Anacite Ambassador

Anacite Ambassador CR 6

XP 2,400
LN Medium construct
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +9

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +6 natural)
hp 72 (8d10+28)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +3
Immune construct traits
Weaknesses light dependency

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.
Melee 2 slams +9 (2d6+1)
Ranged retractable laser +12 (3d6 fire plus 1d6 burn)
Special Attacks burn (DC 14)

TACTICS

During Combat When diplomatic outreach fails, the anacite ambassador tries to stay out of melee range and fires its laser.

Morale If reduced to fewer than 14 hit points, the anacite ambassador flees.

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 17, Con —, Int 19, Wis 13, Cha 16
Base Atk +8; CMB +9; CMD 22
Feats Skill Focus (Bluff ), Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Toughness, Weapon Focus (retractable laser)
Skills Appraise +12, Bluff +17, Diplomacy +17, Knowledge (local) +15, Perception +9, Sense Motive +12
Languages Common, plus three additional languages
SQ ambassador protocol, language assimilation

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Ambassador Protocol (Ex)

Bluff, Diplomacy, Knowledge (local), and Sense Motive are class skills for an anacite ambassador.

Language Assimilation (Ex)

An anacite can learn a language by spending 1 day listening to it and reading it. An anacite ambassador can store knowledge of up to four languages at a time in this way, and it can choose which language to replace when it wants to learn a new one.

Light Dependency (Ex)

An anacite ambassador can acquire power from dim or brighter light, and it can store power generated in this way. The anacite can operate in darkness for 2 hours. After this time, the anacite gains the sickened condition until it returns to an area of dim or brighter light.

Retractable Laser (Ex)

An anacite ambassador’s retractable laser has a range increment of 90 feet. When not in use, this weapon is folded inside the anacite’s arm and hidden from sight. A creature unaware of the anacite’s hidden weapon must succeed at a DC 24 Perception check to find its compartment. The anacite can deploy or retract this weapon as a swift action or as part of making an attack or full attack. The weapon is mounted and leaves the anacite’s hands free, and the anacite can’t be disarmed of it. While deployed, the laser can be sundered.

Shortwave (Ex)

An anacite can communicate telepathically, but only with other anacites or with creatures that have shortwave communication.

ABOUT

A race of machines left behind by eons-departed masters, these constructs developed the capacity for evolution and self-improvement, creating an entire mechanical ecosystem. Anacites have varied general designs, but some have been engineered for specialized tasks. Two such specialists are the ambassador and the predator drone. While “anacite” officially refers only to the sentient varieties many off-worlders use it as a catchall term for the world’s mechanical life. Depending on their role, however, an anacite might be anything from a bulldozer-sized mining specialist to a floating electronic brain designed for advanced problem-solving, and even those anacites who fit the stereotypical metal-insect design usually have a modification or two, and almost all anacites can reconfigure parts of themselves to adapt to their circumstances.

In the uncounted millennia since the departure of the so-called “First Ones,” anacites have not been idle. The two primary factions of anacites, Those Who Wait and Those Who Become, have very different ideas of their purpose in life, yet the two are more alike than different.

While they variously wait for the First Ones to return or work toward taking on their progenitors’ mantle, anacites endlessly strive to acquire wealth and influence in preparation for their great goal’s fulfillment.

Anacite ambassadors travel to foster diplomatic relations.

Most often, anacite ambassadors serve on seedships as emissaries. Anacite ambassadors can easily learn languages. Further, although they are not warriors, ambassadors can protect themselves with built-in lasers.

To avoid tension during diplomacy, ambassadors keep this weapon retracted until it’s needed, though they usually notify their hosts about the laser unless there’s a good reason to keep it a secret.

The most common design for anacites is a basic arthropodan form of silvery metal, with multiple legs for efficient travel and claws or manipulators for accomplishing their assigned tasks.