Hagborn (Annisborn) Template

[exile]

So, a while back I decided that I wanted to emulate Grendel (from Beowulf) in D&D. I wasn't so interested in modeling him directly from the epic poem, but more from my memory of the epic poem. Also, I wanted my new monster to fit squarely within D&D cosmology. I remember Grendel as being something like an ogre, but tougher, and with a hag for a mother. I went searching for info on such information on this website. I was directed to a FR supplement for information about hagspawn and a Dragon article that had already done the work of converting Grendel, his mother, etc., into D&D stats. The hagspawn wasn't quite what I was looking for, but the poster who directed me to it got the name wrong, calling it hagborn, and as I often do, I stole the name. I didn't even bother with the dragon article because, by that time, I wasn't interested in someone else's interpretation of Grendel; I was interested in the craetive process of developing my own. So, I turned to the Monster Manual (and was pleasantly reminded of an association between ogres and hags) and The Book of Templates- Deluxe Edition. Using these two resources, I have completed a template, that when added to an ogre, especially one with fighter and/or barbarian levels, makes a very nasty Grendel. Enjoy.

Hagborn (Annisborn) Template
Annisborn is an inherited template that is most often applied to giants and humanoids. Annisborn are always male.

Size and Type: The base creature's type changes to monstrous humanoid with these exceptions. Aberrations, dragons, fey, and outsiders retain their type. Elementals become outsiders. Oozes and vermin become aberrations. Size is unchanged.
Hit Dice: Increase the base creature's racial HD by one die size, to a maximum of d8. Do not increase class HD.
Speed: Speed is unchanged per the base creature.
Armor Class: Natural armor improves by +5 (this stacks with any natural armor bonus the base creature has).
Attack: Base attack bonus is unchanged per the base creature. An annisborn has two claw attacks and a bite attack, and the claws are the primary natural weapon. If the base creature can use weapons, the annisborn retains this ability. An annisborn fighting without weapons uses a claw when making an attack action.
Full Attack: An annisborn fighting without weapons uses both claws and its bite when making a full attack. If armed with a weapon, it may use the weapon as its primary attack and its bite as a natural secondary attack. If it has a free hand, it uses a claw as an additional natural secondary attack. Most hagborn choose not to use weapons, so that they can gain the full benefit of their special attacks (see below).
Damage: An annisborn has claw and bite attacks. If the base creature does not have these attack forms, use the damage values in the table below. If the base creature does have these attack forms, use the table below (but treat the base creature as if it were one size larger than it really is) or the base creature's damage values, whichever are greater.

Size Bite Damage (+1/2 STR Mod) Claw Damage (+STR Mod)
Miniscule - -
Fine - -
Diminutive 1 1
Tiny 1d2 1d2
Small 1d3 1d3
Medium 1d4 1d4
Large 1d6 1d6
Huge 2d4 2d4
Gargantuan 2d6 2d6
Colossal 2d8 2d8
Titanic 3d8 3d8

Special Attacks: Improved grab, rake, and rend.
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 1/bludgeoning, darkvision 60', spell resistance 6+HD (including class levels).
Saves: Saves are unchanged per the base creature.
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: STR +4 and DEX +2.
Skills: Skills are unchanged per the base creature.
Feats: Great Fortitude
Environment: Environment is unchanged per the base creature, but annisborn are most commonly encountered in cold marshes.
Organization: Organization is unchanged per the base creature.
Challenge Rating: Challenge rating s equal to that of the base creature +2.
Treasure: Treasure is unchanged per the base creature. An annisborn often wears a 'hag eye' as a ring, brooch, or other adornment.
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil.
Advancement: By character class.
Level Adjustment: +4

Combat
An annisborn inherits its mother's physical attacks, favoring its powerful claws and bite over nonmagical weapons. Though annisborn lack their mother's spell-like abilities, they are often cunning and do what they can to divide and confuse their opponents before combat.Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, an annisborn must hit an opponent of its size or smaller with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Rake (Ex): An annisborn can attack a grappled foe with both claws at no penalty.
Rend (Ex): An annisbornthat hits with both claw attacks latches onto the opponent's body and tears the flesh. This attack automatically deals an amount of damage equal to twice the anniborn's claw attack plus one and a half times its strength modifier.

Chad

 

[exile]

The format looks crappy here on ENWorld. Ah well, enjoy all the same.

Chad

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Interesting...

Personally I would trade the stat bonuses for Powerful Build:
[sblock]Powerful Build (Ex)
The physical stature of half-giants lets them function in many ways as if they were one size category larger. Whenever a half-giant is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the half-giant is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him. A half-giant is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. A half-giant can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.
[/sblock]

And then convince someone better than me at creating fluff to write how the Hag steals young creatures and raises them on specially brewed food to create a 'Hagborn' ... which not only explains how a Hag can raise a Dragon Hagborn without having to do it with a dragon, but also provides a great roleplaying opportunity with the 'innocent' Grendel fighting to protect his mother....

And yes, EnWorld is a bit interesting to format posts in. I usually use the {code} tags when doing tables and leave the rest pretty much as is.

 

[exile]

Thanks for the input Primitive Screwhead. yeah, I definitely need to attach some fluff to the template. I like your idea of feeding the young a special brew, but I also see hags as very sexual (when disguised) beings that breed with about anything they can to propogate their minions. Lots to think about.

Chad