Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Exploit 04-22-07, 07:50 PM	One of the PCs I am DMing is an evil aasimar (Native Outsider), who just got energy drained to death by a spectre. My question is what if anything should the aasimar become by the rules? Here are the possibilities that I have come up with so far: A) Spectres only turn humanoids into spectres by their monster description therefore nothing happens to the aasimar since he is an outsider. The aasimar is dead and can be raised as normal because of his subtype. I'm not sure what to do about the lost levels in this case? The aasimar was a 7th level cleric before the encounter. Does he return as a 7th level cleric? Does he roll for each level drained to see what level he is when he comes back? What happens if he fails every roll to remove the negative levels? B) Native outsiders are partially mortal and can be raised from the dead by spells that restore souls to bodies, like humans, therefore native outsiders must be dual natured (have souls & bodies) unlike true outsiders. Extrapolating from this it is conceivable that the aasimar should become a spectre however other dual natured creatures, like aberrations, do not become spectres... C) The Savage Species book has a template for Spectral Creatures that are non-humanoid. That template cannot be normally added to outsiders however for the reasons outlined in B above it might make sense to have the template apply to Native outsiders. D) According to the DMG description on Energy Drain, "Depending on the creature that killed her, she may rise the next night as a monster of that kind. If not, she rises as a wight." The aasimar does not qualify to become a spectre therefore this rule would seem to imply that the aasimar should become a wight. E) On a related but slighly different note, since aasimar's appear to be dual natured, then their souls presumably go to the Fugue Plane. Can the aasimar sell his soul to the Baatezu, as per the FRCS page 259, for automatic transformation into an imp, or a similar lesser devil? Thanks for your thoughts and opinions, Exploit
Stigger 04-23-07, 01:47 AM	Personally I'd say whatever works best for the story should be the answer... Though as a DM, I'd probably say spectre over wight. And I'd also say that an aasimar could very much sell their soul to the Baatezu, with the attendent benefits of automatic promotion to something lowly, but still better than the average schmuck. All mostly due to that Native part stemming from the mortal ancestry. My interpretation of it anyway. Can't say the situation ever really came up for me though...
Zevox 04-23-07, 10:53 AM	A) Spectres only turn humanoids into spectres by their monster description therefore nothing happens to the aasimar since he is an outsider. The aasimar is dead and can be raised as normal because of his subtype. I'm not sure what to do about the lost levels in this case? The aasimar was a 7th level cleric before the encounter. Does he return as a 7th level cleric? Does he roll for each level drained to see what level he is when he comes back? What happens if he fails every roll to remove the negative levels? Rules-wise, thats how it works. Spectres only transform humanoids, an Aasimar is not a humanoid, so he isn't transformed. The negative levels would not be an issue upon resurrection (though with certain spells he of course loses a level as normal), since effects like that don't carry over past death. B) Native outsiders are partially mortal and can be raised from the dead by spells that restore souls to bodies, like humans, therefore native outsiders must be dual natured (have souls & bodies) unlike true outsiders. Extrapolating from this it is conceivable that the aasimar should become a spectre however other dual natured creatures, like aberrations, do not become spectres... This is correct - only true Outsiders (and Elementals I think) have no duality of body and soul. Native ones have that duality. But as you observe, that doesn't make them humanoids, so they nonetheless cannot be turned into Spectres unless you wish to house-rule it otherwise (personally, I wouldn't, but thats just me). C) The Savage Species book has a template for Spectral Creatures that are non-humanoid. That template cannot be normally added to outsiders however for the reasons outlined in B above it might make sense to have the template apply to Native outsiders. See B. D) According to the DMG description on Energy Drain, "Depending on the creature that killed her, she may rise the next night as a monster of that kind. If not, she rises as a wight." The aasimar does not qualify to become a spectre therefore this rule would seem to imply that the aasimar should become a wight. True. If it makes sense for the story, I'd say go for this. Personally though I expect that rule was written with the presumption that the character in question would be humanoid (Wights are distinctly humanoid-like undead after all). E) On a related but slighly different note, since aasimar's appear to be dual natured, then their souls presumably go to the Fugue Plane. Can the aasimar sell his soul to the Baatezu, as per the FRCS page 259, for automatic transformation into an imp, or a similar lesser devil? If he wants, sure. Any dead sentient could. Zevox