Another intrigue-oriented monster from myself. More general-purpose monsters to come.
ANONYMOUS ACCUSER
NO. ENCOUNTERED: 1
SIZE: Medium
HD: 4 (d6)
MOVE: 30 ft.
AC: 12
ATTACKS: Weapon (varies)
SPECIAL: Insidious accusation, partial shapechange
SAVES: M
INT: High
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil
TYPE: Humanoid
TREASURE: 4
XP: 100+4
Anonymous accusers are formerly-mortal creatures who have made pacts with evil spirits in order to make themselves beautiful. An accuser's lifespan is also increased by several years. After the accuser's prime years have passed, the face begins rotting until it looks like that of a zombie. The rot must be undone by doing the evil spirit's bidding.
Insidious Accusation: An anonymous accuser may use suggestion at will. The accuser uses the power specifically to sow distrust, paranoia, low self-esteem, depression, and ultimately drive the victim to suicide. The final stage may take several months of constant suggestion. For each creature successfully driven to suicide or madness, the accuser becomes slightly more beautiful (or temporarily reverses the rot of his or her face) and gains a day of lifespan.
Partial Shapechange: An anonymous accuser may freely change its appearance to be of any humanoid race, gender, adult height and weight, etc., but may not disguise itself as any specific person. It can also freely change its clothing. However, when it is killed, it is left completely naked and returns to its original form.
Monster: Anonymous Accuser
Monster: Anonymous Accuser
C&C/D&D-related writings, Cortex Classic material, and other scraps: https://sites.google.com/site/x17rpgstuff/home
Class-less D&D: https://github.com/ssfsx17/skill20
Class-less D&D: https://github.com/ssfsx17/skill20
I like this monster, because it so much resembles a fantasy version of a person afflicted with some Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I don't know what's the exact terminology in English, but in French what you describe would be a pervers narcissique (straight translation: perverted narcissus). That is: someone who is manipulative, and continuously ashames, slanders, etc., others in order to have them feel inferior so the pervers narcissique feels superior and in power. Your monster description portrays a person who has to abuse and persecute others in order to be more beautiful. IMO it really fits that kind of people.
Now three things:
1) I think it should be a one year increase in lifespan (or even 1d4 years) rather than but one day.
2) I would add a note in the description indicating that when such a creature is encountered, it is often well integrated into its community (even if slowly destroying it) and has some people willing to help and defend it (suggestion power has been used as much as needed to bind people) in case some PCs would want to slay it.
3) If you agree to give it another name, I could include it in the Creature Feature netbook. Currently, I cannot add any monster which name begins with a A, B, C, or D (I will not rework what I have done so far). Can I suggest something like "Malignant Narcissus"? (inspired from Malignant Narcissist)
BTW: I suffered from someone like that in my childhood, thus I hate these people. Also, my personnal opinion is that they are cowards too, and thus 4 HD is too generous in my opinion. I would rather give them 2HD only, plus some ability to disguise their evil intents.
_________________
Homebrews Wiki a list of campaign settings on the web.
Now three things:
1) I think it should be a one year increase in lifespan (or even 1d4 years) rather than but one day.
2) I would add a note in the description indicating that when such a creature is encountered, it is often well integrated into its community (even if slowly destroying it) and has some people willing to help and defend it (suggestion power has been used as much as needed to bind people) in case some PCs would want to slay it.
3) If you agree to give it another name, I could include it in the Creature Feature netbook. Currently, I cannot add any monster which name begins with a A, B, C, or D (I will not rework what I have done so far). Can I suggest something like "Malignant Narcissus"? (inspired from Malignant Narcissist)
BTW: I suffered from someone like that in my childhood, thus I hate these people. Also, my personnal opinion is that they are cowards too, and thus 4 HD is too generous in my opinion. I would rather give them 2HD only, plus some ability to disguise their evil intents.
_________________
Homebrews Wiki a list of campaign settings on the web.
I really like this monster, and it would work well in my campaign. It makes a perfect central figure for an urban adventure. Just reading the description fills my head with adventure ideas, which is the surest test of good monster design. I agree that the creature should gain a year of lifespan for every victim; otherwise it would be discovered too easily, and would run out of victims too quickly. However, I think you should keep the 4 HD, because the added resilience makes its a more suitable "boss monster" for a low level party.
And here's a vote for changing the name so it can get into the Creature Feature!
And here's a vote for changing the name so it can get into the Creature Feature!
Daniel James Hanley
Creator of Ghastly Affair, "The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror".
Player's Manual Now Available on DriveThruRPG and Amazon
Reader discretion is advised.
Creator of Ghastly Affair, "The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror".
Player's Manual Now Available on DriveThruRPG and Amazon
Reader discretion is advised.
clavis123 wrote:
However, I think you should keep the 4 HD, because the added resilience makes its a more suitable "boss monster" for a low level party.
You're right, it's better to keep it 4 HD, especially as it was only given d6 HD.
_________________
Homebrews Wiki a list of campaign settings on the web.
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Buttmonkey
- Greater Lore Drake
- Posts: 2047
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:00 am
I'd bump it up from one day per suicide, but maybe not to one year per victim. The main problem with one day is the monster description specifically notes it can take months to finish off a victim. What point is there in spending months to buy one day of extra life when the monster's face rots off during the months it takes to finish off the victim?
tylermo wrote:Your efforts are greatly appreciated, Buttmonkey. Can't believe I said that with a straight face.
I felt that the extension of lifespan for only 24 hours would have been beautifully poignant and revealing of how vain some people can be. However, I have listened to the fans, and present the Fan-Edition of the monster!
MALIGNANT NARCISSUS
NO. ENCOUNTERED: 1
SIZE: Medium
HD: 4 (d6)
MOVE: 30 ft.
AC: 12
ATTACKS: Weapon (varies)
SPECIAL: Insidious accusation, partial shapechange
SAVES: M
INT: High
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil
TYPE: Humanoid
TREASURE: 4
XP: 100+4
Malignant narcisses are formerly-mortal creatures who have made pacts with evil spirits in order to make themselves beautiful. A narcissus' lifespan is also increased by several years. After the narcissus's prime years have passed, the face begins rotting until it looks like that of a zombie. The rot must be undone by doing the evil spirit's bidding.
Insidious Accusation: A malignant narcissus may use suggestion at will. The narcissus uses the power specifically to sow distrust, paranoia, low self-esteem, depression, and ultimately drive the victim to suicide. The final stage may take several months of constant suggestion. For each creature successfully driven to suicide or madness, the nacrissus becomes slightly more beautiful (or temporarily reverses the rot of his / her face for a year) and gains a year of lifespan.
Partial Shapechange: A malignant narcissus may freely change its appearance to be of any humanoid race, gender, adult height and weight, etc., but may not disguise itself as any specific person. It can also freely change its clothing. However, when it is killed, it is left completely naked and returns to its original form.
MALIGNANT NARCISSUS
NO. ENCOUNTERED: 1
SIZE: Medium
HD: 4 (d6)
MOVE: 30 ft.
AC: 12
ATTACKS: Weapon (varies)
SPECIAL: Insidious accusation, partial shapechange
SAVES: M
INT: High
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil
TYPE: Humanoid
TREASURE: 4
XP: 100+4
Malignant narcisses are formerly-mortal creatures who have made pacts with evil spirits in order to make themselves beautiful. A narcissus' lifespan is also increased by several years. After the narcissus's prime years have passed, the face begins rotting until it looks like that of a zombie. The rot must be undone by doing the evil spirit's bidding.
Insidious Accusation: A malignant narcissus may use suggestion at will. The narcissus uses the power specifically to sow distrust, paranoia, low self-esteem, depression, and ultimately drive the victim to suicide. The final stage may take several months of constant suggestion. For each creature successfully driven to suicide or madness, the nacrissus becomes slightly more beautiful (or temporarily reverses the rot of his / her face for a year) and gains a year of lifespan.
Partial Shapechange: A malignant narcissus may freely change its appearance to be of any humanoid race, gender, adult height and weight, etc., but may not disguise itself as any specific person. It can also freely change its clothing. However, when it is killed, it is left completely naked and returns to its original form.
C&C/D&D-related writings, Cortex Classic material, and other scraps: https://sites.google.com/site/x17rpgstuff/home
Class-less D&D: https://github.com/ssfsx17/skill20
Class-less D&D: https://github.com/ssfsx17/skill20