Lythari (3e Conversion)

Medium-Size Shapechanger
Hit Dice: 4d8 (18 hp)
Initiative: +1 (+1 Dex); +7 (+3 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative) as wolf
Speed: 50 ft. in either form
AC: 13 (+1 Dex, +2 natural); 15 (+3 Dex, +2 natural) as wolf
Attacks: Unarmed strike +1 melee; Bite +5 melee as wolf
Damage: Unarmed strike 1d3+1 subdual; Bite 2d4+2
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.; 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft. as wolf
Special Attacks: Trip as wolf
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, plus wolf empathy; scent, damage reduction 15/silver as wolf
Saves: Fortitude +3, Reflex +3, Will +2 as wolf
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 9 as wolf *
Skills: Hide +3, Listen +14, Move Silently +4, Search +8, Spot +12, Wilderness Lore +1 as wolf **
Feats: Improved Control Shape; Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (bite) as wolf***

Climate/Terrain: Temperate and warm forest
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pack (6-10)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always chaotic good
Advancement: By character class
* In wood elf form, Lythari have the following ability scores: Str 12, Dex 13, Con 8, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 9
** In wood elf form, Lythari have Hide +1, Listen +9, Search +9, Spot +8
*** In wood elf form, Lythari have the Weapon Focus (longbow) feat

The reclusive lythari, known among the wood elves as silver shadows, are true lycanthropes: good-aligned wild elves able to take lupine form. In wolf form, lythari are beautiful, with pale gray or silver fur and intelligent blue or brown eyes. A wolf-lythari leaves no impression of danger or ferocity, but rather seems friendly and companionable. An adult is the size of a small pony and might carry a man-sized ally if the need is great. In the rare times they assume elf form, the lythari are beautiful and otherworldly, even for elves. They dress in furs, hides, and other natural garb, decorating themselves with feathers, bone jewelry, and similar objects in a fashion more ancient than the oldes t wood elf tribes. Tall and pale skinned, they have light blue or green eyes and silver hair.

In wolf form, lythari communicate in the manner of wolves. In elf form, lythari speak Elvish; some can speak Common, also. Lythari nearly always avoid contact with strangers.

Unlike most lycanthropes, the lythari are a gentle, benevolent species. Although they hunt and kill in the same manner as wolves, they neither inflict wanton violence nor attack intelligent species.

The typical encounter with lythari is with a single hunter or pack. The larger tribal community might be as large as 30, with up to a dozen or so members too young to hunt. Most lythari live between worlds, not dwelling on the Prime Material plane, but living in forested places that can be reached only through special gates known only to themselves. They are a shy race, preferring to remain far from civilization and even from other elves.

Their small bands are anarchic, communal societies, with no real leaders, and complete equality for all members. The lythari do not produce metal objects of any sort. They build nothing more elaborate than brush shelters. Spellcasters are rare, primarily clerics of woodland deities. Lythari revere Rillifane Rallathil and other wilderness Seldarine deities.

Lythari are interfertile and reproduce among themselves. They can also create new lythari from among normal elves in a special ritual of bonding that leaves a permanent scar resembling a wolf bite. Lythari status can be conferred upon another elf only if both lythari and elf agree to the transformation, and only if the secret initiation is performed.

If lythari run with normal wolves in wolf form, they are accepted as pack members and treated with deference, while remaining outside the normal wolf pack hierarchy. Evil wolves and like creatures, such as worgs, werewolves, and wolfweres sense their difference and will try to drive them off or slay them.

They are as rarely seen by wood elves as wood elves are seen by humans. Small independent bands of lythari live in the forests of Evermeet; some still linger in Faerun. Most lythari, however, live in magical faerielands that touch only lightly upon the Prime Material plane. Only twice in the history of Faerun have lythari taken part in greater events. The harper Arilyn Moonblade has a gift, a magical whistle, that can call the lythari Ganamede across vast distances.

COMBAT

Lythari dislike combat and prefer to flee rather than fight. If they aid in warfare at all, they serve as scouts and messengers, for physical combat is abhorrent to them. If cornered or defending their kin, they will fight with great skill. In wolf form, their preferred form for combat, lythari attack by biting. In both their elf and lupine forms, lythari are hunters, preferring to hunt deer, rabbit, and wild boar.

Magic that affects lycanthropes also affects them. Lythari have complete freedom over their ability to change form, the transformation taking a standard action. A lythari slain in wolf form reverts to elf form in one round.

Alternate Form (Su.): A lythari can assume the form of a large wolf up to 10 feet in length. Unlike werewolves, no hybrid form is possible.

Immunities (Ex.): Lythari are immune to charm spells and ghoul paralyzation in both forms.

Trip (Ex.): A Lythari that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent as a free action (see pg. 139 in the Player's Handbook) without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the Lythari.

Skills: A lythari in wolf form gains a +4 racial bonus to Wilderness Lore checks when tracking by scent.

Lycanthropic Blessing
Note that Lythari can only pass on their particular strain of lycanthropy to other elves, and only via a secret ritual to which the other elf must willingly assent of their own free will. Lythari cannot pass on their lycanthropy with a bite. They do not suffer from the Curse of Lycanthropy.

For details of the Lythari's lycanthropic abilities see pages 217-219 of the Monster Manual. Use the following details for the Lythari template, as per the table on pg. 218 of the Monster Manual:

Lythari Characters
Lythari in wood elf form have all the standard Elven Traits (see pgs. 85-86 of the Monster Manual, and the same Ability Modifiers as a wood elf (+2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, -2 Int, -2 Cha). Like wood elves, they favor the ranger class, rather than the wizard class. Lythari clerics worship Rillifane Rallathil, have access to the Chaos, Elf, Good, Plant, and Protection domains, and favor the quarterstaff.

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