Buraq

Before you stands a noble mount with a proud and regal bearing. It has the strong body of a mule, pure white in color, with shining black hooves and the glittering, iridescent wings and tail of a peacock. With a dignified bow of its richly adorned human head, it spreads its powerful wings wide in a fan of shimmering colors.

Buraq CR 5

XP 1,600
NG Large magical beast
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+2 Dex, +8 natural, -1 size)
hp 51 (6d10+18)
Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +7

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft., fly 100 ft. (average)
Melee 2 hooves +9 (1d4+4)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks drink the wind, shimmering wings
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)

At willcall lightning (DC 15), create food and water, bless water, magic circle against evil, purify food and drink, shocking grasp

STATISTICS

Str 18, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 20, Cha 14
Base Atk +6; CMB +11; CMD 23
Feats Endurance, Flyby Attack, Lightning ReflexesB, Run
Skills Acrobatics +10, Diplomacy +9, Fly +11, Heal +9, Knowledge (any one) +8, Perception +11, Sense Motive +9 Racial Modifiers +2 Perception checks, +4 Acrobatics
Languages Common, Celestial, Draconic
SQ fold the earth

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Drink the Wind (Su)

Once per day, a buraq may fill its lungs with air and release an explosive gust of wind in a line 150 feet long. Any creature caught by the wind takes 2d6 points of bludgeoning damage and is affected by windstorm-strength winds, possibly suffering other effects. A DC 18 Reflex save negates both the damage and the effects of the wind. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Shimmering Wings (Su)

A buraq can flutter its iridescent wings to create a pattern of subtle, shifting colors around its body. Any creature within 60 feet who can see the buraq must make a DC 17 Will save or be fascinated for 2d4 rounds. A creature that makes the save is immune to the shimmering wings of that buraq for 24 hours. This is a mind-affecting pattern and affects up to 24 HD of creatures. The save DC is Charisma-based and includes a +2 racial bonus.

Static Field (Su)

Three times per day, a buraq can surround itself (and its rider, if any) with a coruscating aura of static electricity that deflects Medium or smaller ranged attacks. This ability functions like an entropic shield and lasts for 1 minute.

Fold the Earth (Su)

Once per day, a buraq can transport itself over great distances. This functions as a teleport spell (caster level 6th) with the usual chances of success or mishap. However, a buraq can teleport itself to any location that it can see (usually as far as the horizon, or approximately 200 miles) as if that location were “studied carefully.”

ECOLOGY

Environment warm mountains
Organization solitary, pair, or wisdom (2-4)
Treasure standard
Advancement 7-10 HD (Large), 11-18 HD (Huge)

Buraqs are a race of good and noble creatures that sometimes serve as steeds to devout servants of the celestial realms. Related to lammasus, buraqs are also known for their great wisdom. Those seeking divine insight often climb high mountains to petition buraqs to impart their great knowledge, while pious warriors in search of a companion as pure in heart as themselves might endeavor to claim a buraq as a mount.

A buraq has an equine body with a pure white coat, but instead of a horse’s head and neck it has a human head with bronzed skin and thick black hair. Male buraqs have a man’s face and favor full beards, while female buraqs have a woman’s face and often wear silken veils. Buraqs of both sexes have the brightly colored tail and wings of a peacock, with a 20-foot wingspan. A typical adult buraq is the size of a mule or light horse, about 5 feet high at the shoulder and 8 feet long, and weighs between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds. Females are slightly smaller and slimmer than males. The average lifespan of a buraq is about 200 years, although some particularly wise specimens have lived over 500 years.

Buraqs are creatures of good, with a strong respect for dignity and life. They are dedicated to helping others, although they embrace freedom over authority. They keep their word, but give it carefully, adn can become resentful of those who try to compel them. Buraqs have a kindly disposition, and are welcoming to those who approach them with honor and respect. They are willing to share their knowledge, and though they do not ask for compensation for their assistance, they gladly accept that which is freely given.

Buraqs live high in the mountains, preferring warm desert climes, and make their homes on sheer clif ledges or in secluded alpine meadows. They enjoy the freedom of the skies, and can be found soaring high in the clouds, reveling in the power and majesty of strong winds and thunderstorms. Buraqs prefer human food, but can subsist on horse fodder, if necessary. In times of hardship, they rely on their create food and water ability.

Habitat & Society

Buraqs are solitary creatures, usually living alone in high mountain retreats. Buraqs mate for life, but a mated pair normally lives separately, only visiting each other once every year or two. The exception to this is when a couple has a child. Both parents raise the child together until it is old enough to care for itself at about 5 years of age. At that time, the entire family goes its separate ways. Occasionally, up to four buraqs will join together to form a “wisdom”, a conclave to share knowledge, discuss matters of import, or respond to a threat or great evil, but these are temporary gatherings at best, and dissolve when the business is finished.

Some buraqs serve the celestial powers of good as mounts and allies, making regular journesy between the Material Plane and the Outer Sphere. These buraqs have coats of pure silver and golden hair, and often wear modest but conorful veils, bits of jewelrey, or other ornaments. They gain the celestial template and the ability to plane shift once per day as a spell-like ability, and are believed to be so devout and pure that they have achieved immortality.

Buraqs as Mounts

Although they can carry a rider, buraqs cannot be trained as mounts. They are intelligent beings who choose for themselves whether to accept a rider. This is usually a particularly devout and pure person of good alignment who the buraq feels is worthy of its companionship and protection. Often a petitioner must prove himself on some holy quest before the buraq consents to serve as a steed. A buraq is considered a special cohort, not a normal mount.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder 20: House of the Beast. Copyright 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Tim Hitchcock.

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