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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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Avathrael Realmshaper, Shadow-Warped Architect

Avathrael Realmshaper is a vain and curious dragon. As much plant as dragon, they always had a fondness for gardening and the cultivation of life. A chance encounter with a planar portal to the First World awakened something within Avathrael: a thirst for answers and curiosity for what lay beyond. It was pondering these many “beyonds” that drove Avathrael to study planar cosmology and, in time, the use of planar magic.

Avathrael established a small territory within the Verduran Forest, where they practiced this magic on themself and the forest around them. Their territory became a place of whimsical wonders and strange creations, for at their heart, Avathrael remained interested in cultivation and creation. To further their goals, Avathrael attempted to open a portal to Nirvana to channel its beauty into their realm. The attempt backfired, instead conjuring part of the Netherworld. This planar inundation overtook Avathrael's realm, warping all the creatures, plants, and land within, including Avathrael. Some say the shadows corrupted Avathrael, but the Realmshaper would say the shadows perfected them. Gone was Avathrael's whimsy and kindness. Gone was their weakness and frivolity. Yet, Avathrael's curiosity remained. They became a scientist and scholar, an artist and architect, performing countless experiments on the planar shadows now so abundant within their realm, and learned how to craft magnificent wonders within it.

The shadows shaped them. The once colorful, vibrant garden of flowers that grew upon their back and wings became a testing ground for creating poisonous flora. Their pristine scales became coated in malleable shadows. In time, Avathrael learned to harness the shadows, shaping their body purposefully into new forms—shadow claws, additional limbs, razor blades lining their tail—their form was now theirs to choose.

Centuries have passed since Avathrael became the Realmshaper and their territory became Gloaming Arbor, and Avathrael has become an expert in rituals and planar magic. They've pulled on the malleable shadows within their realm, shaping and molding it like a potter does clay, until their realm became something utterly unique—both a part of and separate from reality. They're incredibly territorial and don't allow trespassers or inhabitants to leave.

Avathrael isn't satisfied—they desire perfection. Over time, the shadows shift and unspool, causing Avathrael to maintain their realm repeatedly, making and remaking and making yet again. Avathrael believes the key to achieving their realm's perfection lays in planar magic— specifically, making Gloaming Arbor a demiplane.

Campaign Role

Avathrael Realmshaper is a potential ally to the PCs and the Rootweft—they need Avathrael's advice to perfect a ritual severing Ruzadoya's connection to the Plane of Wood. However, Avathrael is also a cruel, unsavory ally. All those who enter Gloaming Arbor are trapped inside, and the shadows comprising their realm warp all living creatures within it. While Avathrael does use these shadows to alter their land and realm, they don't usually mutate their subjects intentionally; the plane itself does so. Regardless, Avathrael is a tyrant, and the PCs will need to choose either to ally with them or to betray them and ally with another. Depending on the PCs' choices, they might fight Avathrael, who'll likely be supported by Unaasi and other agents of the Wildwood Lodge.

Recall Knowledge - Dragon (Arcana): DC 40
Recall Knowledge - Plant (Nature): DC 40
Unspecific Lore: DC 38
Specific Lore: DC 35

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Changes from being Elite are marked in red below.
NOTE: The +2 damage bonus to non-strike offensive abilities (+4 if the ability is limited, such as spells) is NOT factored in.

Elite Avathrael RealmshaperCreature 13

Unique Huge Dragon Plant Shadow 
Source Pathfinder #202: Severed at the Root pg. 88
Agender dragon
Perception +27; greater darkvision, scent (imprecise) 60 feet, shadowsense (vague) 250 feet
Languages Arboreal, Common, Draconic, Fey, Shadowtongue
Skills Acrobatics +21, Arcana +27, Architecture Lore +29, Art Lore +29, Athletics +23, Crafting +27, Intimidation +22, Nature +27, Netherworld Lore +29, Occultism +27, Survival +27
Str +5, Dex +3, Con +5, Int +7, Wis +7, Cha +4
Shadowsense The shadows of Gloaming Arbor are an extension of Avathrael, and they can sense creatures in areas of dim light or darkness.
AC 34; Fort +23, Ref +21, Will +27; +1 status to all saves vs. magic
HP 234; Immunities paralyzed, poison, sleep, stunned, void
Floral Defense [reaction] (plant) Trigger Avathrael is the target of a physical attack; Effect Avathrael raises their plant-covered wings to block the incoming blow. They gain a +2 circumstance bonus to AC against the triggering attack. If the attack misses, it's deflected by Avathrael's wing, causing some of the dangerous plants growing on the wing to burst and release a cloud of toxic pollen. The triggering creature takes 2d10 poison damage (DC 31 basic Fortitude save). On a critical failure, the triggering creature is also sickened 1.Frightful Presence (aura, emotion, fear, mental) 90 feet, DC 31.Light Blindness
Speed 40 feet, fly 100 feet; woodland stride
Melee [one-action] jaws +28 [+23/+18] (magical, reach 15 feet), Damage 3d10+2+11 piercing plus 1d8 poisonMelee [one-action] razor tail +26 [+21/+16] (magical, reach 20 feet), Damage 4d8+2+11 slashing plus 1d8 persistent bleedMelee [one-action] shadow claws +28 [+24/+20] (agile, magical, reach 10 feet), Damage 2d8+2+11 slashing plus 1d8 voidRanged [one-action] seedpod +24 [+19/+14] (range increment 60 feet), Damage 2d6+2+11 bludgeoning plus 1d6 poisonArcane Innate Spells DC 34, attack +26 (+4 dmg); 6th shadow blast (×2); 5th illusory scene, umbral journey; 4th chilling darkness, darkness; 3rd inscrutable mask; 2nd darkness (at will); Cantrips (6th) detect magic, figment, prestidigitation, read aura, sigil
Primal Innate Spells DC 34, attack +26 (+4 dmg); 6th nature's reprisal, tangling creepers; 5th nature's pathway, wall of thorns; 4th speak with plants; 2nd one with plants, shape wood (at will); 1st vanishing tracks; Cantrips (6th) tangle vine; Constant (5th) truespeech
Rituals DC 34 (+4 dmg); 6th awaken animal, commune, primal call, ward domain; 5th dread ambience; 4th blight, plant growth
Draconic Momentum Avathrael recharges their Poison Breath whenever they score a critical hit with a Strike.Poison Breath [two-actions] (poison, primal) Avathrael exhales a cloud of sweet-smelling poisonous gas that deals 13d6 poison damage in a 50-foot cone (DC 34 basic Fortitude save). A creature that critically fails is also sickened 2. Avathrael can't use Poison Breath again for 1d4 rounds.Shadow Step [one-action] or [two-actions] (arcane, healing, teleportation) Frequency twice per day; Effect Avathrael teleports with the effects of a 4th-rank translocate spell, but Avathrael must begin and end the teleportation effect in an area of dim light or darkness. If they use 2 actions to activate this ability, Avathrael also regains 8d10 Hit Points. Avathrael can't use Shadow Step again for 1d4 rounds.Shape Shadow Realm [two-actions] (arcane, concentrate, shadow) Avathrael mentally reshapes their realm, reshaping terrain and creating obstacles to hinder their foes. All squares within a 50-foot burst become difficult terrain. Creatures in the area take 10d6 void damage (DC 34 basic Reflex save) from the shadows. On a failure, that creature is additionally grabbed by the malleable shadows (Escape DC 34). At the beginning of Avathrael's turn, each creature that's grabbed takes 4d6 void damage. Avathrael can't use Shape Shadow Realm again for 1d4 rounds.Snuff Light [free-action] Frequency once per round; Effect Avathrael exhales, automatically extinguishing all non-magical lights within 100 feet. Avathrael attempts to counteract each light source within 100 feet (+22 counteract).Woodland Stride Avathrael ignores difficult terrain and greater difficult terrain from non-magical foliage.