Some time ago, my group and I tried out World of Darkness. Stuff got a bit weird when I introduced a bit of time travel into the mix. This was accommodated by a creature I came to call the Spirit of Choice. The design of the creature I described was one meant to evoke infinite possibilities made manifest. I really liked that creature and decided to stat it up in Pathfinder. Check it out, after the jump.
Emerging from the woods is a massive stag. Its antlers branch to an almost infinite number of points. A mask made of bone, its shape that of a spider, rests on its face. It walks on eight, thick, chitinous spider legs ending in hooves, seemingly walking in every direction at once.
SPINNER STAG CR 7
XP 3,200
N Large outsider (extraplanar, time)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +21
DEFENSE
AC 22, touch 9, flat-footed 22 (+3 Dex, +4 insight, +6 natural, –1 size)
hp 85 (10d10+30)
Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +9
Defensive Abilities foresight
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., fly 20 ft (average)
Melee slam +11 (1d6+1) , 4 hooves +6 (1d6)
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 19, Cha 23
Base Atk +10; CMB +12; CMD 25 (33 vs trip)
Feats Alertness, Hover, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (slam)
Skills Diplomacy +19, Fly +13, Knowledge (History) +14, Knowledge (Planes) +14, Perception +21, Sense Motive +21, Spellcraft +14
Languages Common, Druidic, Sylvan
SQ Time
ECOLOGY
Environment any land
Organization solitary, pair, or herds (3-10 spinner stags plus bull stag)
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Foresight (Su) A spinner stag can see multiple outcomes of any given action at once, using the knowledge to its advantage. This ability prevents it from being surprised, caught flat-footed, or flanked. It also grants the stag an insight bonus to AC equal to its Wisdom bonus. A confusion effect negates this ability for the duration of the effect, but the seeing stag can restart it as a free action on its turn.
Reweave Fate (Su) As a swift action, a spinner stag can alter destiny for itself or a willing creature. This manifests in one of a number a ways. The given creature may roll twice for one d20 roll on its turn and take the higher result, the creature may roll twice on a d20 roll and take the lower result, or the creature may treat one d20 roll as a natural 1, natural 10, or natural 20 on its turn. The spinner stag may also use this ability on an unwilling creature as a standard action, but that creature can make a Will save (DC 21) to resist this ability. A spinner stag may use this ability a number of times per day equal to half its total hit dice (minimum 1). The save DC is Charisma-based.
Spinner stags, also called choice spirits, are creatures directly tied to the plane of time which are known to manipulate the strands of fate in positive and negative ways. Choices in the universe directly sever the strands of fate and the residual energies of the would-be timelines are directly fed upon by spinner stags. Not content on just feeding on leftover fate energies, spinner stags also have insight into the infinite possibilities of time and use their knowledge to help others make decisions. Spinner stags are fabled to appear to those making ultimate, unthinkable decisions, such as a paladin sacrificing a child's life for the redemption of a village. While most stags appear to be noble, they are also known to aid in making more malicious decisions. Scholars argue as to wether this is for the aid of the person presented the choice, or if the stags are furthering some unknown, long-term agenda.
Most stags move in herds, known as selections, which are led by an alpha male known as a bull. Spinner stag bulls are sometimes noted for appearing to those in greatest of need in making a choice, such as great kings or mythical heroes. To generate stats for a spinner stag bull, apply the advanced and giant simple templates to the stag's stats.
The typical spinner stag is 6 feet long and weighs 400 pounds.
No comments:
Post a Comment