Black Annis
Size/Catagory: Humanoid
Stats:
Mind: Untrained 20
Body: Novice 17
Magic: Expert 11
Damage/Attack: By weapon
Special Attacks: Claw-like nails
Special Defenses: None
Special Abilites: Dark Sight, Illusions, Curséd Blood
Magic Resistence: Low
Stats:
Mind: Untrained 20
Body: Novice 17
Magic: Expert 11
Damage/Attack: By weapon
Special Attacks: Claw-like nails
Special Defenses: None
Special Abilites: Dark Sight, Illusions, Curséd Blood
Magic Resistence: Low
Climate/Terrain: Black Annises are generally found in cooler climates on forested mountain sides. They dwell in caves though often sit upon their 'bone nest' which commonly is situated just outside the mouth of their cave. More secretive Anisses will keep their nest deeper in their homes.
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Tribal
Activity Cycle: Nocturnal
Intelligence: Average
Language: Orcish, common, undercommon, though most will not speak all of these. Annis Shamen or Shamenesses may speak Abyssal.
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Description:
Black Annises are cursed creatures closely resembling half orcs in many regards. They are approximately human size though they are at the higher end of that range, the smallest just shy of six feet. Naturally muscular one would easily mistake them for savage brutes, however one would be mistaken. Annises use their strengh only when hunting stag for sustainance and when dismembering fallen prey or foes. Not a learned race they possess great cunning often laying ingenious or intricate traps for their prey.
The average hair colour for a Black Annis is commonly an aged white, despite the creature's actual or appearant age. Their eyes are usually a pale blue, the colour of an icy lake. The flesh of an Annis is a dark, orcish green. Some of the elders of the tribes possess only one eye in the center of their heads.This trait is seen only in the more powerful members of the species.
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Tribal
Activity Cycle: Nocturnal
Intelligence: Average
Language: Orcish, common, undercommon, though most will not speak all of these. Annis Shamen or Shamenesses may speak Abyssal.
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Description:
Black Annises are cursed creatures closely resembling half orcs in many regards. They are approximately human size though they are at the higher end of that range, the smallest just shy of six feet. Naturally muscular one would easily mistake them for savage brutes, however one would be mistaken. Annises use their strengh only when hunting stag for sustainance and when dismembering fallen prey or foes. Not a learned race they possess great cunning often laying ingenious or intricate traps for their prey.
The average hair colour for a Black Annis is commonly an aged white, despite the creature's actual or appearant age. Their eyes are usually a pale blue, the colour of an icy lake. The flesh of an Annis is a dark, orcish green. Some of the elders of the tribes possess only one eye in the center of their heads.This trait is seen only in the more powerful members of the species.
Combat:
Not having much in the way of fighting prowess they make up for this in subterfuge, often attacking in disguise, from behind, or from a hiding place. Honour has no meaning to this kind. In single combat they tend to get beaten about rather badly more often then not retreating before they're killed or coercing some bystander to fight their battles for them. The males of the race exhibit some ferocity when backed into a corner often lashing out with unsual violence. Whilst the females tend to rely more on magik, seduction, or deceipt when in dire straights.
Since they travel in secret and attack from shadows Annises tend towards smaller weapons to administer quick, efficient kills commonly armed with concealed daggers or knives. Poisons and black-jacks are also favorites of many Black Annises as it leaves them free of the troubles of blood until they return to their 'nest' with the fallen foe.
Not having much in the way of fighting prowess they make up for this in subterfuge, often attacking in disguise, from behind, or from a hiding place. Honour has no meaning to this kind. In single combat they tend to get beaten about rather badly more often then not retreating before they're killed or coercing some bystander to fight their battles for them. The males of the race exhibit some ferocity when backed into a corner often lashing out with unsual violence. Whilst the females tend to rely more on magik, seduction, or deceipt when in dire straights.
Since they travel in secret and attack from shadows Annises tend towards smaller weapons to administer quick, efficient kills commonly armed with concealed daggers or knives. Poisons and black-jacks are also favorites of many Black Annises as it leaves them free of the troubles of blood until they return to their 'nest' with the fallen foe.
Habitat/Society:
Annises live in two different styles. The young and the very old live in tribal communities where the ancient ones pass on their knowledge and wisdom to the fledglings. After they have learned all they can from the elders the youths depart from the tribal village and enter into the lone wolf society of the Black Annis. They wander about solitarily and set up a lair for themselves and establish an area in which they hunt. Being quite territorial they will kill and eat anyone who enters their area alone or leaving themselves in a precarious position during which the Annis could strike safely.
The Black Annis have no religion, as their largest concerns are staying fed and staying alive. If they take any symbol as sacred or holy it would be the full moon as it is by moonlight they live and hunt. Even this symbol, though, receives little reverance apart from a thankyou or quick acknowledgement after a successful hunt. After the accumulation of knowledge their entire lives revolve around the hunt until they tire and retire of this process, at which time they return to their tribal village and pass on what wisdom they've learned in their time out in the world.
Annises live in two different styles. The young and the very old live in tribal communities where the ancient ones pass on their knowledge and wisdom to the fledglings. After they have learned all they can from the elders the youths depart from the tribal village and enter into the lone wolf society of the Black Annis. They wander about solitarily and set up a lair for themselves and establish an area in which they hunt. Being quite territorial they will kill and eat anyone who enters their area alone or leaving themselves in a precarious position during which the Annis could strike safely.
The Black Annis have no religion, as their largest concerns are staying fed and staying alive. If they take any symbol as sacred or holy it would be the full moon as it is by moonlight they live and hunt. Even this symbol, though, receives little reverance apart from a thankyou or quick acknowledgement after a successful hunt. After the accumulation of knowledge their entire lives revolve around the hunt until they tire and retire of this process, at which time they return to their tribal village and pass on what wisdom they've learned in their time out in the world.
Ecology:
Black Annises are born into an ancient curse which is passed from generation to generation as well as travelling through their blood like a poison. Their aging is excellerated to alarming rates putting them at physical maturity in only a few days of fasting. The aging is reversed and retarded only by the consumption of sentient beings as well as their life force, driving them to kill almost daily to maintain a static visage. Use of magicks including illusions as well as their curses excellerates the aging even more. The aging can be halted by the consumption of stags but not reversed, so should they use a spell they would remain aged until a sentient being fell to them. Their illusions, which feed slightly from their life force, work only after sundown and cannot fool ranking members of clergy however they are unbreakable to secular folk.
The pale eyes of the Annis are adapted well to the dark of night making them formidable nocturnal predators. Their blood, which carries their curse, tastes foul as if a warning of its nature.
Their hunting tends to create a scent of death and decay about their 'bone nest' which is the pile of skeletal and rotting remains of fallen prey that an Annis will collect and use as a seat or bed as it sees fit. The stench and continuous hunting thins out the animal life in the area with exception to rats, crows, and other carrion animals.
Black Annises are born into an ancient curse which is passed from generation to generation as well as travelling through their blood like a poison. Their aging is excellerated to alarming rates putting them at physical maturity in only a few days of fasting. The aging is reversed and retarded only by the consumption of sentient beings as well as their life force, driving them to kill almost daily to maintain a static visage. Use of magicks including illusions as well as their curses excellerates the aging even more. The aging can be halted by the consumption of stags but not reversed, so should they use a spell they would remain aged until a sentient being fell to them. Their illusions, which feed slightly from their life force, work only after sundown and cannot fool ranking members of clergy however they are unbreakable to secular folk.
The pale eyes of the Annis are adapted well to the dark of night making them formidable nocturnal predators. Their blood, which carries their curse, tastes foul as if a warning of its nature.
Their hunting tends to create a scent of death and decay about their 'bone nest' which is the pile of skeletal and rotting remains of fallen prey that an Annis will collect and use as a seat or bed as it sees fit. The stench and continuous hunting thins out the animal life in the area with exception to rats, crows, and other carrion animals.
Submitted by Desdanova
