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| SHADOW
TREE |
| Shadow Trees are a
very rare, and horrifying union of a humble tree, with an undead,
bloodthirsty monster... |
 |
SHADOW
TREE |
TREE SHADOW |
| CLIMATE/TERRAIN: |
Any |
Any |
| FREQUENCY: |
Very Rare |
Very Rare |
| ORGANIZATION: |
Solitary |
Solitary |
| ACTIVITY CYCLE: |
Night (day) |
Night |
| DIET: |
Special |
Special |
| INTELLIGENCE: |
Very (11-12) |
Very (11-12) |
| TREASURE: |
X |
Nil |
| ALIGNMENT |
Neutral (Evil) |
Neutral Evil |
| NO. APPEARING: |
1 |
1 |
| ARMOUR CLASS: |
1 |
3 |
| MOVEMENT: |
Nil |
12 |
| HIT DICE: |
10+20 |
8 |
| THAC0: |
10 |
11 |
| NO. OF ATTACKS: |
4 |
2 |
| DAMAGE/ATTACK: |
2d8+9 |
1d4+1
or
1d8+6
|
| SPECIAL ATTACKS: |
Calling, skeletons |
Strength drain (shadow form only) |
| SPECIAL DEFENCES: |
Silver or +1 weapon to
hit |
Silver or +1 weapon to
hit |
| MAGIC RESISTANCE: |
Nil |
Nil |
| SIZE: |
G 25'+ |
M |
| MORALE: |
20 (Fearless) |
20 (Fearless) |
| XP VALUE: |
10,000 |
2,000 |
| |
COMBAT: The Shadow Tree cannot move,
but is physically very strong and with a long reach. It can
make a total of 4 attacks per round, but at most only 2 against
the same man-sized creaure. It's great strength (19) lets it
cause a tremendous damage. The tree is vulnerable to fire (-2
saves, +1hp/die damage), but is immune to non-magical or silver
weapons.
The tree feeds on the flesh of creaures, as well
as by a certain degree of photosynthesis. It dissolves the flesh
from creatures leaving skeletons, which are undead. These bury
themselves near the tree and emerge at it's calling. A tree
will normally have 2d10 skeletons at its bidding.
To lure folk to it, the tree can cast a form of
Suggestion that attracts folk to the area, the tree can sense
sentient creatures at up to a mile, and send its calling
to them. A save vs spell negates the effect but it is not an
absolute compulsion, merely a strong interest to visit the spot.
The tree is rarely active during the day, but is
not harmed by daylight or spells/items that affect the undead.
|
COMBAT: The Tree Shadow is normally an
incorporeal spirit, in most regards like a typical Shadow (damage
is 1d4+1 plus drains 1 Strength point, strength is recovered
in 1 hour). It loathes daylight (sunlight inflicts 1d6 hp per
round to it). It can assume a corporeal form once per night
for 1 hour. In this form it can tear foes limb from limb (strength
18/00), and use items that it may have gotten from previous
victims. A favoured trick is to throw folk into the embrace
of it's tree.
Oddly in corporeal form, the tree shadow is colourless,
appearing as it did at death, but only in shades of grey.
Creatures killed by a Tree Shadow do not normally
become undead (unless other events would make them so). Tree
shadows live to kill, they do not feed on life per se.
To kill the shadow tree BOTH creatures must die
on the same night, otherwise they will re-form. Alternatively
a burial ceremony of appropriate type must be done to let the
Tree Shadow rest in peace in which case the tree becomes a normal
tree once more, but few Tree Shadows will let this happen until
they have been avenged on their slayer.
|
A Shadow Tree is formed
when someone dies violently nearby a tree: typically being hanged
from it. The person's rage, or supernatural forces turns them
into an undead shadow linked to the tree.
There after, the Shadow Tree becomes immortal, not
truly undead but linked to the Negative Material Plane. Like the
spirit tied to it, it is cunning and wrathful. The tree appears
almost lifeless, but it can disguise itself with an illusion to
appear normal (rangers and druids have a 1% chance per level,
plus 1% per point of Wisdom of spotting that something is amiss).
The Tree Shadow is filled with rage for those who killed it, generally
their rage is directed at the type of creature that slew them,
such as "warrior" or "human". They may let
others pass unhindered depending on the nature of the creature
that formed the Shadow (i.e. very evil ones will hate everyone).
The Shadow and it's tree are linked symbiotically
and telepathically, and act as one. Occasionally they will work
with other creaures, provided they don't remind the Tree Shadow
of those that slew it. |
HABITAT/SOCIETY:
Shadow Trees can be found in almost any clime. It is incredibly
rare for the tree to have more than one Tree Shadow, but it's
not unknown if there has been a particularly large number of executions
or killings nearby.
Once per month the tree can somehow move itself up
to half a mile, using a sort of "shadow step"-like ability.
This is an arduous task and not one that can be taken without
several days of preparation. |
|
ECOLOGY:
The tree still photosynthesizes somehow, plus it also consumes
dead remains nearby (it can use its roots or branches to dissolve
flesh slowly)
Generally, the area round shows little sign of this
activity as the tree and its shadow are not interested in harming
simple lifeforms, though more malignant Shadow Trees have been
known..
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