Selenic Creature (CR +?)[3pp]

Ruled by the phases of the moon, selenic creatures are moody beings whose hearts and minds shift with the shadows crawling across the face of that silvery orb. Even during the day, when the sun is the only heavenly body visible in the sky, selenic creatures continue to act as the moon demands of them.

Selenic creatures look just like normal specimens of their kinds, but their attitudes at any given time depend on the phase of the moon. Two selenic creatures of different races might not be visually similar to one another, but they might both sneer with suspicion during the new moon or laugh uproariously for no reason when the moon is full. As the moon changes phases, the selenic creature’s alignment shifts. Even a despicably evil selenic creature feels remorse for its actions during the full moon, and even the most decent and upstanding one should be avoided during the days and nights surrounding a new moon.

Creating a Selenic Creature

Selenic” is an inherited template that can be applied to any intelligent creature (hereafter referred to as the base creature). A selenic creature uses all of the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Mechanically, the selenic creature template is a package of several templates, each of which is applied to the base creature during the appropriate moon phase and then removed before the next template is added. The changes are not cumulative, and each template lasts about 4 to 5 days. Changes to Intelligence due to the moon phase do not grant additional skill points or languages.

New Moon

When the moon is new in the sky, it is cloaked in darkness and hidden from view. A selenic creature is similarly reclusive during this time, and it often becomes surly and emotionally cold.

Alignment: The selenic creature’s alignment becomes evil during the new moon. If the base creature is already evil, the selenic creature becomes chaotic. If it is already chaotic evil, no further alignment shift occurs.

Senses: The selenic creature gains darkvision +120 ft.

Spell-like Abilities: During the new moon, the selenic creature gains the following. Its caster level is equal to its total Hit Dice.

At willdeeper darkness.

Abilities: Dex +4, Con –2 (minimum 1), Int +2.

Feats: The selenic creature gains Blind-Fight as a bonus feat.

Skills: The base creature gains a +4 racial bonus on Intimidate and Stealth checks and takes a –4 penalty on Bluff and Diplomacy checks.

Waxing Crescent

The waxing crescent rises in the sky after the new moon, but before the first half-moon. A scimitar of light on the right side of the darkened orb grows larger every day, until the moon reaches its half-moon configuration. When the moon waxes crescent, the gloom that has held the selenic creature in its grip begins to abate—not that most creatures would notice. The selenic creature’s surliness becomes mere irritability, and what seems to be an unfeeling nature resolves itself into bitterness.

Alignment: The selenic creature’s alignment shifts one step toward evil. If the base creature is already evil, the selenic creature’s alignment shifts one step toward chaotic.

Senses: The selenic creature gains darkvision +60 ft.

Spell-like Abilities: During the waxing crescent moon, gains the following. Its caster level is equal to its total Hit Dice.

At willdarkness
1/daylight

Abilities: Dex +4.

Skills: The selenic creature gains a +2 racial bonus on Stealth checks.

Special Qualities: A selenic creature under a waxing crescent moon gains the following.

Shadow’s Friend (Ex)

In conditions of low light or shadowy illumination, the selenic creature gains a +2 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls.

Waxing Half-Moon

When the moon reaches this phase,its right side is lighted, and its left side appears dark. During this period, a selenic creature seems numb and noncommittal. Although it continues to conduct its daily affairs normally, it seems lost in thought much of the time.

Senses: The selenic creature gains darkvision +60 ft. and low-light vision.

Spell-like Abilities: During the first half-moon the selenic creature gains the following. Its caster level is equal to its total Hit Dice.

3/daydarkness, light

Abilities: Dex +2, Wis +2.

Skills: The selenic creature gains a +5 racial bonus on Acrobatics checks.

Special Qualities: A selenic creature under a waxing half-moon gains the following.

Shadow’s Friend (Ex)

In conditions of low light or shadowy illumination, the selenic creature gains a +2 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls.

Waxing Gibbous

The waxing gibbous moon follows the first half-moon and precedes the full moon. The moon appears as a lighted orb flanked on the left by a crescent of darkness. When the moon waxes gibbous, the selenic creature opens itself up to new ideas and experiences, and its mood begins to brighten.

Alignment: The selenic creature’s alignment shifts one step toward good. If the base creature is already good, the selenic creature’s alignment shifts one step toward lawful.

Senses: The selenic creature gains low-light vision and the scent ability.

Spell-like Abilities: During the waxing gibbous moon the selenic creature gains the following. Its caster level is equal to its total Hit Dice.

At willlight
1/daydarkness

Abilities: Wis +4.

Special Qualities: A selenic creature under a waxing gibbous moon gains the following.

Shadow’s Friend (Ex)

In conditions of low light or shadowy illumination, the selenic creature gains a +2 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls.

Full Moon

When the moon is full, the Earth, sun, and moon are nearly in a straight line, with the Earth in the middle. The moon’s lighted side, the one reflecting the light of the sun, faces toward the Earth and looks like a bright, perfectly round beacon in the night sky. During the full moon, the selenic creature becomes positively gleeful. The increased wisdom of the past few days vanishes, replaced by potent strength and verve.

Alignment: The selenic creature’s alignment becomes good during the full moon. If the base creature is already good, the selenic creature becomes lawful. If it is already lawful good, no further alignment shift occurs.

Senses: The selenic creature gains low-light vision and the scent ability.

Special Attacks: A full moon selenic creature gains the following.

Lycanthrope Control (Su)

When the moon is full, a selenic creature can automatically detect the presence and location of every lycanthrope within 30 feet. With a standard action, it can force a single lycanthrope within that range to assume whichever lycanthropic form the selenic creature desires. The affected lycanthrope is stuck in that form until either it or the selenic creature dies or the phase of the moon changes. A Will save negates this effect. The DC is 11 + the selenic creature’s total Hit Dice. This change happens on the selenic creature’s turn, not the lycanthrope’s.

Spell-like Abilities: During the full moon the selenic creature gains the following. Its caster level is equal to its total Hit Dice.

At willlight

Abilities: Str +4, Con +2, Wis –2 (minimum 1).

Waning Gibbous

The waning gibbous moon follows the full moon and precedes the last half-moon. The moon appears as a lighted orb flanked on the right by a crescent of darkness. When the moon wanes gibbous, the selenic creature begins to settle down. Although the creature remains upbeat and optimistic, its happiness has lost the manic edge it recently had, and its perception and understanding of the world increases.

Alignment: The selenic creature’s alignment shifts one step toward good. If the base creature is already good, the selenic creature’s alignment shifts one step toward lawful.

Senses: The selenic creature gains low-light vision.

Spell-like Abilities: During the waxing gibbous moon the selenic creature gains the following. Its caster level is equal to its total Hit Dice.

1/daydarkness
3/daylight

Abilities: Str +2, Con +2.

Feats: The selenic creature gains Alertness as a bonus feat.

Skills: The selenic creature gains a +2 racial bonus on Sense Motive and Stealth checks.

Special Qualities: A selenic creature under a waning gibbous moon gains the following.

Shadow’s Friend (Ex)

In conditions of low light or shadowy illumination, the selenic creature gains a +2 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls.

Waning Half-Moon

When the moon reaches this phase, its left side is lighted, and its right side appears dark. During this period, the selenic creature’s mood seems unaffected by the moon. It perceptions grow even more acute, and it becomes abnormally reasonable.

Senses: The selenic creature gains darkvision +60 ft. and low-light vision.

Spell-like Abilities: During the last half-moon the selenic creature gains the following. Its caster level is equal to its total Hit Dice.

1/daydarkness, deeper darkness, light

Abilities: Con +2, Int +2.

Skills: The selenic creature gains a +4 racial bonus on Perception and Sense Motive checks.

Special Qualities: A selenic creature under a waning half-moon gains the following..

Shadow’s Friend (Ex)

In conditions of low light or shadowy illumination, the selenic creature gains a +2 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls.

Waning Crescent

The waning crescent rises in the sky after the last half-moon, but before the new moon. A scimitar of light on the left side of the darkened orb grows smaller every day, until it disappears completely. When the moon wanes crescent, the selenic creature sinks into a deep depression. Although it retains its reasoning power, its health suffers, and it grows increasingly suspicious of others.

Alignment: The selenic creature’s alignment shifts one step toward evil. If the base creature is already evil,the selenic creature’s alignment shifts one step toward chaotic.

Senses: The selenic creature gains darkvision +60 ft. and low-light vision.

Spell-like Abilities: During the waning crescent moon the selenic creature gains the following. Its caster level is equal to its total Hit Dice.

At willdarkness
1/daydeeper darkness

Abilities: Dex +2, Int +2.

Skills: The selenic creature gains a +2 racial bonus on Sense Motive and Stealth checks.

Special Qualities: A selenic creature under a waning crescent moon gains the following.

Shadow’s Friend (Ex)

In conditions of low light or shadowy illumination, the selenic creature gains a +2 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Advanced Bestiary, Copyright 2014, Green Ronin Publishing, LLC; Author Jeff Hersh, Developer Owen K.C. Stephens

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