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Half-Yochlol (Template)
Copyright © 2001 Sean K Reynolds. All rights reserved.
Art by Tom Martin -- http://www.rigaming.com/kotsq
Half-yochlols are the offspring of a yochlol and a male drow. They serve
Lolth in the same capacity as true yochlol, especially where a humanoid
natural form is preferred.
Yochlols are ooze-like servitors of Lolth
that can take the shape of a monstrous spider, beautiful human or elf (usually
a drow), or a cloud of stinking gas. These monsters (described in Monster
Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn) normally reproduce asexually,
but sometimes they desire a more conventional mate and acquire a handsome
drow male, usually as a sacrifice to Lolth. After mating, the yochlol consumes
the male, and his seed, flesh, and soul nurture a new life within her demonic
form. The resulting half-yochlol is raised in the Demonweb Pits and trained
to serve Lolth. Half-yochlols are always female (or possibly any male half-yochlols
born are immediately consumed by the mother).
A half-yochlol in her natural form looks exactly
like a female dark elf. She can take on the other forms of her mother,
but only in a limited fashion and only for a short while. Since her natural
form is that of a dark elf rather than a tentacled ooze (like her mother),
a half-yochlol is often used as a spy in places where true seeing
is a common ability (which would immediately reveal a yochlol's monstrous
true form). Half-yochlol are sometimes sent to the Material Plane to lead
drow colonization efforts and become the first matriarch of the new community
until the population is firmly established. Half-yochlols that breed with
normal drow produce normal drow, although most offspring are stillborn
monstrosities resembling the mother's other forms.
A half-yochlol speaks Abyssal and Undercommon.
Creating a Half-Yochlol
"Half-yochlol" is a template that can be added to any drow (referred
to hereafter as the "base creature"). Theoretically a half-yochlol might
fail Lolth in some way and be made into a drider, which would mean the
template could be added to a drider as well. The creature's type changes
to "outsider." It uses all of the base creature's statistics and special
abilities except as noted here. |
 |
Speed: As the base creature. A half-yochlol in spider form has
a climb speed of 20 ft. A half-yochlol in gaseous form has a fly speed
of 10 ft. (perfect maneuverability, cannot run).
AC: As the base creature. A half-yochlol in spider form has
the natural armor of a Medium-size monstrous spider (+1 natural). A half-yochlol
in gaseous or ooze form has no natural armor.
Attacks: Same as the base creature. A half-yochlol in spider
form may bite for 1d6 damage plus poison. A half-yochlol in ooze form has
four tentacle attacks for 1d4 damage.
Special Attacks: A half-yochlol retains all of the special attacks
of the base creature and also gains the following attacks:
Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): A half-yochlol
can cast charm person, dimension door, spider climb,
and web once per day as a spell-like ability with a caster level
equal to her character level (DC 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma modifier).
These spell-like abilities are in addition to the base creature's spell-like
abilities.
Psionics (Sp): Half-yochlol may use detect
thoughts and mind blank at will with a caster level equal to
her character level (DC 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma modifier).
Spider Poison (Ex): A half-yochlol's bite
in spider form injects poison (DC 12 + 1/2 hit dice + Constitution modifier,
initial and secondary damage 1d4 Str).
Gaseous Form (Ex): A half-yochlol in gaseous
form can envelop a creature by entering its square. A creature enveloped
by the half-yochlol suffers the effects of a stinking cloud spell (DC
10 + 1/2 hit dice + Constitution modifier).
Special Qualities: A half-yochlol retains all of the special
qualities of the base creature and also gain the following:
Alternate Form (Su): A half-yochlol's natural
form is that of a drow. She can assume three other forms: a Medium-size
monstrous spider, a Medium-size pile of reeking ooze with a single red
eye and four tentacles, or a 5-ft.-square volume of gas equal to a gaseous
form spell. Assuming any of these forms or returning to her own form
is a free action. However, a yochlol can only remain in one of her alternate
forms for a maximum of 1d4 rounds, after which she reverts to her natural
form automatically. Once she leaves an alternate form, she cannot resume
that form for one hour. She retains her own ability scores in any form
(although her gaseous form still limits what she can do).
The half-yochlol's armor falls to the ground harmlessly
when she assumes another form, but all other gear transforms with her or
adapts to her new form (as in the manner of polymorph self).
Drow Blood (Ex): For all special abilities
and effects, a half-yochlol is considered a drow. For example, they may
use special drow magic items, bypass wards tuned to ignore drow, and so
on.
Immunities: Half-yochlols are immune to gas,
poison, and electricity. In spider form they gain a 25% resistance to critical
hits and sneak attacks (as if wearing light fortification armor).
In ooze form they are also immune to paralysis, stunning, polymorphing,
and are not subject to critical hits or flanking. (Because half-yochlols
have an eye in their ooze form, they are not blind and do not gain the
blindsight ability, nor do they gain the bonus hit points of an ooze their
size.)
Resistances: Half-yochlols have fire resistance
5.
Damage Reduction: Half-yochlols have damage
reduction 5/+1 in elf, ooze, or spider form. In gaseous form they have
damage reduction 20/+1.
Saves: Same as the base creature.
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Strength
+2, Con +2.
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Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Same as the base creature.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +1 [[Compare
to a fiendish drow: similar resistances, no smite, but favorable ability
score modifiers. Most of her special abilities aren't directly related
to combat or aren't particularly powerful, so they shouldn't factor much
into CR. This CR adjustment stacks with the +1 for being a drow.]
Effective Character Level Modifier: +2. [[A
lot of versatile abilities that can be used ofter. This ECL adjustment
stacks with the +2 for being a drow.]]
Treasure: Same as the base creature.
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil
Advancement: Same as the base creature.
Sample Half-Yochlol
This example uses Briza,
the drow rog6 I posted in the Drow of the Week a long time ago, as the
base creature. (Her gear has been adjusted to reflect her new ECL with
the template.)
Brizalith, half-drow half-yochlol
Medium-Size Outsider
Hit Dice: 6d6+6 (28 hp)
Initiative: +4 (Dex)
Speed: 30 ft. (climb 20 ft. in spider form, fly 10 ft. (perfect,
can't run) in gaseous form)
AC: 20 (+4 Dex, +5 magic studded leather, +1 deflection) in
drow form, 15 (+4 Dex, +1 natural) in spider form, 15 (+4 Dex, +1 deflection)
in ooze form, 14 (+4 Dex) in gaseous form
Attacks: +1 short sword +6 melee or shortbow +9 ranged;
or 4 tentacles +5 melee; or bite +5 melee
Damage: +1 short sword 1d6+2; shortbow with frost
arrows 1d6+1 plus 1d6 cold; tentacles 1d4+1; bite 1d4+1 plus poison
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Psionics, drow spell-like abilities, half-yochlol
spell-like abilities, spider poison, gaseous form, sneak attack +3d6
Special Qualities: Drow traits, drow blood, evasion, traps,
uncanny dodge (Dex bonus to AC, can't be flanked), immunities (electricity,
gas, poison), resistances (fire 5), alternate form, DR 5/+1, SR 17
Saves: Fort +3, Reflex +9, Will +4.
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 14, Cha 10.
Skills: Balance +6, Climb +6 (+14 in spider form), Decipher
Script +7, Disable Device +11, Hide +23, Jump +7, Listen +13, Move Silently
+23, Open Lock +12, Search +13, Spot +13, Tumble +13, Use Rope +9
Feats: Daylight Adaptation, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot
Combat
Drow Traits: Immune to magic sleep
spells and effects; +2 racial bonus to Will saves against enchantment spells
or effects; darkvision 120 ft.; entitled to a Search check when within
5 feet of a secret or concealed door as though actively looking for it;
+2 racial bonus to Will saves against spells or spell-like abilities; spell-like
abilities (1/day--dancing lights, darkness, and faerie
fire as though cast by a sor6); +2 racial bonus to Listen, Spot, and
Search checks (already figured into the statistics given above).
Spell-Like Ability DC: 13.
Psionics DC: 13.
Poison DC: 16.
Items Carried: +2 shadow studded leather,
+1 short sword, short bow, 10 +1 frost arrows, 10 normal
arrows, boots of elvenkind, potion of cure moderate wounds,
potion of invisibility, ring of protection +1, 150 gp.
Challenge Rating: 8
ECL: 10.
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Alignment: Chaotic evil.