SuperPanda
2008-08-23, 12:57 AM
Name: Shadowmane
Type: Shadowlands, equestrian
Setting: Oriental Adventures, Ryokogan
Size: Large (as per heavy warhorse)
Speed: 50'
HD: 6d10+36 (Average?)
AC: 15 (10, -1 size, +3 Dex, +3 Frost Armor)
Attacks: Gore +12 (2d8+9), Bite +8 (1d4+2, + poison), 2 Kicks +8/+8 (1d8+6)
Special abilities: Shriek, Gore
Special Qualities: Frost Armor, Taint
Alignment: True Neutral (always acts Chaotic Evil), treat as Evil and Chaotic for the purposes of Smite and damage effects, but not for protection from effects.
CR: ???
Habitat: Shadowlands
Organization: usually isolated unless tamed/enslaved as mounts.
Attributes: Strength 22, Dexterity 16, Constitution 22, Int 2, Wis 1, Cha 4
Saves: Fort 12, Ref 8, Will 5
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A Shadowmane is the unfortunate fate awaiting the mounts of fallen warriors who are left to wander the Shadowlands and survive, in a manner of speaking. They suffer from many unique deformities from the taint that they slowly amass during their time in the Shadowlands, but they share certain traits. fromm their shoulders, large spear like bones jut forward making tusk like weapons for the Shadowmane; their lower jaw is twisted as the bones warped and deformed; their tongue has taken on the aspects of a poisonous snake and eaten through their cheeks from where it strikes opponents that they gore on their shoulder horns.
((its meant to be creepy and remind players why Taint=bad in case they forget))
Combat: A Shadowmane is a twisted and hostile echo of the creature it once was, but it still feels the pain of its transformation each day. Upon seeing a creature which it considers prey it usually stalks it from a distance, but on seeing a humanoid it throws itself at the opponent with recklass charges seeking either to feast on the humanoid or to die by its hand and end the eternal torment of its existence.
Gore: A Shadowmane who charges an opponent deals Gore damage and may make an immediate bite attack on a hit, if the Shadowmane scores a critical hit the opponent is considered pinned by the Shadowmane's shoulder horns and the bite attack negates the opponents dex bonus.
Poision: The tongue of a Shadowmane has transformed into a viper by the nefarious workings of the taint. The Shadowmane's bite emits a poison (save DC 16) that deals 1d4 Strength initial and 2d4 Strength Secondary damage. Save is Con based)
Shriek: The Shadowmane's cry contains a pain no mortal creature was ever meant to be capable of enduring and the sheer torment of the Shadowmane can drive the courage from even the stoutest warrior. The Shadowmane's cry effects all targets withing 40' of the Shadowmane who have line of sight of it (not who the Shadowmane has line of sight of). This creates a fear effect DC 15 or be shaken. A shaken creature who fails their check may not approach within 30' of the Shadowmane for 4 rounds and must retreat if in that area. A creature who saves against this effect is immune to its effects for the full day. The Shadowmane may use this ability as a full round action.
Frost Armor: The shadowmane is covered is a deep chill which strangely effects weapons. The Shadowmane gains +3 Armor bonus and and character who strikes with any natural or melee weapon against the Shadowmane takes 1d6+3 cold damage.
Taint: Care should be taken when fighting creatures of the Shadowlands type as wounds they cause, and contact with their blood, carry risk of the taint. (In my setting there are no hard rules for taint contraction, but there are also no known methods to truely remove it). Untended wounds caused by a Shadowmane or prolonged contact to its physical body care extreme risk of the taint. Also a fallen shadowmane which is left as it fell will rise as some form of undead or Oni unless burned or quartered. Burning is the preferred meathod as it carries less risk of contamination to the person doing so.
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Mostly looking for opinions and help accurately assigning a CR to it.
I've currently a level 6 party (Powerattack/Shocktrooper charger, TwF Figther/Rouge, Leap Attack Monk, and ranged scout). I'm planning on throwing of of these at them sometime before level 8 as an introduction to the effects of Taint and want to have a good idea of the CR before I do so (I want it to be a challenging but not overwhelming fight).
Type: Shadowlands, equestrian
Setting: Oriental Adventures, Ryokogan
Size: Large (as per heavy warhorse)
Speed: 50'
HD: 6d10+36 (Average?)
AC: 15 (10, -1 size, +3 Dex, +3 Frost Armor)
Attacks: Gore +12 (2d8+9), Bite +8 (1d4+2, + poison), 2 Kicks +8/+8 (1d8+6)
Special abilities: Shriek, Gore
Special Qualities: Frost Armor, Taint
Alignment: True Neutral (always acts Chaotic Evil), treat as Evil and Chaotic for the purposes of Smite and damage effects, but not for protection from effects.
CR: ???
Habitat: Shadowlands
Organization: usually isolated unless tamed/enslaved as mounts.
Attributes: Strength 22, Dexterity 16, Constitution 22, Int 2, Wis 1, Cha 4
Saves: Fort 12, Ref 8, Will 5
-----------------
A Shadowmane is the unfortunate fate awaiting the mounts of fallen warriors who are left to wander the Shadowlands and survive, in a manner of speaking. They suffer from many unique deformities from the taint that they slowly amass during their time in the Shadowlands, but they share certain traits. fromm their shoulders, large spear like bones jut forward making tusk like weapons for the Shadowmane; their lower jaw is twisted as the bones warped and deformed; their tongue has taken on the aspects of a poisonous snake and eaten through their cheeks from where it strikes opponents that they gore on their shoulder horns.
((its meant to be creepy and remind players why Taint=bad in case they forget))
Combat: A Shadowmane is a twisted and hostile echo of the creature it once was, but it still feels the pain of its transformation each day. Upon seeing a creature which it considers prey it usually stalks it from a distance, but on seeing a humanoid it throws itself at the opponent with recklass charges seeking either to feast on the humanoid or to die by its hand and end the eternal torment of its existence.
Gore: A Shadowmane who charges an opponent deals Gore damage and may make an immediate bite attack on a hit, if the Shadowmane scores a critical hit the opponent is considered pinned by the Shadowmane's shoulder horns and the bite attack negates the opponents dex bonus.
Poision: The tongue of a Shadowmane has transformed into a viper by the nefarious workings of the taint. The Shadowmane's bite emits a poison (save DC 16) that deals 1d4 Strength initial and 2d4 Strength Secondary damage. Save is Con based)
Shriek: The Shadowmane's cry contains a pain no mortal creature was ever meant to be capable of enduring and the sheer torment of the Shadowmane can drive the courage from even the stoutest warrior. The Shadowmane's cry effects all targets withing 40' of the Shadowmane who have line of sight of it (not who the Shadowmane has line of sight of). This creates a fear effect DC 15 or be shaken. A shaken creature who fails their check may not approach within 30' of the Shadowmane for 4 rounds and must retreat if in that area. A creature who saves against this effect is immune to its effects for the full day. The Shadowmane may use this ability as a full round action.
Frost Armor: The shadowmane is covered is a deep chill which strangely effects weapons. The Shadowmane gains +3 Armor bonus and and character who strikes with any natural or melee weapon against the Shadowmane takes 1d6+3 cold damage.
Taint: Care should be taken when fighting creatures of the Shadowlands type as wounds they cause, and contact with their blood, carry risk of the taint. (In my setting there are no hard rules for taint contraction, but there are also no known methods to truely remove it). Untended wounds caused by a Shadowmane or prolonged contact to its physical body care extreme risk of the taint. Also a fallen shadowmane which is left as it fell will rise as some form of undead or Oni unless burned or quartered. Burning is the preferred meathod as it carries less risk of contamination to the person doing so.
------------------
Mostly looking for opinions and help accurately assigning a CR to it.
I've currently a level 6 party (Powerattack/Shocktrooper charger, TwF Figther/Rouge, Leap Attack Monk, and ranged scout). I'm planning on throwing of of these at them sometime before level 8 as an introduction to the effects of Taint and want to have a good idea of the CR before I do so (I want it to be a challenging but not overwhelming fight).