The Vryans
The Vryans are mysterious warriors and messengers of a newly discovered, unnamed deity. The Vryan race is known for being ruthless and heartless, willing to kill other creatures without any hesitation for the advancement of their god.
Vryans are made entirely out of red crystal. They have three different stages of their lives, each completely different in appearance. The word “Vryans” refers to the species as a whole, each form has a unique, specific title. The first stage, called “Vryoids,” resembles humans. They have no distinct features, no eyes, ears or sexual organs. All Vryoids appear to be physically fit, genderless humans made entirely out of red crystal. The second stage of a Vryan’s life begins once its Vryoid form is destroyed, called the “Vryound” phase. Vryounds walk on all four limbs, resemble large dogs more than humans and are very jagged. The crystal that makes up Vryounds are broken and sharp, and grind as they move. Vryounds are much less patient than Vryoids and are usually eager to fight. Once a Vryound dies it takes its final form, a humanoid moth-like creature called a “Vryonity.” Vryonities are the most aggressive and powerful of the Vryans, and tend to become suicidal upon their final transformation. They attack creatures that are far more powerful or are in far greater numbers, hoping to injure their enemies before falling for a final time. It has been theorized that this suicidal nature is because of the Vryonity’s recently lost resistance to magic, giving them a significant new weakness. Vryonities feel vulnerable for the first time in their existence and realize that their remaining days are numbered. As a final effort and show of power to their god the Vryonity fights fearlessly and ruthlessly, welcoming death when it comes.
Vryan creation is not entirely understood, only that their deity creates them, wherever it is. Upon creation, they are given intelligence and purpose by their creator. Simple Vryan (intelligence of 1-8) are used for duties such as guarding a specific area or assigned as foot soldiers to be commanded by a more intelligent model. Smarter Vryan (intelligence of 9-14) are used as messengers, usually with a small team of simpler models to act as guards. They are also used as assassins, and sometimes sent in groups not unlike adventuring parties to recover a specific item. Occasionally, a Vryan of greater intelligence is created (intelligence 15-18) which are used to direct the actions of foot soldiers. However, no matter how intelligent a Vryan becomes, it is still prone to the personality that is programmed into it at its creation. All Vryan are programmed to be extremely loyal and to obey their god without question. There have been a few cases of Vryans misinterpreting their intended programming or letting down their god in some extreme way and they were subjected to a punishment known only as “The Wilting.” The Wilting consists of the offender being dragged before his god and painfully destroyed over and over, until it has been forced through all of its transformations. While normally a Vryan feels no pain, this process is apparently the exception to that rule. The Wilting has been described by the Vryans who have witnessed it as utterly horrible and agonizing just to watch, and the mere thought of it brings terror to these otherwise calm creatures. However, The Wilting does not stop with the creature’s death. Its consciousness, its very mind, is then extracted, taken from the shattered remains and forced into a single shard of red crystal. There the Vryan stays, forever in the presence of its cruel god, unable to move, speak or do anything but observe. Most Vryan would sooner die than be subjected to The Wilting, and fight to the death to avoid it.
In the Vryan social structure, Vryoids are considered to be the highest class. They are the only ones that can communicate with other species and they have proven their effectiveness by not having been killed yet. Vryonities are the second highest class and Vryounds are treated as basically animals, despite having the same intelligence and basic personality as their Vryoid form. Despite this situation, Vryounds do not commit suicide to move into their Vryonity form unless it offers them some tactical advantage over an opponent. All Vryans are programmed to maintain a single form for as long as possible, unless doing so would compromise their existence or they are ordered to do so by a being of higher authority. Vryonities are the exception to this rule, and will destroy themselves if they believe doing so would be advantageous for their fellow Vryans.
Vryans cannot take class levels, however it has been rumored that the strongest and most successful of them have been rewarded by their god with a more powerful body. It has also been suggested that other creatures of this nature exist on their home plane of existence, though none have ever been seen and all attempts to locate this plane have failed.
The Vryan outlined below is a basic foot soldier. More intelligent Vryoids can invest in any skills.
Vryoids
Medium Construct
Hit Dice: 12d10+30 (96)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 30 ft
Armor Class: 22 (+4 dex, +8 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+14
Attack: 3 Slams +14/+9/+4
Damage: Slam (2d6+7)
Space/Reach: 5ft/5ft
Special Attacks: None
Special Qualities: Damage Reduction 5/Bludgeoning, Spell Resistance 17, Construct Traits, Telepathy, Melee Expertise, Counterattack, Enchanted Fists, Regenerate
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +2
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 18, Con -, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 8
Skills: Tumble +19
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Spring Attack, Power Attack, Expertise, Cleave
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary or Pack (4-6)
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Lawful Evil
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: -
Melee Expertise: Vryoids gain a +4 dodge bonus against all melee attacks.
Counterattack: If an attacker using a melee weapon misses a Vryoid, the Vryoid may take an attack of opportunity.
Telepathy: Vryoids can communicate with all other Vryans within 100 feet. In addition, they may communicate with all other creatures that have a language within 100 feet., however doing so is stressful and their words are brief and to the point.
Enchanted Fists: A Vryoid’s fists are +3 weapons.
Regenerate: When a Vryoid is reduced to 0 hit points or less it is destroyed. On its next action the crystal reforms into a Vryound. This does not provoke an attack of opportunity. If the crystal is physically separated in such a way that it cannot reform, one shard begins to grow into a Vryound form, which takes a day. If all the crystal is destroyed, such as thought a “Disintegrate” spell or a “Sphere of Annihilation” the Vryoid cannot regenerate.
Vryound
Medium Construct
Hit Dice: 16d10+30 (118)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 40 ft
Armor Class: 25 (+5 dex, +10 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+18
Attack: Slam +18 and Bite +18
Damage: Slam (3d6+5), Bite (3d8+5)
Space/Reach: 5ft/5ft
Special Attacks: Crystal Shot
Special Qualities: Damage Reduction 10/Bludgeoning, Spell Resistance 20, Construct Traits, Telepathy, Jagged Body, Regenerate
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +3
Abilities: Str 22, Dex 20, Con -, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 8
Skills: Tumble +24
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Spring Attack, Power Attack, Expertise, Cleave, Great Cleave
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary or group (2-3 with 2-4 Vryoids)
Challenge Rating: 10
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Lawful Evil
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: -
Crystal Shot: A Vryound can fire a shard of crystal from its back (+17 to hit) to with a range of fifty feet. The Crystal Shot deals 3d8 piercing damage.
Telepathy: A Vryound can communicate with all other Vryans within 100 feet.
Jagged Body: A Vryound’s slam attack deals an additional 1d8 piercing damage from the sharp crystal over its body.
Regenerate: When a Vryound is reduced to 0 hit points or less it is destroyed. On its next action the crystal reforms into a Vryonity. This does not provoke an attack of opportunity. If the crystal is physically separated in such a way that it cannot reform, one shard begins to grow into a Vryonity form, which takes a day. If all the crystal is destroyed, such as thought a “Disintegrate” spell or a “Sphere of Annihilation” the Vryound cannot regenerate.
Vryonity
Medium Construct
Hit Dice: 32d10+30+12 (218)
Initiative: +7
Speed: 40 ft, fly 30 ft
Armor Class: 30 (+7 dex, +13 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +24/+32
Attack: 4 Claws (+32/+27/+22/+17), Bite (+32)
Damage: Claw (4d6+11), Bite (1d8+8)
Space/Reach: 5ft/5ft
Special Attacks: Spell Like Abilities, Breath Weapon
Special Qualities: Damage Reduction 20/Bludgeoning, Construct Traits, Telepathy, Durable Body, Enchanted Claws, Sacrificial Blast
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +6
Abilities: Str 26, Dex 24, Con -, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 8
Skills: Tumble +42
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Spring Attack, Power Attack, Expertise, Cleave, Great Cleave, Fly-By Attack, Toughness (X4)
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary or with two Vryoids
Challenge Rating: 13
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Lawful Evil
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: -
Spell Like Abilities: 3/Day Lightning Bolt, Disintegrate. All spells are cast as an 18th level wizard and have a DC of 23 plus the spell level.
Breath Weapon: Once every 1d4 rounds a Vryonity can release a 15 foot cone of fire from its mouth dealing 18d6 damage, reflex save DC 24 for half damage.
Telepathy: A Vryonity can communicate with all other Vryans within 100 feet.
Durable Body: Anything that overcomes a Vryonity’s damage reduction has the damage dealt reduced by 5 (even for energy attacks.)
Enchanted Claws: A Vryonity’s claws are +3 weapons.
Sacrificial Blast: As a full round action, a Vryonity may sacrifice its own life to explode into a fifty foot radius ball of fire. All creatures within this area take 18d6 fire damage (reflex save DC 27 for half.)