Carnifex
by Jamie BatyM3 25
1st level Warrior
Medium Humanoid (Reptilian)
Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares); 30 ft in Banded Armour
Armour Class: 21 (+6 armour, +5 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 21
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+4
Attack: Masterwork Longsword+5 melee (1d8 +3)
Full Attack: Masterwork Longsword+5 melee (1d8 +3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft. /5 ft.
Special Attacks: Spell-like Abilities
Special Qualities: Strong Mind
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +0, Will +3
Abilities: Str 17, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 10
Skills: Balance -1, Intimidate +4, Jump +3, Listen +0, Spot +0, Swim -8
Feats: Power Attack
Environment: Pits of Banishment
Organisation: Solitary, Pair, Patrol (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: by character class
Level Adjustment: +4
The Carnifex are an ancient evil race, kin to both lizards and dinosaurs. Long ago they developed a civilisation based on the darkest exploitation of magic. Their lust for power became dangerous but one experiment that went wrong left them trapped in another dimension. The experiment failed in part because some Immortals indirectly altered their magic, judging their presence too dangerous. In the future, these creatures might have even challenged the Immortals themselves.
The place of their entrapment is known to the Immortals as the Pits of Banishment, for neither land nor sky exists in this world of nothingness. Those creatures cast there are condemned to fall eternally through a nocturnal abyss. Although the fall is real, the Pits of Banishment are indeed a universe limited in space, the shape of a sphere. Upon reaching its limits, one reappears at the starting point, as if within a huge globe.
The few Carnifex survivors, the most powerful and fearsome of their kind, banded together and built a mighty fortress which floats forever in the darkness, as the last bastion of the Carnifex menace. It sits at the very place as the gate into their world.
Carnifex are roughly seven feet tall and powerfully built. Their heads vaguely resemble the head of a velociraptor, and they still possess a tail the size of a lizardman's tail. They are highly magical and advanced in the arcane arts, as well as being physically powerful. They are arrogant and dismissive of non-Carnifex. They are incredibly strong-willed, and execute any duties with an almost fanatical demeanour. They are patient creatures when necessary, and when they strike, the chaos and destruction can threaten every living thing.
The Carnifex speak their own language, and somehow have learned Common in their prison plane. They may also speak Draconic and Abyssal.
The Carnifex warrior presented here had the following ability scores before racial adjustments: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.
Combat
The Carnifex are powerful and arrogant warriors, believing they are vastly superior to all other species. As a result, they conserve their spell-like abilities and will simply try to overpower their foes. However, they are cunning warriors too, and will have prepared ambushes and traps of all kinds to help give them an advantage.
Carnifex warriors prefer to use a variety of martial weapons, and will wear all kinds of armour- generally the best weapons and armour granted by their character levels. Higher level Carnifex will likely be carrying magical weapons and armour.
Spell-like Abilities (Sp): 1day: Anti-Magic Field, Haste, Lightning Bolt, Mirror Image.
Strong Mind (Ex): A carnifex has a +4 bonus to all Will saving throws.
Skills: Carnifex have +4 racial bonus on Balance, Jump, and Swim checks. Skills above take into account a -6 armour check penalty for wearing banded mail.
Carnifex as Characters
The favoured class of the Carnifex is Wizard. Most standard classes are represented in Carnifex society, with the possible exception of the paladin. Many Carnifex clerics have adopted the worship of Alphaks. Other clerics may choose two of the following domains: Destruction, Evil, or Magic.
Carnifex characters possess the following racial traits:
• +4 Strength, +2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence, +2 Charisma.
• Medium size.
• A carnifex's base land speed is 40 feet.
• +5 Natural Armour bonus.
• +4 racial bonus on Balance, Jump, and Swim checks.
• Strong Mind (Ex): +4 bonus to all Will saves.
Spell-like Abilities (Sp): One of the following sets: 1/day:• Anti-Magic Field, Fireball, Haste, Mirror Image, Wall of Force; or 1day: Anti-Magic Field, Haste, Lightning Bolt, Mirror Image; or 1day: Anti-Magic Field, Fly, Invisibility, Reverse Gravity, Teleport, Telekinesis..
• Automatic Languages: Common, Carnifex. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Abyssal.
• Favoured Class: Wizard.
• Level Adjustment: +4
Note: Some Elite versions based on the Twilight Calling foes will follow.