Sneak Peek: Jack of Diamonds (by Clinton J. Boomer)

Illustration by Jason Rainville

For your viewing pleasure Rite Publishing presents the Jack of Diamonds; one of the Benefactors gracing the pages of theColiseum Morpheuon patronage project. Benefactors are Npcs that serve as the managers and promoters of all the battles that happen within the Chimeric Amphitheater, They can be either friend or foe, as the complex motivations and political intrigue draw you in. Enjoy!

Jack of Diamonds (CR: 21)

Lifespark Psion-Killer

Cleric of Artifice 12

LE Large Construct

Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision;

Perception +17

Defense

AC 44, touch 13, flat-footed 44 (+15 armor, +19 natural, +4 deflection [from spell], –1 size)

hp 164 (15d10+30+12d8)

Fort +16, Ref +12, Will +16 (+14 vs. mind-affecting)

DR 10/adamantine; Immune construct traits, magic

Offense

Speed 20 ft.

Melee 2 slams +33 (4d8+10; 19-20/x2)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks dispel magic, channel energy (6/day; 6d6, DC 21 Will)

Spells Prepared (CL 12th; Artifice & Rune Domains)

6th - banishment, blade barrier (DC 20), major creation (D)

5th - fabricate (D), righteous might, slay living (DC 19), wall of stone

4th - air walk, explosive runes (DC 18) (D), freedom of movement, greater magic weapon, order's wrath (DC 18)

3rd - bestow curse (DC 17), blindness/deafness (DC 17), invisibility purge, locate object, stone shape (D), water walk

2nd - align weapon, bull's strength, calm emotions (DC 16), hold person(DC 16), make whole, wood shape (D)

1st - cause fear (DC 15), command (DC 15), comprehend languages, shield of faith (+4 deflection bonus, already cast), deathwatch, erase (D)

Orisons - detect magic, light, mending (D, see below), read magic, stabilize

Domain Abilities:

Artificer's Touch (Sp): Cast mending at will; melee touch deals 1d6+6, bypassing up to 12 points of hardness or DR, to objects and constructs 7/day.

Blast Rune (Sp): As a standard action, create a blast rune in any adjacent square which last up to 12 rounds or until discharged, 7/day. Any creature entering the square takes 1d6+6 points of damage (acid, cold, fire or electricity). See PFRPG pg. 47 for more information.

Dancing Weapons (Su): Grant a touched melee weapon the dancing special weapon quality for 4 rounds, 2/day.

Spell Rune (Sp): Can attach another spell, up to 5th-level, to the blast rune. See PFRPG pg. 47.

Statistics

Str 31, Dex 10, Con —, Int 10, Wis 19, Cha 16

Base Atk +24; CMB +34; CMD 43

Feats Alignment Channel (Law), Armor Proficiency (Heavy), Awesome Blow, Channel Smite, Cleave, Construct Channel (see below), Extra Traits: [Starry-Eyed Dreamer & Thief of Dreams], Great Cleave, Greater Bull Rush, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Channel, Improved Critical: Slam, Improved Natural Attack, Power Attack, Scribe Scroll [B], Weapon Focus: Slam

Skills Craft (weapons, metalworking) +15, Knowledge (religion) +15, Perception +17, Sense Motive +19

Ecology

Environment any

Organization solitary

Treasure +5 Large full plate, headband of mental prowess (wisdom & charisma) +4, cloak of resistance +3 (NOTE: due to his normally treasure-less construct origin, the Jack of Diamonds has only the treasure of a 17th-level NPC)

Special Abilities

Immunity to Magic (Ex) A psion-killer stone golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. The Jack of Diamonds can voluntarily 'lower' this special spell resistance as a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Once the Jack of Diamonds lowers its resistance, it remains down until the Jack of Diamond's next turn. At the beginning of his turn, the immunity automatically returns unless Jack of Diamonds intentionally keeps it down (requiring another standard action). This immunity to magic never interferes with the spells, items or abilities of the Jack of Diamonds, allowing him to cast spells upon himself freely.

Dispel Psionics (Su) A psion-killer stone golem can use dispel magic as a free action once per round. The effect is as a targeted dispel, which may target any one object, creature or spell in a 30-foot-radius burst. The dispel check is 1d20+10.

Open Mind (Ex) Unlike normal constructs, the Jack of Diamonds is not immune to mind-affecting effects. In fact, its mind is especially vulnerable to magical compulsion. A lifespark construct takes a -2 penalty on saving throws against mind-affecting effects. The Jack of Diamonds is still immune to spells which allow spell resistance (see above).

Spirit Within (Ex) Though the Jack of Diamonds is not a living creature, a "spirit" still resides within it. Unlike most constructs, the lifespark construct is not immune to all necromantic effects. Certain spells that rely on the existence of a creature's soul (not "life force") - namely astral projection, clone, magic jar and soul bind - can affect lifespark constructs. No other necromantic effects affect the Jack of Diamonds, and he is still immune to death effects.

New Feat:

REPAIR-CONSTRUCT CHANNEL

You can channel divine energy to heal constructs.

Prerequisite: Ability to channel energy, Artifice Domain

Benefit: Instead of its normal effect, you can choose to have your ability to channel energy heal constructs. If you choose to heal constructs, your channel energy has no effect on any other creatures. The amount of damage healed is otherwise unchanged.

Dreamburning and The Jack of Diamonds:

Hope: the Jack of Diamonds wants nothing more than to be absolute master of all reality. He worships a theoretical mathematical constant representing Perfect Complexity, an empty throne of a godhead he seeks to someday occupy as manipulator of the cosmos.

Hope: although he defines himself as a pragmatist, the Jack is nothing less than a true starry-eyed dreamer; although he would never admit his secret desire, and has taken no steps to accomplish this hidden goal, the Jack of Diamonds dreams of creating life in his own image.

Aspiration: the Jack of Diamonds hates the vagaries of extreme mortal emotion which tug at him and force him, against his will, to feel fear, frustration, blind rage, and occasionally even compassion. His ambition is to somehow rid himself of these distractions without sacrificing his mind.

Goal: the Jack of Diamonds is fascinated with the intermingling of emotion and willpower. He enjoys seeing the effects of emotion on others, and also enjoys experiments wherein he forces mortals to act contrary to their emotions, seeking to understand the limitations of will.