Faolyn
(she/her)
More familiars, and these are neutral familiars—creatures from Concordant Opposition (AKA the Outlands), Nirvana (Mechanus), and Limbo (which felt no need to change its name). Perhaps sadly, while Level Up has Lawful and Chaotic as alignments, it doesn’t have Neutral as one. Perhaps if there’s ever a planar book for LU that will be addressed.
The two angelic familiars were similar enough that I felt they could be turned into a single entity. The neutral familiars are different enough that I was able to keep them as separate beings.
I’m going to apologize here. I literally could not think of any signs for any of these creatures. I’m sorry. Maybe on their home planes they leave signs. If you can think of some, let me know; when I get enough, I’ll add a signs section.
Anyway, the first “neutral” familiar is the tabur (singular: tabi), which was originally from Nirvana, before it became Mechanus. It originally looked like a marble statue of whatever its spellcaster’s race (no idea what one looked like if it wasn’t a familiar), but, well, I like the clockwork stylings of Mechanus so I changed it a bit. If you want to move away from Mechanus in your Level Up game, feel free to turn them back into pure marble.
Tabur
Tabi are tiny constructs made of bronze clockwork and marble. Their forms are humanoid and their features idealized, but connected with an articulated skeleton of metal gears and cogs. Although capable of great speed, they move slowly and deliberately and never seem hurried.
Serenity. Tabi are devoted to order and discipline, untainted by cruelty or kindness alike. They care for harmony and order. When not in action, they spend most of their time in meditation, contemplating the rhythmic movement of the universe.
Superb Martial Artists. Tabi can magically produce a sword out of their own clockwork and use it with a high level of proficiency. They have an intrinsic understanding of humanoid anatomy and are capable of inflict damage to just the right nerves to cause excruciating pain and temporary paralysis.
Legends and Lore
With an Arcana check, the characters can learn the following:
DC 15. A tabur is a clockwork being from planes of utter order, such as the Plane of Space. They frequently are employed by gods of law and balance.
DC 20. Tabi care for balance, care nothing for good and evil, and have a hatred of chaos. Although a tabur familiar will unquestioningly follow its master’s orders, they will subtly try to make their actions as non-chaotic as possible.
Tabur Encounters
Terrain: Astral Plane, Temple
CR 0-1 1-2 tabi; 1 tabi and 1 gear spider
Behavior
1-2. Meditating
3. Carefully taking a machine apart to understand how it works; if left alone, it will put the machine back together, and it will work better than before.
4. Practicing martial maneuvers.
Names
Asha, Kusma, Nazem, Saagh, Zele
Tabur
Tiny construct
Challenge 1/2 (50 XP)
AC 14 (natural armor)
HP 14 (4d4+4)
Speed 40 ft.
STR 9 (-1) DEX 14 (+2) CON 13 (+1)
INT 10 (+0) WIS 11 (+0) CHA 12 (+1)
Proficiency +2
Maneuver DC 12
Skills Medicine +2 (+1d4), Perception +2 (+1d4)
Damage Resistances acid, fire, force, damage from nonmagical weapons
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Celestial, Common, Primordial
Lawful. The tabur radiates an aura of Law.
Familiar. The tabur can communicate telepathically with its master while they are within 1 mile of each other. When the tabur is within 10 feet of its master, its master shares its Magic Resistance trait.
Immortal Nature. The tabur doesn’t require air, sustenance, or sleep.
Jumper. The tabur can jump up to 10 feet horizontally and 5 feet vertically without a running start.
Magic Resistance. The tabur has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Actions
Multiattack. The tabur makes two attacks with its bronze blade.
Bronze Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) slashing damage. If both attacks hit, the target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be incapacitated until the end of its next turn.
Shapeshift. The tabur magically changes its form into a dog (size Small, speed 40 ft.), hawk (speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft.), or hare (speed 40 ft.). In hare form, it has a long jump of up to 15 feet. In all forms, it is made of bronze clockwork and marble and doesn’t look like a living animal. Its statistics are the same in each form except for its size and speed. Its bronze blade is absorbed into its new form, but all other equipment it is carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Reactions
Parry (1/Round). If the tabur is wielding its bronze blade and can see its attacker, it adds 2 to its AC against one melee attack or ranged spell attack that would hit them.
Combat
Tabi are methodical fighters, using their bronze blade attack strategically on who they feel is the most vulnerable target.
The two angelic familiars were similar enough that I felt they could be turned into a single entity. The neutral familiars are different enough that I was able to keep them as separate beings.
I’m going to apologize here. I literally could not think of any signs for any of these creatures. I’m sorry. Maybe on their home planes they leave signs. If you can think of some, let me know; when I get enough, I’ll add a signs section.
Anyway, the first “neutral” familiar is the tabur (singular: tabi), which was originally from Nirvana, before it became Mechanus. It originally looked like a marble statue of whatever its spellcaster’s race (no idea what one looked like if it wasn’t a familiar), but, well, I like the clockwork stylings of Mechanus so I changed it a bit. If you want to move away from Mechanus in your Level Up game, feel free to turn them back into pure marble.
Tabur
Tabi are tiny constructs made of bronze clockwork and marble. Their forms are humanoid and their features idealized, but connected with an articulated skeleton of metal gears and cogs. Although capable of great speed, they move slowly and deliberately and never seem hurried.
Serenity. Tabi are devoted to order and discipline, untainted by cruelty or kindness alike. They care for harmony and order. When not in action, they spend most of their time in meditation, contemplating the rhythmic movement of the universe.
Superb Martial Artists. Tabi can magically produce a sword out of their own clockwork and use it with a high level of proficiency. They have an intrinsic understanding of humanoid anatomy and are capable of inflict damage to just the right nerves to cause excruciating pain and temporary paralysis.
Legends and Lore
With an Arcana check, the characters can learn the following:
DC 15. A tabur is a clockwork being from planes of utter order, such as the Plane of Space. They frequently are employed by gods of law and balance.
DC 20. Tabi care for balance, care nothing for good and evil, and have a hatred of chaos. Although a tabur familiar will unquestioningly follow its master’s orders, they will subtly try to make their actions as non-chaotic as possible.
Tabur Encounters
Terrain: Astral Plane, Temple
CR 0-1 1-2 tabi; 1 tabi and 1 gear spider
Behavior
1-2. Meditating
3. Carefully taking a machine apart to understand how it works; if left alone, it will put the machine back together, and it will work better than before.
4. Practicing martial maneuvers.
Names
Asha, Kusma, Nazem, Saagh, Zele
Tabur
Tiny construct
Challenge 1/2 (50 XP)
AC 14 (natural armor)
HP 14 (4d4+4)
Speed 40 ft.
STR 9 (-1) DEX 14 (+2) CON 13 (+1)
INT 10 (+0) WIS 11 (+0) CHA 12 (+1)
Proficiency +2
Maneuver DC 12
Skills Medicine +2 (+1d4), Perception +2 (+1d4)
Damage Resistances acid, fire, force, damage from nonmagical weapons
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Celestial, Common, Primordial
Lawful. The tabur radiates an aura of Law.
Familiar. The tabur can communicate telepathically with its master while they are within 1 mile of each other. When the tabur is within 10 feet of its master, its master shares its Magic Resistance trait.
Immortal Nature. The tabur doesn’t require air, sustenance, or sleep.
Jumper. The tabur can jump up to 10 feet horizontally and 5 feet vertically without a running start.
Magic Resistance. The tabur has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Actions
Multiattack. The tabur makes two attacks with its bronze blade.
Bronze Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) slashing damage. If both attacks hit, the target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be incapacitated until the end of its next turn.
Shapeshift. The tabur magically changes its form into a dog (size Small, speed 40 ft.), hawk (speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft.), or hare (speed 40 ft.). In hare form, it has a long jump of up to 15 feet. In all forms, it is made of bronze clockwork and marble and doesn’t look like a living animal. Its statistics are the same in each form except for its size and speed. Its bronze blade is absorbed into its new form, but all other equipment it is carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Reactions
Parry (1/Round). If the tabur is wielding its bronze blade and can see its attacker, it adds 2 to its AC against one melee attack or ranged spell attack that would hit them.
Combat
Tabi are methodical fighters, using their bronze blade attack strategically on who they feel is the most vulnerable target.