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Gefangnis
2005-12-14, 03:09 PM
The stout dwarf paladin panted as he first glimpsed the sharp towers of the castle that so much resembled hands clawing at the clouds. He lowered his axe and turned to the elf beside him.

"Tyra, will you scout ahead? I don't like this place."

The ranger nodded, slung her bow, and set off in the snow. Minutes later, she returned. "There's nothing, Dracus. The gates are as empty as this barren wasteland."

A half-orc let out a grunt from the back of the party. "Can we be getting going?"

"Patience, Urkar. We'll not slay this witch with impatience," The paladin counciled. As they drew closer to the castle, black as obsidian - it probably was obsidian - on the white snow, the party drew their cloaks around them - and not from the cold.

They plodded up to the metal gates. It looked empty, except... there was something, sitting slumped to the right of the magnificent entryway.

It was a bear. It's fur may once had been white, but was now mottled and yellow. It sat on its haunches, and raised its head to look at them with milky white eyes.

It's fogged windows allowed a view to the soul that cut deeper to the hearts of the adventurers gazing into them than any sword ever could. Inside those eyes swirled a maelstrom of sorrow and pain.

And then, suprisingly, it spoke.

"You want to see the mistress?" Its voice was low and gravelly, and the weakness of the sound coming from such a brute was oxymoronic.

The paladin tentatively replied. "Yes, please."

The bear turned, lifted a paw, and the grates swung open. It rolled over onto four legs and plodded into the darkness.

The paladin looked around at his group tentatively, looking for courage, for he had none left.

Together, the group followed Malketh the Slave into the labrynth - and to their death/

Malketh was a human once. He was an adventurer, a member of a group fighting for good in the world. He was also a druid, animal lover and nature warrior. His party was on a regular adventure, an attack on the Ice Tyrant Siltha. He was the only one that lived.

It was a pitched battle. After disposing of the team leader with a quick disintegrate spell, and after her second in command, a fearsome barbarian dealt with the party spellcaster; after the rest of his party was dead and gone, he leapt at the witch in polar bear form.

She sidestepped, and had the chance to kill him, but she didn't. Instead, she cursed him, and took control of his mind.

His curse was to stay in wild shape permanently. In addition, she permanized a telepathic bond spell between her and him, and daily casts dominate person.

Since then, years have passed, and he has served as a guard for the front door. He is instructed to greet adventurers, and then lead them into a trap.

Malketh looks like a normal polar bear, except that he looks and sounds sickly and disgusting.

Malketh could be adapted as the guard for any wicked witch or wizard.

Gefangnis
2005-12-14, 03:10 PM
Malketh (CR 8)
Polar Bear Druid 8
[NOTE: All stats listed relate to his bear form]
NG Large Animal (Cold Subtype)
Init +1
Senses Lowlight Vision, Scent, Listen +5, Spot +7
Languages Human, Sylvan
AC 15 (-1 size, +1 dex, +5 natural), Touch 10, Flat-footed 14
hp 68 (9 HD)
Fort +10, Ref +7, Will +3
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares), Swim 30ft.
Attack: Claw +13 (1d8+8/20x2)
Full Attack: 2 Claws +13 (1d8+8/20x2), Bite +8 (2d6+4/20x2)
Space 10ft.
Base Atk +4; Grp +16
Special Actions Improved Grab

Abilities Str 27, Dex 13, Con 19, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 9
Special Qualities The Curse of the Witch
Feats Endurance, Run, Track
Skills Hide -2 (+6 in snowy conditions), Listen +5, Spot +7, Swim +16

Improved Grab
To use this ability, Malketh must hit with a claw attack. He can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

The Curse of the Witch
Malketh's curse permanently locks him in bear form and melds his mind to the witch's content. This acts, except as described below, as if he is permanently using the Wild Shape ability. The curse can be detected with a detect magic coupled with a spellcraft check DC 40, and broken via a wish spell. Malketh has been a bear for so long that nothing remains of his past life. If the curse is removed, he goes insane and is permanently confused and reverts to a level 1 commoner.

Malketh has been in an animal form for so long he has lost all vestiges of his humanity. He loses all abilities, skill points and feats he had as a human, as well as all spellcasting ability. Instead, he takes on all feats and skills of the polar bear described in the [u]Monster Manual. In addition, his hit dice are changed to those of the polar bear.

Malketh's mind has been distorted so much that he is left a pathetic, ugly, terrifying creature. He suffers a permanent -4 to his charisma. In addition, his mind is weak from repeated intrusion, and he suffers a permanent -4 to his will save.

Due to the nature of the curse, Malketh is immune to all effects which would control him other than the curse (geas, suggestion, dominate).

Picture coming soon! I suck at drawing, so if anyone wants to take a shot, you're welcome to.

Gorbash Kazdar
2005-12-14, 05:13 PM
Don't forget that you need to include [Portrait] at the beginning of your thread title or it will not be entered into the contest.

Gefangnis
2005-12-18, 05:14 PM
Oops, fixed.

Any suggestions/reviews/comments/criticisms greatly appreciated.