The Cloud that whispers
Perhaps a relative of the Skairai, the "cloud that whispers" is
the largest creature that flies. The beast consists of a huge
bladder, which it fills with hydrogen, by a process akin to that
which generates the fiery breath of dragons. Below the bladder hangs
the animal's body, from which dangle its greatly elongated forelimbs.
These end in cruel hooked claws, with which it snares its prey -
mostly birds, but anything which flies will serve. The creature gets
its name from its habit of lurking in clouds, where it is all but
invisible, since the great bladder which makes up most of its bulk is
nearly transparent. The cloud that whispers can reach up to 30
metres in length and large ones can even hold small dragons aloft.
There are legends of heroes who have ridden the back of the cloud
that whispers into strange adventures. The cloud that whispers
spends its whole life in the sky, drifting from land to land, but if
food is scarce, they will sometimes descend at night, when the
coolness of the air makes it easier for them to hunt prey on the
ground. They ballast themselves for this by accumulating water from
clouds in the bladder until they are heavy enough to sink down. Once
a meal is seized, they dump the water and bound skywards. The water
is taken in and released by specialised pores that act as vents. The
skin of the cloud that whispers is tough, but a fire-based spell can
still have quite an effect on these monsters. It is said that the
skyships of the Artificers of Penume were inspired by the cloud that
whispers.
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STR
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20
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-20
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DEX
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15
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+15
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CON
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15
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+10
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BOD
|
16
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|
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INT
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3
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-7
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EGO
|
3
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-14
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PRE
|
13
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+3
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COM
|
8
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-1
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PD
|
7
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|
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ED
|
3
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|
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SPD
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3
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+5
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REC
|
5
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END
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30
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STUN
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30
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+3
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Total
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-6
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|
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|
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OCV
|
5
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|
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DCV
|
1
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|
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ECV
|
1
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|
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|
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POWERS
|
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20
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Flight 20" at 0 END, persistant, only by
drifting (-2)
|
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45
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30 points of growth, always on
|
|
20
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1d6+1 HKA (21/2 d6 with STR)
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|
15
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Invisibility (to sight), always on, - only
partial (Normal PER roll reveals) (+1)
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|
45
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Resistant damage reduction : 1/2 (physical) 1/4
(Energy)
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|
3
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Meteorology 10-
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|
5
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+1" stretching (+4" with growth)
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|
153
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Total powers and skills
|
|
147
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Total creature cost
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|
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NOTES
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: +4 to others PER, -6" to KNB
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50 +
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DISADVANTAGES
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15
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Physical limit. No fine manipulation
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15
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Physical limit. Poorly mobile on ground (1/2
DCV)
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|
60
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Vulnerability. Triple damage from fire
attacks
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|
7
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Quietly-lurking-in-wait bonus
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