Monday, February 16, 2009

Monster: Gefirir

This charmer from the Earth Court was written for a request by trollsmyth, who was looking for a similar beastie:


Earth Spirit, Gefirir

Armour Class: 3
Hit Dice: 7***
Move: 180' (60')
Attacks: 2 claws or special
Damage: 2-12 / 2-12 or special
No. Appearing: 1 (1-2)
Save As: F7
Morale: 9
Treasure Type: L
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 1650

Backbones of the elemental court of Earth, gefirir are hulking, solidly built humanoids of soil and stone. Their bestial legs are furred with mosses, their feet massive stony talons; their torsos are armoured with stony, articulated "chitin", and their hands armed with great claws. A rack of crystal antlers crowns a leonine head, and eyes of burning amber judge all they encounter dispassionately. Elder gefirir possess manes of ferns and moss that dimly luminesce.

In combat, should they choose it, gefirir wade in with their claws, dealing 2-12 hit points of damage per successful strike. A gefirir may also choose to summon clutching tendrils of earth and greenery within a 20' radius, for one of two effects: either holding opponents immobile (though not paralyzed) until the gefirir chooses to release the victims (or a successful Strength check at a -5 penalty is made), or lashing opponents with razor-edged crystals for 3-18 hit points of damage. These tendrils may be summoned every two rounds.

A magical weapon is required to harm a gefirir. They regenerate 3 hit points per round when in contact with soil or rough stone.

11 comments:

trollsmyth said...

Just some nit-picky details to ask about.

I assume each summoning of the tendrils conjures enough to either bind or lash one foe at a time, yes?

How are you pronouncing that name? I'm coming up with something like gu-FEER-er.

Thanks again! It looks great, and I love the bestial traits you gave it.

taichara said...

Just some nit-picky details to ask about.

No problem!


I assume each summoning of the tendrils conjures enough to either bind or lash one foe at a time, yes?

I'd originally considered having the tendrils grab all likely targets in the radius, but switched it to single-target on the idea that it was overkill. My wording is terrible, though; I blame not having slept yet *grins*

If you want it to be multiple target, though, that should be fine too.


How are you pronouncing that name? I'm coming up with something like gu-FEER-er.

Basically like that, though the first syllable is more with almost a glottal stop. But your pronounciation could also work -- I clip a lot of vowels.

Thanks again! It looks great, and I love the bestial traits you gave it.

trollsmyth said...

Nah, one target per summoning is already nasty enough, I think, since I'd rule that while you were escaping the tendrils (rolling the strength check) you don't get an attack. That plus the regeneration makes this one nasty beasty.

taichara said...

Nah, one target per summoning is already nasty enough, I think, since I'd rule that while you were escaping the tendrils (rolling the strength check) you don't get an attack. That plus the regeneration makes this one nasty beasty.

That was basically my reasoning, yeh. I'll tidy up the wording after I sleep, and can trust my brain.

And I take the fact that I forgot to italicize your last bit and properly say "you're welcome" (you're welcome ~!), as a bloody good sign to do that sleep thing *grins*

But yes: you're very welcome :3

trollsmyth said...

Pssst!

Hey, Taichara. He makes his debut. ;)

Natalie said...

Ah! 7 HD! So glad I talked to it first. So very, very glad.

And thank you, Taichara, for your part in a very interesting encounter. I may have to borrow this guy for one of my own campaigns sometime.

taichara said...

@Oddysey:

Ah! 7 HD! So glad I talked to it first. So very, very glad.

*chuckles* ;3


And thank you, Taichara, for your part in a very interesting encounter. I may have to borrow this guy for one of my own campaigns sometime.

You're very welcome! And feel free to borrow way, that's what all this is posted for --

trollsmyth said...

Ah! 7 HD! So glad I talked to it first. So very, very glad.

Heh... Yep. And since he is trapped in that room, you wouldn't be able to pull the amber lotus trick on him. I doubt he's susceptible anyway.

In the Cook Expert rules (on which LL is based), most standard wandering monsters in the wilderness have a 1-in-8 chance of being a "dragon", dragon being defined as any of the chromatics or gold, plus chimeras, hydras, wyverns, basilisks, or either sort of salamander. There is no attempt to scale such encounters to the abilities of the party beyond suggesting the DM adjust the number encountered to the party's size.

taichara said...

@trollsmyth:

Heh... Yep. And since he is trapped in that room, you wouldn't be able to pull the amber lotus trick on him. I doubt he's susceptible anyway.

Probably not, no; he's an elemental, or at least very closely akin to one, and earth at that. I wouldn't say amber lotus would affect him.


In the Cook Expert rules (on which LL is based), most standard wandering monsters in the wilderness have a 1-in-8 chance of being a "dragon", dragon being defined as any of the chromatics or gold, plus chimeras, hydras, wyverns, basilisks, or either sort of salamander. There is no attempt to scale such encounters to the abilities of the party beyond suggesting the DM adjust the number encountered to the party's size.

And that's not even counting when the DM decides to do it anyway! *grins*

trollsmyth said...

taichara,

In case your email doesn't alert you again, I don't think I have your email address. But you can reach me at trollsmyth-at-yahoo-dot-com.

- Brian

taichara said...

@trollsmyth:

Email sent! :3