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Carbuncle
Never have legend and misinformation met upon a more inauspicious brow than that of the lowly carbuncle. At first glance, they appear to be little more than ungainly reptiles. What sets them apart are their strange magical abilities and the gemstone-like horn protruding from between their goggling eyes. Although rumors suggest various uses for carbuncle horns, ranging from miracle cure-alls to potent magical components, the truth is much more mundane: a carbuncle's horn is merely a highly reflective growth, not unlike a fingernail.Carbuncles also possess a strange sense that allows them to detect treasure that has been hidden or obscured. The creatures generally feel a compulsion to move toward these treasures and remain nearby. Strangely, carbuncles seem disinterested once the valuables are laid out in the open, as if the obfuscation were part of their interest. Many would-be treasure hunters end up following the creatures in hopes of finding treasures, though the fearfulness of carbuncles makes this a very difficult prospect. Most carbuncles abandon their nests after being scared away, even when their sense would typically draw them back.
Recall Knowledge - Beast (Arcana, Nature): DC 20
Unspecific Lore: DC 18
Specific Lore: DC 15
Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level
Changes from being Weak are marked in red below.NOTE: The -2 damage penalty to non-strike offensive abilities (-4 if the ability is limited, such as spells) is NOT factored in.
Weak CarbuncleCreature -1
Rare Tiny Beast Source Monster Core 2 pg. 68
Perception +5; darkvision, treasure sense (imprecise) 500 feet
Languages carbuncle empathy 30 feet
Skills Stealth +1 (+5 in grass or undergrowth), Survival +4
Str -3, Dex +0, Con +3, Int -2, Wis +3, Cha +0
Carbuncle Empathy The carbuncle can telepathically send mild feelings and sensations to nearby creatures. It can't use this ability to communicate in language or hinder a target, but it might convey a feeling of dread or the scent of food cooking nearby.
Treasure Sense The carbuncle can sense the presence and location of any object or grouping of objects worth at least 50 gp in total within 500 feet of it. The carbuncle's sense only functions if the treasure is within in a container or physically obscured, such as when buried underground. Objects worn on a person or left out in open air don't trigger the carbuncle's sense.
AC 14; Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +4
HP 10
Easy to Influence Any mental spell can affect a carbuncle, regardless of creature type limitations. Against a suggestion spell, a carbuncle always gets an outcome one degree of success worse than it rolled on its saving throw.Fatal Faker [reaction] (arcane, teleportation) Trigger The carbuncle takes damage; Effect The carbuncle feigns death by teleporting away and leaving a replica of its corpse behind, creating a colorful flash of light and a croaking sound. The real carbuncle transports to a clear space within 30 feet that it can see and leaves a hollow shell behind. The fake body appears solid until it is touched, at which point it crumbles to dust.
Speed 15 feet
Melee [one-action] jaws +3 [-2/-7] (finesse), Damage 1d6-2 piercingPrimal Innate Spells DC 16 (-4 dmg); 3rd levitate (at will; self only); 1st jump (at will); Cantrips (1st) daze
Specious Suggestion [two-actions] (concentrate, incapacitation, mental, subtle) Frequency three times per day; Effect The carbuncle concentrates on a creature it can see and tries to manipulate that creature, imploring them to perform harmless, pointless, and usually embarrassing actions. The target must attempt a DC 16 Will save. The target then becomes temporarily immune for 24 hours.
This has the effects of suggestion except that a critical success bolsters the target and grants them a +1 status bonus to Will saves for 1 hour, the duration on a failure is 1 round, and the duration on a critical failure is a 1 minute. The target can attempt a new save at the end of its turn each round to end the effect.
Carbuncle Chatter
“A lizard with an apple-sized gem sticking out of its forehead? Wishful thinking!” “Carbuncles are real! I almost caught one, but even though it could barely walk, its magic allowed it to escape my clutches.”
“Their mind control powers could make them useful familiars, but if you ever catch one, it dies of fright.”
“My advice is to stay away from these pests. They drink your hopes and aspirations through their horns, leaving you empty except for bad luck and bellyaches.”
“Planning a carbuncle hunt? You’d better leave your self-respect at home and be ready to emerge with fewer friends than you had at the start!”
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