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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Clay_More" data-source="post: 2857469" data-attributes="member: 9813">This is yet another little pet project of mine, I am working on an insectoid race of undead scarabs that have a unique form of Necromantic magic. I have the intention of making a PrC, possibly two, dedicated to the various forms of magic mastered by the Zahl-Ganib. Currently I have done most of the spells as well as the creatures themselves, thinking of adding NPC stats for Joul-Zteram as well as some of his apprentices later, possible some special constructs made by the Zahl-Ganib as well as some magical items. But anyways, on to the stuff..Lore of the Zahl-GanibThere are many secrets buried in the depth of the deserts of the world. There are tales spoken of buried cities brimming with treasures and gold, temples with unholy riddles written on their walls and old forts still guarded by the bones of its former soldiers. One of the least told tales is the tale of the Zahl-Ganib. The Zahl-Ganib are an ancient race, a race of humanoid scarabs that used to dwell in enormous pyramids of stone. The Zahl-Ganib were necromancers, and they spent large parts of their lives traversing the spirit realms. Their magic was highly protective in nature, as the scarab necromancers themselves were fairly frail compared to the denizens that roamed the world at their time. Their defensive necromancy was often combined with a special type of damaging magic that was slow but powerful in combat. The special combination of powers possessed by the Zahl-Ganib were sufficient to keep them and their undead servitors safe for more than a millennia in a world fraught with danger. Yet the reign of the Zahl-Ganib ended, as all empires must eventually end. Little is known about the calamity that ended the Ganesh empire, the empire of the Zahl-Ganib. One of the master necromancers of the Zahl-Ganib survived the calamity, hiding inside the pyramid library of Zahl-Fareem. Joul-Zteram the master necromancer is rumoured to still dwell inside this ancient structure hidden beneath the sands of an unknown desert. He resides there with his Zahl-Ganib apprentices and his undead minions, guarding the secrets of his race. The library holds no books, instead the many arcane pieces of lore are written directly on the walls of the pyramid. The lands around the pyramid are carefully guarded by the armies of Joul-Zteram, who ensures that those unworthy of the blessings of the Zahl-Fareem library do not trespass the sacred halls. Joul-Zteram is willing to teach his lore to a very few outsiders. It is rumoured that he has accepted four mortal apprentices in his lifetime, apprentices that have proven their worth to him by defeating one of his Zahl-Ganib apprentices in combat. These new apprentices have been given access to the lore of his pyramid, and they have been trained in the ancient magic of the scarab necromancers. In return for their training, they have sworn to keep the Zahl-Fareem pyramid safe from all its enemies. It is possible for a brave and cunning necromancer to gain access to Joul-Zteram if they can safely traverse the land around the pyramid and reach the library. If they can assure Joul-Zteram that their purpose is to learn from the library of Zahl-Fareem, to keep safe the wisdom written on its walls, then they might be granted the opportunity to show their worth in a duel with scarab necromancer. Should they prevail, then they will be given the chance to become an apprentice of Joul-Zteram, a Zahl-Ganib Acolyte. Zahl-GanibLarge UndeadHit Dice: 9d12 (59 hp)Initiative: +7Speed: 40 ft. (4 squares), burrow 10 ft.Armor Class: 25 (+12 Natural, +3 Dexterity), touch 13, flat-footed 22 Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+10 Attack: Slam +6 melee (1d8+2) Full Attack: Slam +6 melee (1d8+2) Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft. Special Attacks: Essence harvesting, spells, web of scarabsSpecial Qualities: Damage reduction 6/-, darkvision 120 ft., scatter, turn resistance +4, undead traitsSaves: Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +11 Abilities: Str 14, Dex 17, Con -, Int 20, Wis 16, Cha 15 Skills: Decipher Script +12, Hide +15, Knowledge (Arcana) +17, Knowledge (History) +11, Knowledge (Local) +11, Knowledge (Necrology) +15, Knowledge (Religion) +12, Listen +15, Move Silently +15, Spot +15Feats: Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Spell Focus (Necromancy)Environment: DesertOrganization: Solitary or group (2-5) Challenge Rating: 10Treasure: StandardAlignment: Usually lawful evil Advancement: By character classLevel Adjustment: -The Zahl-Ganib have an appearance that seem more fitting to a monstrous, mindless beast more than to a cunning spellcaster. The Zahl-Ganib appears to be large scarab beetles. Where a beetle would normally have pincers, the Zahl-Ganib have atrophied, humanoid arms. The creature is clearly undead, and many Zahl-Ganib have open wounds on its carapace and a terrible stench follows the creature wherever it goes. When a Zahl-Ganib speaks, it speaks with a thunderous, roaring voice that is clearly inhuman. While the Zahl-Ganib are very stealthy, their voices will easily reveal their location if they start casting spells or otherwise speaking. CombatThe Zahl-Ganib are very clever combatants who prefer to engage their opponents only when they are certain that they will prevail. They will either hide, or stay burrowed when they know that enemies are near. They will then use the advantage of surprise to bombard their enemies with their array of Seal spells before either burrowing away or using Spirit Phase to become invulnerable. Often several Zahl-Ganib will gang up on an intruding enemy and take turns on erupting from the ground to cast spells on their foes before disappearing again. If any of them are cornered, they will use their Scatter ability to get away. Essence Harvesting (Su): The Zahl-Ganib has the ability to gather the essence of living creatures around them and use it to restore their used spell slots. When using this ability, all living creatures within 30 ft. must succeed at a DC 17 Fortitude Saving Throw. If they fail, they suffer 1d3 points of Constitution damage. For each creature that looses Constitution from the Essence Harvesting, the Zahl-Ganib may restore a lost spell of up to 3rd level. This includes both Spell-like abilities as well as spell slots gained from having levels in a spell casting class. The Zahl-Ganib may use this ability up to two times per day. The Saving Throw is 15 + the Charisma modifier of the Zahl-Ganib.Scatter (Su): The Zahl-Ganib can scatter their own form to prevent them from taking damage. As a free action the Zahl-Ganib dismembers his own form and instead turns into a horde of small scarab beetles. This render the Zahl-Ganib invulnerable to all harm for one full round. The only thing that can injure a Zahl-Ganib in Scatter form is area of effect attacks that affect the area it occupies. The Zahl-Ganib can use this ability even when it is not its turn, to counter any attack, spell or effect which would otherwise cause damage to it. The Zahl-Ganib is unable to act for the round that Scatter lasts, but it can move and even burrow during this time. It counts as a free action for the Zahl-Ganib to reform itself after one full round has passed. The Zahl-Ganib can use this ability up to three times per day. Spells: The Zahl-Ganib can cast spells as a 9th level specialist Necromancer. The Saving Throw to resist the spells cast by the Zahl-Ganib is 15 + spell level (16 for Necromancy spells). Below are two sample spell lists for the Zahl-Ganib.Zahl-Ganib ArcanistLevel 0: 2xDetect Magic, 2xSeal of VulnerabilityLevel 1: Mage Armor, Shield, Silent Image, Sleep, 2xSpirit PhaseLevel 2: Misdirection, Fox’s Cunning, Resist Energy, Seal of Absorption, See InvisibilityLevel 3: 3x Dispel Magic, NondetectionLevel 4: Dimensional Anchor, Remove Curse, Seal of AmplificationLevel 5: Dismissal, Ward of the Spirit RealmZahl-Ganib AggressorLevel 0: Detect Magic, Touch of Fatigue, 2xSeal of VulnerabilityLevel 1: Mage Armor, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shield, 3xSpirit PhaseLevel 2: Invisibility, 2xSeal of Absorption, See Invisibility, WebLevel 3: Haste, Dispel Magic, 2xSeal of Fluctuating PainLevel 4: Dimension Door, Seal of Amplification, StoneskinLevel 5: 2xWard of the Spirit RealmWeb of Scarabs (Ex): The Zahl-Ganib can belch out a 60 ft. long, 10 ft. wide cone of scarabs. The scarabs will attack anyone in range and skit around their feet, slowing their movement. Anyone in the area of effect must succeed at a DC 17 Reflex Saving Throw or suffer 2d6 points of damage and have their movement halved for 2d4 rounds. The Saving Throw is 15 + the Charisma modifier of the Zahl-Ganib. SpellsSeal of VulnerabilityNecromancyLevel: Sor/Wiz 0Components: S, VCasting Time: 1 free actionRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)Target: One creatureDuration: 1 round/levelSaving Throw: FortitudeSpell Resistance: YesEvery other moment, the Zahl-Ganib fired a thin, frail ray of grey energy. Galen could not help but to wonder what this ray was for, as he could feel himself constantly resisting its effect. When it finally made it through his arcane defences, he felt no pain. He could not help but to wonder what the purpose had been of this odd barrage from his opponent. Seal of Vulnerability fires a grey ray of energy from the casters palm. The target is allowed a Fortitude Saving Throw to resist the effect of the ray. If the target fails his Saving Throw, he is afflicted by the Seal which causes him to suffer a -2 penalty to all Saving Throws made to resist other Seal spells while Seal of Vulnerability is in effect.Spirit PhaseNecromancy Level: Sor/Wiz 1 Components: SCasting Time: 1 free actionRange: PersonalEffect: Causes caster to phase out Duration: 1 full roundGalen had been struck by the blackened ray of the Zahl-Ganib and he felt the pain surging through his body. He prepared a spell which he hoped would cause a significant amount of pain to the scarab necromancer. His fireball flew voraciously from his palm, speeding towards his target. Just before impact, the scarab necromancer seemed to disappear. The Zahl-Ganib had entered some shadow form, and the fireball exploded around it without causing it any harm at all.Spirit Phase causes the caster to temporarily enter the spirit realm, making him immune to all effects of the world of the living. When the spell is cast, the caster becomes shadowy and transparent. While spirit phased, the caster is completely immune to all forms of damage and no spells or effects can affect him. Anyone trying to touch him will feel their hand pass through his shadowy form. The caster is aware of everything that happens around him while he is spirit phased, but he is unable to move or act in any way. Spirit Phase lasts a full round, after which the caster returns to normal and is vulnerable to harm again. The caster suffers 1d6+1 points of Negative Energy damage from entering the spirit realm. An undead caster will not be healed by the Negative Energy damage caused by this spell. Seal of AbsorptionNecromancyLevel: Sor/Wiz 2Components: S, V, MCasting Time: 1 free actionRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)Target: One creatureDuration: 1 round/levelSaving Throw: Will negatesSpell Resistance: YesGalen wasn’t completely unprepared for the fight though. He had studied the Zahl-Ganib and knew quite a bit of their magic. He found the wand he had crafted especially for this fight, the wand that would allow him to banish the sinister seals that were tearing through his body. Something happened once he activated the wand though; it failed to remove the pain that was becoming almost unbearable. Seal of Absorption has the ability to negate a Remove Curse spell on the target. If the target fails his Saving Throw, he is afflicted by the seal. The next Remove Curse spell that affects the target will be absorbed by Seal of Absorption and no additional spells or effects will be removed. Material Component: A small glass sphere containing ashSeal of Fluctuating PainNecromancyLevel: Sor/Wiz 3 Components: S, VCasting Time: 1 actionRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)Target: One living creatureDuration: 1 round/level (max 10)Saving Throw: Variable (see description)Spell Resistance: YesThe old mage walked quietly in a circle around his opponent. The large beetle slowly kept turning so it kept facing Galen. It began casting a spell, and Galen instantaneously started casting a spell of his own, in the hope he could thwart his foes spell. He failed, and a black ray shot from his opponents head and struck the mage in the chest. At first, Galen felt no pain. Then, slowly, the pain started, moving through his limbs like fire, as if though his blood was ablaze. Fluctuating Seal of Pain causes the caster to fire a black ray with a reddish hue at his target. The target must succeed at a Saving Throw to resist the ray. The caster of the ray can choose any of the three types of Saving Throw, Will, Fortitude or Reflex, that the target must succeed. The type of Saving Throw is decided when the spell is cast. If the target fails his Saving Throw, he is affected by a seal of pain which will cause a significant amount of damage over time. The seal causes 1d8+1 points of Negative Energy damage every round until the spell expires. The seal can only be removed with a Remove Curse spell. Seal of AmplificationNecromancyLevel: Sor/Wiz 4Components: S, VCasting Time: 1 actionRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)Target: One creatureDuration: 1 round/levelSaving Throw: NoSpell Resistance: YesThe seal was in place. Galen wasn’t sure, but it looked almost as if though his opponent was smiling, but it was hard to be sure. The countenance of the Zahl-Ganib was still as smooth as it had been the entire duel. Seal of Amplification causes the target to become more vulnerable to Negative Energy damage. The target will suffer double damage from Negative Energy damage while the spell lasts. If the target is undead, it will be healed for twice as much by any spell or effect which causes Negative Energy damage. Seal of Amplification can only be dispelled by a Remove Curse spell. Ward of the Spirit RealmNecromancy Level: Sor/Wiz 5Components: S, VCasting Time: 1 actionRange: Personal / 30 ft. emanation centred on casterEffect: Causes caster to enter the spirit realmDuration: 1 round/level (D)The mage was throwing everything at the necromancer, everything he had at his disposal. Everything just passed through the scarab. Galen could feel the numbing pain slowly draining away his life. Nothing was working on his opponent, nothing was getting through.Ward of the Spirit Realm causes the caster to enter the spirit realm for a prolonged period of time. For the duration of the spell, his body becomes shadowy and transparent, immune to all harm. The caster also becomes a conduit for the baneful energies of the spirit realm.The caster is completely immune to all effects and spells while he is affected by Ward of the Spirit Realm. He is immune to all forms of damage, except for any ongoing effects that are on him when he passes over. All spells or effects which are already affecting the caster when he enters the spirit realm will continue to take effect while he is phased out. That means that if he is affected by a spell that causes damage over time, he will continue to suffer damage. If he is affected by any spell or effect that heals him over time, he will also continue to be healed while phased out. The caster suffers 1d6+1 points of Negative Energy damage every round while he is phased out. If he is undead, this damage will not heal him. Anyone within 30 ft. of the caster will also suffer 1d6+1 points of Negative Energy damage as his body acts as a conduit for the spirit realm. Seal of DevouringNecromancyLevel: Sor/Wiz 6Components: S, V, MCasting Time: 1 actionRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)Target: One living creatureDuration: 1 round/level (max 15)Saving Throw: Fortitude negatesSpell Resistance: YesHis own life, his own essence was being sucked away. The shadowy insect in front of him was slowly healing what little damage Galen had been able to inflict upon it. Seal of Devouring enables the caster to drain the life from his target. If the target fails his Saving Throw, he is afflicted with this potent seal which causes 1d6+1 points of Negative Energy damage each round. Any damage taken by the target will be transferred to the caster, who will heal an amount of damage equal to the damage caused by Seal of Devouring. If Seal of Devouring is affecting a target that is also affected by Seal of Amplification, then the amount healed will also be doubled. Material Component: A dried leechSeal of AtrophyNecromancyLevel: Sor/Wiz 7Components: S, V, MCasting Time: 1 actionRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)Target: One living creatureDuration: 1d4 roundsSaving Throw: Fortitude negatesSpell Resistance: YesFinally the Zahl-Ganib was no longer in his shadow form, but before the mage could do anything, the scarab necromancer cast a spell which caused a terrible, black burst of energy to erupt around Galen. Unable to move, Galen could nothing but watch as the Zahl-Ganib was casting new seals on him, just before entering its shadow form again. Seal of Atrophy causes a strong lash of Negative Energy to strike the target. If the target fails his Saving Throw, this seal will cause 10d6 points of Negative Energy damage. The target will also be stunned for 1d4 rounds on a failed Saving Throw. If the target succeeds his Saving Throw, he will suffer only 5d6 points of Negative Energy damage, and he will only be stunned for 1d2-1 rounds. Material Component: A miniature silver gauntlet (costs 15 gp)</blockquote>

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