Page 185 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations
P. 185

Crystals of Nature’s Wrath (Su): At 5th level and higher,   quickly  that  way.  Against  beholders,  it’s  probably  best  to
               your wild shape natural attacks are enhanced with jagged   assume the form of Small (or Tiny) animals, since the size
               crystals. These crystals are harmless to most creatures, but to   and Dexterity bonuses to your Armor Class help you avoid
               aberrations they cause terrible welts and acidlike burns. An   their eye ray attacks.
               aberration struck by one of your natural weapons must make     If you are of good alignment, the few good-aligned aberra-
               a Fortitude save (DC 10 + abolisher level + Cha modifier) or   tions (such as silthilar; see page 168) pose a great difficulty to


               become sickened for 1 minute. An aberration that makes its   you. Some good-aligned abolishers are comfortable with simply
               saving throw is immune to this effect for the duration of that   forcing good-aligned aberrations to relocate, but others take
               use of wild shape.                                pity on such creatures and do what they can to remove the taint
                                                                 of the aberration from them. Some good-aligned abolishers
                 Waves of Nature’s Purity (Su): Beginning at 7th level,
      CHAPTER 9  THE ABERRATION   HUNTER  you can create a rippling aura of white vapor that spreads in   merely observe good-aligned aberrations closely to make sure
                                                                 they don’t cause trouble, while others have gone so far as to
               a 20-foot radius. The vapor does not obscure vision, and it is
                                                                 convince a good-aligned aberration to voluntarily submit to a
               cool and refreshing against the skin of nonaberrations. Against
                                                                 reincarnation spell. Ultimately, how you react to good-aligned
               aberrations, the waves of nature’s purity are foul and unsettling.
               An affected aberration must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 +

               abolisher level + Cha modifier) each round or become nause-  aberrations is something you must decide for yourself.
               ated for that round. You can use this ability once per day, and  Advancement
               the power lasts for a number of rounds equal to your Charisma   Although you don’t have to take any druid levels to qualify
               modifier (minimum 1 round). Activating this ability is a stan-  for the abolisher prestige class, the fact that so many of your

               dard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.  powers as an abolisher are tied to the wild shape ability means
                 Fires of Nature’s Rage (Su): A 10th level, you can infuse   that you should at least consider taking a few druid levels to


               your wild shape form with flickering ghostly fire three times   augment this feature. Reaching at least 5th level as a druid
               per day. The fires of nature’s rage burn any aberration that   before taking abolisher levels works best, since your abolisher

               comes in contact with them. Your natural attacks do an extra   levels eventually grant you an effective bonus of +3 to your

               3d6 points of fire damage against aberrations, and an aberra-  druid level for the purpose of determining how many times
               tion that hits you, even with a weapon, takes 3d6 points of fire   per day you can use your wild shape ability.

               damage. You can activate the fires of nature’s wrath as a free     If you don’t have it already, you should take the Natural Spell

               action, as long as you are in wild shape form. Doing so does   feat as soon as possible so you can spend the majority of your
               not provoke attacks of opportunity, and each activation lasts   time in wild shape form and still be able to cast spells. Since
               for 1 round.                                      many aberrations have spell resistance, Spell Penetration and
                                                                 Greater Spell Penetration are good choices as feats as well.
              PLAYING AN ABOLISHER                               Combat feats that can be used in wild shape form are useful
               An abolisher is grim, determined, and often pessimistic. You   too, especially feats such as Improved Grapple and Weapon
               remain devoted to your cause at all times, but the fact that   Finesse if you prefer to wild shape into dexterous creatures.
               your enemies are so ancient and powerful weighs upon your     Spend your earnings on items that are equally useful to you
               soul. This realization, combined with the fact that you and   in wild shape form as they are in your natural form. Armor with
               your fellow abolishers see aberrations at their worst and most   the wild special ability (see page 219 of the Dungeon Master’s
               mind-numbing, tends to leave most abolishers cold, distant,   Guide) and ioun stones are obvious choices, as are animated

               and difficult to befriend.                         wooden shields. A druid’s vestment is helpful as well, since it
                                                                 directly augments your wild shape ability.
              Combat
               Abolishers live to fight aberrations. When you face an aber- Resources

               ration in combat, you should do everything in your power   The Circle of the True is your best resource as an abolisher.
               to defeat the creature. Since you have fewer hit points and a   You don’t need to establish an allegiance to this group before

               lower base attack bonus than a fighter, though, you want to be   you take your first abolisher level, but a representative of the

               careful about engaging in melee with aberrations, especially   group should contact you before you reach 3rd level if you
               since many of them have dangerous special attacks.  don’t seek one out yourself. As a member of the Circle, you

                 An abolisher is strongest in a fight while in wild shape,   have access to more information about aberration activity in
               and you should take advantage of this fact by spending much   the area, as well as emotional and logistical support from a
               of your time in the form of an animal (or plant, if you can)   group of like-minded individuals.
               selected for its capabilities against the kind of aberration you
               expect to fight. For example, if you’re going after aboleths,  ABOLISHERS IN THE WORLD

               the form of a shark or a squid might work best. On the other   Abolishers are solitary individuals for the most part, gathering


               hand, if you’re fighting mind flayers, some fast creature that   together only occasionally for meetings of the Circle of the
               has several attacks, such as a deinonychus or tiger, is a good   True. The PCs have a greater chance of encountering abolish-

               choice; you can get up close and tear into an illithid more   ers the more they fight against aberrations, and if they build a
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