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View Full Version : Magic Motes [Symbiont]



Baron Corm
2008-05-14, 01:45 AM
Magic motes are symbionts (I first recall seeing these in Fiend Folio, they're probably elsewhere as well) which infest hosts by way of inhalation. Even outside a host, they are impossible to see without some form of detecting magic. Once seen, they appear to be clouds of fantastic sentient sparkles, moving in complete tandem towards areas of magical concentration. Magic motes will typically infest a host only if it is capable of casting spells or is in possession of magic items. They are tenacious, but will leave the host if it loses its spellcasting or magic items, or if it dies.

Their infestation is sometimes quite helpful, and other times detrimental, depending on the type of mote. Shopkeepers have bottled and organized many different kinds of motes to help ease the risk. The inhaling of motes may seem like a drug, but really, they are quite harmless, as long as they are labeled properly. A magic mote's market price in gp is equal to 1,000 x ((spell level + 1) ^ 3). A quick table of prices is below.

Level 0: 1,000
Level 1: 8,000
Level 2: 27,000
Level 3: 64,000
Level 4: 125,000
Level 5: 216,000
Level 6: 343,000
Level 7: 512,000
Level 8: 729,000
Level 9: 1,000,000

The cost is multiplied if the spell is capable of being cast more than once per round by the number of times it can be cast. Spells with a casting time of more than 1 round, as well as spells with focuses or material costs, may not be made into motes. Spells with a duration of more than 1 round shorten their duration to 1 round. Certain spells, such as true strike and spell turning, should be disallowed or given a higher price (add a number to the base spell level as you deem necessary). Magic motes are tied to emotions and purpose, however, so a simple once per round desire to hit better will probably not trigger the mote, giving you reason to disallow such a spell.

Magic Mote

Size/Type: Fine Elemental (Swarm, Symbiont)
Hit Dice: 1/4d8 - 1/2 (1 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 2 1/2 ft fly (perfect)
Armor Class: 25, touch 25, flat-footed 21 (+8 size, +4 Dexterity, +3 deflection)
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-18
Attacks: +12 swarm
Damage: Swarm 1 damage
Space/Reach: ½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Mote burst
Special Qualities: Elemental traits, swarm traits, symbiont traits, made of magic
Saves: Fort -2, Ref +6, Will +1
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 19, Con 6, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 17
Skills: Spellcraft +5, Diplomacy +7, Move Silently +16
Feats: Spell Focus (same type as spell), Weapon Finesse (bonus)
Enviroment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challange Rating: 3 per spell level
Treasure: Themselves
Alignment: Usually Neutral, unless spell has an alignment descriptor
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -

Combat

Magic motes will flutter towards their potential host, and hover around until they are breathed in.

Made of Magic (Su)

Magic motes are essentially sentient magic, and so can be killed outright even when in a host by a dispel magic effect or similar. The caster makes its check as if the host had a buff of the spell level equal to the mote's spell's level. When outside a host, the mote is destroyed with no save.

As a side-effect of being sentient magic, magic motes are invisible to any creature that cannot detect magic auras.

Mote Burst (Sp)

Magic motes are prized for their ability to charge their host with magic. Any time the motes' host does a certain action, the mote will use its spell against a certain target. Each magic mote has a single spell which it will use in a single circumstance in a single way. The mote uses its host's HD to determine caster level. It uses its host Charisma bonus or its own, whichever is higher, to determine save DCs. Spells the mote casts may not be modified by its host's feats, class features, etc. Some examples follow.

Zapping Mote - Cost 512,000 - Any time the host attacks, the mote will cast chain lightning at the attacked target. (most common type)

Chastising Mote - Cost 64,000 (but probably an encounter rather than a product) - Any time the host thinks about sex, the mote will cast vampiric touch on the host. (detrimental one)

Soiler Mote - Cost 1,000 - Any time the host says, "What happened to your shoes?", the mote uses prestidigitation to soil the mentioned creature's shoes. (affordable one)

Holy Mote - Cost 8,000 - Any time the host attacks, the mote will cast bless weapon on the host's current weapon. (more affordable version of most common type)