Creatures of the Outlands: Aitvaras by Nicholas Wasko

Fiery orange feathers cover the wings and tail of this ink-black, serpentine dragon. Its dark eyes dart about, and its claws fidget with nervous energy. Aitvaras CR 2 XP 600 CN Tiny dragon (shapechanger) Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +8 DEFENSE AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +1 natural, +2 size) hp 22 (3d12+3) Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +5 Immune paralysis, sleep; SR 13 OFFENSE Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft. (good) Melee bite +4 (1d3–1) Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft. Special Attacks breath weapon (5-ft. cone, confused, Will DC 12 negates, usable every 1d4 rounds) Spell-Like Abilities (CL 3rd; concentration +6) At will–hold portal 3/daygreater invisibility (self only), unseen servant (within domain of fortune only) Spells Known (CL 3rd; concentration +6) 1st (6/day)–cause fear (DC 14), silent image (DC 14), ventriloquism (DC 14) 0th (at will)–flare (DC 13), ghost sound (DC 13), mage hand, open/close, spark STATISTICS Str 9, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 16 Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 13 (17 vs. trip) Feats Deft Hands, Improved Initiative Skills Appraise +9, Bluff +9, Climb +5, Disable Device +8, Fly +17, Perception +8, Sense Motive +8, Sleight of Hand +8, Stealth +17 Languages Common, Draconic, Halfling, Sylvan SQ change shape (cat, beast shape II), domain of fortune ECOLOGY Environment any urban Organization solitary or pair Treasure standard SPECIAL ABILITIES Breath weapon (Su) 5-foot cone, confusion for 1d4 rounds, DC 12 negates. Creatures compelled to attack the nearest creature never target the aitvaras or creatures benefiting from its domain of fortune. An aitvaras can use this breath weapon once every 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based. Domain of Fortune (Su) An aitvaras can adopt a structure as its domain, blessing it with supernatural luck and hindering enemies within its walls. Creatures that live in the bonded structure receive a +2 luck bonus on all skill checks within its walls. Non-chaotic intruders suffer a –2 penalty on attack rolls, damage rolls, saves, and caster level checks to overcome spell resistance within the structure. An aitvaras can only have one bonded domain at a time, which can be no larger than 100 squares. If the aitvaras ends its connection to a structure, it must wait 24 hours before it can adopt a new domain. Spells An aitvaras casts spells as a 3rd-level sorcerer. Mischievous, honorless cousins of pseudodragons, aitvaras (singular and plural) thrive in the bustling chaos of the city, where their actions often go unnoticed. An aitvaras uses the form of a stray cat to find a residence or business which it can claim as its domain. Once it adopts a home, the aitvaras works tirelessly to bring prosperity to its inhabitants, using its magic to bless residents with luck while stealing from neighbors and sabotaging competitive businesses. The residents’ new fortune is short-lived, however, for if the aitvaras’ mischief is traced back to its home, the dragon abandons its former benefactors to face the consequences of its actions while it slinks away in search of a new domain. An aitvaras typically follows some kind of pattern when choosing homes, though these predilections vary widely between individuals. Some favor certain races or professions, while others have more unusual preferences, such as a specific number of children or musicians who play a unique instrument. Their chaotic nature makes it difficult to attract an aitvaras to one residence or predict where it will go next. Even those who successfully win an aitvaras’ favor find its blessings fickle, for the dragon often has unspoken expectations when adopting a domain, and those who violate its “terms” risk drawing the beast’s ire. As a result, even the most amicable relationship with an aitvaras is typically brief and disastrous to the hosts. Aitvaras are territorial and never share a domain. Mated pairs fight to decide which domain will hold their eggs, though the parents forget about their young once they move to a new domain, leaving the hatchlings to fend for themselves. A chaotic neutral arcane spellcaster of at least 7th level who has the Improved Familiar feat may select an aitvaras as a familiar.

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