Template -- Ash Transfigured 

Ash Transfigured Creature
When a creature succumbs to the wasting effects of certain areas of the Ashed Lands, it loses its reason and will and physically transforms into a living manifestation of that horrid place. They have no memory of what they once were and seek only to spread the desolation of the Ashed Lands wherever it travels.

Ash Transfigured creatures resemble what they once were, but their skin is dry, taunt and ashy grey; their hair is stiff like bristles, and their eyes are dull grey orbs in their heads. They usually stalk their foes, dogging them for miles by burrowing underground and following them with their tremorsense.

Creating an Ash Transfigured Creature
"Ash Transfigured" is an acquired template that can be added to any non-elemental, non-undead, corporeal creature (referred to hereafter as the base creature).

Type
Type changes to aberration. Do not recalculate base attack bonus, saves or skill points.

Hit Dice and Hit Points
Hit Dice increase to d8 (if smaller than d8; otherwise, same as base creature).

Speed
Same as base creature +10. The creature gains a burrow speed equal to its new base speed.

Armor Class
Base creature’s natural armor increases by +4

Attack and Full Attack
Base creature gains 2 claw attacks as natural weapons. Damage is based on its size.

Special Attacks
The base creature retains all special attack and gains the following:

Wasting Wound (Ex): A creature hit by an Ash Transfigured creature’s claw attack is afflicted with a spirit wasting condition unique to the Ashed Lands and its creatures. They must succeed in a will saving throw (DC = 10 + ½HD + Cha modifier) or take 1d4 points of Charisma drain.

Creatures that fail this initial save must make another save every hour or take an additional point of Charisma drain. These saves must be made every hour for 24 hours or until the subject has a remove curse spell cast on it. Ash Transfigured creatures and discarnate creatures are immune to this ability.

Special Qualities
The base creature retains all special qualities and gains the following:

  • Darkvision 60ft
  • DR 10/ash glass
  • Electricity Resistance 5, Fire Resistance 5
  • Spell Resistance equal to 10 +½ HD
  • Tremorsense 60ft

Ashed Lands Adaptation (Ex): The mutated physiology of an Ash Transfigured creature renders it immune to the depredations of the environment of the Ashed Lands. It is immune to the nauseating, paralyzing and wasting effects of ash clouds and wasting clouds as well as the poisonous nature of the water there. This only makes the creature immune to sources stemming from the environment of the Ashed Lands, not other similar effects.

Fast Healing (Su): Each round, an Ash Transfigured creature heals 1 damage/2HD (minimum 1).

Spell-like Abilities
An Ash Transfigured creature with a charisma of 8 or more gains spell-like abilities as Inborn Casters, based on its Hit Dice. The saving throw for these spell-like abilities is Charisma based. Unless otherwise specified, these abilities are usable once per day.

HD
Abilities
1-2 Acid splash 3/day, detect magic at will
3-4
Hypnotism, obscuring mist
5-6
Blur, shapeshifting II
7-8
Stinking cloud, suggestion 3/day
9-10 Greater invisibility
11-12
Shadow evocation
13-14
Blight 3/day
15-16
Mislead
17-18
Vampire Syndrome 3/day
19+ Nightmare reality

Abilities
Increase from base creature as follows: Strength +4, Constitution +6, Wisdom +2, Charisma +4

Challenge Rating
As base creature +2

Level Adjustment
As base creature +4

Sample Ash Transfigured Creature:
This example uses a riding spider as the base creature.

Ash Transfigured Spider CR 7
Huge Aberration (Augmented Animal)
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8d8+40 (76 hp)
AC 20 (-2 size, +3 Dex, +9 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 17
Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +3
Initiative: +3; Speed: 40 ft. (6 squares), burrow 40ft, climb 20 ft.
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
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Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+20
Attack: Bite +11 melee (2d6+12)
Full Attack: Bite +11 melee (2d6+12) or 2 Claws +11 melee (1d8+6 plus wasting wound)
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Abilities Str 23, Dex 17, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Special Qualities: DR 10/ash glass; Resist electricity 5, fire 5; SR 14; Darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., low light vision, Fast Healing 4
Special Attacks: Wasting Wound, Web
Feats Endurance, Run
Skills Climb +14, Hide +3, Jump +6*, Spot +9*
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Treasure: None
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: --
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COMBAT

Ashed Lands Adaptation (Ex): The mutated physiology of an Ash Transfigured spider renders it immune to the depredations of the environment of the Ashed Lands. It is immune to the nauseating, paralyzing and wasting effects of ash clouds and wasting clouds as well as the poisonous nature of the water there. This only makes the spider immune to sources stemming from the environment of the Ashed Lands, not other similar effects.

Wasting Wound (Ex): A creature hit by an ash transfigured spider’s claw attack is afflicted with a spirit wasting condition unique to the Ashed Lands and its creatures. They must succeed in a will saving throw (DC 12) or take 1d4 points of Charisma drain.

Creatures that fail this initial save must make another save every hour or take an additional point of Charisma drain. These saves must be made every hour for 24 hours or until the subject has a remove curse spell cast on it. Ash Transfigured creatures and discarnate creatures are immune to this ability.

Web (Ex): ash transfigured spiders can throw a web eight times per day. This is similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and is effective against targets up to one Gargantuan size. An entangled creature can escape with a successful Escape Artist check (DC 16) or burst it with a Strength check (DC 20). Both are standard actions. The check DCs are Constitution-based, and the Strength check DC includes a +4 racial bonus. A Riding Spider’s web has 14hp and DR 5/-

Tremorsense (Ex): An ash transfigured riding spider can detect and pinpoint any creature or object within 60 feet in contact with the ground, or within any range in contact with the spider’s webs.

Skills
Ash transfigured spiders have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. A spider can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened. Spiders use either their Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher.

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