Graymalkins (3pp-TOHC)

Graymalkins are magical creatures that resemble ordinary cats. To the casual observer, a graymalkin appear to be nothing more than a raggedy-looking cat with nothing unusual about it. This disguise aids the graymalkin in its travels, allowing it to move unmolested among living creatures.

Graymalkin

Graymalkins always dwell near populated areas, preferring cities to towns, towns to villages, and so on. They often choose an owner (a living creature they deem gullible and easily manipulated) and convince that creature to take them home with them (by using their fascination ability). Once inside their owner’s house, a graymalkin uses its special abilities to kill its owner and any other family members. Such attacks usually occur at night (in the case of the slinker) or over a period of time (in the case of the tether).

Graymalkins are often found serving as the familiar to an evil spellcaster or hag. They prefer females to males when serving as a familiar and very rarely do they ever use their special abilities against their true owner. (Some tales say that when a graymalkin is serving as a familiar, its master is actually immune to its special abilities.)

Graymalkins avoid direct confrontations with opponents, preferring to attack helpless or otherwise unobservant foes. If forced into battle, a graymalkin seeks escape as quick as possible.

All graymalkins possess the following ability.

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Fascination (Su)

Once per round as a standard action, a graymalkin can attempt to fascinate a single opponent. The target can make a successful Will save to resist the attempt. On a successful save, that target is immune to the fascination ability of that graymalkin for 24 hours.

If the save fails, the target becomes fascinated with the graymalkin and “adopts” it as a pet, becoming its new owner. The owner clings to the cat and always keeps it close by, feeling withdrawn and lethargic if the graymalkin is farther away. A fascinated target resists any urges or suggestions to rid itself of its new found friend, even to the point of becoming combative and enraged. This fascination lasts until the graymalkin is killed, the owner dies, or the graymalkin remains more than 20 feet away from its owner for at least 24 hours. The effect is otherwise similar to a charm person spell (caster level equals the graymalkin’s HD). A graymalkin can only ever have one owner at a single time. If it uses its fascination ability against another creature, that target becomes its new owner on a failed save. All fascination effects on its previous owner are immediately dispelled. The save DC is Charisma-based.

ECOLOGY

Environment any land
Organization solitary
Treasure none

Variants

Slinker
Tether

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Graymalkin from the Tome of Horrors Complete, Copyright 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., published and distributed by Frog God Games; Author Scott Greene.

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