Monday, November 29, 2010

Bestiarum vocabulum - the Gazara


An extremely odd creature emerges from the ground. Its looks like a weasel but with deep blue fur, a metallic turtle shell on its back and long black claws. Its heinous head appears to be vaguely goblinoid, with small razor-sharp teeth and big eyes like twin pools of darkness.

Gazara                                                CR 4 (1,200 XP)
N medium magical beast
Init +7; Senses darkvision, low-light vision, Perception +11, dweomer-sight 60 ft.

DEFENSE
AC 21 ( +3 Dex, +8 natural)
hp 5d10+15 (42 hp)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +3
Defensive Abilities ferocity, immunity (magic)

OFFENSE
Spd 20 ft., burrow 10 ft.
Melee 2 Claws +8 melee (1d4+1) and Bite +6 (1d8+1)
Special Attacks resonance aura

STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 16, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 14, Cha 14
Base Atk +5; CMB +6; CMD 18
Feats improved natural (bite), multiattack, weapon finesse
Skills Climb +5, Perception +11, Stealth +7, Survival +3; Racial Modifier +4 Perception +8 Survival (for tracking creatures with sorcerer levels or spell-like abilities only)
Special Qualities  dweomer-sight

ECOLOGY
Environment forests
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure incidental

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Dweomer-sight (Su) A gazara can sense and pinpoint the exact location of any spell, spell-like or supernatural ability in a 60 ft. radius. It  can also detect the presence of magic items and sorcerers (because of their supernatural lineage).
Immunity (Ex) A gazara is immune to all kinds spells and spell-like abilities, even those that ignore Spell Resistance.
Resonance Aura (Su) A gazara targeted by any spell (or inside its area when casted) drains a portion of the dweomer’s power, generating a resonance aura as an immediate action. This aura remains in effects for a number of rounds equal to the spell level. If the gazara is targeted by a new spell, it instinctively generates a new aura, dismissing the one in effect. To determine the exacts effect of a gazara’s resonance aura, check the effect’s school of magic and consult the information below:
Abjuration – the gazara gains DR 10/cold iron and energy resistance 5 against acid, cold, electricity, fire and sonic damage;
Conjuration – the gazara can teleport 60 ft. as a free action once per round; it also blocks all teleport effects in a 60 ft. radius;
Divination – the gazara generates an overwhelming aura of precognition; all targets at 30 ft. of the beast must succeed at a Will save DC 15 (Charisma-based) or suffer the confused condition for 1 round. After the encounter, any victim of this effect gains the ability to cast augury as spell-like ability once (this ability disappear after 24 hours).
Enchantment – any creature that hits the gazara with a melee attack must succeed at a Will save DC 15 (Charisma-based) or suffer the dazed condition for 1 round. If the victim is a spellcaster or possess  spell-like abilities, he’s targeted with a suggestion effect to fall prone before the gazara, provoking an attack of opportunity from the monster.
Evocation – the gazara generates an elemental aura with 10 ft. radius. All creatures inside the area suffer 1d10 of damage (roll a 1d6 every round: 1-acid, 2-cold, 3-elecricity, 4-fire, 5-sonic, 6-force);
Illusion – the gazara generates 1d4+2 images of itself, treat this aura as the mirror image spell;
Necromancy – the gazara gains energy drain (1 level, DC 15; Charisma-based) with its bite.
Transmutation – the gazara is under the effect of haste.

DESCRIPTION

Mistakenly called “goblin-turtles”, they’re are neither reptiles, much less goblinoids. Its origins are unknown, but some sages suspects that gazaras are the creation of a demented archmage with a profound hate against sorcerers. In fact, some wizards of considerable power (and dubious sanity) affirm to be the reputed creators of these magical creatures.

Gazaras are sorcerer-slayers, tirelessly tracking any unfortunate spellcasters that cross its path. The creature has a very odd alimentary habit, feeding exclusively on the brain of innate magic creatures, specially sorcerers. Thankfully, this also keep the gazara population under control. When not hunting for food, most gazaras spent their time hibernating. Due to their supernatural constitution, they’re able to sleep for years inside their shells, surviving even without air.

Gazaras can understand rudimentary commands and words, but are incapable of speaking. Their intelligence is quite above that of an animal, but they’re still predators, using their limited brainpower exclusively to catch their rare preys.

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