07 November 2013

AKTROXIK

Click to Enlarge.
Init +4
Melee Atk
 • Claw +11 (1d8)
 • Bite +9 (1d8 + 1d4 Stamina Drain)
Spellcasting
 • +8 (see below)
AC 13
HD 8d6
MV 35, Fly 40
Act 2d20
SP only hit by magic, spell-abilities, doppelganger
Fort +5
Ref +9
Will +4
AL C

Cast out from the Realm of Faerie, Aktroxik resembles a medium-sized, hairless dog with a vile, human head. His manner is invariably obsequious, but with a sickly air of immanent threat.

Aktroxik is an angler, ever-looking for what he can get from travelers and wanderers. Most are so afraid of just the sight of him that they will give him whatever he asks for, if he will leave them be. Never doubt that he takes advantage of their fright.

Additionally, he is formidably powerful. He can only be harmed by magic, so most of those he crosses paths with never have any hope of driving him off, should the idea strike them. He also has several abilities to call upon, which for convenience are handled similarly to Wizard spells. While they are based on spells from the Rulebook, he cannot lose them from a low casting check, and does not suffer corruption, misfire or taint of any kind, suffering merely from failing to initiate the powers instead. These abilities are:

Enlarge (pg 139) -- While Aktroxik is less than three feet from head to tail, the results should be calculated as if he were man-sized.

Fire Resistance (pg 169)

Invisibility (pg 172)

Water Breathing (pg 235)

Additionally, when he is flying, the twitching, insect-like appendages over his shoulders shiver slightly, like a rattlesnake's tail. Were these limbs to be damaged or severed, it might limit his ability to fly, or eliminate it altogether.

Aktroxik can summon a weak simulacrum of himself, most commonly to create additional fear, but it can also fight alongside himself. This lesser-powered, ersatz self will last until destroyed or until dawn, whichever comes first. He can summon it with the following results of a casting check:

9-15 - Failure

16-17 - Init (acts simultaneously with Atroxik),  Claw +3 (1d6), Bite +3 (1d6), AC 13, HD 8d3, MV 30, Fly 20, Act 1d20, SP -, Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +1

18-21 - Init (acts simultaneously with Atroxik),  Claw +5 (1d8), Bite +5 (1d8 + 1d4-3 Stamina Drain), AC 13, HD 8d4, MV 30, Fly 30, Act 1d20, SP only half-damage from non-magic, Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +2

22-23 - Init (acts simultaneously with Atroxik),  Claw +6 (1d8), Bite +6 (1d8 + 1d4-2 Stamina Drain), AC 13, HD 8d5, MV 35, Fly 35, Act 1d20, SP only hit by magic, Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +2

24-26 - Init (acts simultaneously with Atroxik),  Claw +6 (1d8), Bite +6 (1d8 + 1d4-2 Stamina Drain), AC 13, HD 8d5, MV 35, Fly 35, Act 1d20, SP only hit by magic, spell abilities, Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +3

27-28 - Init (acts simultaneously with Atroxik),  Claw +9 (1d8), Bite +9 (1d8 + 1d4-2 Stamina Drain), AC 13, HD 8d5, MV 35, Fly 35, Act 1d20, SP only hit by magic, spell abilities, Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +4

05 November 2013

LUMINION

Init +6
Melee Atk
 • Swipe +9 (5d6)
Ranged Atk
 • Energy Ray +4 (5d6; 30'; 1d10 damage to Luminon)
AC 16
HD 6d8
MV 40
Act 1d20
SP non-physical, teleport, half-damage from physical, double damage from light-based, immune to heat and cold, immune to mental effects
Fort +2
Ref +3
Will +3
AL N

A luminion is a remnant of ages past, a guardian creature with a shape that flickers from radiant human, to vaguely human-shaped and into a swirling vortex of light and colors and back again.

It lacks a coherent physical form and cannot effectively interact with the world around it, beyond speech and gesture. It can be disrupted by physical attacks, but at a reduced impact. It can attack by projecting part of it's own energy at a target. A similar damaging effect occurs if the luminion and a physical creature intersect, but this does not drain the luminion as the projected attack does.

It will generally first warn intruders away verbally, doing so with increasing insistence and clearly spelling out the threat intruders face for their transgressions. However, it's language may be completely lost to time.

Within the building, corridor, or room the luminion was originally designed to protect in the dim past, it can teleport instantly from one spot to another. It cannot leave the area it was created within, though it can 'retract' itself into apparent nothingness. It will only do so when unable to effectively defend it's area and if being damaged. A destroyed luminion may be able to re-manifest within (1d30)d30 hours.

Astute delvers may find that areas patrolled by one or more luminions have a small black box mounted near their ceiling. Made of a rigid, unknown substance, these boxes are not impossible to destroy, and when destroyed seem to banish the luminion from that general area. Extremely clever and crafty individuals may find the means to remove such a box and place it elsewhere, using the luminion(s) for their own purposes...

This is a "luminion variant" based on the original Luminion -- sourced from The Savage AfterWorld -- and further details can be found there.

They are also featured in One Year In The Savage AfterWorld by Tim Snider -- "short adventures through radioactive wastes designed to be run over the course of a few hours." Do check it out!