Dark Tapestry Creature (CR +2)[3pp]

The ancient, eldritch abominations of the darkness between the stars are beings of immense power that normally show little interest in the mortal world. Yet occasionally insane cultists and power mad mages contact these cosmic beings in the hopes of controlling the hungering might of the dwellers in the darkness. Yet no mortal can fully control the dwellers’ might for their sole existence is an affront to all reason. Dark Tapestry creatures, those touched by this incomprehensible otherworldly incursion, are often the result. Dark Tapestry creatures eyes are often burnt out by what cannot be unseen, their mouth also takes on an alien appearance seeming more and more like a hungering maw, finally parts of their bodies take on a likeness of the night sky. Their minds however have gone far afield.

Dark Tapestry” is an acquired template that can be added to any creature. A dark tapestry creature uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

CR: +2

Alignment: Changes to Chaotic evil.

Type and Subtype: The creature’s type changes to aberration, with the augmented subtype do not recalculate base attack bonuses, saves, class skills, or skill points.

Senses: A dark tapestry creature gains darkvision 60 ft. and lifesense 120 ft. (as blindsight).

Defensive Abilities: regeneration (equal to Constitution score; acid, sonic); Immune cold, confusion, electricity, fire, insanity

Weaknesses vulnerability to acid and sonic.

Special Abilities: A dark tapestry creature retains all the special abilities of the base creature, and gains the special abilities as described below.

Brush of the Incomprehensible (Ex)

If the dark tapestry creature makes a successful attack its opponent must make a successful Will save (DC 10 +1/2 the dark tapestry creature’s HD + its Cha modifier) or be instantly inflicted with a madness affliction ignoring its onset time and replacing its normal DC. To be considered a successful attack the dark tapestry creature deals damage to an opponent, performs a successful combat maneuver against an opponent, or an opponent fails a save against one of the dark tapestry creature’s spell, spell-like, supernatural or extraordinary attacks.)

A dark tapestry creature may inflict any madness affliction but a new one is listed here for convenience.

Psychospecies Disorder

Type insanity; Save Will DC 16 Onset 1d6 days Effect –8 penalty on all Wisdom based skill checks; cannot take 10 or take 20; delusional (see below)

This disorder is specific to fantasy environments and involve the victim believing that she is a different type of creature. A victim might believe that she is a construct (and therefore immune to critical hits) or any other creature type that she has encountered. When a victim has a psychospecies disorder associated with a creature that has specific weaknesses (for example, a human thinking he’s a vampire), then the victim’s behavior changes become more noticeable (such as a fear of holy symbols and sunlight). The subject will always make attacks in favor of its delusional forms best attack. For example, if it believes it is a dragon, it will attempt to use its breath weapon, while its body attempts to make a fire based attack.

Distort Reality (Su)

The dark tapestry creature exists in defiance of natural law, as mortals understand them. Touched as they are by what should not be. Because of this, dark tapestry creature’s have a 50% chance to simply ignore an attack, spell, or other action targeting or affecting it. Acid and sonic attacks ignore this ability. This does not affect its attacks, spells or other actions in anyway. However the dark tapestry creature may not voluntarily fail this percentage check to allow a beneficial action caused by other creature’s actions to affect it. This distortion often appears as a fold into outer space.

Overwhelming Madness (Ex)

A dark tapestry creature’s mind is overwhelming in its alien structure. When a creature other than an aberration makes mental contact with a dark tapestry creature, it must make a successful Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the dark tapestry HD + its Cha modifier) or be instantly subject to the effects of its brush of the incomprehensible. On a successful save, the creature is staggered for 1 round. This effect can occur whether the dark tapestry creature initiates mental contact or another creature attempts to do so. Once a creature is exposed to a specific dark tapestry creature’s overwhelming mind, it is immune to this effect from all dark tapestry creature’s for 24 hours. This is a mind-affecting effect.

Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Con +6 (+3 hp per HD, +3 to Fortitude saves, and any of the base creature’s Constitution-based DCs), +6 Cha (+3 to Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Perform, and Use Magic Device; attempts to influence others, and Channel Energy DCs, +1 to any of the base creature’s Charisma-based DCs).

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathways Bestiary (c) 2017, Rite Publishing LLC.; Author: Steven D. Russell.

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