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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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There is a Legacy version here.

PFS StandardNorn

Ancient beyond imagining, norns are powerful fey women who hold in their hands the physical manifestation of fate and destiny in the form of golden thread. They watch over all life, intervening with reluctance when called upon—or with a vengeance when the strands of fate are twisted and abused by lesser beings. They cut imposing figures, standing 14 feet tall and weighing 800 pounds.

Norns' relationship with the Eldest of the First World is complex. Many among norns serve Magdh the Three, the triune Eldest who some norns believe to be the first norn triumvirate bound together into one entity, as Magdh has three bodies: a Maiden, a Mother, and a Matriarch. Magdh claims to be watching the threads of fate for some ominous prophesied cataclysm, and in addition to assisting in her divinations, Magdh expects the norns who serve her to follow her cryptic commands to help nudge the future away from the brink. However, norns are powerful beings in their own right, themselves capable of granting divine power, and many balk at serving the enigmatic demigod. These norns find the other Eldest even more alien and challenging to interact with, for they believe that while the Eldest wield great power, even these powerful beings should not be granted leave to meddle with fate as much as they desire.

While even the weakest of the Eldest could destroy an unaffiliated norn with ease, they tend to obey the proclamations and judgments of norns when they are spoken. These norns, for their part, use their perceived neutrality judiciously. They know better than to issue too many demands to the Eldest, lest the capricious demigods grow frustrated. And so the balance of power remains tenuous between unaffiliated norns and the Eldest, as it has for eons. Norns know that it's merely a matter of time before the Eldest lose their respect for this tradition and start acting entirely as they please, despite norns' best efforts to rein in their most disruptive actions.

Recall Knowledge - Fey (Nature): DC 45
Unspecific Lore: DC 43
Specific Lore: DC 40

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

NornCreature 20

Rare Large Fey 
Source Monster Core pg. 240
Perception +41; detect magic, greater darkvision, lifesense 120 feet, truesight
Languages Common, Fey, Jotun; truespeech
Skills Crafting +36, Deception +35, Intimidation +37, Lore +28 (all), Medicine +38, Occultism +34, Performance +31, Religion +34
Str +7, Dex +6, Con +6, Int +6, Wis +10, Cha +7
Sense Fate (fortune) A norn automatically rolls a 20 when she rolls initiative.
Triumvirate This functions as the coven ability, except only norns can join a triumvirate, and it functions only as long as exactly three norns are part of the triumvirate. A triumvirate grants the following spells: cataclysm, foresight, manifestation (once per day), pinpoint, and revival.
Items shears (see favored weapon)
AC 46; Fort +34, Ref +30, Will +38; +1 status to all saves vs. magic
HP 375, regeneration 20 (deactivated by cold iron); Immunities off-guard, void; Weaknesses cold iron 20
Speed 35 feet, fly 35 feet
Melee [one-action] shears +38 [+33/+28] (deadly 2d8, magical, reach 10 feet, versatile P), Damage 4d4+15 slashing plus 6d6 void and sever fateMelee [one-action] hand of fate +38 [+34/+30] (agile, magical, reach 10 feet), Damage 4d10+15 void plus sever fateOccult Innate Spells DC 42; 10th freeze time; 9th execute, phantasmagoria, retrocognition; 8th migration, quandary; 7th dispel magic (at will), read omens (at will), spellwrack (at will); Constant (10th) detect magic, hidden mind, truesight, truespeech
Rituals DC 42; 7th collective memories; 3rd geas
Fated When a creature is subject to a fortune effect from a norn and a misfortune effect from any source other than a norn (or vice versa), the norn's effect automatically counteracts the other effect and then takes place normally, rather than the two effects canceling each other out. If both the fortune and misfortune effect are from a norn, then the two cancel each other out as normal. At the GM's discretion, powerful entities related to fate or luck, like Desna, Magdh, or Pharasma, can't have their effects negated by this ability.Sever Fate (occult) When a norn deals void damage with a Strike, she regains 10 Hit Points. The target must succeed at a DC 39 Fortitude save or become drained 1 (drained 2 on a critical failure). Further void damage dealt by the norn increases the drained condition value by 1 on a failed save (or by 2 on a critical failure), to a maximum of drained 4.Shift Fate [reaction] (occult) Trigger A creature within 120 feet attempts a saving throw; Effect The creature rolls the saving throw twice, and then the norn decides which result applies. If the norn chooses the lower roll, this is a misfortune effect; if she chooses the higher roll, it's a fortune effect; if they're the same, she decides which trait to apply.Snip Thread [two-actions] (death, manipulate, occult) Frequency three times per day; Effect The norn produces a golden thread linked to the fate of a creature within 100 feet of her, then snips it short with her shears. The target takes 100 void damage (DC 42 basic Fortitude save). If the target is reduced to 0 Hit Points from this damage, the thread is completely severed and the creature dies immediately. A creature slain by Snip Thread can't be restored to life except by a wish ritual or similarly powerful magic; or by divine intervention. Regardless of the outcome of their saving throw, a creature targeted by Snip Thread then becomes temporarily immune for 24 hours. The norn can't use Snip Thread again for 1d4 rounds.

All Monsters in "Norn"

NameLevel
Norn20

Norn

Source Monster Core pg. 240
Ancient beyond imagining, norns are powerful fey women who hold in their hands the physical manifestation of fate and destiny in the form of golden thread. They watch over all life, intervening with reluctance when called upon—or with a vengeance when the strands of fate are twisted and abused by lesser beings. They cut imposing figures, standing 14 feet tall and weighing 800 pounds.

Norns' relationship with the Eldest of the First World is complex. Many among norns serve Magdh the Three, the triune Eldest who some norns believe to be the first norn triumvirate bound together into one entity, as Magdh has three bodies: a Maiden, a Mother, and a Matriarch. Magdh claims to be watching the threads of fate for some ominous prophesied cataclysm, and in addition to assisting in her divinations, Magdh expects the norns who serve her to follow her cryptic commands to help nudge the future away from the brink. However, norns are powerful beings in their own right, themselves capable of granting divine power, and many balk at serving the enigmatic demigod. These norns find the other Eldest even more alien and challenging to interact with, for they believe that while the Eldest wield great power, even these powerful beings should not be granted leave to meddle with fate as much as they desire.

While even the weakest of the Eldest could destroy an unaffiliated norn with ease, they tend to obey the proclamations and judgments of norns when they are spoken. These norns, for their part, use their perceived neutrality judiciously. They know better than to issue too many demands to the Eldest, lest the capricious demigods grow frustrated. And so the balance of power remains tenuous between unaffiliated norns and the Eldest, as it has for eons. Norns know that it's merely a matter of time before the Eldest lose their respect for this tradition and start acting entirely as they please, despite norns' best efforts to rein in their most disruptive actions.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Lost Norns

When separated from a triumvirate for too long, a norn in the mortal Universe can grow confused and weak. Her powers remain strong, but her ability to interpret fate becomes warped. Lost norns begin to use their abilities for their own goals rather than serving fate, basing their actions on how their skewed visions best serve themselves.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Norn Triumvirates

Norns who visit the Universe often do so in groups of three known as triumvirates. The norns of a triumvirate can communicate with each other telepathically over a planetary distance. Regardless of their appearance on the First World, when a norn becomes part of a triumvirate in the Universe, her apparent age shifts so that in each group, there always appears to be one young adult norn, one middle-aged norn, and one elderly norn—a Maiden, a Mother, and a Matriarch.