Friend Folio: Alpluachra
To its credit, Pathfinder tries a lot of new things beyond the "tactical combat sim" the RPG is mainly known for. One of those is the Alpluachra, a transplant from Celtic mythology.
Alpluachras are an interesting sort of monster, because the most dangerous part of their statblock is purely noncombatant. With the power to starve and dehydrate its victims, the alpluachra plants itself in the realm of rations, something a lot of DMs and players don't necessarily consider in a game whose three main appeals are combat, exploration, and showing off your cool OCs. Logistics just aren't fun, y'know?
(Survival stories notwithstanding.)
I think most players will see this ugly little thing as a disease, ultimately, but the idea of contracting one outside of combat/traps might throw them off, a bit. In that case, it might be best to stick to NPCs, so the players don't find it cheap. Or...
After a nice nap in the Otherside, a group of explorers attend a comedy put on by a troupe of nymphs. A few minutes in, one of the explorers unexpectedly finds themself heckling the performers in perfect Aklo -- a language they don't speak, especially not through closed lips.
King Krikke's master of the guard wants him dead. Normally, if the King of Fryrec were to be poisoned at a fancy dinner party, he'd be tasked with the investigation (and subsequently be able to pin the blame on, say, the court physician). If the King were to suddenly vomit up a dead newt, however, that might require some outside help.
A new drug has found its way into Monamore, synthesized from the numbing slime of an alpluachra. The fey are in on the racket, though some will supplement their income by consensually implanting themselves in those addicted who can no longer afford the real thing. Peacekeeping contractors might be able to learn more of the O'Cuilin Ring from these stragglers -- though they could just as easily turn them in to the Family for some extra cash.
(Bestiary 4, pg. 9)
