Archives of Nethys
All Creatures
Abilities | Monsters | NPCs
All | Families | Templates
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Shikigami (Paper Kami)
Shikigami are made of paper and can easily transform between a flat cutout form and a three-dimensional doll of molded paper. Unlike most other kami, who are bound to their wards by a more powerful spirit or deity, shikigami are minor spirits that even mortal practitioners can sometimes bind into a tiny paper form and task with guarding small works, such as garden statues and vases. Landowners delight in having shikigami protect their gardens, whether they paid a wandering spellcaster to entreat the shikigami or simply had the fortune of another spirit assigning a shikigami to their land. Travelers who come across a shikigami-graced milestone or waypost believe that such encounters are good omens for the journey.For their part, shikigami have mixed opinions on civilization and the humanoids who dwell therein. While shikigami will fight to protect their ward against invaders and desecrators, these kami are just as likely to leave—their ward in tow—if locals begin to despoil the area or show a disregard for nature. Most practitioners capable of binding a shikigami wouldn't engage in this type of disrespect, but should the kami catch wind of such practices, shikigami across the land might abandon their contracts en masse, leaving behind an uncomfortable vacuum with their exodus. In this way, shikigami exemplify the precarious balance between the expansion of civilization and the preservation of the natural world.
Not all shikigami protect gardens, so you can substitute the shikigami's spade for any sort of mundane tool that's useful to the shikigami's task and their ward. The kami wields any such weapon with the same damage dice, modifiers, and traits listed for their spade Strike, but change the damage type as appropriate for the new weapon.
Recall Knowledge - Spirit (Occultism): DC 15
Unspecific Lore: DC 13
Specific Lore: DC 10
Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level
ShikigamiCreature 1
Tiny Kami Spirit Source Monster Core 2 pg. 204
Perception +9; darkvision
Languages Common, Empyrean
Skills Diplomacy +6, Medicine +7, Nature +7, Society +6, Stealth +7
Str +2, Dex +2, Con +3, Int +1, Wis +4, Cha +3
Ward (divine) Every kami is bound to a ward: a specific animal, plant, object, or location. A kami can merge with or emerge from their ward as a single action, which has the concentrate trait. While merged, the kami can observe their surroundings with their usual senses as well as the senses of their ward, but can't move, communicate with, or control their ward. Additionally, a kami merged with their ward recovers Hit Points each minute as if they spent an entire day resting.
A shikigami's ward is typically a minor work of art or symbol of civilization, such as a milestone, trail sign, personal garden, or tiny statue.
AC 15; Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +9
HP 18; Immunities bleed; Weaknesses cold iron 3
Speed 20 feet; flatten
Melee [one-action] spade +7 [+3/-1] (agile, versatile S), Damage 1d6+2 piercingMelee [one-action] fist +7 [+3/-1] (agile), Damage 1d4+2 bludgeoningRanged [one-action] spade +7 [+3/-1] (agile, thrown 10 feet, versatile S), Damage 1d6+2 piercingInnate Divine Spells DC 17; 2nd animal messenger, invisibility (self only); 1st cleanse cuisine; Cantrips (1st) forbidding ward
Flatten [free-action] The shikigami flattens to the width of a sheet of paper. While Flattened, they can float on the wind, gaining a 20-foot fly Speed, and they can slip through small cracks and gaps without needing to Squeeze; however, they become clumsy 2. The shikigami can Dismiss this effect.
All Monsters in "Kami"
| Name | Level |
| Kodama (Tree Kami) | 5 |
| Sakugami (Blossom Kami) | 15 |
| Shikigami (Paper Kami) | 1 |
| Zuishin (Warrior Kami) | 10 |
Kami
Source Monster Core 2 pg. 204Kami are divine nature spirits from the lands of Tian Xia, far to the east of the Inner Sea region. They serve as guardians of natural objects and places they protect—their wards—and are ancient enemies of oni. Kami can merge with their wards, allowing them to surreptitiously watch anyone who treads upon their sacred grounds. Kami leave those who they deem harmless alone, but fight vigilantly to scare away anyone perceived as a threat.
Kami Allies
Kami are friends to arboreals, dryads, and other beings with spiritual ties to the natural world. Among mortals, druids are the most common recipients of kami aid, though these spirits might help anyone whose mission involves the protection of their particular ward.
Kami Worship
Although kami aren't gods, people sometimes worship or pray at a tree or location where a kami is known to reside. Kami regard this behavior as a curious affectation of mortals, and they make no attempts to dissuade or encourage such reverential treatment as long as it doesn't threaten the safety of their wards.
Shelyn's Corner
×Classic Feel
Classic Feel
Classic Feel
The classic look for the Archives of Nethys.
| Table |
| Data |
| More Data |
Book Feel
Book Feel
Book Feel
An alternative feel, based on the Rulebooks.
| Table |
| Data |
| More Data |
Round Feel
Round Feel
Round Feel
A rounded, modern look for the archives.
| Table |
| Data |
| More Data |
Slim Feel
Slim Feel
Slim Feel
A variant of the Round feel, more compact.
| Table |
| Data |
| More Data |