Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The Vorpal Tribble 09-26-07, 08:59 PM	Toxdra http://www.blackwood-steele.com/images/samples/Poison%20Ivy%20red.jpg Small Fey Hit Dice: 3d6+12 (22 hp) Initiative: +2 Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares) Armor Class: 18 (+3 dex, +4 natural, +1 size), touch 14, flat-footed 15 Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-5 Attack: Claw +5 melee (1d2-2 plus touch me not) Full Attack: 2 claws +5 melee (1d2-2 plus touch me not) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks: Bitterberry, neutralize poison, poison absorption, touch me not, warning colors Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/cold iron, immunity to poison, low-light vision Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +6 Abilities: Str 7, Dex 16, Con 19, Int 9, Wis 16, Cha 18 Skills: Bluff +9, Intimidate +9, Listen +8, Knowledge (nature) +4, Spot +8 Feats: Dodge, Great Fortitude, Weapon Finesse(B) Environment: Temperate or Warm Forest and Marsh Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: 3 Treasure: None Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Advancement: By character class Level Adjustment: +4 A toxdra is a beautiful yet unnerving creature with the lower half as a large, legless caterpillar and the top half of an adrogynous humanoid that nevertheless has a feminine quality. The top half's skin has the paleness of illness, and large scarlet and magenta veins of a poisonous shade stand out prominently. The eyes are large and bright red, with deep, wrinkled bags swinging below. Its hair is more like feathery fur, starting half-way down the head, and spread out backwards like a mane. It is a shocking shade of firey orange, with darker auburn diamond shapes going down in a line. The thin arms are long for its size, and tiny claws spring from its fingers. The bottom half is a darker shade of maroon with scintilating highlights that flicker when it moves. Though at first appearing to be covered in scales, up close it can be seen to be much more like the petals of some waxy flower forming layer after layer with the same brilliant-colored veins coursing through them. Those that are the most beautiful are often the most deadly. The poisonous butterfly, the bright-colored fruit, the shining serpent, all are creatures who flash their warnings to leave them be, that they are not good to eat. The toxdra is a friend to such creatures who possess this elegant menace. They are most often found living about the tangles of poison ivy thickets or fields of deadly toadstools which they love as a dryad does her tree. Though such creatures and growths are rarely tangled with, she protecting them with a display of her own, dancing as beautifully as it is frightening. A toxdra speaks sylvan. They weigh around 40 lbs and stand some three and a half feet high. Combat A toxdra is a creature of bluff and intimidation, trying to frighten and unnerve instead of fight, her eyes alighting ominously. If unable to ward them off a toxdra rushes forward to fill their veins with poison. Bitterberry (Su): Three times per day as a standard action a toxdra can cause up to 2d4 berries to grow from any plant she touches. Anyone who eats of these berries must succeed on a DC 15 fortitude save or take 1d10 points of Constitution damage. Damage from multiple berries eaten stack. The berries remain potent for 1 day before losing their properties. The save DC is Charisma-based. Neutralize Poison (Su): A toxdra can use Neutralize Poison at will as the spell (DC 15 will negates) as a 3rd level caster except that she absorbs the poison as mentioned below. Save DC's are Charisma-based. Poison Absorption (Ex): Any time a toxdra is exposed to poison it can store it within for a number of minutes equal to her Consitution modifier. At any time she may extrude the poison in a number of different ways. The save DC and affects of the poison are the same as the original poison. Contact: A toxdra can spread this poison with a successful touch attack. Ingested: A toxdra automatically spreads this poison whenever she is bitten. Inhaled: A toxdra can spread this poison by using a full round action to breathe out the poison into the air. This poison fills a 10-foot cube and remains in place for a number of rounds equal to her Constitution modifier, though a moderate wind (11+ mph) or higher disperses it immediately. Injury: A toxdra can spread this poison by making a successful claw attack. Touch Me Not (Ex): A toxdra's skin is poisonous and anyone she touches, or anyone who touches her, must succeed on a DC 15 fortitude save or begin to break out with an oozing rash. This rash is horribly irritating and those that fail the save must cease all other activities in order to scratch, shift their clothing, and generally show signs of extreme discomfort. The affected creature takes a -5 penalty on initiative checks, and a -2 penalty on all attack rolls, saves, and skill checks. If they try to cast a spell, they must make a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level) or lose the spell. They also take 1 point of non-lethal damage each round they are forced to scratch if they have a Natural Armor bonus of +2 or lower. Those with a claw attack take lethal damage. Anyone who comes in direct physical contact with those affected must make also make a save or gain the rash 1d4 days later. Those that make the save are unaffected by the toxdra's poison for 24 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based. Warning Colors (Ex): An excited toxdra produces an instinctive wariness in living creatures as it flashes its colors and weaves agressively. It can make an intimidation check against any creature within 20 feet that views it. Those that are intimidated also become shaken if they approach within 10 feet. A toxdra gains a +10 bonus to its intimidate check when using this ability.
DebiHuman 09-27-07, 10:15 AM	Very creepy (although the picture looks too benign for this). Very nicely done. First: the bad news: I think her attacks seem off. If you let her use her Dex bonus instead of her Str bonus, she should have Claw+5 melee (1d3-2). I don't believe the Dex bonus applies to the damage, only to the attack It's Weapon Specialization that allows you to add to the damage of an attack. Also, small fey use 1d3 for their claw attacks as per MM2. She should speak Sylvan not "fey." Second: tactics and development I understand why her Con is so high (she needs to be immune to toxins) however, giving her an equally high stat in Wis seems unnecessary (the 12-14 range is nearly as useful). Bluff is Cha based, Intimidate is Cha based, Knowledge is Int based, but Listen and Spot are both Wisdom based and those should be her weakest skills because she could rely on poisonous snakes and spiders to do this for her. If we can assume that she's milking them for poisons, why not give them double duty as her spies? She would be better off with Hide and Move Silently as skills than either Listen or Spot. Hide fits better because if her cover is blown, she can then use her Warning Colors before even engaging in melee. Melee is her weakest point. Since she has no legs, giviing her Move Silently as a skill makes a lot of sense. She may not be quick, but she can be very quiet. Also, it's based on her Dex which at 16 is rather good. Unfortunately, you have her dancing...without legs this seems a bit odd. Swaying like a cobra would be more like it. Third: The good stuff Are the bitterberries poisonous to animals? Considering her alignment, I would think not. Also animals, especially birds, can often eat berries that are poisonous to humans (and by extention probably all humanoids). I imagine that her lair would be surrounded by a plentitude of poisonous animals and plants because she needs to dose herself first before she can use it on others. I think that was a brilliant idea. Now there is a reason to look up all those neat poisons (btw there is a nice download on poisons and stuff here: http://dragonwing.net/Pale_Designs.htm This is also good because it gives her a purpose for trading for things like drow fungal poisons and medusa snake poisons. I can see a lot of use for this one. She could hire adventurers for her purpose or be used against them or both. EXxxxxcellent.... Debby
The Vorpal Tribble 09-27-07, 10:32 AM	Very creepy (although the picture looks too benign for this). Heh, it'd make my sister cringe in disgust. She is deathly allergic to poison ivy... which is odd because I'm completely immune. If I could find an artist I'd be glad to have a pic done of the toxdra though. I think her attacks seem off. If you let her use her Dex bonus instead of her Str bonus, she should have Claw+5 melee (1d3-2). I don't believe the Dex bonus applies to the damage, only to the attack It's Weapon Specialization that allows you to add to the damage of an attack. Also, small fey use 1d3 for their claw attacks as per MM2. Thanks, had forgotten her negative strength mod. However, only gave her 1d2 for claws because they are no bigger than a cat's. Second: tactics and development I understand why her Con is so high (she needs to be immune to toxins) however, giving her an equally high stat in Wis seems unnecessary (the 12-14 range is nearly as useful). Bluff is Cha based, Intimidate is Cha based, Knowledge is Int based, but Listen and Spot are both Wisdom based and those should be her weakest skills because she could rely on poisonous snakes and spiders to do this for her. They are high because she needs to be able to see her enemy so that she can do her display. If she doesn't see them then they could easily pop her off. She's a very paranoid fey and only one point higher in wisdom than a dryad. A nymph's is even higher. She would be better off with Hide and Move Silently as skills than either Listen or Spot. Hide fits better because if her cover is blown, she can then use her Warning Colors before even engaging in melee. Melee is her weakest point. My thoughts were that like most of these creatures she doesn't hide. Their main defense is being very very visible. Unfortunately, you have her dancing...without legs this seems a bit odd. Swaying like a cobra would be more like it. Dancing doesn't necessarily mean ballet ;) It would probably be snake like, but I can also see her rolling about and suddenly falling to the side and fanning her hair out, etc. Are the bitterberries poisonous to animals? Considering her alignment, I would think not. Also animals, especially birds, can often eat berries that are poisonous to humans (and by extention probably all humanoids). Yes, they are poisonous to all creatures that don't have resistances to poison. These are particularly vicious berries. I mean, ideally birds would have a resistance but D&D rarely gets into such detail. I imagine that her lair would be surrounded by a plentitude of poisonous animals and plants because she needs to dose herself first before she can use it on others. I think that was a brilliant idea. *bows* Also keep in mind that she can eat her own bitterberries. If a familiar or summoned creature comes at her she can gulp them down and have a very unpleasant surprise for them in addition to her already poisonous skin. Now there is a reason to look up all those neat poisons (btw there is a nice download on poisons and stuff here: http://dragonwing.net/Pale_Designs.htm *goes to take a look*
DebiHuman 09-27-07, 11:39 AM	If I could find an artist I'd be glad to have a pic done of her. Thanks, had forgotten her negative strength mod. However, only gave her 1d2 for claws because they are no bigger than a cat's. They are high because she needs to be able to see her enemy so that she can do her display. If she doesn't see them then they could easily pop her off. She's a very paranoid fey and only one point higher in wisdom than a dryad. A nymph's is even higher. My thoughts were that like most of these creatures she doesn't hide. Their main defense is being very very visible. Dancing doesn't necessarily mean ballet ;) It would probably be snake like, but I can also see her rolling about and suddenly falling to the side and fanning her hair out, etc. Yes, they are poisonous to all creatures that don't have resistances to poison. These are particularly vicious berries. I mean, ideally birds would have a resistance but D&D rarely gets into such detail. *bows* Also keep in mind that she can eat her own bitterberries. If a familiar or summoned creature comes at her she can gulp them down and have a very unpleasant surprise for them in addition to her already poisonous skin. [quote]Now there is a reason to look up all those neat poisons (btw there is a nice download on poisons and stuff here: http://dragonwing.net/Pale_Designs.htm *goes to take a look* Just some pointers: I understand that her claws are small but that doesn't mean that they must be weak. Cats are Tiny and that is why they do 1d2. She is still bigger than a cat and should do appropriate-sized damage. Moreover, a Small cat would do 1d3 points of damage. When you improve or reduce the size of a monster, the damage is proportional. Who said anything about ballet? Swaying, rolling about and fanning out hair is not dancing. Dancing requires one to have legs and in D&D it is a perform skill. Legless caterpilleas do not dance. Normal caterpillars don't dance either but that is beside the point. <<They are high because she needs to be able to see her enemy so that she can do her display. If she doesn't see them then they could easily pop her off. She's a very paranoid fey and only one point higher in wisdom than a dryad. A nymph's is even higher.>> Actually she would not need to see her enemy at all -- that's why she has a scarlet display as a warning so that they can see her. If she is a paranoid creature, then it makes even more sense for her to have Hide as skill. The reason that nymphs and dryads have high wisdom scores is so they can use their wiles on humans. Moreover, Dryads have a Hide skill that exceeds their Listen and Spot skill. Nymphs have a Hide skill equal to their Listen and Spot skill. However, both of these creatures are relying on their great physical beauty. Unfortunately, your monster is not described in terms that are especially attractive: especially the bags around the red eyes--that just screams horror to me. The creepy legless caterpillar bottom half isn't terribly attractive either. She's a scintillating bug with red hair with a black-widow like warning in it and her huge bags under her eyes aren't helping. Technically, this is an Aberration -- just like a Drider or a Naga is an Aberration. Yes, it is still tied to nature but because of its bizarre anatomy (the caterpillar bottom half) it should be considered an Aberration rather than a Fey creature. Debby
DebiHuman 09-27-07, 11:56 AM	Here's something you might want to think about adding: Hypnotic Sway (Sp): By twisting and rolling for 2 rounds, a toxdra can weave a shifting pattern through her veins that fascinates anyone who sees it. A toxdra can affect 2d4 HD of creatures. Creatures with the fewest HD are affected first; and, among creatures with equal HD, those who are closest to the toxdra affected first. Hit Dice that are not sufficient to affect a creature are wasted. Affected creatures become fascinated by the pattern of colors. Sightless creatures are not affected.
The Vorpal Tribble 09-27-07, 12:00 PM	I understand that her claws are small but that doesn't mean that they must be weak. Cats are Tiny and that is why they do 1d2. She is still bigger than a cat and should do appropriate-sized damage. Moreover, a Small cat would do 1d3 points of damage. When you improve or reduce the size of a monster, the damage is proportional. A small-sized fey 'often' does 1d3. I wanted her to do less. No where is it stated how much damage a creature must do. They are suggestions. I chose for it to do less. It also makes little difference as the damage done is 1 no matter what, and she does not increase in size. Who said anything about ballet? Swaying, rolling about and fanning out hair is not dancing. Dancing requires one to have legs and in D&D it is a perform skill. Legless caterpilleas do not dance. Normal caterpillars don't dance either but that is beside the point. Dance To move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, esp. to the accompaniment of music. It uses its body instead of feet so it is a legitimate usage of the word. Actually she would not need to see her enemy at all -- that's why she has a scarlet display as a warning so that they can see her. If she is a paranoid creature, then it makes even more sense for her to have Hide as skill. The color is a warning. She has to dance and flash them, as it says in the warning entry, before they are intimidated however. The reason that nymphs and dryads have high wisdom scores is so they can use their wiles on humans. Moreover, Dryads have a Hide skill that exceeds their Listen and Spot skill. Nymphs have a Hide skill equal to their Listen and Spot skill. However, both of these creatures are relying on their great physical beauty. I'm not sure exactly why they'd need a high wisdom score so they can 'use their wiles'. Anyways, I'd probably have given this thing Hide, but there are only so many skill points alotted. This thing got bluff and intimidate instead of hiding and moving silently. Because its whole concept is to be boldly seen while dryads and nymphs are very partial to hiding. So I chose the more fitting skills over the lesser fitting. Unfortunately, your monster is not described in terms that are especially attractive: especially the bags around the red eyes--that just screams horror to me. The creepy legless caterpillar bottom half isn't terribly attractive either. She's a scintillating bug with red hair with a black-widow like warning in it and her huge bags under her eyes aren't helping. She is not beautiful in the 'boy she's HOT' sense. Beautiful in the scintilating bug, the flashing feathers. And its charisma also stems from being rather creepy and intimidating. Charisma is not just for being purty. Technically, this is an Aberration -- just like a Drider or a Naga is an Aberration. Yes, it is still tied to nature but because of its bizarre anatomy (the caterpillar bottom half) it should be considered an Aberration rather than a Fey creature. No, it is NOT technically an Aberration. An aberration is a creature that is the opposite of 'ties with nature'. It is something that should not be. Something that would not come about naturally. Driders for instance aren't born driders. They are made. Just because something looks weird does not make them an aberration. They have to have an alien mindset or unnatural bodies or origins and the like. A toxdar does not qualify. Their body may look weird, but it follows perfectly natural rules. Might as well say a Grig is an aberration. It has the lower body of a cricket and the upper body of a humanoidish-type creature.
DebiHuman 09-27-07, 02:01 PM	I'm not saying you have to take any of my suggestions. You may take it or leave it. Here is more along the lines I was thinking and I left this a fey due your argument about the grig. However, I did make some signigicant changes. I'm not completely happy with this version either...but it's a start. Toxdra Small Fey Hit Dice: 3d6+12 (22 hp) Initiative: +2 Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares) Armor Class 18 (+3 Dex, +4 natural, +1 size), touch 14, flat-footed 15 Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-5 Attack: Claw +5 melee (1d3-2 plus poison) Full Attack: 2 claws +5 melee (1d3-2 plus poison) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks: Bitterberry, touch me not, toxic transfer, warning colors Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/cold iron, immunity to poison, low-light vision, speak with vermn Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +6 Abilities: Str 7, Dex 16, Con 19, Int 9, Wis 12, Cha 18 Skills: Bluff +9, Intimidate +9, Handle Animal+0 (+4 vermin), Hide +8, Move Silently +8 Feats: Dodge, Great Fortitude, Weapon Finesse (B) Environment: Temperate or Warm Forest and Marsh Organization: Solitary or with vermin Challenge Rating: 3 Treasure: Standard Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Advancement: By character class Level Adjustment: +4 A toxdra is an unnerving creature with the lower half of a large, legless caterpillar and the top half of an androgynous, though vaguely female, humanoid. Its skin is abnormally pale with prominent scarlet and magenta veins; its eyes are large and bright red; and its hair is more like feathers than fur. A toxdra's hair starts half-way down its head and spreads out backwards like a mane. It is a shocking shade of fiery orange, with darker auburn diamond shapes going down in a line. Its thin arms are long for its size, and tiny claws spring from its fingers. The bottom half of the toxdra is a maroon with scintillating highlights that flicker when it moves. Although at first appearing to be covered in scales, up close it can be seen to be much more like the petals of some waxy flower forming layer after layer with the same brilliant-colored veins coursing through them. Those that are the most brightly-colored are often the most deadly. The poisonous butterfly, the luscious fruit, the shining serpent, all are creatures who flash their warnings to leave them be, that they are not good to eat. The toxdra is a friend to such creatures who possess this elegant menace. They are most often found living about the tangles of poison ivy thickets or fields of deadly toadstools, which they love as a dryad does her tree. Although such creatures and growths are rarely tangled with, she protects them with a display of her own.... A toxdra speaks Sylvan. They weigh around 40 lbs and are three and a half feet tall. Combat A toxdra is a paranoid creature who hides in her nest and if discovered attempts to dissuade and unnerve intruders with her Warning Colors and Intimidation. If those tactics fail, she will attempt to Bluff her way out. Finally, if she is still unable to ward off a potential threat, a toxdra will rush forward to fill her opponent with poison. Bitterberry (Su): Three times per day as a standard action a toxdra can cause up to 2d4 berries to grow from any plant she touches. Anyone who eats of these berries must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or take 1d6points of Constitution damage. Damage from multiple berries eaten does not stack. The save DC is Charisma-based. Speak with Vermin (Ex): A Toxdra can communicate telepathically with any creatures of the vermin type that are within both 60 feet and line of sight. The communication is limited to fairly simple concepts such as “food,” “danger,” and “enemy.” Toxdras have a +4 racial bonus on Handle Animal checks when dealing with creatures of the vermin type. Touch Me Not (Ex): A toxdra's skin is poisonous and anyone she touches, or anyone who touches her, must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or become Sickened for 24 hours with an oozing rash. Sickened characters take a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. Furthermore, the rash can be spread to to others. Anyone who who comes in direct physical contact with those affected must make also make a save or gain the rash 1d4 days later. Those that make the save are unaffected by the toxdra's poison for 24 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based. Toxic Transfer (Ex): A toxdra is immune to poisons. Furthermore, any time a toxdra is exposed to a poison, she can store it within her body for a number of minutes equal to her Constitution modifier. At any time she may extrude the poison in a number of different ways. The save DC and affects of the poison are the same as the original poison. Contact: A toxdra can spread this poison with a successful touch attack. Ingested: A toxdra automatically spreads this poison whenever she is bitten. Inhaled: A toxdra can spread this poison by using a full round action to breathe out the poison into the air. This cloud remains in place for a number of rounds equal to her Constitution modifier, though a moderate wind (11+ mph) or higher disperses it immediately. Injury: A toxdra can spread this poison by making a successful claw attack. Warning Colors (Ex): An excited toxdra produces an instinctive wariness in living creatures as it flashes its colors and weaves aggressively. It can make an intimidation check against any creature within 20 feet that views it. Those that are intimidated also become shaken if they approach within 10 feet. A toxdra gains a +10 bonus to its intimidate check when using this ability. Debby