The Menagerie (or why it's not a good idea to annoy House Vadalis) [Archive] - Wizards Community

The Menagerie (or why it's not a good idea to annoy House Vadalis) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
scrollreader
08-18-07, 09:50 AM Welcome friends, neighbors, and especially customers to the annual Varna Fair! My name is Melisandre D'Vadalis, as I'm sure most of you know already, but please, call me Mel. Today we're going to be starting off with some of our House Exclusives, the finest magebred animals your money can buy. Tomorrow, of course, we'll be opening up the field a little for some of the more exotic choices, as I'm sure some of you know, and yes, that'll be when one of you lucky lads or ladies will get to take home your very own Frost Worm. But for today, we'll focus on some of the staples of our business, no less effective for being a little more common (but not too common, eh?).

Our first entry for the day, is one that'll be well known to several of you with valuable property (or daughters!) to protect! Let me tell you, as a young lady, it certainly put a crimp in a few of my suitors! The ideal animal for property personal protection, proven in war and peace, the Vadalis Warhound!

Vadalis Warhound
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+6 (15 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft (8 squares)
Armor Class: 24 (+3 Dex, +8 Natural, +3 Studded Leather Barding), touch 13, flat-footed 21
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+5
Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+6)
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+6)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: Trip
Special Qualities: Low-Light Vision, Scent, Excellent Learner, Thick Skinned Breed
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +1
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +7, Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +1, Survival +1*
Feats: Improved Natural Attack: Bite (B), Track (B), Weapon Focus: Bite
Environment: Domesticated
Organization: Solitary or Pack (5-12)
Challenge Rating: 1
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -

This singularly ugly dog is almost as wide as it is tall. It is sold by House Vadalis for "Personal Protection" and is illegal in most dog fighting rings. It is trained for the purpose of Combat Riding, and also knows the tricks Stay and Attack Anything. House Vadalis sells these fearsome creatures for 350 gp (barding included), making them expensive, if effective guardians.
Carrying Capacity: A light load for a Vadalis Warhound is up to 174 lbs, a medium load 175-346 lbs, and a heavy load 347-525 lbs. A Warhound can drag 2625 lbs.

Combat:
Warhounds are trained for war. They are proficient with barding, and can attack while ridden (the rider must make a ride check to attack as usual).
Trip (ex): A Warhound that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+4 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the Warhound.
Skills: *A Warhound has a +4 bonus to survival when tracking by scent.

That's very true, my Lord. Not a hunting beast, to be sure. But we haven't forgotten you gentlemen and ladies of sporting instinct. On the contrary, our savants have outdone themselves with this year's hunting crop. Able to track down man or beast, reliably even hours after the creature has passed by, and in several lovely new shades of pelt, it is my great pleasure to introduce our newest efforts on the Wildhound.

Vadalis Wildhound
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+6 (15 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 50 ft (10 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (+4 Dex, +4 Natural), touch 14, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+3
Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d6+3)
Full Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d6+3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: Trip
Special Qualities: Low-Light Vision, Scent, Excellent Learner, Tracking Breed
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +1
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 19, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +4, Listen +5, Move Silently +5, Spot +5, Survival +4*
Feats: Alertness (B), Track (B), Skill Focus: Survival
Environment: Domesticated
Organization: Solitary or Pack (5-12)
Challenge Rating: 1
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -

This lean, shaggy dog looks at least half wolf. It has a long and sensitive nose. It is sold by House Vadalis for hunting, and is also popular with police and bounty hunters for tracking fugitives. It is trained for the purpose of Hunting, and also knows the tricks Aid Another and Herd.
Carrying Capacity: A light load for a Vadalis Wildhound is up to 99 lbs, a medium load 100-199 lbs, and a heavy load 200-300 lbs. A Wildhound can drag 1500 lbs.

Combat:
Trip (ex): A Wildhound that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the Wildhound.
Skills: *A Wildhound has a +8 bonus to survival when tracking by scent.

New Trick: Aid Another. An animal who knows the Aid Another trick is capable of using the aid another action in combat or to assist it's owner or another animal with the use of a skill both have ranks in.

New Trick: Herd. An animal who knows the Herd trick will attempt to bring it's target back towards it's master. It will make noise and threaten the creature anytime it tries to move away. Animals using this trick usually get ahead of their target, and then ready an action to attack. They may also take attacks of opportunity as usual.

Actually, Milady, they shed much less than it appears. It's not much different from having a shifter in the house! Still, I do catch your meaning, and you've anticipated me wonderfully. As always, we of House Vadalis are here to please, and it became clear to us some time ago that the ideal guardian creature for seldom used areas would be one that only required a little maintainence and was far less high strung than some of the dogs we sell. And so our patient hunters scoured the world, even to the depths of Xendrik looking for the perfect, patient guardian! Now, after several years of trials, it is our great pleasure to introduce a new line of guardian creatures with these two fascinating examples.

Vadalis Fangscale
Huge Animal
Hit Dice: 6d8+18 (45 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 20 ft (4 squares), climb 20 ft, swim 20 ft
Armor Class: 20 (-2 Size, +3 Dex, +9 Natural), touch 11, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+16
Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d6+6), Poison
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d6+6), Poison
Space/Reach: 15 ft/10 ft
Special Attacks: Poison
Special Qualities: Scent, Excellent Learner, Thick Skinned Breed
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +3
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +11, Climb +12, Hide +8, Listen +9, Move Silently +3, Spot +9, Swim +12
Feats: Ability Focus: Poison, Alertness (B), Combat Reflexes, Skill Focus: Hide
Environment: Domesticated
Organization: Solitary or Den (5-12)
Challenge Rating: 3
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -

This massive black serpent has red and gold markings down the back. It is sold by House Vadalis as a lethal watchbeast. It is trained for the purpose of Guarding, and also knows the tricks Attack Anything, Hide, Seek, and Perform.

Combat:
Poison (ex): A Fangscale has a poisonous bite that deals initial and secondary damage of 1d6 Con. The save DC is constitution based.

Special: The Markings on the Vadalis Fangscale and Crushscale are very similar, and only appear on these two creatures. Anyone trying to identify one of these two creatures as a Vadalis guardian creature gets a +2 bonus on their knowledge: nature check. However, unless a member of House Vadalis, any attempt to tell the two breeds apart takes a –5 penalty.

New Trick: Hide. An animal who knows the Hide trick will use the hide and move silently abilities until told not to, and in addition will not cry out or otherwise warn before attacking.

Old Trick: Perform. An animal who knows the Perform trick can be 'milked' of venom by an appropriately trained and equipped handler without risking poisoning.

Vadalis Crushscale
Huge Animal
Hit Dice: 11d8+22 (71 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 20 ft (4 squares), climb 20 ft, swim 20 ft
Armor Class: 20 (-2 Size, +4 Dex, +8 Natural), touch 12, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+29
Attack: Bite +15 melee (1d8+13)
Full Attack: Bite +15 melee (1d8+13)
Space/Reach: 15 ft/10 ft
Special Attacks: Constrict d10+13, Improved Grab
Special Qualities: Scent, Excellent Learner, Thick Skinned Breed
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +11, Will +4
Abilities: Str 29, Dex 19, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +12, Climb +19, Hide +13, Listen +11, Move Silently +6, Spot +11, Swim +18
Feats: Alertness (B), Improved Grapple, Improved Natural Attack: Constrict, Skill Focus: Hide, Stealthy
Environment: Domesticated
Organization: Solitary or Ball (3-8)
Challenge Rating: 5
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -

This massive black serpent has red and gold markings down the back. It is advertised by House Vadalis as a non-lethal watchbeast (though it can of course, kill if so desired). It is trained for the purpose of Guarding, and also knows the tricks Attack Anything, Hide, Seek, and Subdue.

Combat:
Constrict (ex): On a successful grapple check, a Crushscale deals 1d10+13 points of damage.
Improved Grab (ex): To use this ability, a Crushscale must hit with it’s bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.

Special: The markings on the Vadalis Fangscale and Crushscale are very similar, and only appear on these two creatures. Anyone trying to identify one of these two creatures as a Vadalis guardian creature gets a +2 bonus on their knowledge: nature check. However, unless a member of House Vadalis, any attempt to tell the two breeds apart takes a –5 penalty.

New Trick: Subdue. An animal who knows the Subdue trick will attempt to deal non-lethal damage. If the animal loses more than half of it's hit points, or is very hungry it will switch back to dealing normal damage. Other than grapples, all attempts by animals to do non-lethal damage take a –4 penalty on the attack roll.

Yes, well, that's not a question you'll have to worry about, Sir. Not unless you're sneaking into your own wine cellar! But it's quite intentional. The two marvellous and impressive beasts are intentionally similar. It offers you a gradient of responses, from the most peaceful to the use of deadly force if necessary, and we believe that the average thief, not being smart enough to steal /legally/, surely isn't smart enough to tell the difference between these two creatures.
The deterrant value alone is easily worth the cost! Not to mention the money you'll save on keeping them. Simply throw them a live animal from time to time, and they'll keep themselves patiently waiting until their services are needed. They don't get bored, don't take sick time, and House Vadalis is prepared to /personally guarantee/ that they won't go and start their own nation!

Just a joke sir, just a joke. I'm certain house Denieth has the highest standards. After all, you're one of our best customers, so your standards have to be high! And this next item is one that can help anyone's guards do their jobs better! Please, I'm aware it's a box full of holes, but it's what's /inside/ the box that you're buying! If you'd hand the whistle Pierre? Thank you. And now, ladies and gentlemen, if you'll stand back for a moment?

Vadalis Darkcloud
Diminutive Animal (Swarm)
Hit Dice: 3d8+6 (19 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 5 ft (1 square), fly 50 ft (good)
Armor Class: 19 (+4 Size, +3 Dex, +2 Natural), touch 17, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/-
Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft/0 ft
Special Attacks: Distraction, Wounding
Special Qualities: Blindsense 20 ft, immune to weapon damage, low light vision, swarm traits, Excellent Learner, Swift Breed
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +3
Abilities: Str 3, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 4
Skills: Listen +11, Spot +11
Feats: Ability Focus: Distraction, Alertness (B), Lightning Reflexes
Environment: Domesticated
Organization: Solitary, Flight (2-4) or Colony (11-20)
Challenge Rating: 2
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -

This mass of darting shadows has flashes of red and gold inside, as individual bats' markings flash by. It is sold by House Vadalis as a living trap, and incorruptible guard, made up of . It is trained for the purpose of Guarding, and also knows the tricks Attack Anything, Hide, Seek, and Herd.

Combat:
Distraction (ex): Any living creature that begins it's turn with a swarm in it's space must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or be nauseated for one round. The save DC is constitution-based.
Wounding (ex): Any living creature damaged by a Darkcloud continues to bleed, losing 1 hit point per round thereafter. Multiple wounds do not result in cumulative bleeding loss. The bleeding can be stopped by a DC 10 Heal check or the application of a cure spell or some other healing magic.
Blindsense (ex): A Darkcloud notices and locates creatures within 20 feet. Opponents still have total concealment against the Darkcloud (but swarm attacks ignore concealement).
Skills: A Darkcloud has a +4 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks. These bonuses are lost if its blindsense is negated.

Fortunately for you all, we're not charging by the individual creature, but by the pound for this colony of our unique bats. It's a labor of love, for our batkeepers, and we'll even send an expert to help you install the colony where you wish. No longer will you have to worry about the invisible, or the miniscule threats to your property, so long as you have one of our Darkclouds to block the way. They're quite responsive, have no fear, to those who have the whistle. And in addition to their diet of trespassers ... they'll subsist quite nicely on fruit and vermin. Not /only/ will a few colonies of these lovelies keep your home save, but they'll also help protect you from rats, flies, Silver Flame Missionaries, and other common household pests!

(Mel d'Vadalis is a Human Bard 4/Dragonmark Heir 4. She's well known for her wit, and habit of being outrageous, but so far, she's always been charming enough to pull it off. Her jokes never have any sting behind them, and when she's selling sheepdogs, she'll rag as mercilessly on the nobles as she does on the commoners when she sells noble follies. In the big family that is House Vadalis, she's everybody's little sister, which she sometimes resents, when people try to do things to 'protect her' but she loves her family, and her place in the world, and wouldn't have it any other way.)
OctaviusIII
08-18-07, 02:33 PM Okay, neat!

I've always wanted to get m'self a magebred flying mount. Or, come to think of it - can we do magebreeding eugenics? Hmm....
scrollreader
08-20-07, 10:21 AM Flying mount? Hrm. Lemme take a look at some of the various dire (flying thingie) setups, and see what magebreeding can do for us. Unfortunately, MBeasts aren't avaliable to be magebred, but adding another template to a hippogrif is certainly possible. Fiendish, perhaps, with blood red feathers on a black coat?
Darakhoranon
08-21-07, 12:36 PM "As long as you munthrek don�t get ideas about putting a saddle on an intelligent being..." comments a bearded human male with black hair and dark eyes with golden flecks wearing a black robe.
nightside_samurai
08-25-07, 02:08 AM This is neato! I'm just starting a game where I'm playing a D-Marked House Vadalis Druid and this is great fun to read :)
scrollreader
08-25-07, 09:26 AM Glad you enjoy it. I should be adding the Vadalis Deepdweller (Magebred Giant Squid) to the list, along with a magebred dino or two soon.
Darakhoranon
08-28-07, 07:32 AM I also have a little something waiting to be unleashed on Eberron... I just have to run a few final tests. Now, where were the "volunteers"?:devil:
Prime361
09-08-07, 06:43 PM Does the magebred dog make a better guard dog than the War Beast version of the same animal? If you are selling trained animals after all, why not increase the HD of them and make them a bit more combat ready? just an idea...

p.s. Love the flavor of the sales pitch though.
scrollreader
01-02-08, 12:28 AM Largely because there aren't 3.5 rules for that sort of thing. (And the 3.0 ones were messed up, and worse than nothing)

I try very hard to make material here, and in the Artificer's Workbench that everybody can use in their games quite easily. Still, I have a great idea for a small dog (terrier) based on upping the weasel HD, so I might add a few of those in a bit. Largely though, the Template itself makes stuff surprisingly nasty. Especially if you choose options well.
Moosh Nailo
01-07-08, 07:11 PM Gud schtuff.
LunarWolfPrime
01-17-08, 01:28 PM When is the next sale starting I want to see what else you got.
LunarWolfPrime
02-24-08, 09:08 PM :bump:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
scrollreader 08-18-07, 09:50 AM	Welcome friends, neighbors, and especially customers to the annual Varna Fair! My name is Melisandre D'Vadalis, as I'm sure most of you know already, but please, call me Mel. Today we're going to be starting off with some of our House Exclusives, the finest magebred animals your money can buy. Tomorrow, of course, we'll be opening up the field a little for some of the more exotic choices, as I'm sure some of you know, and yes, that'll be when one of you lucky lads or ladies will get to take home your very own Frost Worm. But for today, we'll focus on some of the staples of our business, no less effective for being a little more common (but not too common, eh?). Our first entry for the day, is one that'll be well known to several of you with valuable property (or daughters!) to protect! Let me tell you, as a young lady, it certainly put a crimp in a few of my suitors! The ideal animal for property personal protection, proven in war and peace, the Vadalis Warhound! Vadalis Warhound Medium Animal Hit Dice: 2d8+6 (15 hp) Initiative: +3 Speed: 40 ft (8 squares) Armor Class: 24 (+3 Dex, +8 Natural, +3 Studded Leather Barding), touch 13, flat-footed 21 Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+5 Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+6) Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+6) Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft Special Attacks: Trip Special Qualities: Low-Light Vision, Scent, Excellent Learner, Thick Skinned Breed Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +1 Abilities: Str 19, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 Skills: Jump +7, Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +1, Survival +1* Feats: Improved Natural Attack: Bite (B), Track (B), Weapon Focus: Bite Environment: Domesticated Organization: Solitary or Pack (5-12) Challenge Rating: 1 Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - This singularly ugly dog is almost as wide as it is tall. It is sold by House Vadalis for "Personal Protection" and is illegal in most dog fighting rings. It is trained for the purpose of Combat Riding, and also knows the tricks Stay and Attack Anything. House Vadalis sells these fearsome creatures for 350 gp (barding included), making them expensive, if effective guardians. Carrying Capacity: A light load for a Vadalis Warhound is up to 174 lbs, a medium load 175-346 lbs, and a heavy load 347-525 lbs. A Warhound can drag 2625 lbs. Combat: Warhounds are trained for war. They are proficient with barding, and can attack while ridden (the rider must make a ride check to attack as usual). Trip (ex): A Warhound that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+4 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the Warhound. Skills: A Warhound has a +4 bonus to survival when tracking by scent. That's very true, my Lord. Not a hunting beast, to be sure. But we haven't forgotten you gentlemen and ladies of sporting instinct. On the contrary, our savants have outdone themselves with this year's hunting crop. Able to track down man or beast, reliably even hours after the creature has passed by, and in several lovely new shades of pelt, it is my great pleasure to introduce our newest efforts on the Wildhound. Vadalis Wildhound Medium Animal Hit Dice: 2d8+6 (15 hp) Initiative: +4 Speed: 50 ft (10 squares) Armor Class: 18 (+4 Dex, +4 Natural), touch 14, flat-footed 14 Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+3 Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d6+3) Full Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d6+3) Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft Special Attacks: Trip Special Qualities: Low-Light Vision, Scent, Excellent Learner, Tracking Breed Saves: Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +1 Abilities: Str 15, Dex 19, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 Skills: Hide +4, Listen +5, Move Silently +5, Spot +5, Survival +4 Feats: Alertness (B), Track (B), Skill Focus: Survival Environment: Domesticated Organization: Solitary or Pack (5-12) Challenge Rating: 1 Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - This lean, shaggy dog looks at least half wolf. It has a long and sensitive nose. It is sold by House Vadalis for hunting, and is also popular with police and bounty hunters for tracking fugitives. It is trained for the purpose of Hunting, and also knows the tricks Aid Another and Herd. Carrying Capacity: A light load for a Vadalis Wildhound is up to 99 lbs, a medium load 100-199 lbs, and a heavy load 200-300 lbs. A Wildhound can drag 1500 lbs. Combat: Trip (ex): A Wildhound that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the Wildhound. Skills: *A Wildhound has a +8 bonus to survival when tracking by scent. New Trick: Aid Another. An animal who knows the Aid Another trick is capable of using the aid another action in combat or to assist it's owner or another animal with the use of a skill both have ranks in. New Trick: Herd. An animal who knows the Herd trick will attempt to bring it's target back towards it's master. It will make noise and threaten the creature anytime it tries to move away. Animals using this trick usually get ahead of their target, and then ready an action to attack. They may also take attacks of opportunity as usual. Actually, Milady, they shed much less than it appears. It's not much different from having a shifter in the house! Still, I do catch your meaning, and you've anticipated me wonderfully. As always, we of House Vadalis are here to please, and it became clear to us some time ago that the ideal guardian creature for seldom used areas would be one that only required a little maintainence and was far less high strung than some of the dogs we sell. And so our patient hunters scoured the world, even to the depths of Xendrik looking for the perfect, patient guardian! Now, after several years of trials, it is our great pleasure to introduce a new line of guardian creatures with these two fascinating examples. Vadalis Fangscale Huge Animal Hit Dice: 6d8+18 (45 hp) Initiative: +3 Speed: 20 ft (4 squares), climb 20 ft, swim 20 ft Armor Class: 20 (-2 Size, +3 Dex, +9 Natural), touch 11, flat-footed 19 Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+16 Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d6+6), Poison Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d6+6), Poison Space/Reach: 15 ft/10 ft Special Attacks: Poison Special Qualities: Scent, Excellent Learner, Thick Skinned Breed Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +3 Abilities: Str 18, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 2 Skills: Balance +11, Climb +12, Hide +8, Listen +9, Move Silently +3, Spot +9, Swim +12 Feats: Ability Focus: Poison, Alertness (B), Combat Reflexes, Skill Focus: Hide Environment: Domesticated Organization: Solitary or Den (5-12) Challenge Rating: 3 Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - This massive black serpent has red and gold markings down the back. It is sold by House Vadalis as a lethal watchbeast. It is trained for the purpose of Guarding, and also knows the tricks Attack Anything, Hide, Seek, and Perform. Combat: Poison (ex): A Fangscale has a poisonous bite that deals initial and secondary damage of 1d6 Con. The save DC is constitution based. Special: The Markings on the Vadalis Fangscale and Crushscale are very similar, and only appear on these two creatures. Anyone trying to identify one of these two creatures as a Vadalis guardian creature gets a +2 bonus on their knowledge: nature check. However, unless a member of House Vadalis, any attempt to tell the two breeds apart takes a –5 penalty. New Trick: Hide. An animal who knows the Hide trick will use the hide and move silently abilities until told not to, and in addition will not cry out or otherwise warn before attacking. Old Trick: Perform. An animal who knows the Perform trick can be 'milked' of venom by an appropriately trained and equipped handler without risking poisoning. Vadalis Crushscale Huge Animal Hit Dice: 11d8+22 (71 hp) Initiative: +4 Speed: 20 ft (4 squares), climb 20 ft, swim 20 ft Armor Class: 20 (-2 Size, +4 Dex, +8 Natural), touch 12, flat-footed 18 Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+29 Attack: Bite +15 melee (1d8+13) Full Attack: Bite +15 melee (1d8+13) Space/Reach: 15 ft/10 ft Special Attacks: Constrict d10+13, Improved Grab Special Qualities: Scent, Excellent Learner, Thick Skinned Breed Saves: Fort +9, Ref +11, Will +4 Abilities: Str 29, Dex 19, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 2 Skills: Balance +12, Climb +19, Hide +13, Listen +11, Move Silently +6, Spot +11, Swim +18 Feats: Alertness (B), Improved Grapple, Improved Natural Attack: Constrict, Skill Focus: Hide, Stealthy Environment: Domesticated Organization: Solitary or Ball (3-8) Challenge Rating: 5 Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - This massive black serpent has red and gold markings down the back. It is advertised by House Vadalis as a non-lethal watchbeast (though it can of course, kill if so desired). It is trained for the purpose of Guarding, and also knows the tricks Attack Anything, Hide, Seek, and Subdue. Combat: Constrict (ex): On a successful grapple check, a Crushscale deals 1d10+13 points of damage. Improved Grab (ex): To use this ability, a Crushscale must hit with it’s bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict. Special: The markings on the Vadalis Fangscale and Crushscale are very similar, and only appear on these two creatures. Anyone trying to identify one of these two creatures as a Vadalis guardian creature gets a +2 bonus on their knowledge: nature check. However, unless a member of House Vadalis, any attempt to tell the two breeds apart takes a –5 penalty. New Trick: Subdue. An animal who knows the Subdue trick will attempt to deal non-lethal damage. If the animal loses more than half of it's hit points, or is very hungry it will switch back to dealing normal damage. Other than grapples, all attempts by animals to do non-lethal damage take a –4 penalty on the attack roll. Yes, well, that's not a question you'll have to worry about, Sir. Not unless you're sneaking into your own wine cellar! But it's quite intentional. The two marvellous and impressive beasts are intentionally similar. It offers you a gradient of responses, from the most peaceful to the use of deadly force if necessary, and we believe that the average thief, not being smart enough to steal /legally/, surely isn't smart enough to tell the difference between these two creatures. The deterrant value alone is easily worth the cost! Not to mention the money you'll save on keeping them. Simply throw them a live animal from time to time, and they'll keep themselves patiently waiting until their services are needed. They don't get bored, don't take sick time, and House Vadalis is prepared to /personally guarantee/ that they won't go and start their own nation! Just a joke sir, just a joke. I'm certain house Denieth has the highest standards. After all, you're one of our best customers, so your standards have to be high! And this next item is one that can help anyone's guards do their jobs better! Please, I'm aware it's a box full of holes, but it's what's /inside/ the box that you're buying! If you'd hand the whistle Pierre? Thank you. And now, ladies and gentlemen, if you'll stand back for a moment? Vadalis Darkcloud Diminutive Animal (Swarm) Hit Dice: 3d8+6 (19 hp) Initiative: +3 Speed: 5 ft (1 square), fly 50 ft (good) Armor Class: 19 (+4 Size, +3 Dex, +2 Natural), touch 17, flat-footed 16 Base Attack/Grapple: +2/- Attack: Swarm (1d6) Full Attack: Swarm (1d6) Space/Reach: 10 ft/0 ft Special Attacks: Distraction, Wounding Special Qualities: Blindsense 20 ft, immune to weapon damage, low light vision, swarm traits, Excellent Learner, Swift Breed Saves: Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +3 Abilities: Str 3, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 4 Skills: Listen +11, Spot +11 Feats: Ability Focus: Distraction, Alertness (B), Lightning Reflexes Environment: Domesticated Organization: Solitary, Flight (2-4) or Colony (11-20) Challenge Rating: 2 Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - This mass of darting shadows has flashes of red and gold inside, as individual bats' markings flash by. It is sold by House Vadalis as a living trap, and incorruptible guard, made up of . It is trained for the purpose of Guarding, and also knows the tricks Attack Anything, Hide, Seek, and Herd. Combat: Distraction (ex): Any living creature that begins it's turn with a swarm in it's space must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or be nauseated for one round. The save DC is constitution-based. Wounding (ex): Any living creature damaged by a Darkcloud continues to bleed, losing 1 hit point per round thereafter. Multiple wounds do not result in cumulative bleeding loss. The bleeding can be stopped by a DC 10 Heal check or the application of a cure spell or some other healing magic. Blindsense (ex): A Darkcloud notices and locates creatures within 20 feet. Opponents still have total concealment against the Darkcloud (but swarm attacks ignore concealement). Skills: A Darkcloud has a +4 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks. These bonuses are lost if its blindsense is negated. Fortunately for you all, we're not charging by the individual creature, but by the pound for this colony of our unique bats. It's a labor of love, for our batkeepers, and we'll even send an expert to help you install the colony where you wish. No longer will you have to worry about the invisible, or the miniscule threats to your property, so long as you have one of our Darkclouds to block the way. They're quite responsive, have no fear, to those who have the whistle. And in addition to their diet of trespassers ... they'll subsist quite nicely on fruit and vermin. Not /only/ will a few colonies of these lovelies keep your home save, but they'll also help protect you from rats, flies, Silver Flame Missionaries, and other common household pests! (Mel d'Vadalis is a Human Bard 4/Dragonmark Heir 4. She's well known for her wit, and habit of being outrageous, but so far, she's always been charming enough to pull it off. Her jokes never have any sting behind them, and when she's selling sheepdogs, she'll rag as mercilessly on the nobles as she does on the commoners when she sells noble follies. In the big family that is House Vadalis, she's everybody's little sister, which she sometimes resents, when people try to do things to 'protect her' but she loves her family, and her place in the world, and wouldn't have it any other way.)
OctaviusIII 08-18-07, 02:33 PM	Okay, neat! I've always wanted to get m'self a magebred flying mount. Or, come to think of it - can we do magebreeding eugenics? Hmm....
scrollreader 08-20-07, 10:21 AM	Flying mount? Hrm. Lemme take a look at some of the various dire (flying thingie) setups, and see what magebreeding can do for us. Unfortunately, MBeasts aren't avaliable to be magebred, but adding another template to a hippogrif is certainly possible. Fiendish, perhaps, with blood red feathers on a black coat?
Darakhoranon 08-21-07, 12:36 PM	"As long as you munthrek don�t get ideas about putting a saddle on an intelligent being..." comments a bearded human male with black hair and dark eyes with golden flecks wearing a black robe.
nightside_samurai 08-25-07, 02:08 AM	This is neato! I'm just starting a game where I'm playing a D-Marked House Vadalis Druid and this is great fun to read :)
scrollreader 08-25-07, 09:26 AM	Glad you enjoy it. I should be adding the Vadalis Deepdweller (Magebred Giant Squid) to the list, along with a magebred dino or two soon.
Darakhoranon 08-28-07, 07:32 AM	I also have a little something waiting to be unleashed on Eberron... I just have to run a few final tests. Now, where were the "volunteers"?:devil:
Prime361 09-08-07, 06:43 PM	Does the magebred dog make a better guard dog than the War Beast version of the same animal? If you are selling trained animals after all, why not increase the HD of them and make them a bit more combat ready? just an idea... p.s. Love the flavor of the sales pitch though.
scrollreader 01-02-08, 12:28 AM	Largely because there aren't 3.5 rules for that sort of thing. (And the 3.0 ones were messed up, and worse than nothing) I try very hard to make material here, and in the Artificer's Workbench that everybody can use in their games quite easily. Still, I have a great idea for a small dog (terrier) based on upping the weasel HD, so I might add a few of those in a bit. Largely though, the Template itself makes stuff surprisingly nasty. Especially if you choose options well.
Moosh Nailo 01-07-08, 07:11 PM	Gud schtuff.
LunarWolfPrime 01-17-08, 01:28 PM	When is the next sale starting I want to see what else you got.
LunarWolfPrime 02-24-08, 09:08 PM	:bump: