-4), Medium (5-12), Long 13-70 months)

3. Do you belong to a faith? Name the god or basic belief.

4. Do you belong to a Tower / Organization? (Union of, Order of, Knights of...)

5. What are your 3 core character tenets? - Any time you defend / quote a core tenet, you get a base +2 bonus. You can only utilize a core tenet once per day or story.

6. How firmly do you believe in the Law? (Very Strongly, Strong, Medium, By context, Bollocks)

7. How do you best learn? Action, Exercise, Practice, Books, Belief, Artistic Endeveours

Avatar (Simple Template) plus Ogre Avatar

Most times when I create something, I am a little tedious about both the playing details and technical ones. I have dozens of tables, monsters and other things kinda ready to release, but I don't. I tend to go over it again and again until it feels ready. I gotta get better at letting go.

Anyway, this is what I do for most holy servants, an Avatar adjustment to the central creature that best represents them.

Avatar (Simple Template)

Type Monstrous Humanoid (treat as before)
AC                         +10 Natural AC
HD                         +10 HD
Saves                       Fort +8 Ref +8 Will +8 
Init                          +5
Speed                      50 (Base Land)  
Melee                       Increase by 2 attacks or by two-fold
Special Attacks        Turn or Control Undead at 10th HD bonus      
Special Defenses.     Elemental Resistance 25, +DR 10 / +2 weapons
Skills                       +10 HD (60 skill points) or Six Skills Maxed
Feats                         Dodge, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Damage, Weapon Focus (or 4 new feats)
Str +10  Con +10  Dex +10 . Int +6. Wis +6. Cha +12
Environment            Garden, Temple, Any Holy Site
Organization            Solitary
Treasure Triple        Triple (Coins or gems)

Advancement           None

An Avatar is a divinely boosted servant to do the biding of the faithful. Every deity has one of these to serve their purposes, some in their heavenly abode or one of their earthly one. For those who come to the mortal world, they must be called via a ritual, so it is very rare for one to be present outside the heavenly location. For a entity like Razzgurk at least 500 sacrifices be given in one night to appease the Ogre gods to enable this powerful servant to come down to the mortal realm in order to serve.

Example

Razzgurk - Ogre Avatar of Rampage

CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +15

Defense
AC 27, touch 18, flat-footed 27 (+4 armor, –1 Dex, +15 natural, –1 size)
161hp (14d8+98 con)
Fort +19, Ref +12, Will +14

Offense
Speed 40 ft. (40 ft. base)
Melee 3 X greatclub +13 (2d8+10)
Ranged javelin +8 (1d8+5)
Space 10 ft., Reach 10 ft.

Statistics
Str 31, Dex 18, Con 25, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 19
Base Atk +10; CMB +21; CMD 35
Feats Iron Will, Toughness, Dodge, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Damage, Weapon Focus
Skills Climb +17, Perception +15, Knowledge (Religion) +10,
Languages Giant

Ecology
Environment temperate or cold hills
Organization solitary
Treasure standard (hide armor, greatclub, 4 javelins, other treasure)

Tennianos (Tentacle Man)

I have a whole bunch of creatures that I have statted up as exercise, as in how would I do this? This was one of the first, an octopus man that gains multiple tentacle. A dark figure in the cities, trying to take apart of the structures that bind and control others.

Tentacle Man        (Tennianos)                                      CR 2

N Medium Humanoid
Init +1 Senses Perception +X

 DEFENSE

AC 14 touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+1 Dex, +1 natural, +2 leather armor)
hp 11hp (2d8+2 con)
Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +1
Defensive Abilities    DR    Immune    Resist

 OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.
Melee  Hammer or Swort Sword +2 (1d6+1 )
Special Attacks 2 Talons +2 (1d6+1)

 STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 7
Base Atk +1 CMB +2 CMD 13
Feats Multi-attack (tentacles)
Skills +2 Climb , +2 Survival, +3 Stealth
Languages Any Local
*Strength for their tentacles is +4 higher for the purposes of grapple checks

 ECOLOGY

Environment  Usually Urban
Organization  Solitary  (Part of a Cult)
Treasure Value Average (Coins or gems)
Advancement HD Progression below



Appear to be a nondescript person with simple work items & clothing often reside in poor and urban locations. They are usually part of a secret cult dedicated to bringing down the structures of lawful authority.



Normally just called the tentacled man, they have long been known to exist in cities but they are extremely secretive. These cultists are involved in terrible rituals, intent on warping kidnapped victims to do their testing on. The Tentacled Man is just the muscle, a shadowy figure in the night.



While not exceptionally strong, their augmentation enables them to hold on to their victim quite well. At low HD, they are usually single saboteurs, assigned to cause confusion or backup when needed by their commanders. At mid or higher tier levels they are the leaders of small groups of warriors whether they be fighters, thieves or just common riff-raff. They always have a  minimum of six tentacles, however they can only utilize a certain number of them at any given time. Assume at 6 HD and lower they have six tentacles, at higher levels they have twice the number of tentacles as compared to their maximum number of attacks. Their tentacles regenerate quite quickly when severed, taking a week to regrow any losses from battle. It's rumored that the tentacles separate
upon the death of the Tennianos but their fate from that point is unknown.



Highly associated with evil cults, but they are not always the same alignment. They as a group desire the break-up of formalized structures and rules, and over half of them work with evil cults, but a large portion of them work agaisnt lawful systems put in place by evil groups and tend towards good instead of evil. The Tennianos are not a separate species but an aberrational growth. There are human, elf, halfling versions of them - dedicated to the same goals.



Advancement
3 HD Non-Magic Venom Immunity; Reach + 5 feet; +5 skill points; Gain new feat
4 HD Gain + 2 to any 2 Ability Scores; Tentacle + 1d6 dmg; +1 to AC; +5 skill points
5 HD Attack with three tentacles; +5 skill points; Gain new feat, Dmg Reduction 5 /Silver
6 HD Reach + 10 feet;+1 to AC; +5 skill points; Gain new feat
7 HD Gain + 2 to any 2 Ability Scores; Imp Grapple; Tentacle 1d8; +5 skill points; Gain new feat
8 HD Rage (1/day); +1 to AC; +5 skill points; Dmg Reduction 5 /+1
9 HD Attack with four tentacles (-2 to BAB, d4 dmg); +5 skill points; Tentacle 1d10
10 HD Reach +15 ft; +1 to AC; +5 skill points; Dmg Reduction 10 /+1 ft; Gain new feat
11 HD Rage (3/day); Attack with five tentacles(-3 to BAB, d6 dmg); +1 to AC; +5 skill points
12 HD Gain + 2 to any Ability Scores; Tentacle 2d6; +5 skill points; Gain new feat
13 HD +1 to AC; +5 skill points, Dmg Reduction 10 /+2
14 HD Attack with six tentacles (-4 to BAB, d8 dmg);+5 skill points; Gain new feat
15 HD Gain + 3 to any 2 Ability Scores; +3 to AC; +12 skill points; Tentacle (3d6)

If a Tennianos attacks purely for damage, use the damage listed according to their HD.



If they attack multiple targets, use the BAB adjustment and damage listed for their HD in brackets.



When a Tennianos grapples an opponent they use grapple rules to seize their foe. At the start of their next turn, they can apply any number of free tentacles (number of attacks by tentacle). For each additional tentacle that they could attack with add +2 to the CMD the foe needs to beat to escape the grapple. The foe only needs to beat this once to escape from the Tennianos - not multiple times.

Hederak - Large furry herd animals

These are an awesome elephant-sized herd animal that is often sought out by traders but are difficult to train and even harder to capture.

Hederak
XP 6,400
N Huge Animal
Init +2 Senses Low-light vision; Perception +9

 DEFENSE
AC 19 touch 5, flat-footed 17 (-4 Dex, -1 Size, +12 natural)
hp 85hp (9d8+45 con)
Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +3
SQ Immune to Charm, Cold, Fear, Hold and Monster Summoning Spells

 OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.Run, 20 ft standard pace
Melee Gore +13 (2d6+7) or 2 hooves +10 melee (1d10+5)
Special Attacks Trample and Charge

 STATISTICS
Str 25, Dex 7, Con 20, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 13
Base Atk +6 CMB +13 CMD 21
Feats Improved Initiative,Endurance, Iron Will, Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack,
Skills +9 Perception , +10 Swim
Languages None

 ECOLOGY
Environment  Any Wilderness
Organization  Pack (3-18)
Treasure Value  None
Advancement: 10-17 HD

Charge (Ex): When charging a large or bigger creature, Hederak do double damage with their horn gore attack.

Trample (Ex): When a herd faces a threat, they will often charge towards it to begin a runaway tactic. They inflict 1d10 for every 3 members in the herd. Base save is DC 15+1 for every three additional charging hederaks.

These hulking beasts appear as heavily brown and white furred elephantine creatures without a trunk and three small horns in their nostril and forehead area similar to a rhino. They weigh three tons and stand fifteen feet tall, and quite happily spend their days grazing. They are among the powerful steeds known on Nyssa and are valued as pack animals that can haul wagons weighing five tons or more.

COMBAT
These fearsome creatures are fantastic at combat because of their strength and ability to coordinate with their pack mates. Their first action is to charge with their horns, then crush anything smaller than themselves with their hoofs. While they have animal intelligence, they still know enough to charge the legs of huge sized creatures, bringing them down in order to crush foes with their powerful hooves.

SOCIETY
Naturally very docile and while they cannot be magically charmed into service, they may be trained through a long process of grooming. Their only natural enemies are dragons, giants and barbarian tribes who hunt these creatures for their meat, fur, blood and horns. For a fully intact carcass, hunters can retrieve up to 500 crowns (gold pieces) or more. A living specimen ranges from 1000 - 2000  crowns, but for a fully trained beast, it can be more than 5000 crowns. Most live to 50 years but can live much longer than a hundred years in parks or zoos.
This is the atypical stuffed animal that many children have. Many Nyssian children are fascinated by them, their gait and temperment.

Because of their size and appetites, as well as being difficult to charm them, it is quite difficult to bend them to your will. Individual trainers often have to work with one for many years in order to get them to accomplish basic tasks. Druids or rangers that have helped their herd have a much easier job to get them to do tasks for them.

Another Thirteen Questions

The Urban Thirteen Questions Deal in the city of Sharike, trading city of the northern Spirelands.


1. Tell me about a church, temple, ashram, etc. in this neighborhood

Obelisk of Words. An obelisk is type of stand-alone religious site that attracts followers for its special focus, very rarely to a specific or single deity. This is a twelve foot tall grey stone obelisk dedicated to words, knowledge and revelation. On the four edges it has inspirational script in Elven, Horn, Dwarven and Celestial. It inspires those near it to learn, especially by reading or paying very close attention. There is an 80% chance that anyone who spends 10 or more minutes in concentration will begin to babble in a foreign language (80% + 3% per point of intelligence above 15 but no more than once every 50 days.) 

2. Tell me about a shop that sells standard equipment and one of the shopkeeper's quirks

*Ni-Nack, an ugly pixie fey who sells little statues in a former masonry plot. When invoked the statue gives a +2 bonus to a specific type of physical activity (jumping, swimming, etc). He wants to give them out to almost every group he meets, and tells the groups that they can get another one if they return with stories about how and when the statue was used. 49% of the time the statue is used it will crumble to dust.

3. Tell me about someone who sells something illicit in this community

*Kasanno, an elderly Elven mortician that sells corpses, stolen from the city mausoleums. These corpses can be used for kindling, building material, decoration but usually its the secrets that they may know that motivates buyers. She usually sells the corpses for 5 crowns a piece, but will charge in the hundreds for the corpses of specific individuals or those with a specific background, history or occupation. She is a well known presence in the market at night but none of the lawful forces try to arrest or ever cause problems for her.

4. Tell me about a powerful wizard or warlock in this neighborhood

*Thakor D'Kosh, Dwarf Master of Stone. He has the ability to inhabit statues and get them to act independently for short periods of time for up to 1 minute. His spells revolve around stone, motion or protection. He has a small rolling ball (use stats of a small earth elemental) that follows him everywhere that is essentially a familiar and acts somewhat like a puppy. He can be hired, but will only go into the underearth for heavy price (300 crowns standard, 1000 crowns for underground missions.) He will not petrify sentient creatures, until they are dead, then he has no qualms about it.

5. Tell me about a feared warrior who lives in this neighborhood

*Vnresh, Corlth warrior from an unknown northern tribe. His people study the mindscape, and are
able to manifest a personal psychic weapon. Unresh was the first local warrior to master the whip. Has been accepted into a dozen or more dueling schools, and have been on a score of adventuring teams.  Strangely he doesn't seem motivated by this type of activity, he adventures until he has enough coin to whore about for a while. He feels he is destined for something great, but is unsure of what that will be, so he wants to keep himself open for destiny. His people praise him to his face, but many secretly despise him for his laziness.

6. Tell me about someone who is wealthy in this neighborhood

*Gulgani D'Gannor, Acolyte of Tears, is a Phaetox, whose people reside high above in the cloud-isles. A collector of art and other objects of mystery, she has the uncanny ability to buy things before they explode in value,which is where her incredible wealth comes from. When she is moved to tears, she is inspired to take incredible acts of danger or charity to assist those downtrodden. As a Phaetox, she is physically unable to lie or deceive anyone at any time. Most of her people have golden flame wings to enable them to fly for short periods of time. Her wings are white fire, an ominous omen among her kin. She resides in her own Tower of Birds, a wonderous and very tall aviary, where both her people and any visitors to the city can stay for up to three days, as long as they do not lie to or hurt any other visitor, but after those days they must depart.

7. Tell me about someone you can go to for help in this neighborhood

*City Swords of the Orange Zelth. The honour-bound colour of the Lord of Honour (Japeth - High God of Courage), these members listen to tales of intrigue, and then agree to go on quests to complete your mission. They don't accept payment, except they want you to fly their banner for 41 days. They are seen as bullies by many official military groups, especially the Knights of Japeth, yet they are respected by the poor for their help. Most known for the boisterous parties when they complete a mission.

8. Tell me about someone you can go to for information in this neighborhood

*Weeping Statue of Annanasa. The only known statue to this demi-goddess, that is widely believed not to permit artistic portrayal. The stories go that if you go to the statue and sing a song of tragedy, you will be given a powerful and unquestionable truth in your dreams. If your song is not moving, you may be cursed in going bald, losing your voice for two days, or hiccuping anytime you drink., etc. Those who dare try to damage the statue or cause dishonor to the Weeping Statue are cursed into blindness, as their eyes rot out in two days time.  (Will DC 25 to avoid.)

9. Tell me about a gang or criminal organization operating in this neighborhood
*Graylenne Swords, a supposed hobby club that encourages honorable dueling. Has long been suspected that this is merely the front for a cult that is dedicated to killing for a dark purpose. They only accept those who have failed or kicked out of military service. Their entry fee is very high (100 crowns or gold pieces / year.) but in return they get access to the club's arsenal, training and more. 

10. Tell me about a pub, club, cabaret, gymnasium, bathhouse, etc. where adventurers hang
*Bubblarium House - Duk'sheeth, a lizardith took over an illegal brothel, and turned it into a bathhouse, where land-walkers can pay to bathe with reptiles, snakes and other things that hiss. Though still quite new, stories abound of the patrons being overwhelmed by urges to complete tasks that they never knew about, or have temporary skill points in areas that the individual had no particular knowledge in. Dark rumors are bubbling of males being impregnated after bathing in the waters, but this is unsubstantiated.

11. Tell me about an ongoing problem in this neighborhood
*Dropping Heads. During the Day of Screams (local festival) tying small, ugly or scary paper-mache heads onto the eaves of homes is a tradition to encourage games, songs and scares by the younglings. Until a group of green gremlins saw the festivities and misunderstood and started hiding actual heads into some of the older houses of the neighbourhood.

12. Tell me about a popular form of entertainment or a popular entertainer in this neighborhood
*Bazanno, a spinning wheel game, formerly popularized by immigrants from the Phastian Desert.
During play, small items of wealth or personal worth are placed in small covered boxes at the end of the wheel by no fewer than five patrons, and then the wheel is spun. When the wheel stops, patrons MUST retrieve the object from the box that comes in front of them. Sometimes a gem, a weapon or a vial of poison or a scorpion. Many times, none of the retrieved objects come from any of the current players. What you get is in comparable value to what you paid out or so it is assumed. Stories go that every Bazanno in play at the same time, all around the world are somehow mysteriously connected. Since only five boxes can be opened at once, no one is quite sure how this works.

13. Tell me about a food or drink that is popular in this neighborhood
*Kiisrk - A highly acidic and fermented drink from the Kissik, an purple-orange hanging pulpy fruit grown in dark alleyways. The fruit must be inseminated by the Frass Fly and then kept cold for at least three months. The drink not only intoxicates, it gives some imbibers a short time capacity to understand Frass, a local fey language. It must be eaten raw from the fruit or drank when crushed and mixed with liquid. It has an incredibly short span before it becomes highly poisonous, (DC 15 to avoid unconsciousness for up to one week) and addictive (DC 23 to avoid physical urging.) Because of these side-affects, it is not widely grown and usually destroyed on sight. 




Again, thanks to Jack Shear!

Quillians - humanoid porcupine with isolationist tendencies

Quillians

A humanoid porcupine, with one to three-inch quills that covers their entire body that lays flat on their skin. Larger quills from five to eight inches are found on their chest and back, and on top of their head, from a distance appearing as long straight hair. Their quills prick upwards when excited or agitated; a few allies can even read their emotions in this fashion. Their unexposed skin colour is brown. Most have blue or green eyes but those with unique destinies may have different colours.

Personality: Quillians are isolationists, preferring not to interact with others. In their own group, they have a range of emotions, but are little shown outside of their immediate friends and allies.

Physical Description: Five feet tall humanoids with quills of various sizes covering their bodies. Most tend not to wear armor, but warriors will wear chain mail or a chain shirt.

Relations: They tend to avoid conflict, and can live in harmony with nature, elves and other fey beings. They will often get into territorial disputes with Minotaur, Giants, evil Naga, Ettercap and any evil creatures that attempt to control territory in forest. While they do not provoke trouble, they won’t back down either.

Alignment: They tend towards neutral good. Individuals within tribes do exist, and these tend towards chaotic good more than other lawful tendencies. They expel anyone who breaks tribal law or tradition.

Lands: Nomads that wander several of the largest untouched forests through-out Nyssa.

Religion: Quillians have a long druidic tradition; clerics and gods are mostly a foreign concept to them. As fey, these humanoids have a strong connection with forest spirits, and do their best to live peacefully with them.

Language: They understand Faerie, and their own tongue – Quillian. Most adventuring Quillian also usually speak common or elven.

Adventurers: Quillians often leave the tribe to discover the world or to be able to add to the tribe’s collective knowledge. They usually adventure as rangers or fighters, and do their best to succeed in societies they little understand, always preferring rural or even wastelands to civilizations. Those who succeed away, can take on other classes.

Quillian Racial Traits
No ability score adjustments
+2 to survival checks & +2 to knowledge (nature)

Base 20 skill points, more if they have exceptional intelligence, to be used on core skills only (Rogues gain an extra +16 points when creating their character.)

Core Racial Skills: Climb, Handle Animal, Heal, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (local, nature, and religion), Perception, Ride, Sense Motive, Survival

Spiky Defense: If not wearing armor, their quills provide a +3 AC bonus if an attacker is weaponless or using a touch attack.

Throw Quills: Range: 20/40/-, Dmg: 1d4+str dmg

Preferred Classes: Ranger

Possible Classes: Barbarian, Druid, Fighter, Rogue, Sorcerer or Psion

Quill Master-Thrower: Prestige Class
Requirements: +5 BAB; Survival 7 ranks; Precise Shot (Quills), Weapon Focus (Quills)

BAB, saves, skills points & feats as ranger for every new level.
1st level: Quill damage increase to 1d6 + Str
2nd Level Double base Range
3rd Level: Fire 2 shots / round; must be at the same target
4th Level Quill damage increase to 1d8 + Str
5th Level: Independent targets; triple base range

Agypt – An Alternatity, mixture of Desert, Urban & Jungle Land.

This idea stems from a misspelling of the country in the north of Africa. I left the spelling in my monster description, as I thought it kinda fit. Eventually I realized that I wanted that name to be the one in game and then started thinking up an Egyptian themed area of my game world. This is a simple listing of my game ideas, for threads to be built up.

Agypt – often called "Land between the two rivers"

• Small cities built along the rivers, they hold the wealth and power
• Outside the cities are desert lands and jungle, the Middle Ocean is impenetrable
• People are part of guilds, based on family memberships. Clerics rule over all.
• Humans, Elves, Bastet (Cat-Kin), Tenderfeet, Jackalla & Phaetox are the main races
• Elves are people of the jungle, green skinned and linked to elemental magic
• Bastet are my cat-kin, very urban, highly magical many are spies, monks, ninjas
• Tenderfeet are halflings, tied to oasis, many are druids. Many are prisoners in the cities
• Jackalla are Jackal-Headed humanoids that protect crypts and ruthlessly hunt undead
• Phaetox are dedicated to serving the sun cults, have flame wings, Cannot lie, Very Lawful  
• Crafted Constructs are found in ancient temples, haven't been created in hundreds of years. some active ones still remain in remote regions (why???)
• Dwarves are well known but not from the Agyptian lands, trading partners
• Goblins, Gnolls, Giants are seen as enemies, because they cannot be trusted to keep their word
• Minotaurs are well known from the Beastlands, act as high-end bodyguards

• Multiple gods that both work together and very distinct, Mix of Nyssian and trad Egyptian ones
• Every celestial object has an associated deity (Sun, Moons, Stars, Comets)
• Astrology shows which of the gods have force...power...prestige...
• Worship is open, most cities are devoted to one deity and have few temples
• Every god is acceptable, some are only worshiped at specific times of the year
• Everyone is pagan, worshiping more than one god, especially priests
• Temples are rarely associated with just one deity, unless its the city Temple
• Many Obelisks are dedicated to Ideals, not exactly godly overseers but similar

• The afterlife is important concept, reached through specific actions and specific rituals. Different people needed to do different rituals. Thieving, sacrifice, murder, for some are holy rites. Often it is an art like sculpture, dancing or singing.
• If you do not complete these rites, then you needed to give lots of coins
• Temples always use obelisks to gather mana (magic), it is not a finite amount unlike most regions, so depending upon Astrology, certain temples will have more or less access
• Clerics run the cities via culture, laws and followers
• Knights ensure laws are kept, they are very rarely involved in political wars
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• Lots of underground passageways in cities, at times of death the people seek shelter below
• No one is quite sure why the deadly famines happen, but people seek the dark passageways during these troubled times
• Sacrifices happen during these times, of art, money and children
• Very rarely do sacrifices happen of adults, but if it happens their faces MUST be covered
• There are no official city libraries & no spell towers. Sorcery is a little known art, usually taught secretly in city temples, quietly. Many times they say they worship a different god, often referred to as a cult. When caught practicing magic, they are usually banished.
• Wizards form small cults to study magic at an obelisk during specific times. They are often misunderstood as a religious groups, and many use this to avoid trouble. They use cosmology to cast ALL their spells, this is their spell components, They are sometimes unable to cast specific spells, if the alignment (need another word...) is off 
• Anyone worshiping a non-recognized god is essentially assumed to be in a cult. A non-recognized cult can be seen as a heresy which calls for banishment
• Adventurers have many ways to gain riches. Wars, arena combat, defeating cults, battling monsters and undead, trade caravans
• Rogues have many ways, as they are an integral part of many cults or faiths. Every religion have these quiet hands to ensure their traditions are followed.
• Theft is rarely wrong in any religion, what is more important is who you are stealing from
• Poisoning is an art form, many thieving guilds have their own specific poison. For them it is not against their laws to poison as long as there is a bounty,
• Undead are an ancient tradition, first used to protect wealth, now usually to secure sites
• Originally cults, evil churches and necromancers started using them;
• Good groups do use them, but only from the willing and the faithful to be bound 
• Danger from not doing specific rituals, most people feel like the victim is to blame not the undead. Certain undead (wraiths) are accepted in many buildings, they hurt those who break the rituals, laws, customs, etc
• Mummies come in many forms, always in the mastabas but elsewhere
• Pyramids are dedicated to protecting wealth, power, knowledge,
• Constructs were once very common, now less so
• Lots of statues were deactivated, some seek the Activation Globes
• Stories abound of Clock-Work Oasi in the desert 
• Many believe they are connection points to LAWFUL outer planes
• Cities and the nobility are always at war with each other
• Trade & caravaning very popular way to earn favour and wealth

Monsters are based on Eqyptian mythology and desert lands, tables to be defined soon

Ravok - living exo-skeleton battle armour

Have used these creatures a few times, as end the big-bad monsters at the end of the dungeon, hunting anyone that come inside their domain. Their tail is quite powerful and a source of known magic in a low magic world. They were inspired by the predator movies, an intelligent creature, that uses their hunting skill to inflict mayhem. Now, imagine them in a magical setting, and they did not choose to wear the hyper-magical suit but it was imposed on them due to trickery, forced to commit unspeakable actions that they cannot fully control.

Ravok

Medium Winged Insectoids AC 21 (+6 Dex, +5 Natural)

HD 7d8 +14 (60 hp)

Saves Fort +7 Ref +12 Will +2

Init +7

Speed 50 ft

BAB +6 CMB +15 CMD +22

Melee +13 / +13 pinchers (1d10+5) +13 tail (1d12/15-20)

Range +16 (Spear 2-12 +8 dmg)

Special Attacks Tail acts as a +3 enchanted weapon

Special Defenses Immune to 3rd level and lower enchantment and illusion effects, Insectoid Telepathy 100 ft

Str 19       Con 15    Dex 24

Int 13       Wis 10    Cha 13

Skills Acrobatics, Climb, Intimidate, Perception, Stealth Survival +12, Jump + 24

Feats Imp Bull Rush, Power Attack, Cleave, Jumping Attack Focus (+3)
Tail Feats Only: Imp critical & Imp Disarm 

Climate/Terrain Any Remote / Night time on mission
Organization         Solitary, Pair or Order  (3-12)
Challenge Rating 6
Treasure               None
Alignment             Strongly Lawful (50% Neutral, 40% Evil)

The Ravok were initially adapted as an exo-skeleton for an insectoid race that were dying off due to the great winter.  The people were enclosed within dark gray armored skin, and their natural features were enhanced given huge pincer claws, mandibles, multi-sectioned eyes with an acutely sensitive antenna & large, extremely spiked tail. The pincers can open up for the wearer's hands to perform delicate actions for about 20% of them. Most use spears as their primary weapon but their tail is important due to its strength and in ceremonial rites. They cannot fully speak. but can scream in pain or if it brings terror to those it hunts.

They are known as an unmatched terror, long feared for their assassinations, and dark plots bringing destruction to individuals and groups alike. They are feared and watched for, but their history and their situation isn't. It's long been misunderstood why they attack groups within cities, but they are compelled to complete missions. Their vendettas are more subtle and very personal, often much less violent.

Many communities will attack the Ravok on sight because of their histories of devastating raids. Ravok have few battle scruples, they attack and maim weaker beings on sight. One favorite tactic is to rip the arms off an opponent to attack those who investigate the screams. Because these creatures attack at night or during storms, many places don`t places realize they are being threatened until too late. Small circles of them will sometimes take over castles or dungeons to plan long term actions.

Originally this insectoid race were called the Ryush, an intelligent, hard-working trading group found in hives through-out the North. When the endless winter came, the conditions caused their numbers to drop, and their leaders turned to the Chavok, the ruling elite for help. They hired the Doposylla, an infamous slug race known for their body modification magic, who promised life but did not reveal the entire truth of the transformation. The Ryush were transformed into the Ravok and were doomed to remain in the exo-suit as they cannot survive outside their armor. Their controls were held by the Chavok Lords, as they paid for the transformation. Ever since their rebirth, the Ravok cannot survive in the wilds and even worse they are bound to obey their Chavok Lords as was written into their contract. The Ryush have ever since despised the Chavok and work to bring ruin to them and their allies as well as to free their kin locked inside the armored skins.

Some groups of the Ryush remain hidden in secret locations, as a few frozen nests of unborn Ryush were kept safe until their new homes were created. They dedicate themselves to staying free from the influence of the Chavok or other would be Masters.  These are only a few hives that the non-armored Ryush can exist, and this is usually where they give birth to their young. The most talented or strongest are choosing to inherit the body armor of the champions who fall. These Ryush are fully aware beings, trying to both protect their kin, make connection with other races and to bring the Chavok to justice.

Ryush AC 12 (+1 Dex, +1 natural armor), HD 1d8 +1 (5 hp), Saves Fort +2 Ref +2 Will +2, Init +1, Speed Fly 40, Attack: Pinchers +2 (1d4+1) or Tail +0 (1-3), Special Insectoid telepathy within 20 ft; Advance in any class. 

Barbapapen - shape-shifting fey blobs with highly social and hedonistic tendencies

Was always a large fan of the Barbapapa TV show as a young child. It wasn't until I was much older I realized where they came from and the many books that came much before the show.

Barbapapen

NG Medium Fey

Init +1 Senses Low-light vision; Perception +3

 DEFENSE

AC 15 touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+1 Dex, +2 natural, +2 Dodge)

hp 13hp (3d6+3 con)

Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +3

Defensive Abilities    Shapechange, Reach

 OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee Mace +0 (1d6-1)

Ranged Sling +2 (1d4)

 STATISTICS

Str 9, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 10

Base Atk +1 CMB +0 CMD 11 (+4 on trip attacks) 

Feats Agile Maneuvers, Bouncing Dodge*

Skills +3 Knowledge (nature) ,+2 Survival, +3 Perception, +3 Climb,  +3 Acrobatics, +3 Perform or Craft, +7 Escape Artist; (+4 on Escape Artist Checks due to slippery skin)

Languages Faerie, Elf

 ECOLOGY

Environment Usually Forest

Organization  Solitary or Family (2-9)

Treasure Value Standard (50% in goods over wealth)

Advancement: As Monster HD or Class: Rogue, Ranger, Druid Bard or Sorcerer up to 12th level

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

Partial Shapechange (EX): A Barbapapen has a partial shapechange ability three times a day that they mostly use to see and experience the world around them, by increasing their height by a foot, parachute to avoid falling, or add fins to assist swimming. The Barbapapen still looks like their own self, melded with the adaption (may have blue, rough pebbly skin just like their arch-form.) They can add +6 to a skill check for their adaption.

Abilities by HD

4 HD Speak with Animals or Plants (3 / day plus 1 / cha bonus)

5 HD - Special Skill Focus: At 5th HD, they gain +5 on one social skill focus for their innate nature. Perform (arts, instrument or dancing), Craft (Building), swimming or climbing are the most typical choosen. This is apart of their defining nature, they do not pick this.

6 HD - Healing Blob, At this level they often spend long time away from their families and communities, and on of the ways they have adapted is to go back to their essential blob shape. In this form they heal +2 hp / minute. They can maintain this form for ten minutes up to their HD.

7 HD Reach:  Brabrakin can reach out or up to 10 feet away. This is a full round action. They are unable to directly attack another creature, but can be used to assist their kin (holding a foe, trying to trip, etc). At 10th HD or higher, by taking an additional feat - enables them to reach out another ten feet.

8 HD - Match Mentor Skill - By copying a master in their physical movements for up to one minute in a non-threatening environment, they gain a temporary boost, If a Brabapapen imitates their mentor, they can add half a master's skill score to their own skill ability. For example if an expert has +12 on their swimming skill, a barbrpapen can add +6 on their own swimming skill. They can mimic this movement skill for up to 24 hours later. They need to have at least +1 in any skill to be able to learn from a mentor in these ways.

9 HD Full Shapechange: Similar to a druid's shapechange, except it fully inhabits the shape and colour and all other features if they used the 5th level polymorph self spell. They can add +10 to a skill check directly related to their adaption.

A Barbrapapen is an intelligent fey blob that is home in most rural locations, living in harmony with the nature and most other creatures around them. They are highly social beings that builds strong social connections with the plants, animals and all other sentient creatures. They try not to offend other creatures and use their social connections to avoid all kinds of trouble. They can tolerate social deviance just not aggressive action to their friends and allies or innocents.

They appear as a roughly humanoid blob, roughly the same height and weight of a person, with small arms and a roundish bottom that rolls along the ground for movement instead of legs. They can appear as almost any colour and many have features similar to local animals, avians, fish or even simple mechanical devices. They seem to feed off the structure and personalities they like, and then grow to resemble those features. At maturity, or late teen years they are usually a little over six feet in height but grow through-out their lives, an old Barbapapen is usually eight to ten feet tall.

A Brabapapen has the natural ability to shape change. Small changes, such as extending an arm take a few seconds, others can take a round or more to complete. They change shape to better move themselves in the environment. While their basic shape is that of an ooze, they take humanoid shape to better fit in with outsiders, even many of their friends are surprised of their natural form. Among their own, they are happy to get back to their shapeless form, mixing with others of their kin.

Brabapapen are social hedonists, enjoying everything around them and helping others do the same. They enjoy having visitors, to share ideas, food, dress, music almost any other cultural exchange, as they enjoy learning and sharing. Most sinful pleasure can be found in their small villages often located outside larger elven, human or jahlen towns.

While not aggressive in nature, they can be stirred to take action to help allies or to help fey or protect their friends from being harmed. They have been involved in many battles that help their neighbours, but they prefer peace and solitude. Many times after a war has been won they will move away to quieter locations.

Even their allies are unsure of what gender a Barbrapapen actually are. While many assume gender based on their physical appearance or even personality, this is not always true or consistent with this kind. Barbrpapen can take lovers from any species, and can change their partners or their preference on either a whim or cycle that leaves others amused and often confused.A Barbrapapen understands that since they control their physical gender, just like others change their clothes, they need not be limited by others conceptions, they change shape and accept others for whatever they may happen to be. They get bored by rigidity, they don't want their allies or lovers to limit themselves or to limit their own creativity.

Always they are an openly welcoming being faithful, never fearful and open to almost any experience.

Advancement: Racial Class

Gain +2 on attributes every HD up to 10 HD

+6 skill points every HD,

New feat every 2HD

+1 to AC every 2 HD

New Feat: Bouncing Dodge: If a Barbrapapen has a five foot free square adjacent to them, they have a jumping bounce dodge, which gives a +2 instead of the normal +1 dodge bonus.