Black Schadel
Size/Catagory: Medium Construct (Parasite)
Stats:
Mind: Untrained 20
Body: Novice 17
Magic: Untrained 20
Number of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attack: By bite or claw like appendages
Special Attacks: None
Special Defenses: None
Special Abilites: Vibration sensative: Their bodies are incredibly sensative to sounds and movements. They are able to pick up most footsteps within a seven foot radius. Their own clicking footsteps (Once claw like appendages form out of the black plates) are usefull for navigating through the use of echoes. Sense enchantment: They have the ingrained ability to sense enchantments upon items and locations.
Magic Resistence: Nil
Stats:
Mind: Untrained 20
Body: Novice 17
Magic: Untrained 20
Number of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attack: By bite or claw like appendages
Special Attacks: None
Special Defenses: None
Special Abilites: Vibration sensative: Their bodies are incredibly sensative to sounds and movements. They are able to pick up most footsteps within a seven foot radius. Their own clicking footsteps (Once claw like appendages form out of the black plates) are usefull for navigating through the use of echoes. Sense enchantment: They have the ingrained ability to sense enchantments upon items and locations.
Magic Resistence: Nil
Climate/Terrain: Black schadel can be found in enclosed spaces, such as; Caverns, catacombs, sewers, and temples. They can be found in any climate, though they have been found dead in regions where their bodies have been frozen or burned by the weather.
Frequency: Uncommon
Organization: Unorganized swarms
Activity Cycle: Long periods of inactivity until aroused by outside movement
Intelligence: Low
Language: None
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Description:
Black schadel vary in appearance. The original species of the victim will affect the appearance in the earlier stages more so then the latter. As most beasts are not compatible, the variations can only be so different.
Unmature black schadels appear to be a horribly malformed version of what they once were. Limbs and digits are devoured by the parasite's plates, forming claw like appendages. New limbs can also form from the victim's flesh. Dark plates grow over the body, often spotted. The flesh of the victim sags as the parasite devours some of it for nourishment to adjust and form the rest of the body. Blemishes also form over the body, especially in areas of high parasite activity. What hair is left is in areas where the parasite has not had much time to work in. The nose and other features are also likely to be missing.
The mature have lost most of the original specie's features'. The original limbs will be gone, replaced by plated claw like appendages. These appendages are varying in size, length, and segments. They are connected to the head of the victim, the rib cage and other similar parts inbetween digested away. The head is plated in the same dark plates. The jaws are the only thing spared from their presence. The remaining visible flesh is rarely the same color as the original skin tone.
Frequency: Uncommon
Organization: Unorganized swarms
Activity Cycle: Long periods of inactivity until aroused by outside movement
Intelligence: Low
Language: None
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Description:
Black schadel vary in appearance. The original species of the victim will affect the appearance in the earlier stages more so then the latter. As most beasts are not compatible, the variations can only be so different.
Unmature black schadels appear to be a horribly malformed version of what they once were. Limbs and digits are devoured by the parasite's plates, forming claw like appendages. New limbs can also form from the victim's flesh. Dark plates grow over the body, often spotted. The flesh of the victim sags as the parasite devours some of it for nourishment to adjust and form the rest of the body. Blemishes also form over the body, especially in areas of high parasite activity. What hair is left is in areas where the parasite has not had much time to work in. The nose and other features are also likely to be missing.
The mature have lost most of the original specie's features'. The original limbs will be gone, replaced by plated claw like appendages. These appendages are varying in size, length, and segments. They are connected to the head of the victim, the rib cage and other similar parts inbetween digested away. The head is plated in the same dark plates. The jaws are the only thing spared from their presence. The remaining visible flesh is rarely the same color as the original skin tone.
Combat:
The victims minds having been effectively eaten away, the creatures lose any combative knowledge they may have formerly possessed. A new skill set must be learned or relearned depending on the case.
Bites are the first technique learned. It is by the fluids in their mouths that they spread themselves to new hosts. One good bite is all it takes to start the process of infection. The infection doesn't cease the violence and they will continue biting flesh from their target until it ceases to move.
Jabs of the talon like appendages are learned by the mature and experienced. This technique is used sparingly and with little force. The object of these stabs is to knock down or slow, not to kill. This makes the target a much easier meal.
The black schadel are not defenseless. Their dark plating turns tooth, claw with ease. Blades often have a hard time against this armor. It's surfaces are often curved, making it difficult to pierce. The strong swings often knock the creatures aside instead of cleaving the hard substance. The material itself can be cut by most blades with enough effort. The flesh of the creatures is, however, soft. If one can get around the creature's armor, dismemberment and mangling are the best solutions for success.
The victims minds having been effectively eaten away, the creatures lose any combative knowledge they may have formerly possessed. A new skill set must be learned or relearned depending on the case.
Bites are the first technique learned. It is by the fluids in their mouths that they spread themselves to new hosts. One good bite is all it takes to start the process of infection. The infection doesn't cease the violence and they will continue biting flesh from their target until it ceases to move.
Jabs of the talon like appendages are learned by the mature and experienced. This technique is used sparingly and with little force. The object of these stabs is to knock down or slow, not to kill. This makes the target a much easier meal.
The black schadel are not defenseless. Their dark plating turns tooth, claw with ease. Blades often have a hard time against this armor. It's surfaces are often curved, making it difficult to pierce. The strong swings often knock the creatures aside instead of cleaving the hard substance. The material itself can be cut by most blades with enough effort. The flesh of the creatures is, however, soft. If one can get around the creature's armor, dismemberment and mangling are the best solutions for success.
Habitat/Society:
The origins of these creatures is important to understanding their choice of habitat.
According to ancient writings the black schadel were created by a mage to guard an enchanted orb. The orbs enchantment is irrelavant to the nature of these creatures, so this account shall not go further into it. What is important is that in order to keep them near the orb's holding, the parasite was given the ability to sense enchantments. This sense combined with a primal command, inbedded into the nature of the creatures the instinct to take residance in places around things with heavy enchantments.
The orb the mage had guarded with these creatures was stolen years after their creation, though no account of the mage's end could be found. Many believe that the mage fell to the 'hands' of his own creation. They say that if you were to find the original brood, you would discover the mage's ring upon the appendage of one of the creatures.
It is by those that took the orb that the creatures are believed to have spread. Almost every account of the venture concludes that one of the adventurers had been bitten, taking the infection with him. Over the centuries their populations have grown and spread, taking up residances in places where their echoing footsteps can guide them. Usually they are drawn to an area by an enchanted item, but food is also sometimes a motivating factor.
In areas of great enchantment, such as forests filled with magical trickery, the black schadels become confused. They wander aimlessly alone until they are put to an end or find a area of heavier enchantment.
The creatures have no social order. Attacks on eachother are rare other then the occassional bite or jab. The armored bodies usually keep these events from becoming deadly. They will attack anything that moves within their senses, seeking for a meal to sustain themselves. They do not wait on ceremony, nor care about what is fair. They will not wait to take their turn, but will attack as soon as they are able.
The origins of these creatures is important to understanding their choice of habitat.
According to ancient writings the black schadel were created by a mage to guard an enchanted orb. The orbs enchantment is irrelavant to the nature of these creatures, so this account shall not go further into it. What is important is that in order to keep them near the orb's holding, the parasite was given the ability to sense enchantments. This sense combined with a primal command, inbedded into the nature of the creatures the instinct to take residance in places around things with heavy enchantments.
The orb the mage had guarded with these creatures was stolen years after their creation, though no account of the mage's end could be found. Many believe that the mage fell to the 'hands' of his own creation. They say that if you were to find the original brood, you would discover the mage's ring upon the appendage of one of the creatures.
It is by those that took the orb that the creatures are believed to have spread. Almost every account of the venture concludes that one of the adventurers had been bitten, taking the infection with him. Over the centuries their populations have grown and spread, taking up residances in places where their echoing footsteps can guide them. Usually they are drawn to an area by an enchanted item, but food is also sometimes a motivating factor.
In areas of great enchantment, such as forests filled with magical trickery, the black schadels become confused. They wander aimlessly alone until they are put to an end or find a area of heavier enchantment.
The creatures have no social order. Attacks on eachother are rare other then the occassional bite or jab. The armored bodies usually keep these events from becoming deadly. They will attack anything that moves within their senses, seeking for a meal to sustain themselves. They do not wait on ceremony, nor care about what is fair. They will not wait to take their turn, but will attack as soon as they are able.
Ecology:
Black schadels reproduce by infecting new hosts. A bite transfers the disease to the new body. There it begins to digest the old body. Even bones are destroyed in this process. Blemishes break out, the first signs of the infection. The process continues until the first of the black plates form, tiny at first. This is the second warning, usually taking place three days after the blemishes appear.
More blemishes and plates form and grow. Limbs and digets begin to whither, being slowly overaken by the plates. New flesh forms in clumps, the beginning of new plated limbs. The blemishes spread quickly over the body. As they break out over the face and the rest of the head, the infected's hair falls out.
Soon the mind begins to dull and weaken, making it hard to think properly. As the mind goes, so does the last hope of being cured. As the blemishes and plates begin to conceal the majority of the head, the parasite takes complete control.
Over the next year the parasite will slowly digest and reform the flesh, plates covering almost the entire head until it is finally mature. It is at this point it's bite is most potent.
A bite is not a death sentance, however.
A wash in alchohol for the wound is an inexpensive cure. But this is rarely a sure thing and is only effective within the first minute of the bite. Few have ever been able to successfully use this cure.
A holy blessing from an experienced and faithfull priest is a highly recommended method for those able to seek out such help. Expensive and rare potions used for curing the body of infection are often used as well. Both of these two cures must be administered before the second warning sign.
Once the dark plates begin to grow the previous methods will no longer work without first removing the plates and the surounding tissue. If any of the plate or plates remain, the infection will return quickly. tiny plates are often over looked, leading to repeated attempts to remove the infection.
Once a limb has been eaten by the parasite, nothing short of a miracle will bring it back. The mind also is unlikely to be completely restored once it is infected. Once the mind is gone, the host is dead and the body belongs to the black schadel.
Black schadels reproduce by infecting new hosts. A bite transfers the disease to the new body. There it begins to digest the old body. Even bones are destroyed in this process. Blemishes break out, the first signs of the infection. The process continues until the first of the black plates form, tiny at first. This is the second warning, usually taking place three days after the blemishes appear.
More blemishes and plates form and grow. Limbs and digets begin to whither, being slowly overaken by the plates. New flesh forms in clumps, the beginning of new plated limbs. The blemishes spread quickly over the body. As they break out over the face and the rest of the head, the infected's hair falls out.
Soon the mind begins to dull and weaken, making it hard to think properly. As the mind goes, so does the last hope of being cured. As the blemishes and plates begin to conceal the majority of the head, the parasite takes complete control.
Over the next year the parasite will slowly digest and reform the flesh, plates covering almost the entire head until it is finally mature. It is at this point it's bite is most potent.
A bite is not a death sentance, however.
A wash in alchohol for the wound is an inexpensive cure. But this is rarely a sure thing and is only effective within the first minute of the bite. Few have ever been able to successfully use this cure.
A holy blessing from an experienced and faithfull priest is a highly recommended method for those able to seek out such help. Expensive and rare potions used for curing the body of infection are often used as well. Both of these two cures must be administered before the second warning sign.
Once the dark plates begin to grow the previous methods will no longer work without first removing the plates and the surounding tissue. If any of the plate or plates remain, the infection will return quickly. tiny plates are often over looked, leading to repeated attempts to remove the infection.
Once a limb has been eaten by the parasite, nothing short of a miracle will bring it back. The mind also is unlikely to be completely restored once it is infected. Once the mind is gone, the host is dead and the body belongs to the black schadel.
