BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
OK, this thread is by request. We will be coming up with a stat block and some basic information for three (or is that 4?) monsters from the module FRA3 – Blood Charge from the Horde series. This will be done to facilitate a quicker conversion both for us later, and for anyone who wants to use these creatures now. If this little experiment is successful, I may very well do more like this in the future.
The goal of this thread is to come up with a mostly full stat block. We will figure everything out except for maybe skills and feats (undecided on that yet). We may also come up with a basic outline for powers and their DCs, but any full descriptive writeup will have to wait. Anything done in this thread is subject to change later.
We have already finished converting Gaumahavi, so we might as well start on her son.
Sandiraksiva, The Black Courser
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: High mountain meadow/tundra
FREQUENCY: Very Rare (unique)
ORGANIZATION: Solitary or herd
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Day
DIET: Special
INTELLIGENCE: Average (8-10)
TREASURE: None
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 2
MOVEMENT: 28, Fl 30
HIT DICE: 8 (45 hit points)
THAC0: 13
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 or breath weapon
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-8+7/1-8+7/ or 5-30 (breath)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Breath weapon
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Only hit by +1 or better weapon
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 55%
SIZE: L (8’ at shoulder)
MORALE: Fanatic (19)
XP VALUE: 5,000
While accompanying Prince Surtava on his search for enlightenment, Gaumahavi (see her entry) bore a litter of cubs. Like its mother, one of those cubs developed an animal soul and began a series of reincarnations. That cub was Sandiraksiva.
Currently, the cub’s enchanted soul inhabits the body of a supernatural black stallion. Unfortunately for Sandiraksiva, this fact has not eluded the Raja of Solon, Ambuchar Devayam. The Raja captured Sandiraksiva and used him to coerce his mother, Gaumahavi, into aiding him in the first war between Solon and Ra-Khati. During that war, Sandiraksiva was captured by the Dalai Lama, who had no idea of the stallionís true nature.
As his great size might suggest, Sandiraksiva is exceptionally strong, and he can carry or pull as much as any two normal draft horses. He is also extremely fast, and can easily outrun even the fleetest riding horse. Unlike most horses, he has split hooves and can climb the rocky environment of the Katakoro Mountains with ease.
Combat: Sandiraksiva is not aggressive by nature, but will fight tenaciously for his freedom. In combat, he uses his forehooves to lash out, and will resort to his breath weapon when pressed.
In addition to his great strength, Sandiraksiva has several special abilities. Every other round, he can fly up to 800 yards (then he must pause and rest for a round). His most potent weapon is the fireball he can breathe once per day for 5d6 points of damage (save vs. breath weapon for half damage).
Because of his enchanted nature, Sandiraksiva cannot be hurt by anything short of magic or magical weapons of +1 or better.
Habitat/Society: Although he would prefer to graze the high altitude meadows and tundra lands of the Katakoro Mountains, Sandiraksiva has been imprisoned by either the Raja of Solon or the Dalai Lama for the last 50 years.
Ecology: Like most horses, Sandiraksiva eats grass, grains, hay, and the like. However, the Black Courser’s supernatural strength, speed, and powers are energized by the light of the moon. If he is not exposed to moonlight for a substantial period each night, he begins to lose his strength. This loss corresponds roughly to the amount of moonlight he missed. For example, a 30% reduction in exposure results in a 30% loss of movement, damage, flight capability, etc. On totally moonless nights he lapses into complete inactivity, but since he knows when they will be, takes precautions beforehand, when possible. Strength is recovered in 1d6 rounds as soon as he returns to full moonlight.
some preliminary stats for the Black Courser:
Sandiraksiva, The Black Courser
Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 8d10+X (X hp)
Initiative: +X
Speed: 70 ft (14 squares), fly 80 feet (maneuverability?)
Armor Class: 18? (+X size, +X Dex, +X natural), touch X, flat-footed X
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+X
Attack: Hoof +X melee (1d8+X)
Full Attack: 2 hooves +X melee (1d8+X)
Space/Reach: X ft/X ft
Special Attacks: breath weapon
Special Qualities: damage reduction X/magic?, flight, moonlight dependency, spell resistance 22
Saves: Fort +X Ref +X Will +X
Abilities: Str 25?, Dex X, Con X, Int 10, Wis X, Cha X
Skills: 22 (climb bonus?)
Feats: 3
Environment: Any mountains and plains?
Organization: Solitary or herd (Sandiraksiva plus X horses)
Challenge Rating: X
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: ---
Level Adjustment: ---
Sandiraksiva is 8 feet long and weighs
COMBAT
Breath Weapon (Su): “His most potent weapon is the fireball he can breathe once per day for 5d6 points of damage (save vs. breath weapon for half damage).”
Flight (Su?): “Every other round, he can fly up to 800 yards (then he must pause and rest for a round).”
Originally found in module FRA1 – Storm Riders (1990, Troy Denning), module FRA2 – Black Courser (1990), and module FRA3 – Blood Charge (1990).
The goal of this thread is to come up with a mostly full stat block. We will figure everything out except for maybe skills and feats (undecided on that yet). We may also come up with a basic outline for powers and their DCs, but any full descriptive writeup will have to wait. Anything done in this thread is subject to change later.
We have already finished converting Gaumahavi, so we might as well start on her son.
Sandiraksiva, The Black Courser
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: High mountain meadow/tundra
FREQUENCY: Very Rare (unique)
ORGANIZATION: Solitary or herd
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Day
DIET: Special
INTELLIGENCE: Average (8-10)
TREASURE: None
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 2
MOVEMENT: 28, Fl 30
HIT DICE: 8 (45 hit points)
THAC0: 13
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 or breath weapon
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-8+7/1-8+7/ or 5-30 (breath)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Breath weapon
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Only hit by +1 or better weapon
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 55%
SIZE: L (8’ at shoulder)
MORALE: Fanatic (19)
XP VALUE: 5,000
While accompanying Prince Surtava on his search for enlightenment, Gaumahavi (see her entry) bore a litter of cubs. Like its mother, one of those cubs developed an animal soul and began a series of reincarnations. That cub was Sandiraksiva.
Currently, the cub’s enchanted soul inhabits the body of a supernatural black stallion. Unfortunately for Sandiraksiva, this fact has not eluded the Raja of Solon, Ambuchar Devayam. The Raja captured Sandiraksiva and used him to coerce his mother, Gaumahavi, into aiding him in the first war between Solon and Ra-Khati. During that war, Sandiraksiva was captured by the Dalai Lama, who had no idea of the stallionís true nature.
As his great size might suggest, Sandiraksiva is exceptionally strong, and he can carry or pull as much as any two normal draft horses. He is also extremely fast, and can easily outrun even the fleetest riding horse. Unlike most horses, he has split hooves and can climb the rocky environment of the Katakoro Mountains with ease.
Combat: Sandiraksiva is not aggressive by nature, but will fight tenaciously for his freedom. In combat, he uses his forehooves to lash out, and will resort to his breath weapon when pressed.
In addition to his great strength, Sandiraksiva has several special abilities. Every other round, he can fly up to 800 yards (then he must pause and rest for a round). His most potent weapon is the fireball he can breathe once per day for 5d6 points of damage (save vs. breath weapon for half damage).
Because of his enchanted nature, Sandiraksiva cannot be hurt by anything short of magic or magical weapons of +1 or better.
Habitat/Society: Although he would prefer to graze the high altitude meadows and tundra lands of the Katakoro Mountains, Sandiraksiva has been imprisoned by either the Raja of Solon or the Dalai Lama for the last 50 years.
Ecology: Like most horses, Sandiraksiva eats grass, grains, hay, and the like. However, the Black Courser’s supernatural strength, speed, and powers are energized by the light of the moon. If he is not exposed to moonlight for a substantial period each night, he begins to lose his strength. This loss corresponds roughly to the amount of moonlight he missed. For example, a 30% reduction in exposure results in a 30% loss of movement, damage, flight capability, etc. On totally moonless nights he lapses into complete inactivity, but since he knows when they will be, takes precautions beforehand, when possible. Strength is recovered in 1d6 rounds as soon as he returns to full moonlight.
some preliminary stats for the Black Courser:
Sandiraksiva, The Black Courser
Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 8d10+X (X hp)
Initiative: +X
Speed: 70 ft (14 squares), fly 80 feet (maneuverability?)
Armor Class: 18? (+X size, +X Dex, +X natural), touch X, flat-footed X
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+X
Attack: Hoof +X melee (1d8+X)
Full Attack: 2 hooves +X melee (1d8+X)
Space/Reach: X ft/X ft
Special Attacks: breath weapon
Special Qualities: damage reduction X/magic?, flight, moonlight dependency, spell resistance 22
Saves: Fort +X Ref +X Will +X
Abilities: Str 25?, Dex X, Con X, Int 10, Wis X, Cha X
Skills: 22 (climb bonus?)
Feats: 3
Environment: Any mountains and plains?
Organization: Solitary or herd (Sandiraksiva plus X horses)
Challenge Rating: X
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: ---
Level Adjustment: ---
Sandiraksiva is 8 feet long and weighs
COMBAT
Breath Weapon (Su): “His most potent weapon is the fireball he can breathe once per day for 5d6 points of damage (save vs. breath weapon for half damage).”
Flight (Su?): “Every other round, he can fly up to 800 yards (then he must pause and rest for a round).”
Originally found in module FRA1 – Storm Riders (1990, Troy Denning), module FRA2 – Black Courser (1990), and module FRA3 – Blood Charge (1990).
for Dex, I think it should be higher than 13 – keep in mind how fast he is! The Con is fine at 22 however. Given that he only has a 10 in Int, the 15 Wis might be fine, and the Cha of 11 might be OK also.
