THE OLLAMH LOREKEEPER

2010-07-11T13:17:00.002-04:00

You Tube Video Trailer

Rite Publishing brings you the continuation to the 2010 ENnie nominated “To Kill ort Not To Kill” and the third part of the The Ritual of Choice Adventure Path.

When the PCs arrive in Far-Rough, they discover that a group of grynlocs have recently left town and are heading north to one of their sacred monuments where a powerful artifact is said to be hidden. There are also rumors that the Nameless Baroness and her dream hunter were asking about the grynlocs after the Sisters of Is-Nachblot came to visit them, and that Breandra the murderess was seen heading north. So begins Race for the Crystal Fold.

“Race for the Crystal Fold” is an Arcana Evolved adventure designed for four 3rd-level characters. Characters will advance to 4th level by the end of the adventure. This is the third installment in the Rituals of Choice Adventure Path, a complete campaign saga consisting of 25 adventures.

The entire campaign path will take characters from a simple escort mission at 1st level to an apocalyptic battle for the universe at 25th level. The campaign is episodic with individual adventures able to stand alone despite a plot arc that runs through the entire series. This full arc will become clearer with each episode, together with the free download “The Player’s Guide to the Rituals of Choice Adventure Path,”

The Rituals of Choice Adventure Path
A Witch's Choice
“To Kill ort Not To Kill"
A Race for the Crystal Fold

You can find a free preview of the entire path HERE

Litorians Trailer

2010-05-05T17:57:00.000-04:00

Litorians is now available for sale and here is the trailer!

Narrated by Soren Keis Thustrup

Mondays & Magic; City of Spells: Alter Self (By Steven D. Russell)

2010-05-05T17:55:00.000-04:00

Changing Fashions

One of the newest fashions to arise in the current age of Questhaven is the use of magic to enhance fashion or become the default style, This habit arises from the display of wealth and prestige that comes from having access to magic, and it also has a practical use, as many members the Questor’s Society and Court of the Circle do not wish to remove clothing, armor and jewelry that protects them or enhances their abilities. Hats of Disguise and glamoured armor, weapons and shields are quite popular to such a point that it is always wise to assume that no one in the guild is wearing what they appear to be. This statement of fashion of course travels down the social ladder that those of moderate means will invest in minor magical potions that change their appearance.

This trend has the additional effect of allowing folk who often need to travel about in disguise being able to do so easily, and that many don’t even need to as often it is simply assumed to be someone playing around with some form of polymorph magic. It has also lead to the open use of a true seeing spell to be considered a social taboo, though the government requires they use in key locations and gatherings. Furthermore openly discussing the true appearance of anyone in Questhaven is considered yet another social taboo, though it is the height of gossip in private.

Do to the mass number of alter self potions that are sold in the city their price is only one copper piece above their creation cost, while glamoured object enhancements are often included by the Honorable Order of Theurgic Master Craftsmen at no additional costs, the guild also refuses to sell and manufacture gems of seeing to anyone who does not sit of the Circle of Heroes, and even then they do so secretly. They also actively suppress the sale of the expensive eye ointment that is used as the material component in true seeing making it

This does not even begin to deal with issues such as the Intimate Shape Festhall.

Fridays & Functions: Interview with Robert N. Emerson

2010-05-05T17:50:00.001-04:00

Ritual of Salt

Illustration by Hugo Solis

Robert N. Emerson

1. So you have a good host of authors on this project, do you have a favorite?

I’m going to have to go with ‘All of Them’, possibly excluding myself for proprieties sake, as they did some solid work and it’s all pulled together quite seamlessly. They’re talented folk who I’m quite humbled to have had worked with.

Litorians is the culmination of its fine pieces and it flows together well enough that all the authors seem of a communal thought and I liked that, a lot.

12. Describe your best moment working on Litorians?

While the whole experience has been the best, I’d say that the beginning, when I was asked to not only work on it, but to being the developer, as the best moment. I’m still floored when I think about it today, as it’s just one of those awesome, yet fearful moments.

That was definitely the best moment, for me, of the whole project and I hope that my contribution made things for the better.

13. What do you feel was the most ingenious part of Litorians?

I’d say the overall way things came together, between what the patrons talked about and how the designers delivered it. There were so many ways and directions that things could have gone, yet we ended up with where it was best to go, I think.

But, as should be no surprise, I’m a fan of patronage projects and the methods they use for design and development. I think it adds an enjoyably unique layer to a project, which can lead to some ingenious stuff.

14. What specific design choice are you most happy with, and why?

I’m really pleased with the village that we wrapped the project around. It gave us this center piece to play off of and I think it came off quite nicely.

Hopefully others agree with me, too.

15. Which design element was the hardest to figure out, and why?

I’d say the balance between flavor and mechanics; at least that was the hard part for me. I can just blather on about something for a good long while without throwing a rule in edgewise. But, with some help, I got a better idea of that fine balance and worked through the learning.

It’s sort of how I am when I run a game, too. I need to find that balance between narration and throwing dice, and when I do it’s a fun time for all.

16. What did you learn about design and especially designing for Arcana Evolved?

Everything.

One of the perks, I think, of working with so many experienced designers was seeing the differentiation in their methods, styles, and how it all comes together.

It’s not false humility or sycophancy, but I really learned a lot from the folks working on the project since, out of all of them, I’m rookie, so to speak. Between designing, developing, and editing on the project, I think I’ve improved my tradecraft a nice amount and I’m very thankful for that.

While a lot of it is things I knew, or knew of, before, it’s just in a sharper clarity now and I think that’s a good thing.

17. What have you learned about Litorians during the creation of this book?

I’d say my sense of their stoic nobility grow more underlined and pronounced for me, although it’s always been there to a degree.

See, I’ve only played two races in Arcana Evolved; Faen and Litorian. That’s it, and I’ve enjoyed them both a lot and I wish this book at been part of my experiences then, as I would have played Rathe, my litorian oathsworn, a bit differently. However, a lot of my thoughts on how Rathe was, as a litorian, are also present in the book.

18. Did you make any mistakes or miscalculations in the design process? How did you fix them?

If we made any, we must have fixed them, since I can’t remember them right now.

I know, that sounds so dodgy, but it’s not meant to be. See, I can’t really think of any mistake, as it all came together well, in the end, and that’s what really matters. Heck, that’s life when you think about it. If all we did was ruminate, evermore, on the mistakes we’ve made than they’re anchors to progress, instead of fuel. Myself, I through mistakes in the hopper and use them as fuels for improvement.

So, while I’m sure we made lots of mistakes, as we’re only human, I can’t think of any right now.

19. There seems to be a very low level for anthropomorphic creatures in d20 community, how did you handle that during the creation of Litorians?

Honestly? I just ignored it.

At its basest, anthropomorphism is a flavor element and once that choice is made, then you just move forward with the design and development. While not a comparison, Lewis and Tolkien didn’t seem to have an issue with it and they were very close friends and successful authors who used anthropomorphism to various degrees.

When you really look at it, with or without anthropomorphic races, we are taking characteristics that we see in our world and magnifying them upon a species in a game so that we can explore them with our imagination. Whatever the traipsing, the framework is much the same.

20. Are you happy with where Litorians is today?

I’m quite pleased with the way that Litorians turned out, as it’s not only a beautiful layout; it’s also a fine group effort by some various talented folk. Sure, I’m a bit biased, for obvious reasons, but I’m happy with it, none the less.

World of Sinnybarr Patronage Project! (April Fool's Joke)

2010-05-05T17:41:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the World of Sinnybarr

Patronage Project

Get ready for Giant Mutant Fire Clams, Flying Grizzly Bears capable of shooting laser beams from their eyes and playing with out a cental game mechanic.

Sinnybarr is actually Mars 50,000 years in the future, hollowed out and turned into a spaceship to take humanity to a safe place after the Earth has been destroyed. Civilization is beginning to be rebuilt after a series of disasters and technology is practiced as a religion.

Written by Darren MacLennan

3,000,000 word full color hardback

Tenative Release date Jannuary1st 51,993 AD

Patronage $200.00

Senior Patronage $0.01

Litorians Preview #3 Advanced Earth-Infused Evolved Bulette

2010-05-05T17:39:00.000-04:00

Leaping Bulette image by Hugo Solis

This monster from Litorians has been converted to the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

Jolunga (CR 14)

XP 38,400

Advanced Earth-Infused Evolved Bulette

Huge magical beast (earth)

Init +8; Senses darkvision 90 ft., low light vision, scent, tremorsense 90 ft.; Perception +13,

DEFENSE

AC 29, touch 13, flat-footed 25

(+4 Dex, +16 natural, +1 morale, –2 size)

hp 207 (16d10+119)

Fort +18 Ref +15 Will +7

Resistance 15 acid and earth

Special Defense elemental body

TACTICS

Jolunga prefers to attack from surprise, pouncing out from beneath the earth or out of the side of a rock face. If an opponent attempts to flee from her she uses her crush attack in an attempt to pin them. If forced to flee she will use her stomp feat, trampling any opponents before burrowing into the earth.

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft., burrow 40 ft.

Melee bite +26 (2d10+15/19-20) and 2 claws +21 (2d8+10)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks crush, feral bond, grounded, leap, pounce, trample, rake, savage bite

STATISTICS

Str 31 Dex 19 Con 24 Int 4 Wis 13 Cha 6

Base Atk +16 CMB +28 CMD 42

Feats Alertness, Improved Initiative, Improved Toughness, Iron Will, Stomp, Track, Trample, Weapon Focus (bite, claw)

Skills Acrobatics +20, Perception +13

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Crush (Ex): This allows Jolunga when jumping to land on opponents as a standard action, using its whole body to crush them. Jolunga’s crush attacks are effective only against creatures of a Medium size category or smaller.

A crush attack affects as many creatures as can fit under the bulette’s body. Creatures in the affected area must succeed on a Reflex save (DC 26) or be pinned, automatically taking 2d10+15 points of bludgeoning damage during the next round unless the bulette moves off them. If the bulette chooses to maintain the pin, treat it as a normal grapple attack. Pinned opponents take damage from the crush each round if they don’t escape. The save DC is Constitution-based with a +2 racial bonus.

Elemental Body (Ex): Jolunga’s body has gained some of the qualities of elementals. Each time Jolunga is exposed to a poison, paralysis, sleep, or a stunning effect, she has a 35% chance to avoid it.

In addition, there is a 35% chance that a sneak attack or critical hit deals no extra damage.

Feral Bond (Ex): Saliza and Jolunga gain a +1 morale bonus to attack rolls, saving throws, and Armor Class whenever they are within 5 feet of each other; this is included in the stat block above.

Grounded (Ex): While in contact with the earth, Jolunga gains a +3 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls for melee attacks. Jolunga does not receive this bonus when leaping or pouncing; this bonus is not included in the stats above.

In addition once per day Jolunga can use her Stomp feat as a swift action.

Leap (Ex): Jolunga can jump into the air during combat. This allows her to make four claw attacks instead of two, each with a +24 attack bonus, but she cannot bite.

Pounce (Ex): If Jolunga makes a jumping charge, she can make a full attack, including two rake attacks.

Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +21 melee, damage 2d8+10.

Savage Bite (Ex): Jolunga deals 1-1/2 times her Strength modifier with her bite attacks, and threatens a critical hit on a 19–20.

STOMP [General]

Using your great size and mass, you cause the ground to shudder.

Prerequisites: Size Large, Str 19

Benefits: You can stamp your foot or slam your fist on

the ground (as a standard action), causing it to shake.

All creatures smaller than you within 10 feet must make

a Acrobatics check (DC 10 + your Strength modifier) or

fall prone.

Mondays & Magic; City of Spells: Alarm (By Steven D. Russell)

2010-05-05T17:18:00.000-04:00

The Merchant Princess Butressa Oathtaker has gained a great deal of power and prestige amongst the Questor’s Society by providing a large number of permanent alarm spells throughout the Evocative City.

While she has crafted a few protecting the outer areas of Questhaven’s treasury, and the storage vaults and hidden ateliers of the Honorable Order of Theurgic Master Craftsmen, the majority of her work has been done for thePrincipled Fellowship of Upright Moneylenders, guarding their strong boxes and residences from thieving crews.

Secretly she also has aided the thieving crews in protecting their own precious wares and ill gotten earnings, she has refused their "requests" to reveal the secrets of her wardings. It is said she has a standing order with theValkyries of the Great Church of the Pantheon to recover her body and return her to life, should she be killed and as such she is immune to most threats, and her success makes apparently makes her immune to bribes as well.

There are rumors however that she has gone against guild law and sells stones of alarm and a variant that creates a silent alarm. an item that can create a single active alarm spell once each day. The craftsmen at this time have chosen not to purse or enforce their controls upon her due to the much needed service she performs.

Stone of Silent Alarm

Aura faint abjuration; CL 3^rd Slot —; Price 3,000 gp; Weight 2 lbs.

Description

This stone cube, when given the command word, affixes itself to any object. If that object is touched thereafter by anyone who does not first speak that same command word, the stone emits a mental alarm to the creature that affixed the stone to the object if they are within one mile of the stone.

Construction Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, alarm; Cost 1,500 gp

Fridays & Functions:: Interview with Robert N. Emerson (Part 1)

2010-05-05T17:17:00.001-04:00

Illustration by Hugo Solis

Robert N. Emerson

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and the designers who worked for you?

There’s really not much to say, I’m a lucky sod from the Pacific Northwest who, from time to time, gets to do freelance design and development for various talented companies and with folk who are often way more talented than I am. To say that I’m a life-long gamer is an understatement, as I’ve been throwing dice and making believe for over 30 years now and I doubt I’ll ever say, personally or professionally. So long as I’m able, I’ll game. So long as it’s publishable, I’ll write. The former is up to me, while the latter is up to others.

It’s pretty cool, for my first time as a developer, as I was able to work with some right talented folk whose own creativity I’ve enjoyed over the years. Also, thanks to the “Okay, it’s your turn” forums, I’ve spoken to them, off and on, over the years, which made it a bit easier transitioning from blathering idiot into developer.

Bill Collins, Hans Cummings, Clay Fleischer, Steve Russell, and Soren Thustrup are all pretty talented and fairly personable folk to work with, more so on your first big project. We’re talking about some talented folk, award nominees and winners, whose products I’ve enjoyed over the years, yet they’ve allowed me to edit and develop their own work for this project.

Humbling and awesome, rolled up together in one thing. It was quite cool, actually.

2. What attracted you to this project?

I love patronage projects, for one. I really enjoy the model and what it’s bringing to game development and design.

Also, it was an opportunity to be a developer and I couldn’t pass it up. While I’ve dabbled in freelance design over the past few years, I’ve recently enjoyed myself more as an editor and developer. There’s something about assisting someone with finding the best possible aspect of their concept and honing it for public consumption.

Lastly, though, is the fact that I really enjoy Litorians, as they’re one of my favorite races from Arcana Evolved. Noble, prideful, barely restrained ferocity, and a deep connection with the land. Who wouldn’t want to work on a project with them in it?

3. Litorians was developed as a patronage project, how does this make the final product different than if it had been developed as a retail product?

I’d say that the big difference between a patronage product and a retail one is that you already know that you’ve a paying audience, that the product is being bought, and you’re just making sure that they are gonna like what you’re given them. With a retail product there is a hope that they’re going to like it, but with a patronage product you know, to some degree, that they are gonna like it, it’s just a matter of how much.

Plus, there is the perk of speedy feedback and critique, good and bad. As you’re working through a product, the patrons get to tell us what they do and don’t like, with potential for adjustment, tweaking things, built right into the system.

I adore the patronage model, as it’s a more intimate customer experience, with respect to most anything, but especially to game design and development.

4. Could you please sum up "Litorians" in a sentence or three?

Litorians are a deep, noble people with an intrinsic connection to the Land that they are part of that it is often misunderstood as being primitive. Their society is complex, yet basic. All in all, they’re an indomitable people, flavored with stoic humility.

5. What are some of the strengths and weaknesses with “Requires the use of Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved”?

First off, It’s Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved. It’s that book, as well as its direct predecessor, that stopped me from playing those from which it was spun away from. Nothing against them, mind you, as I was a playtester for 3e, but AE was exactly what I wanted from 3e and more. That and I’ve been a mark for Monte Cook for awhile, especially after his and Wolfgang Baur’s work on DarkMatter for the Alternity System.

The only weakness, I think, is that Arcana Evolved, in print at least, is no longer an active line. I wish it was, especially as I’ve only two of the mainbooks and I wish I had more. But, who knows what the future holds.

6. How did you feel, when you were offered the option of being the developer for this Patronage Project?

It was an interesting moment, that’s for sure. Not only was it unexpected, it was humbling, as well. It was a modest change from simply editing, but it was a direction that I wanted to do in, too.

All in all, I was happy, yet fearful, and full of humility, all at the same time.

7. Could you list some of the major influences on the Litorians?

While there are a lot of literary influences for Litorians, obviously Arcana Evolved its self, I’d say that one of the major influences for the project was the various cultures of our own reality. In many ways fantasy races offer us an ability to take a magnifying class to any one of a hundred of our own cultures and bring a facet of them to a razor-fine focus.

With Litorians, there are so many cultures that have identifiers in common with these noble plains folk, some overt and some covert, and it makes for an interesting piece, I think.

8. Other than your own what is the most interesting piece you found within Litorians?

Now that’s a hard one, as I honestly see Litorians as the sum of its whole, not its pieces.

I know, it sounds of a copout, but it’s the truth.

Everything about the book is interesting and enjoyable and the artwork that it inspired was quite cool, as well.

9. Can you tell me about your experience so far of working with Rite Publishing Vs. say another publisher you have worked with?

My experience with Rite Publishing is a lot more intimate than any relationship that I’ve had with any publisher before.

While I’ve worked with several other companies before, either on a profit basis or a voluntary one, my work with Rite Publishing as been a lot more in-depth and communicative, often talking several times a day.

Heck, I’m fairly certain that I even heard from Steve, once or twice, while he was off on his honeymoon, drinking on a beach somewhere. Oddly enough, it sometimes feels quite fraternal, when I think about it.

10. Can you tell me about the work Hugo “Butterfrog” Solis has done as both the Cover Artist and the interior artist?

Simply put?

It’s quite awesome.

I’ve enjoyed Butterfrog’s work for awhile, which was made more the interesting by meeting him at PaizoCon 2009, and watching his work on Litorians evolve from concepts to product has been a privilege. I’ve not seen one piece that I wasn’t impressed by or thrilled at it being in the product.

It’s really a good feeling, for me, as a first time developer to have that feeling about the art.

New Monster: Aku-Boma (by Steven D. Russell)

2010-05-05T17:08:00.000-04:00

his monster the Aku-Boma is part of Rite Publishing's newest racial book Litorians for Monte Cook's Arcana Evovled which goes on sale 04/04/2010, it is previewed here using the Arcana Evovled rules for your viewing pleasure.

Illustration by Richard Biggs Jr.

You see a great hedgework of many plants, each one the size of a horse, together they create a living fence that surrounds an encampment

Aku-Boma CR 8

Large plant

Init –1; Senses blindsight 30 ft., low-light vision;

Listen +17, Spot +17

Defense

AC 21, touch 7, flat-footed 21 (–1 Dex, +14 natural, –2 size)

hp 114 (12d8+60)

Fort +13, Ref +3, Will +11

Defensive Abilities plant traits; DR 10/crystal and slashing, elemental and energy absorption

Weakness to water and cold

Offense

Speed 5 ft.

Melee 2 bites +17 (3d6+9)

Ranged 4 thorns +7 (1d6+9)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

Special Attacks thorn swarm

Statistics

Str 29, Dex 8, Con 21, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 13

Base Atk +9; Grp +22

Feats Ability Focus (Dimensional Snare), Iron Will

Skills Listen +17, Spot +17, Survival +17

Languages Common, Sylvan, (understand, but does not speak)

SQ Dimensional Snare

Ecology

Environment any warm plain

Organization solitary or hedge (4-40)

Treasure standard

Special Abilities

Constrict (Ex): An aku-boma deals 2d6+7 points of damage with a successful grapple check.

Deep Roots (Ex): Aku-Boma roots go extremely deep, usually a minimum of 50 ft., and they are covered with the same type of thorns as the upper area of the plant. This prevents burrowing creatures from entering the area beneath them, and creates an underground bowl of protection when there is an aku-boma hedge circle present.

Dimensional Snare (Su): An aku-boma creates a snare that captures extradimensional travelers, and puts them into a woodland prison upon a failed save (Will DC 19). Forms of movement that result in a snare include astral projection, blink, dimension door, ethereal jaunt, etherealness, gate, maze, plane shift, shadow walk, teleport, and similar spell-like or psionic abilities. Once a hedge circle of aku-boma is in place, extradimensional travel into or out of an area is not possible, as a successful save simply results in the subject appearing in front of the aku-boma.

An aku-boma does not block extradimensional perception or attack forms. Also, it does not prevent summoned creatures from disappearing at the end of a summoning spell.

Element and Energy Absorption (Su): All acid, air, earth, electricity, fire and sonic damage heals an aku-boma. If an aku-boma is at full hit points the damage is converted to temporary hit points; when these reach a number equal to the aku-boma's hit point total it creates another aku-boma in an unoccupied 10' square that is adjacent to the original. At this point the original aku-boma loses these temporary hit points.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, an aku-boma must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple (+22) as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.

Pinning Prison (Su): If an aku-boma successfully pins an opponent it can cast woodland prison on the opponent as a swift action (no save).

Swarm of Thorns (Su): An aku-boma can expel all its thorns as a standard action. When expelled, they animate into a swarm by the will of the aku-boma. The swarms of thorns are treated as a swarm of fine plants with a flying speed of 90 ft. (perfect manueverability), a 10 ft. space and 50 hit points. The aku-boma controls the swarm as a free action and can maneuver it out to a distance of 300 ft. The aku-boma applies its elemental and energy absorption to its swarm. If the swarm is destroyed, the aku-boma can completely re-grow all its lost thorns in 1 day. The aku-boma may reattach these thorns as a standard action.

Description

Gather round cublings, and do not just hear, but listen to the tale of the Aku-Boma. Long, long ago after the cursed dramojh destroyed the Hanavere Trinity, many of their servants, having witnessed the murder of their gods, fled before the hosts of the dragon-scions. One such being, however, had vowed never to retreat and never to allow a foe to pass. Standing its ground against overwhelming odds, eventually even this valorous one fell. Yet this being was not slain, but was captured by a Fangmaster in a woodland prison the cursed dramojh created from a bloody thorn bush it found on the field of battle. The Fangmaster took the bush and planted it in the garden of its Fortress of the Sky Isle built above a hidden valley of the Bitter Peaks. For over a thousand years the blessed one stayed imprisoned and lost, until the giants won the Battle of the Serpent’s Heart.

Yet still the Aku-Boma could not escape for even though the imprisoned one had evolved, becoming one with the thorns, still it could not fly. It also found that its new growth wilted in cold season that was no longer kept at bay by the dramojh fangmaster’s magics and that the rains brought too much water and risked turning the garden into a lake drowning the plant. It called out to the Green in fear and sorrow.

Hence came a litorian greenbond of the krashannarak tribe, one who had been enslaved by the dramojh. She spoke with the thorns, whose mind now only held on to its ancient oath. And so the Aku-Boma was brought from the Bitter Peaks past the snow-filled passes, down the river where unquiet spirits dwell till it came to the lands of the Krashannarak, and its descendants have grown to become a line that no foe may pass.

-Excerpt from Litorian Tales as translated by Esdiara Harrowstaff

In traditional litorian culture, a boma was used to keep livestock away from raiders and predators. A boma is an enclosure made of thorn branches, plants that were very strong, and has hooked spikes that hold on to animals tightly. The aku-boma is much stronger, filled with the power of a vow, and with spikes that seek out and grab hold of the foes of the litorians.

We, the aku-boma seek to hold the line, to keep those who are worthy safe. If dishonor were to come to a tribe, though, we would leave and seek out those who were honorable. There is only the vow and perfect service.

When the Moonlight Rustler sought to take the bulette from behind our walls it learned that even a dragon can fall to a storm of a thousand thorns and the herd of panicked bulette learned they could not pass our roots.

Lore:

Characters with Delve Into Collective Memory or Knowledge (dangerous beasts or litorians) can learn more about aku-boma. When a character makes a successful check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

Common (DC 10): This is an Aku-Boma plant creature; it will allow only certain creatures to pass beyond it. This reveals all plant traits.

Uncommon (DC 22): “Aku-Boma” translates to “Great Corral” in the Litorian Tongue; read excerpt from "Litorian Tales."

Rare (DC 28): One of the most dangerous crops the litorians cultivate, the aku-boma can kill with its grasping tendrils of thorns, thrown thorn spikes, a swarm of flying thorns, or simply imprison you inside it. It is resilient to most forms of weapons and can absorb the power of almost every energy and/or element.

Obscure (DC 38): Aku-Boma hate crystal axes and all other weapons formed of crystal that can cut a tree to kindling.

Epic (DC 48): Legends say an aku-boma will either abandon its charge or kill itself if ever it breaks its vow.

Wednesdays & Woes: Vampiric Ankheg (by Mark Gedak)

2010-05-05T16:40:00.000-04:00

Illustartion by Joe Calkins

Last week, I put together rumor involving an ankheg vampire but never got around to statting that monster up. According to the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary, a vampire is an acquired template that can be added to any living creature with 5 or more hit dice. So step one to building a vampire ankheg is going to be to advance the standard ankheg 2 hit dice. I think I’ll also make him an Advanced creature as described in the same bestiary. Based on the Advanced template and the increase in hit dice he should be about CR 5.

Advanced Ankheg CR 5

XP 1,600

N Large magical beast

Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +11

[Defense]

AC 20, touch 11, flat-footed 20 (+2 Dex, +9 natural, -1 size)

hp 57 (5d10+30)

Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +4

[Offense]

Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft.

Melee bite +9 (3d6+7 plus 1d4 acid plus grab)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks spit acid

[Statistics]

Str 20, Dex 14, Con 21, Int 5, Wis 17, Cha 10

Base Atk +5; CMB +11 (+15 grapple); CMD 23 (31 vs. trip)

Feats Improved Natural Attack (bite), Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness

Skills Climb +13, Perception +11

[Special Abilities]

Spit Acid (Ex) Once every 6 hours, an ankheg can spit a 30-foot line of acid. Creatures struck by this acid take 4d4 points of acid damage (Reflex DC 17 halves). Once an ankheg uses this attack, it must wait 6 hours before using it again. Additionally, during this time period, its bite attack does not inflict any additional acid damage. As a result, an ankheg does not use this ability unless it is desperate or frustrated, most often spitting acid when reduced to fewer than half its full normal hit points or when it cannot not successfully grab an opponent. The save DC is Constitution-based.

So that is the basic model upon which to build my ankheg vampire. Below are the stats of the ankheg vampire using the RAW approach.

Advanced Ankheg Vampire CR 7

XP 3,200

NE Large undead (augmented magical beast)

Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +23

[Defense]

AC 29, touch 14, flat-footed 28 (+4 Dex, +15 natural, -1 size, +1 Dodge)

hp 37 (5d8+15); fast healing 5

Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +5

Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4; DR 10/magic and silver;Immune undead traits; Resist cold 10, electricity 10

Weakness vampire weaknesses

[Offense]

Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft.

Melee bite +12 (3d6+8 plus 1d4 acid plus grab), slam +12 (1d6+8 plus energy drain)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks blood drain, children of the night, create spawn, dominate (DC 14), energy drain (2 levels, DC 14), spit acid

[Statistics]

Str 26, Dex 18, Con --, Int 7, Wis 19, Cha 14

Base Atk +5; CMB +14 (+18 grapple); CMD 29 (37 vs. trip)

Feats Alertness^B, Combat Reflexes^B, Dodge^B, Improved Initiative^B, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Lightning Reflexes^B, Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness

Skills Bluff +10, Climb +16, Perception +23, Sense Motive +15, Stealth +8;Racial Modifiers +8 Bluff, +8 Perception, +8 Sense Motive, +8 Stealth

SQ change shape (dire bat or wolf, beast shape II), gaseous form,shadowless, spider climb

[Special Abilities]

Spit Acid (Ex) Once every 6 hours, an ankheg can spit a 30-foot line of acid. Creatures struck by this acid take 4d4 points of acid damage (Reflex DC 14 halves). Once an ankheg uses this attack, it must wait 6 hours before using it again. Additionally, during this time period, its bite attack does not inflict any additional acid damage. As a result, an ankheg does not use this ability unless it is desperate or frustrated, most often spitting acid when reduced to fewer than half its full normal hit points or when it cannot not successfully grab an opponent. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Unfortunately, the vampire template just kind of makes a mess of a perfectly good ankheg and leave us with an extremely complicated statblock and an off balance monster with ridiculously high AC for CR 7 and really low hit point totally. The truth of the matter is that the Vampire template is really a Dracula template. It is very good at creating a charming, mysterious figure that drinks blood, scales walls, controls wolves, dominates the minds of foes and is repulsed by garlic. I don’t think it would be what I would want to throw at my players so I think it is best to use the template as, well a template, and pick and choose what to use and chuck the rest. Below is what I would probably use.

Advanced Vampiric Ankheg CR 7

XP 1,600

NE Large undead (augmented magical beast)

Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +16

[Defense]

AC 23, touch 13, flat-footed 23 (+4 Dex, +9 natural, -1 size)

hp 52 (5d8+30); fast healing 5

Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +6

Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4; DR 10/magic and wood;

Immune acid, undead traits; Resist cold 10

[Offense]

Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft.

Melee bite +11 (3d6+10 plus 1d4 acid plus grab plus energy drain)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks children of the earth, dominate (burrowers, DC 17), energy drain (2 levels, DC 17), spinal fluid drain, spit acid

Weaknesses vampiric ankheg weaknesses

[Statistics]

Str 24, Dex 18, Con --, Int 5, Wis 21, Cha 21

Base Atk +5; CMB +11 (+15 grapple); CMD 23 (31 vs. trip)

Feats Improved Natural Attack (bite), Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness

Skills Climb +15, Perception +16, Stealth +8; Racial Bonus +8 Stealth

SQ liquid form, tremorless, spiderclimb

[Special Abilities]

Children of the Earth (Su) As a vampire’s children of the night ability but the vampiric ankheg can all 1d3 centipede swarms or 2d6 darkmantles.

Liquid Form (Su) As a standard action, a vampiric ankheg can assume a liquid form at will. This allows it to burrow leaving no tunnel and thus escape opponents like to kill it.

Spiderclimb (Ex) As a vampire

Spinal Fuild Drain (Su) As vampire, except the drain deals 1d4 Dexterity damage.

Tremorless (Ex) Ankheg vampires cannot be detected with tremorsense.

Weaknesses Ankheg vampires cannot tolerate the strong odour of lye and will not enter areas laced with it. Similarly they recoil from strongly presented wooden farm tools and scarecrows. Ankheg vampires reduced to zero hit points are incapacitated but not slain. An incapacitated ankheg vampire can be killed by exposure to sunlight, immersion in running water or through decapitation.

There an ankheg vampire ready to terrorize a community. He has many of the same-ish features of the standard vampire but doesn’t need to live in a castle and wear a cape anymore. I have the CR set at 7, 6 may be more appropriate it will need further playtesting to make sure.