Picasso007
2005-12-09, 11:05 PM
"Alright, children, alright, settle down now. Hobbie, leave your sister alone. Now, what story do you want to hear today?"
"Ooh! Tell us about the time you fought the lich-king in his castle!"
"You always ask for that one, Billy! We heard it last week!"
The old woman smiled; her dry, rough skin crinkling around her mouth and eyes. She turned to the smallest of the half-dozen children huddled around her, a freckled little thing barely old enough to walk up the hill by herself.
"Lyra, which story do you want to hear?"
The girl blinked her green eyes and smiled. "Wanna hear how you meet Arifel!"
"How I met Arithiel? I don't believe I've told that one. Let me think... Oh, yes, now I remember. It was a warm summer day-" Hobbie giggled, drawing a look. "Now, what's so funny?"
"Granny Winter, it's never warm under your tree!"
"This was long before that happened, Bobby, now hush." The old woman picked up a beautiful lyre, and began to pluck out a quiet melody with gnarled yet sure fingers, providing a quiet backdrop to her story. "Now then, it was a warm, summer day, and I was sunning myself in a clearing not far from here..."
Hours passed. Though the near-leafless boughs of the giant oak provided little shade from the summer sun, the air around the tree remained as cool as late autumn. She finished the story, and, at their pleading, began another. The second ended as the sun was setting, the air growing cold. Gathering the children around her like a mother hen with her chicks, she walked them back down the hill, stopping just outside the town. The kids scampered off into the warm summer night, back to their brightly lit houses and waiting families. The woman smiled, then walked back up to the oak, put her hand on its ancient trunk, and stepped inside.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/Salda007/GrandmotherWinter.png
Grandmother Winter (CR 20)
Venerable Dryad Ranger 13/Bard 4
Chaotic Good Medium Fey
Init +4
Senses Low-Light Vision, Listen +28, Spot +28
Aura moderate chaotic, moderate good
Languages Sylvan, Common, Draconic, Elven, Celestial
[hr]AC 27*, Touch 15, Flat-footed 23*
hp 66 (8d6 + 13d8 - 21 HD)
DR 5/cold iron
Fort +11, Ref +20, Will +16
Weakness tree dependent
(*-If Grandmother Winter attacks with her bow in a round, she loses her shield bonus to AC (+3) until the end of the round.)
[hr]Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Ranged +3 seeking mighty composite longbow [+4 Str] +24 (1d8+4/x3) or
Ranged +3 seeking mighty composite longbow [+4 Str] +16 (4d8+16/x3) with Manyshot or
Ranged +3 seeking mighty composite longbow [+4 Str] +24/+19/+14/+9 (1d8+4/x3) or
Ranged +3 seeking mighty composite longbow [+4 Str] +22/+22/+17/+12/+7 (1d8+4/x3) with Rapid Shot or
Melee +1 rapier +23 (1d6+2/18-20) or
Melee +1 rapier +23/+18/+13/+8 (1d6+2/18-20)
Base Atk +18; Grp +19
Attack Options Favored Enemy (humans) +2, Favored Enemy (goblinoids) +4, Favored Enemy (undead) +4, Combat Expertise, Manyshot, Rapid Shot
Combat Gear 4 potions of cure moderate wounds, 2 potions of haste, 40 silvered arrows
Bard Spells Known (Spells per day: 4/3/1) CL 4
2nd: glitterdust (DC 16), heroism
1st: cure light wounds, hideous laughter (DC 15), silent image (DC 15)
0th: light, lullaby (DC 14), mage hand, mending, prestidigitation, resistance
Ranger Spells Prepared (Spells per day: 2/2/2) CL 6
3rd: neutralize poison, remove disease
2nd: barkskin, spike growth (DC 16)
1st: endure elements, speak with animals*
Spell-Like Abilities At will—entangle (DC 15), speak with plants, tree shape; 3/day— charm person (DC 15), deep slumber (DC 17), tree stride; 1/day—suggestion (DC 17). Caster level 6th. The save DCs are Wisdom-based.
(*-If Grandmother Winter is anticipating trouble when she prepares her spells, she will prepare resist energy instead of speak with animals. If she plans on leaving the area around her tree during the day, she will prepare alarm (which she casts on her tree before leaving) and longstrider in her first-level slots.)
[hr]Abilities Str 12, Dex 19, Con 9, Int 17, Wis 19, Cha 19
Special Qualities Animal Companion, Bardic Knowledge +7, Bardic Music 4/day (Countersong, Fascinate, Inspire Competence, Inspire Courage +1), Camoflage, Curse of Eternal Frost, Evasion, Wild Empathy +23, Woodland Stride
Feats Combat Expertise, Endurance(B), Far Shot, Great Fortitude, Improved Point Blank Shot(B), Manyshot(B), Precise Shot, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot(B), Self-Sufficient, Track(B), Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (longbow)
Skills Escape Artist +11, Handle Animal +24, Heal +19, Hide +38, Knowledge (nature) +29, Move Silently +28, Perform (oratory) +12, Perform (stringed instruments) +16, Ride +6, Survival +28, Use Rope +4 (+6 with bindings)
Possessions
+3 seeking mighty composite longbow [+4 Str]*, +1 rapier, +2 mithril shirt, +2 mithril buckler, +1 ring of protection, gloves of dexterity +4, rod of flame extinguishing, ring of chameleon power, boots of the winterlands, handy haversack, 4 potions of cure moderate wounds, 2 potions of haste, masterwork lyre, healer's kit, 40 silvered arrows, assorted gems and coins worth 1,628 gp.
(*-Grandmother Winter takes a -2 penalty when using her bow, due to her lowered Strength score. The ranged attack numbers include this penalty.)
Curse of Eternal Frost: Long ago, a wizard cursed Grandmother Winter, in revenge for the part she played in foiling his attept at lichdom. At all times, the air around Grandmother Winter's oak is thirty degrees colder than the ambient temperature. The restriction extends high into the air over the tree, but does not reach more than 400 yards from the tree itself. The effect is bound to the area surrounding the tree; a breeze blowing over the hill will cool immediately upon reaching the edge of the area, and warm again immediately upon leaving it. Especially in autumn, winter, and early spring, the temperature is usually cold enough be dangerous, although only on the coldest nights does the weather reach extreme cold.
"Ooh! Tell us about the time you fought the lich-king in his castle!"
"You always ask for that one, Billy! We heard it last week!"
The old woman smiled; her dry, rough skin crinkling around her mouth and eyes. She turned to the smallest of the half-dozen children huddled around her, a freckled little thing barely old enough to walk up the hill by herself.
"Lyra, which story do you want to hear?"
The girl blinked her green eyes and smiled. "Wanna hear how you meet Arifel!"
"How I met Arithiel? I don't believe I've told that one. Let me think... Oh, yes, now I remember. It was a warm summer day-" Hobbie giggled, drawing a look. "Now, what's so funny?"
"Granny Winter, it's never warm under your tree!"
"This was long before that happened, Bobby, now hush." The old woman picked up a beautiful lyre, and began to pluck out a quiet melody with gnarled yet sure fingers, providing a quiet backdrop to her story. "Now then, it was a warm, summer day, and I was sunning myself in a clearing not far from here..."
Hours passed. Though the near-leafless boughs of the giant oak provided little shade from the summer sun, the air around the tree remained as cool as late autumn. She finished the story, and, at their pleading, began another. The second ended as the sun was setting, the air growing cold. Gathering the children around her like a mother hen with her chicks, she walked them back down the hill, stopping just outside the town. The kids scampered off into the warm summer night, back to their brightly lit houses and waiting families. The woman smiled, then walked back up to the oak, put her hand on its ancient trunk, and stepped inside.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/Salda007/GrandmotherWinter.png
Grandmother Winter (CR 20)
Venerable Dryad Ranger 13/Bard 4
Chaotic Good Medium Fey
Init +4
Senses Low-Light Vision, Listen +28, Spot +28
Aura moderate chaotic, moderate good
Languages Sylvan, Common, Draconic, Elven, Celestial
[hr]AC 27*, Touch 15, Flat-footed 23*
hp 66 (8d6 + 13d8 - 21 HD)
DR 5/cold iron
Fort +11, Ref +20, Will +16
Weakness tree dependent
(*-If Grandmother Winter attacks with her bow in a round, she loses her shield bonus to AC (+3) until the end of the round.)
[hr]Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Ranged +3 seeking mighty composite longbow [+4 Str] +24 (1d8+4/x3) or
Ranged +3 seeking mighty composite longbow [+4 Str] +16 (4d8+16/x3) with Manyshot or
Ranged +3 seeking mighty composite longbow [+4 Str] +24/+19/+14/+9 (1d8+4/x3) or
Ranged +3 seeking mighty composite longbow [+4 Str] +22/+22/+17/+12/+7 (1d8+4/x3) with Rapid Shot or
Melee +1 rapier +23 (1d6+2/18-20) or
Melee +1 rapier +23/+18/+13/+8 (1d6+2/18-20)
Base Atk +18; Grp +19
Attack Options Favored Enemy (humans) +2, Favored Enemy (goblinoids) +4, Favored Enemy (undead) +4, Combat Expertise, Manyshot, Rapid Shot
Combat Gear 4 potions of cure moderate wounds, 2 potions of haste, 40 silvered arrows
Bard Spells Known (Spells per day: 4/3/1) CL 4
2nd: glitterdust (DC 16), heroism
1st: cure light wounds, hideous laughter (DC 15), silent image (DC 15)
0th: light, lullaby (DC 14), mage hand, mending, prestidigitation, resistance
Ranger Spells Prepared (Spells per day: 2/2/2) CL 6
3rd: neutralize poison, remove disease
2nd: barkskin, spike growth (DC 16)
1st: endure elements, speak with animals*
Spell-Like Abilities At will—entangle (DC 15), speak with plants, tree shape; 3/day— charm person (DC 15), deep slumber (DC 17), tree stride; 1/day—suggestion (DC 17). Caster level 6th. The save DCs are Wisdom-based.
(*-If Grandmother Winter is anticipating trouble when she prepares her spells, she will prepare resist energy instead of speak with animals. If she plans on leaving the area around her tree during the day, she will prepare alarm (which she casts on her tree before leaving) and longstrider in her first-level slots.)
[hr]Abilities Str 12, Dex 19, Con 9, Int 17, Wis 19, Cha 19
Special Qualities Animal Companion, Bardic Knowledge +7, Bardic Music 4/day (Countersong, Fascinate, Inspire Competence, Inspire Courage +1), Camoflage, Curse of Eternal Frost, Evasion, Wild Empathy +23, Woodland Stride
Feats Combat Expertise, Endurance(B), Far Shot, Great Fortitude, Improved Point Blank Shot(B), Manyshot(B), Precise Shot, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot(B), Self-Sufficient, Track(B), Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (longbow)
Skills Escape Artist +11, Handle Animal +24, Heal +19, Hide +38, Knowledge (nature) +29, Move Silently +28, Perform (oratory) +12, Perform (stringed instruments) +16, Ride +6, Survival +28, Use Rope +4 (+6 with bindings)
Possessions
+3 seeking mighty composite longbow [+4 Str]*, +1 rapier, +2 mithril shirt, +2 mithril buckler, +1 ring of protection, gloves of dexterity +4, rod of flame extinguishing, ring of chameleon power, boots of the winterlands, handy haversack, 4 potions of cure moderate wounds, 2 potions of haste, masterwork lyre, healer's kit, 40 silvered arrows, assorted gems and coins worth 1,628 gp.
(*-Grandmother Winter takes a -2 penalty when using her bow, due to her lowered Strength score. The ranged attack numbers include this penalty.)
Curse of Eternal Frost: Long ago, a wizard cursed Grandmother Winter, in revenge for the part she played in foiling his attept at lichdom. At all times, the air around Grandmother Winter's oak is thirty degrees colder than the ambient temperature. The restriction extends high into the air over the tree, but does not reach more than 400 yards from the tree itself. The effect is bound to the area surrounding the tree; a breeze blowing over the hill will cool immediately upon reaching the edge of the area, and warm again immediately upon leaving it. Especially in autumn, winter, and early spring, the temperature is usually cold enough be dangerous, although only on the coldest nights does the weather reach extreme cold.