It's been awhile since I've worked on a fey critter for the blog. With thoughts turning to fall, which is just around the corner, I was struck by the mental image of leaves swirling about in mini-tornadoes. It was not much of a leap to envision fey obsessed with autumn leaves, to the point they use them for protection and as weaponry. The razorwind gives up a measure of its natural/cursed invisibility to remain surrounded by leaves and becomes angry when it loses its coat of leaves.
I hope you enjoy the razorwind. I'll see you next week with another monster!
Dry leaves, in a
panoply of autumnal colors and stained red and brown with blood, whirl about
this unseen humanoid figure.
Razorwind CR 3
XP 800
CN Small fey
Init +8; Senses low-light vision; Perception +9
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 15,
flat-footed 12 (+4 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 27 (5d6+10)
Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +5
Defensive Abilities
natural invisibility; DR 5/cold iron
Weaknesses
vulnerability to wind
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly
40 ft. (good)
Melee slam +7
(1d4–1
plus swirl of leaves)
Special Attacks
leafless rage, swirl of leaves
Spell-Like Abilities
(CL 5th; concentration +8)
Constant—speak with plants
STATISTICS
Str 8, Dex 19, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 12, Cha 17
Base Atk +2; CMB –1
(+3 disarm); CMD 13 (15 vs. disarm,
can't be tripped)
Feats Combat
Expertise, Improved Disarm, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse[B]
Skills Acrobatics
+12, Bluff +10, Escape Artist +12, Fly +14, Knowledge (nature) +10, Perception
+9, Perform (wind instruments) +10, Sleight of Hand +12, Stealth +12, Survival
+6
Languages
Druidic, Sylvan; speak with plants
ECOLOGY
Environment
temperate and warm forests
Organization
solitary, pair, or susurrus (3–12)
Treasure standard
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Leafless Rage (Ex)
This ability acts as blood rage (+2 Con, +2 Str, –2 penalty to AC), but only
applies when a razorwind has lost its swirl of leaves ability. It can only end
its rage when it restores the use of swirl of leaves.
Natural Invisibility
(Ex) A razorwind benefiting from its swirl of leaves ability only has concealment
(20% miss chance). If it loses all its leaves, it benefits fully from natural
invisibility.
Swirl of Leaves (Su)
Typically, a razorwind is surrounded by dozens of leaves which spin about its
body. The leaves are exceptionally sharp and inflict 3d6 points of slashing
damage and 1d4 bleed to a creature struck by the razorwind’s slam attack. A
successful DC 14 Reflex save halves the slashing damage and negates the bleed.
The save DC is Constitution-based.
While leaves surround the razorwind, it gains a +1 natural armor
bonus to AC and a +2 bonus to CMB for disarm attempts (these bonuses are
figured into its stats). If the razorwind with swirl of leaves confirms a
critical hit on an opponent, it can make a disarm attempt as a free action.
If the razorwind fails a Reflex save against a spell or
effect that deals fire damage, the razorwind loses swirl of leaves. If the razorwind
succeeds on its Reflex save, it can voluntarily lose swirl of leaves if it takes
fire damage to negate the fire damage.
If a razorwind loses its swirl of leaves, either through
taking fire damage or exposure to severe winds, it must find a square covered
in leaves and take a standard action to restore the ability.
Vulnerability to Wind
(Ex) A razorwind is treated as two sizes smaller vs. wind effects.
Additionally, when it is exposed to severe (31 mph) or stronger winds, it loses
its swirl of leaves ability.
Legend speaks of a group of fey responsible for decorating the
halls of their nobles’ forest home with foliage found in the forest. They became
so enamored with the array of colors presented by autumn leaves, they refused
to part with them, even going so far as to ignore the nobles’ demands to do so.
One of the nobles grew terribly angry with this refusal by subordinate fey and
gave them one more chance to relent. Unreasonably attached to the ephemeral
objects, they didn’t realize the danger they faced and rebuffed the noble once
more. The incensed noble cursed them with permanent invisibility, negated only by
their “precious” leaves, and threw them out of the otherworldly woods. These
newly created razorwinds, or flense faeries as they are sometimes called, have
a deep affinity for leaves, and they become furious when separated from them.
Razorwinds inhabit old forests where they serve as guardians
to the forests and the creatures inhabiting the forests. Dryads, who otherwise
find the razorwinds’ bloodlust distasteful, call upon the creatures when threatened
by lumber concerns and diplomatic avenues have failed. Razorwinds also attach
themselves to intelligent plant creatures and enjoy spending their days with all
types of leshys, preferably leaf leshys. If a leshy dies while under a razorwind’s
protection, the latter creature absorbs the remains of the leshy to honor the fallen
creature.
A typical razorwind stands 3 feet tall and weighs 20 pounds.
The leaves spinning about a razorwind make it seem larger, almost reaching
human proportions.
