Special Conversion Thread: Finishing off the fey

[Shade]

This special conversion thread will attempt to finish off the remaining fey creatures.

Here are the unconverted creatures that Echohawk has suggested as fey:
Unconverted Fey

[Shade]

Here is the final jogah:

Gan-da-yah
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-10
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: 12”
HIT DICE: 1+1
% IN LAIR: 5%
TREASURE TYPE: R
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon
SPECIAL ATTACKS: +2 with bow
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE; 50%
INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional
ALIGNMENT: Neutral good
SIZE: S (3’ tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

The Gan-da-yah are the most beloved by the Iroquois of all the little people. Their task is to guard and advise the fruits and grains.. They are the “elves of sunshine.” During spring the Gan-da-yah live in dark, sheltered places and talk to the ground so they may hear the complaints of the growing seeds. When summer comes, they roam across the fields, ripening the fruits and tinting the grains, and telling all growing things to seek the sun. Their work begins with the strawberry plant, which is a special gift to men. After the frost has left the ground, the Gan-da-yah loosen the ground around each strawberry root so that the shoots can easily push to the surface. They shape its leaves to the sun, turn the blossoms upward, and lead runners to new growing areas.

An old tale tells of when the fruits were first brought to the earth. An evil spirit captured the strawberry plant and hid it beneath the earth for centuries. It was finally freed by a spy sunbeam who brought it back to the sunny lands where it has thrived ever since. Fearing another assault, the Gan-da-yah continue a special guard over their favorite fruit. When the first fruit comes out on the vine, the Gan-da-yah guard it from the attacks of evil insects and mildew. They always keep watch over the fields while they ripen, and are constantly at war with the blights and diseases that attempt to infest and kill corn and beans.

The Gan-da-yah can take on various forms for safety and guidance, often visiting the longhouses of the Indians in the shape of birds. If a Gan-da-yah appears as a bat, a symbol of the union of light and darkness, it indicates some life-and-death battle close at hand; if one appears as an owl, watchful and wise, the mission is one of warning; if one appears as a robin, it carries good tidings. The most harmless insect or worm may be carrying an important message from the Ganda-yah, for “the trail is broad enough for all.” With the coming of fall and winter, the Gan-da-yah are safe, hiding in the earth until the following spring.

The Gan-da-yah can use any druid spell from the first four levels, and the magic-user spell Polymorph Self, at will, acting in all cases as an 8th-level spellcaster. All Gan-da-yah encountered will carry a dagger, and 60% of all individuals will have either a short bow or a spear as well (50% chance for each). They wear either padded or leather armor. If encountered in a lair, females and young are equal to 100% and 40% of the male population respectively; otherwise, females comprise 20% of a group.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #61 (1982).

[freyar]

I'd suggest we go with alternate form/change shape vs polymorph. I'm fond of the idea of making them 8th level druidic innate spellcasters, though I suppose I could be persuaded to support a super SLA list.

[demiurge1138]

Let's go for innate casters--but we should give them more than 1 HD, in that case. Seems a bit of a gap.

[Shade]

Agreed. Maybe in the 4-6 HD range?

[freyar]

Sounds fair. Picking arbitarily, how about 5HD?

[Shade]

That works. Int is Exceptional (15-16). Wis should be at least that good, if not a bit higher. Cha is probably comparable.

Maybe Str 10, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 16, Wis 17, Cha 16?

[freyar]

Looks fine to me.

[demiurge1138]

They're Small, so let's drop Str to 8. Other than that, looks good to me.

[Shade]

SPECIAL ATTACKS: +2 with bow

Enhance arrow and sylvan archer like the oh-do-was?

[demiurge1138]

Yeah, let's do that.

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

Spells: A gan-da-yah can cast spells as an 8th-level druid.

Typical Druid Spells Prepared (6/5/4/4/2; save DC 13 + spell level):
0—x;
1st—x;
2nd—x;
3rd—x;
4th—x.

[freyar]

0 - create water x2, cure minor wounds, know direction, purify food and drink, resistance
1 - calm animals, entangle, goodberry, pass without trace, speak with animals
2 - animal messenger, delay poison, soften earth and stone, tree shape
3 - daylight, plant growth, quench, speak with plants
4 - control water, freedom of movement

Suggestions?

[demiurge1138]

Those spells are all quite thematic... but all utility/defensive. Should spirits of spring have any sort of offensive punch?

[freyar]

I thought about that. Maybe not too directly offensive. How about things like warp wood and spike growth? You know, indirect attacks, like entangle. I could also see one or maybe two direct offensive spells like flame blade. What do you think?

[demiurge1138]

Warp wood, spike growth, entangle... all appeal. Perhaps we mention that it does switch out to summon nature's ally in their tactics?

[Shade]

Sounds good.

Updated.

Shall we work on alternate form/change shape?

The Gan-da-yah can take on various forms for safety and guidance, often visiting the longhouses of the Indians in the shape of birds. If a Gan-da-yah appears as a bat, a symbol of the union of light and darkness, it indicates some life-and-death battle close at hand; if one appears as an owl, watchful and wise, the mission is one of warning; if one appears as a robin, it carries good tidings. The most harmless insect or worm may be carrying an important message from the Ganda-yah, for “the trail is broad enough for all.”

Any animal of up to Tiny size?

[demiurge1138]

Sounds reasonable.

[freyar]

Agreed.

[Shade]

So...

Change Shape (Su): A gan-da-yah can assume the form of any Tiny or smaller animal.

Skills: 72

Feats: 2