#type monstrous humanoid

[thecreaturechronicle]

Equiceph

Art by Stephen Tappin

Remnants of a long-lost civilization, equicephs are merciless horse-headed giants who mercilessly seek out weaker races as slaves. To most of the modern world equicephs exist only as bones and legends, but the scattered outcasts of their ancient nation live on.

An equiceph is a massive humanoid with the head and legs of a mighty horse, covered in short brown hair and standing eleven feet or more in height. They take great pride in their appearance and keep meticulous care of their weapons and armor, favoring enormous glaives and heavy splint armor.

Long ago, the equicephs ruled a peaceful kingdom in the north of Tian Xia, in what is now Hongal and Chu Ye. Known for their wisdom and skill as peacekeepers, the equicephs maintained peace by exiling their worst criminals beyond the Embaral Ocean. Thousands of years ago, in the time of Yixing, the equicephs were ravaged by a supernatural plague that left none of their kind alive in Tian Xia. Today, equicephs are all but forgotten in Tian Xia, though every so often their ancient skeletons are animated by necromancers.

The equicephs’ exiles in northeastern Casmaron, however, continue to loot and pillage their unfortunate neighbors. Retaining their ancestors’ sophistication but none of their wisdom or mercy, the surviving equicephs are vicious slavers who ruthlessly seek out other races as laborers and conscripts. Equicephs favor hobgoblin slaves for their natural inclination to follow orders, but gladly subjugate any creature they can overpower.

Equicephs fight in tight coordination, training for combat at almost all times. They fight intelligently, using feints and pincer maneuvers to overwhelm their foes. When possible, equicephs use hobgoblins as a front line of defense, callously sacrificing their slaves if doing so gives them the upper hand.

EQUICEPH CR: 3 XP: 800 LE Large monstrous humanoid Init: +0; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +8 __________________________________ AC: 19, touch 9, flat-footed 19 (+7 armor, +3 natural, -1 size) hp: 26 (4 HD) Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +5 __________________________________ Speed: 30 ft. (40 ft. base) Melee: Glaive +7 (2d8+6/x3) Ranged: Javelin +3 (1d8+4) Space: 10 ft.; Reach: 10 ft. (15 ft. with glaive) __________________________________ Str 19, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 12 Base Atk: +4; CMB: +9; CMD: 19 Feats: Ally Shield, EnduranceB, Shake it Off Skills: Intimidate +8, Perception +8, Survival +8, Swim +4 Languages: Common, Sylvan SQ: Solo tactics __________________________________ Environment: Temperate forests Organization: Solitary, slave band (1 plus 2-8 hobgoblins), or gang (2-6) Treasure: Standard (glaive, 4 javelins, splint mail, other treasure) __________________________________ Solo Tactics (Ex): All of an equiceph’s allies are treated as if they possessed the same teamwork feats as the equiceph for the purpose of determining whether the equiceph receives a bonus from its teamwork feats, if any. Its allies do not receive any bonuses from these feats unless they actually possess the feats themselves. The allies’ positioning and actions must still meet the prerequisites listed in the teamwork feat for the equiceph to receive the listed bonus.

EQUICEPH SKELETON CR: 2 XP: 400 NE Large undead Init: +5; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +0 __________________________________ AC: 15, touch 10, flat-footed 14 (+3 armor, +1 Dex, +2 natural, -1 size) hp: 18 (4 HD) Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4 DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune: Cold, undead traits __________________________________ Speed: 30 ft. (40 ft. base) Melee: Broken greataxe +5 (3d6+4) or 2 claws +7 (1d6+4) Space: 10 ft.; Reach: 10 ft. __________________________________ Str 19, Dex 13, Con --, Int --, Wis 10, Cha 10 Base Atk: +4; CMB: +9; CMD: 20 Feats: Improved Initiative __________________________________ Environment: Any Organization: Any Treasure: Broken greataxe, broken splint mail

Remember these guys from the Miniatures Handbook and the old Chainmail miniatures game? I have a soft spot for them--they were originally presented as an extinct race that only survived as undead skeletons, which I thought was really cool.

[thecreaturechronicle]

Grimlock

In the ancient past, many survivors of lost Azlant fled deep underground in the wake of the cataclysm that destroyed their empire. Over thousands of years, these once-human creatures mutated into debased races such as morlocks, dark stalkers, and mongrelfolk, but none have so thoroughly lost their humanity as the pitiful grimlocks.

The grimlocks' human ancestors had already fallen into cannibalism and animalistic savagery when they were found by mind flayers. The grimlocks, overwhelmed by the aberrations' intellect, worshiped the mind flayers as gods, and the mind flayers found them useful. Remembering the mistake of imbuing their slaves of old, the gith races, with psychic might, the illithids instead bred the grimlocks for strength, submissiveness, and adaptation to their environment, resulting in a race of blind brutes, fanatically devoted to their masters and perfectly suited to life in the lightless depths.

Grimlocks have flourished even as the mind flayers' numbers have declined, and they can now be found throughout the upper reaches of Golarion's Darklands. Most grimlocks live in small, barbaric tribes led by the strongest warrior. They favor twisting tunnels, especially those with interesting acoustics. Grimlocks litter the outskirts of their territory with pungent dung and offal, which helps them track intruders by scent.

Whenever possible grimlocks seek out illithids to serve with religious fervor. A lone mind flayer can easily bend a tribe of grimlocks to its service. Such grimlocks take prisoners alive so their masters can devour their brains; the grimlocks then partake of the victim's flesh as a sacrament to their illithid masters. Other powerful monsters, such as medusas (which appreciate easily-cowed minions immune to their petrifying gaze), beholders, and fiends also occasionally press grimlocks into servitude.

Grimlocks resemble humans in form, but their features are twisted and distended. Their gray skin is hard and leathery, protecting them from blows and helping them blend in with their subterranean surroundings. Their most notable feature is their complete lack of eyes: where human eyes should be, they have only blank hollows covered by skin and bone. Grimlocks are totally sightless, but perceive the world through batlike echolocation and a keen sense of smell. Their sense of touch is also heightened, and grimlocks enthusiastically practice ritual scarification, their leaders often displaying elaborate patterns of scar tissue that can be recognized by touch in the same way other races appreciate tattoos.

GRIMLOCK CR: 1 XP: 400 NE Medium monstrous humanoid Init: +1; Senses: Blindsight 40 ft., scent; Perception +6 __________________________________ AC: 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +4 natural) hp: 13 (2 HD) Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +2 Immune: Blind __________________________________ Speed: 30 ft. Melee: Battleaxe +4 (1d8+3/x3) __________________________________ Str 15, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 6 Base Atk: +2; CMB: +4; CMD: 15 Feats: Skill Focus (Perception) Skills: Climb +6, Perception +6, Stealth +1 (+9 in rocky environments), Survival +1; Racial Modifiers: +8 Stealth in rocky environments, +2 Survival Languages: Undercommon __________________________________ Environment: Underground Organization: Gang (2-4), pack (10-20), tribe (10-60 plus 1 leader of 3rd-5th level per 10 adults), or cult (10-80 plus 1 leader of 3rd-5th level per 10 adults and 1 mind flayer) Treasure: Standard __________________________________ Blind (Ex): A grimlock is immune to gaze attacks, visual effects, illusions, and other attack forms that rely on sight.

Grimlocks are apparently canon in Golarion (see Into the Darklands), but Paizo has chosen to develop morlocks as their token debased subterranean humanoids. Fair enough, given morlocks came first (hat-tip to H.G. Wells) and D&D's grimlocks are the knock-off, but I think grimlocks have enough mileage in them to be interesting on their own.

[thecreaturechronicle]

Kuo-toa

Neither quite fish nor frog, reptile nor human, kuo-toas are degenerate ichthyoids that inhabit the deep places of the world.

The kuo-toas are an ancient race whose history stretches back before the memory of the surface races. Their primeval empire, coexistent with the prehistoric cultures of the serpentfolk and troglodytes, was once powerful and sophisticated, but due to external pressures and internal conflicts, the kuo-toas have been reduced to scattered tribes wallowing in brutality and insanity.

Kuo-toa settlements function as city-sized temples to their alien goddess and her merciless priests, known as whips, are absolute rulers. Enforcing the whips' edicts are orders of monks known as monitors who act as secret police, punishing the insufficiently servile and corralling the insane into gibbering mobs. Squads of elite fighters protect the settlement's outskirts and raid other subterranean races for slaves. Kuo-toas must live near water to lay their eggs, but most of their settlements are above ground to house their air-breathing slaves, with only the hatcheries and central shrine fully submerged.

To the kuo-toas, all other races are inferior and exist only as potential slaves. The sole exception are the drow, with whom the kuo-toa have a lucrative slave trade, though they will enslave lone dark elves without hesitation. Svirfneblin, duergar, orcs, mongrelmen, and vegepygmies are common targets for kuo-toa slave raids. The only race they never enslave are the skum, whom they destroy on sight.

Kuo-toas originated in the Sightless Sea of darkest Orv, but driven out in a genocidal war by the monstrous aboleths, they spread throughout Golarion's Darklands, and even into the deepest crevices of the surface oceans. The aboleths cursed the kuo-toas with near-contagious insanity that has prevented them from rebuilding their ancient empire. Furthermore, the aboleths are thought to have bred kuo-toas with humans to create their slave race, the ulat-kini, known on the surface as skum. Kuo-toas despise skum above all other enemies and will not suffer the deep ones to live.

KUO-TOA CR: 3 XP: 800 NE Medium monstrous humanoid (aquatic) Init: +0; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., keen sight; Perception +13 __________________________________ AC: 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16 (+6 natural) hp: 30 (4 HD) Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +6 Defensive Abilities: Slippery; Immune: Paralysis, poison; Resist: Electricity 10 Weakness: Light blindness __________________________________ Speed: 20 ft., swim 50 ft. Melee: Spear +6 (1d8+3/x3), bite +4 (1d4+2) Ranged: Spear +4 (1d8+2/x3/20 ft.) __________________________________ Str 15, Dex 10, Con 15, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 8 Base Atk: +4; CMB: +5; CMD: 15 Feats: Great Fortitude, Multiattack Skills: Craft (any one) +8, Escape Artist +12, Perception +13, Stealth +7, Swim +16; Racial Modifiers: +8 Escape Artist, +4 Perception Languages: Aquan, Undercommon SQ: Amphibious, weapon familiarity __________________________________ Environment: Temperate ocean or underground Organization: Patrol (2-4 plus 1 3rd-level cleric), squad (6-11 plus 1 or 2 3rd-level clerics, 1 or 2 4th-level monks, and 1 8th-level fighter), band (20-50 plus 100% noncombatants plus 2 3rd-level clerics, 2 8th-level fighters, and 1 10th-level fighter), or tribe (40-400 plus 1 3rd-level cleric per 20 adults, 1 4th-level monk, 4 8th-level fighters, 1 10th-level cleric, and 2 10th-level fighters) Treasure: Standard __________________________________ Keen Sight (Ex): Kuo-toas have excellent vision thanks to their two independently focusing eyes. Their eyesight is so keen that they can spot a moving object or creature even if it is invisible or ethereal. Only by remaining perfectly still can such objects avoid their notice. Slippery (Ex): Kuo-toas secrete an oily film that makes them difficult to grapple or snare. Webs, magical or otherwise, don't affect kuo-toas, and they gain a +8 racial bonus on Escape Artist checks. Weapon Familiarity (Ex): Kuo-toas treat pincer staffs as martial weapons. ADVANCED KUO-TOAS Kuo-toas have two abilities that grant benefits to individuals with class levels. The adhesive special quality is of use to kuo-toas of any class that grants proficiency with shields, while the lightning bolt special attack is usable only by kuo-toas with cleric levels. Adhesive (Ex): Kuo-toas use their own body oil and other materials to give their shields a finish almost like flypaper, holding fast any creatures or items touching them. Anyone who makes an unsuccessful melee attack against a kuo-toa holding a shield must succeed on a Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 the kuo-toa's racial Hit Dice + the kuo-toa's Constitution score; DC 14 for a standard kuo-toa), or the attacker's weapon sticks to the shield and is yanked out of the wielder's grasp. Creatures using natural weapons are automatically grappled if they get stuck. A kuo-toa requires 1 hour and special materials costing 20 gp to coat a shield with adhesive. The adhesive remains good for up to three days until it actually catches someone or something (in which case the shield can trap no additional items, since the adhesive is used up). Pulling a stuck weapon or limb from a shield requires a DC 20 Strength check. Lightning Bolt (Su): Two or more kuo-toa clerics, operating together, can generate a stroke of lightning every 1d4 rounds. The clerics must join hands to launch the bolt but need merely be within 30 feet of one another while it builds. The lightning bolt deals 1d6 points of electricity damage per cleric, but a successful Reflex save (DC 13 + number of clerics) halves this amount. PINCER STAFF A pincer staff is an exotic two-handed weapon that costs 8 gp and weighs 8 lb. Many kuo-toa fighters and all clerics of 7th level or higher wield this weapon. A pincer staff deals 1d10 points of bludgeoning damage, threatens a critical hit on a natural 20, and deals double damage on a critical hit. It has a 10-foot reach and cannot be used against an adjacent opponent. A wielder that hits an opponent of at least Small but no larger than Large size with a pincer staff can attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If the wielder wins the grapple check, the staff establishes a hold and grabs the opponent, dealing 1d10 points of damage each round the hold is maintained.

Hey! This blog still exists!

[thecreaturechronicle]

Yuan-ti, Abomination

In the society of the yuan-ti, the pureblood caste act as spies and the halfbloods as warriors, but the leaders of their race, the head that directs the serpent's body, are the abominations. Blessed by their serpentfolk creators with bodies more snake than human, abominations possess the physical and mental might necessary to cow the fractious yuan-ti into submission and direct them in tearing down the works of humanity.

Abominations are deeply chaotic and see each other as threats, but work together for the sake of survival. To limit clashes of personality, roughly half of a yuan-ti settlement's abominations tend to rest for months at a time in a state of torpor, conserving their energy. In spite of this, a single abomination--typically a high-level cleric or psychic--often dominates the tribe and turns into a cult of personality.

Abominations recognize serpentfolk as having divine authority over their race, but also remember the decline and fall of their ancient civilization. Abominations may lend their tribes' strength to serpentfolk allies, but are always watchful for signs of weakness. Yuan-ti believe in the survival of the strong, and in their eyes, their creators' ancient fall is no sign of strength. They see all other reptilian creatures as inferior kindred, not to be accorded respect but useful as servants, especially the strong and fecund nagaji and lizardfolk.

YUAN-TI ABOMINATION CR: 7 XP: 3,200 CE Large monstrous humanoid Init: +5; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +19 __________________________________ AC: 23, touch 11, flat-footed 21 (+1 Dex, +1 dodge, +10 natural, +2 shield, -1 size) hp: 85 (9 HD) Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +11 SR 18 __________________________________ Speed: 30 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft. Melee: Mwk scimitar +13/+8 (1d6+4/18-20), bite +7 (1d8+3 plus poison plus grab) Ranged: Mwk composite longbow +10/+5 (2d6+4/x3/110 ft.) Space: 10 ft.; Reach: 5 ft. Special Attacks: Constrict (1d6+6) Psychic Magic (CL 9th, concentration +15): 13 PE - Animal trance (2 PE, DC 17), aversion (3 PE, DC 18), baleful polymorph (5 PE, DC 20, into viper only), chameleon stride (0 PE), corrosive touch (0 PE), daze (0 PE, DC 15), deeper darkness (2 PE), fear (3 PE, DC 18), neutralize poison (2 PE, DC 17), suggestion (3 PE, DC 18) __________________________________ Str 19, Dex 13, Con 19, Int 20, Wis 20, Cha 18 Base Atk: +9; CMB: +14 (+18 grapple); CMD: 25 (can't be tripped) Feats: AlertnessB, Blind-FightB, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Spring Attack Skills: Bluff +13, Climb +12, Craft (any two) +14, Diplomacy +13, Intimidate +16, Perception +19, Sense Motive +16, Spellcraft +14, Stealth +9, Swim +12 Languages: Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Yuan-ti SQ: Change shape (Tiny to Large venomous snake, beast form III), undersized weapons __________________________________ Environment: Warm forests Organization: Solitary, pair, gang (3-4), troop (2-13 purebloods, 2-5 halfbloods, and 2-4 abominations), or tribe (20-160 purebloods, 10-80 halfbloods, and 10-40 abominations) Treasure: Double standard (masterwork scimitar, masterwork composite longbow [+4 Str] with 20 arrows, masterwork heavy steel shield, other treasure) __________________________________ Poison (Ex): Bite - injury; save Fort DC 17; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Con; cure 2 saves. Undersized Weapons (Ex): Although a yuan-ti abomination is Large, its upper torso is the same size as that of a Medium humanoid. As a result, abominations wield weapons as if they were one size category smaller than their actual size (Medium for most abominations).

ABOMINATION VARIANTS Like halfbloods, abominations mix human and snake in varying degrees. The majority of abominations resemble a snake with human arms as described above, but a few have no arms at all and simply appear to be giant serpents. These abominations cannot use weapons, but gain a secondary tail attack (1d8 + Str modifier) and can constrict for 2d6 damage plus 1-1/2 its Strength modifier.

[thecreaturechronicle]

Rastipede

Rastipedes are highly civilized insectoids that have spread throughout Golarion's solar system. Despire their monstrous appearance, rastipedes are highly sought after for their intelligence and business acumen, traits that have taken them far from their barren, rocky home.

A rastipede resembles a cross between an ant and a centipede, with eight walking legs and a humanoid torso with two arms. Its head is largely ant-like, with large faceted eyes and twitching antennae. Rastipedes' hard, chitinous shells are light blue at hatching, darkening to dull green or violet as they age.

As a species, rastipedes arose on Nchak, the "Hive Moon" of the gas giant Liavara, far from Golarion. Numerous races of sentient arthropods call Nchak home, and the rastipedes themselves rule the small but wealthy nation-state of Vrusk, under the protection of the moon's immortal Forever Queen but largely independent in its day-to-day affairs. Vrusk is ruled by a consortium of trade houses, combinations of guilds and noble houses, and each rastipede is born into its hive's trade house. All rastipedes regardless of station are afforded thorough education, a fact that makes them indispensable to the rest of their moon's inhabitants as scholars, mages, lawyers, accountants, tradespeople, and other skilled professionals.

The rastipedes first made contact with the humanoid inhabitants of the neighboring moon Arkanen over a millennium ago, and through them encountered the spacefaring people of the planet Verces. Aboard Vercite aetherships, rastipedes proceeded to spread throughout the solar system, and today more than half of all rastipedes are born off-world on independent hive-ships, though all are honorary citizens of Vrusk. Rastipedes are very commonly encountered in the Formian Colonies of Castrovel as advisors to the psionic ant-folk, and they have formed a lucrative trade partnership with the tohr-kreen of the Kreen Empire on the same planet. Rastipedes are not commonly encountered on Golarion except in the company of the mercane, a race of equally trade-obsessed beings who favor rastipedes as go-betweens.

Although most rastipedes fit into their regimented society with little difficulty, a handful find the world of trade and business utterly stifling. These rare individualists often find their place as adventurers among other races, but are driven by the same ideals as their conformist kin: ambition, power, success, and above all, wealth.

RASTIPEDE CR: 1/2 XP: 400 Rastipede rogue 1 LN Medium monstrous humanoid Init: +2; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5 __________________________________ AC: 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +3 natural) hp: 10 (1 HD) Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +1 __________________________________ Speed: 30 ft. Melee: Rapier +2 (1d6+1/18-20) Ranged: Light crossbow +2 (1d8/19-20/80 ft.) Special Attacks: Sneak attack +1d6 Combat Gear: 20 crossbow bolts __________________________________ Str 12, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 12, Cha 8 Base Atk: +0; CMB: +1; CMD: 13 (23 vs. trip) Feats: ScholarB, Weapon Finesse Skills: Acrobatics +6, Appraise +8, Climb +5, Disable Device +7, Knowledge (dungeoneering, local) +8, Perception +5 (+6 trapfinding), Sense Motive +5, Stealth +6, Swim +1; Racial Modifiers: +2 Appraise, -4 Swim Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elven, Vrusk SQ: Trapfinding +1 __________________________________ Environment: Outer space or urban Organization: Solitary or caravan (2-6) Treasure: NPC gear RASTIPEDE CHARACTERS -2 Strength, +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom Medium: Rastipedes are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size. Normal Speed: Rastipedes have a base speed of 30 feet. Darkvision: Rastipedes can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Monstrous Humanoid: Rastipedes are creatures of the monstrous humanoid type. They are immune to spells and effects that specifically affect only humanoids, such as charm person. Natural Armor: Rastipedes gain a +3 natural armor bonus to Armor Class. Educated: Rastipedes gain a +2 racial bonus on Appraise checks and gain Scholar as a bonus feat. Nonhumanoid: Rastipedes cannot wear standard armor or clothing, including robes, vests, and shirts. Such items have to be custom made to fit (+50% gp price). Poor Swimmer: Rastipedes take a -4 penalty on Swim checks. Eight Legs: Rastipedes receive a +10 bonus to their Combat Maneuver Defense when resisting a trip attempt. Languages: Rastipedes begin play speaking Common and Vrusk. Rastipedes with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except secret languages, such as Druidic).

[thecreaturechronicle]

Sesheyan

Sesheyans are alien humanoids native to a distant world, rarely encountered on Golarion. They are a race of hunter-gatherers with little knowledge of arcane magic or advanced technology, mystified by mechanical devices as simple as a wheel or crossbow. Despite this, they are as intelligent as humans and may learn to use such technology, though they rarely trust it. Sesheyans have no traditions of arcane magic, but skilled clerics and oracles are common.

A sesheyan is only humanoid in the loosest sense of the term, appearing more like a green-skinned gargoyle. Bat-like wings sprout from their back, allowing them great maneuverability in the air, and a fringed tail whips behind them. Sesheyans possess eight tiny eyes, granting them excellent darkvision, but bright light overwhelms and dazzles them.

Sesheyans hail from Sessea, a small jungle moon that orbits the gas giant Bretheda in the outer reaches of Golarion's solar system. They are the moon's only native inhabitants, but are aware of life on other worlds due to occasional visits from the gas giant's dominant race, the Brethedans. Sesheyans have only recently come into contact with other humanoids, and deal with them warily, but a few brave youths have ventured out beyond their homeworld in search of adventure.

SESHEYAN CR: 1/2 XP: 200 Sesheyan ranger 1 N Medium monstrous humanoid Init: +3; Senses: Darkvision 120 ft.; Perception +6 __________________________________ AC: 14, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 natural) hp: 12 (1 HD) Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +2 Weakness: Light sensitivity __________________________________ Speed: 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (good) Melee: Shortsword +3 (1d6+2/19-20) Ranged: Longbow +5 (1d8/x3/100 ft.) Special Attacks: Favored enemy (animal +2) Combat Gear: 20 arrows __________________________________ Str 15, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 8 Base Atk: +1; CMB: +3; CMD: 16 Feats: StealthyB, Weapon Focus (longbow) Skills: Escape Artist +9, Fly +9, Perception +6, Stealth +9, Survival +6 (+7 to track); Racial Modifiers: technophobic (see below) Languages: Sesheyan SQ: Track +1, wild empathy +0 __________________________________ Environment: Temperate or warm forests Organization: Any Treasure: NPC gear SESHEYAN CHARACTERS Sesheyans are an advanced race. GMs should carefully consider allowing their players to create sesheyan characters; if they do, refer to the rules on advanced races for challenging powerful PC races. +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma Medium: Sesheyans are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size. Normal Speed: Sesheyans have a base speed of 30 feet. Flight: Sesheyans can fly at a speed of 40 feet with good maneuverability, granting them a +2 racial bonus on Fly checks. Darkvision: Sesheyans can see in the dark up to 120 feet. Monstrous Humanoid: Sesheyans are creatures of the monstrous humanoid type. They are immune to spells and effects that specifically affect only humanoids, such as charm person. Light Sensitivity: Sesheyans are dazzled in areas of bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell. Natural Armor: Sesheyans gain a +1 natural armor bonus to Armor Class. Stealthy: Sesheyans gain Stealthy as a bonus feat. Technophobic: Sesheyans fear and distrust technology. They take a -4 penalty on skill checks that require an understanding of technological items, including Disable Device, Knowledge (engineering), and certain Craft or Profession checks at the GM's discretion. Languages: Sesheyans begin play speaking Sesheyan. Sesheyans with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Brethedan, Common, Draconic, and Sylvan.

[thecreaturechronicle]

Thri-kreen

The thri-kreen, commonly known as mantis warriors, are alien and inscrutable. Though they seem like bloodthirsty monsters to outsiders, they are tightly-knit hunters with their own strange sense of nobility and honor. Living only thirty years at the most, thri-kreen seek to live every moment to its fullest.

A thri-kreen resembles a bipedal praying mantis covered in sandy yellow chitin, standing erect on one pair of legs and using the upper four as arms. Their huge compound eyes and clicking mandibles (through which they can inject a potent venom) make it difficult for thri-kreen to express emotion to other humanoids, though they have the same range of feelings as most sentient creatures. Thri-kreen see no use for clothing aside from simple harnesses for carrying equipment. They do not require sleep and are active at both day and night.

Though they appear cold and emotionless, thri-kreen form deep and intimate bonds with their clutch-mates, caring for each other from the day they hatch to death. In rare cases, thri-kreen, especially orphans, have been known to "adopt" groups of humanoids as clutch-mates and form bonds almost as close as with their own kind. Thri-kreen are nomads, carrying their hide tents from place to place and building no permanent settlements. Almost all thri-kreen spellcasters are druids or psychics, as they have little aptitude for arcane magic and are baffled by the human-like deities of other races.

As insects, thri-kreen prefer warm environments, the drier the better. They can be found in small bands roaming deserts throughout Golarion's tropics, from southwestern Arcadia to Garund's great northern desert and even as far as Sarusan's vast outback. They are even more common on Akiton, thriving across the Red Planet's equatorial zone. However, thri-kreen are in fact native to Castrovel, the second planet from the sun. The thri-kreen of Golarion and Akiton are descended from outcasts of the Kreen Empire, a small but powerful polity that shares a continent with the Formian Colonies. Many more varieties of kreen inhabit Castrovel, most notably the highly cultured tohr-kreen and the spacefaring zik-chil.

THRI-KREEN (Mantis Warrior) CR: 1 XP: 400 CN Medium monstrous humanoid Init: +2; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +6 __________________________________ AC: 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +3 natural) hp: 11 (2 HD) Fort +0, Ref +5, Will +4 Immune: Sleep __________________________________ Speed: 40 ft. Melee: Longspear +3 (1d8+1/x3), 2 claws +1 (1d4), bite +1 (1d4 plus poison); or 4 claws +3 (1d4+1) and bite +3 (1d4+1 plus poison) Ranged: Javelin +4 (1d6+1/20 ft.) Space: 5 ft.; Reach: 5 ft. (10 ft. with longspear) Psychic Magic (CL 1st, concentration -1): 6 PE - Chameleon stride (2 PE), know direction (0 PE) Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st, concentration -1): 1/day - Magic fang (thri-kreen's own claws only) __________________________________ Str 12, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 7 Base Atk: +2; CMB: +3; CMD: 15 Feats: Deflect ArrowsB, Multiattack Skills: Acrobatics +4 (+14 to jump), Climb +6, Perception +6, Stealth +2 (+6 in sandy terrain); Racial Modifiers: +10 Acrobatics to jump, +4 Stealth in sandy terrain Languages: Common, Kreen SQ: Jumper, thri-kreen magic, weapon familiarity __________________________________ Environment: Warm desert Organization: Solitary or pack (5-10) Treasure: Standard __________________________________ Jumper (Ex): A thri-kreen is always considered to have a running start when attempting Acrobatics checks to jump. Poison (Ex): Bite - injury; save Fort DC 11, frequency 1/round for 2 rounds, initial effect 1d6 Dex, secondary effect paralyzed for 2d6 minutes, cure 1 save. A thri-kreen can use its poison bite once per day. Thri-kreen Magic (Ex): The caster level for a thri-kreen's psychic magic and spell-like abilities is 1/2 its Hit Dice (minimum 1st level). A thri-kreen with CL 5th or higher replaces magic fang with greater magic fang, usable only on its own claws. Weapon Familiarity (Ex): The gythka and chatkcha (see below) are martial weapons for thri-kreen.

THRI-KREEN EQUIPMENT Thri-kreen manufacture unique weapons from dasl, a crystalline resin made from their own congealed venom (thri-kreen venom becomes inert as it solidifies) mixed with rare herbs. The best known thri-kreen weapons are the gythka and the chatkcha. These are exotic weapons for most races, but thri-kreen treat them as martial weapons. Chatkcha: A chatkcha is a crystal throwing wedge which returns to its thrower if it misses its target. To catch a returning chatkcha, the thrower must make an attack roll (as if he or she were throwing the chatkcha) and hit AC 10. Failure indicates that the chatkcha lands in a randomly determined square adjacent to the thrower (if the thrower is proficient) or 1d4 squares away in a random direction (if not proficient). Cost: 1 gp; Dmg (S): 1d4; Dmg (M): 1d6; Critical: 18-20/x2; Range: 20 ft.; Weight: 2 lb.; Type: Piercing; Special: --. Gythka: A gythka is a polearm with a crystal blade at each end. A thri-kreen can wield two gythkas at once as double weapons due to its four arms, but takes penalties as if its off-hand weapon were a one-handed weapon, not a light weapon. Cost: 60 gp; Dmg (S): 1d8/1d8; Dmg (M): 1d10/1d10; Critical: x2; Range: --; Weight: 25 lb.; Type: Slashing; Special: Double.

[thecreaturechronicle]

Hag, Dune

Scourges of the waste, dune hags are giant crones who haunt the desert seeking human flesh to sate their hunger. Thought to be a weaker offshoot of the more powerful annis hags, dune hags possess powerful claws and fangs but prefer subterfuge over open combat. A dune hag uses illusions to disguise herself as an attractive man or woman, trying to get close enough to plant a kiss on her victim, thus enslaving him or her. Such unfortunates follow the hag back to her lair, where she eats them.

Dune hags looks very similar to annis hags, eight-foot-tall old women whose wizened appearance belies their inhuman strength. Their skin ranges from sickly greenish-brown to blackish-purple like a fresh bruise, and their hair is always iron-gray.

A dune hag typically stakes out a section of desert as her own and waylays unfortunate travelers, though every so often she may wander into desert villages in disguise, looking for unwitting victims to lure into a tryst. Settlements that know a dune hag's depredations are often cold or even hostile to outsiders, whom they fear may be hags in disguise.

Although dune hags are usually solitary, they can sometimes be coaxed into joining a coven with other hags, usually by intimidation from a more powerful annis or night hag. Resentful dune hags are quick to betray their covens, though, so other hags seek alliances with them at their peril.

DUNE HAG CR: 4 XP: 1,200 CE Large monstrous humanoid Init: +1; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +14 __________________________________ AC: 18, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (+1 Dex, +8 natural, -1 size) hp: 42 (5 HD) Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +7 DR 2/--; SR 15 __________________________________ Speed: 40 ft. Melee: Bite +10 (1d6+5), 2 claws +10 (1d6+5 plus grab) Space: 10 ft.; Reach: 10 ft. Special Attacks: Enthrall Spell-Like Abilities (CL 7th, concentration +9): 3/day - Disguise self, haboob (DC 15), skin of the cactus 1/day - Hallucinatory terrain (DC 16) __________________________________ Str 21, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 15 Base Atk: +5; CMB: +11 (+15 grapple); CMD: 22 Feats: Endurance, Intimidating Prowess, Skill Focus (Perception) Skills: Bluff +7, Climb +13, Intimidate +15, Perception +14, Stealth +5, Survival +11 Languages: Common, Giant __________________________________ Environment: Warm deserts Organization: Solitary or coven (3 hags of any kind) Treasure: Standard __________________________________ Enthrall (Su): A dune hag can mentally enslave any humanoid it kisses. If the target is not willing to be kissed, the dune hag must start a grapple with the target. Once kissed, the target must succeed on a DC 14 Will save to negate the effect of the enthrallment. The save DC is Charisma-based. An enthralled target sees the dune hag as a beautiful desert prince or princess, and firmly believes that the hag form everyone else sees is an illusion. The effect is otherwise like a charm person spell, except that the target can attempt a new save whenever he sees the dune hag in her true form, or is presented with incontrovertible evidence that she means to harm the victim. Haboob (Sp): Three times per day as a standard action, a dune hag can cause a thick haze of swirling dust and sand 20 ft. high and in a 20-ft radius swirls out from the point she designates within 170 ft. The effect lasts for 7 minutes. The effect obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment. Creatures farther away have total concealment. Unprotected, nonmagical flames are automatically extinguished, and there is a 50% chance that protected flames will be snuffed. In addition to obscuring sight, the swirling dust abrades any creature within it or attempting to move through it. Any creature passing through the haze takes 3d4 points of damage, with no save allowed. If the dune hag conjures the haboob so that it appears where creatures are located, each creature takes damage as if passing through the haze. Such creatures take half damage with a successful Reflex save (DC 15, Charisma-based), but if these creatures do not leave the affected area at their next opportunity, they take full damage from the abrading sands (no save) as if they had voluntarily entered the area. Any creature that remains within the affected area for more than 1 round likewise takes damage automatically (no save). A moderate wind (11+ mph) disperses the dust in 8 rounds; a strong wind (21+ mph) disperses it in 4 rounds. This ability does not function underwater. This is a conjuration (creation) [air, earth] effect and the equivalent of a 3rd-level spell. Skin of the Cactus (Sp): Three times per day as a standard action, a dune hag can touch a living creature (including herself), granting it the toughness, resilience, and needles of a cactus. This effect lasts for 70 minutes. The effect grants a +3 enhancement bonus to the creature's existing natural armor bonus. In addition to the enhancement bonus, this effect causes the subject to grow needles from its skin, clothing, or armor. Any creature grappling the subject or striking it with natural weapons takes 1d6 points of piercing damage from the needles. Finally, the subject of this spell is protected from nonlethal damage due to dehydration. This effect provides the subject with a +4 bonus on Constitution checks to resist taking nonlethal damage from thirst and on saves against spells and effects that cause dessication (like horrid wilting). The enhancement bonus provided by this effect stacks with the target's natural armor bonus, but not with other enhancement bonuses to natural armor. A creature without natural armor has an effective natural armor bonus of +0. This is an abjuration effect and the equivalent of a 4th-level spell.