Monster: Khanabit

Khanabit (Iron Judge)
Armour Class: 0
Hit Dice: 5***
Move: 120' (40')
Attacks: 2
Damage: 1-8/1-8
No. Appearing: 1
Save As: C6
Morale: 12
Treasure Type: Nil
Alignment: Lawful
XP Value: 550

Grim and forbidding creatures, the khanabit (or Iron Judges) appear without warning as if drawn from the very aether. Despite rumours of a land -- or other plane of existence -- where the khanabit are said to live as any civilized race, the Iron Judges are known only as solitary entities of binding fate. Imposingly tall humanoids, khanabit appear like humans chiseled from shining black metal of unnatural suppleness, despite their sharp planes; all lean limbs and high hollow cheeks, they look almost as if their metallic flesh was drawn tightly over sharp bone. Their eyes are featureless slits of blue-black energies, and their hair resembles infinitely fine spun wire or liquid metal. Khanabit dress in heavy robes of icy white or purest black.

If actual combat is required, a khanabit lengthens its fingers into long metal talons and attacks, inflicting 1-8 hit points of damage with each claw. It may also bind with myriad hair-fine wires, pinning a victim in place -- though still able to act -- if a save vs. spell is failed. The victim is grated another save each subsequent round. When first encountered a khanabit may elect to invoke fate's terror: those who fail a save vs. charm must flee the creature. A successful save still results in a -1 penalty to all actions for four rounds.

The khanabit's preferred method of dealing with others is the black iron pledge. When invoked, a blackened iron brand appears on the subject's body (save vs. spell negates, at a -2 penalty) and the khanabit may set the recipient to any one task, behaviour or similar restriction. Failing to uphold the pledge results in the individual being struck with the iron sickness, having a -6 penalty to all die rolls until the pledge is made good once again.

Khanabit are immune to non-magical weapons as well as to fire and fire-based magic.