Saturday, August 3, 2013

Frightful Fridays! Contemplative Kaida

It's Saturday, so it must be time for another Frightful Fridays! entry. Today's monster is a new kaida, this one suited for monks (and ninjas to a lesser extent). I've been slowly amassing kaidas suitable for all the Pathfinder RPG core classes, and this dragon, which my friend Patrick brought to my attention, seemed like a great fit for the monk. A spellcasting monk needs a considerable amount of multiclassing to obtain a contemplative kaida as a familiar, but the benefits should offset that cost.

I hope you like today's monster, and I'll be back on Friday with a new one. Thanks for reading!


This little emerald dragon sits on a flower's lip and regards a dewdrop within the flower with great interest.
Contemplative Kaida CR 3
XP 800
LN Tiny dragon
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +15

Defense
AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +2 size, +1 dodge)
hp 26 (4d12)
Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +8
Defensive Abilities evasion, uncanny dodge; Immune magic paralysis and sleep, dragon traits

Offense
Speed 20 ft., fly 50 ft. (perfect), swim 30 ft.
Melee bite +3 (1d3+4) and 2 claws +3 (1d2+4)
Space 2.5 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks insightful strike
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +8)
Constant—anticipate peril
At will—comprehend languages, guidance, read magic, timely inspiration

Statistics
Str 4, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 19, Cha 15
Base Atk +4; CMB +5; CMD 13 (17 vs. trip)
Feats Dodge, Mobility
Skills Appraise +8, Diplomacy +9, Fly +20, Heal +11, Perception +15, Sense Motive +15, Spellcraft +5, Stealth +15, Swim +10, Use Magic Device +7; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Sense Motive
Languages Common; telepathy 60 ft.
SQ contemplated action, knowledge through enlightenment

Special Abilities
Contemplated Action (Ex) Once per day per Hit Die, as a full round action, contemplative kaida enters into a meditative state that gives it the benefit of sanctuary for the round. On its next turn it adds +20 to a chosen ability check, skill check, or attack roll.
Insightful Strike (Ex) A contemplative kaida uses its Wisdom modifier on damage with its natural attacks instead of its Strength modifier. This ability does not work on creatures immune to precision damage.
Knowledge through Enlightenment (Ex) A contemplative kaida can use its insight to derive an answer to a question, allowing it to make a Knowledge check untrained and adding its Intelligence and Wisdom modifiers to the check. The kaida usually applies its contemplated action ability to a Knowledge check.

A contemplative kaida is a delicate creature that prefers to spend its time reflecting upon the mysteries of the universe. The kaida also likes to share its wisdom with those who will listen to it, but it knows not to come across as a braggart about its knowledge. The dragon will flee from a fight if it can, but it proves to be a dangerous opponent when it must defend itself. The kaida requires a minimum of sustenance to survive, and seems to derive most of its nutrition from experiencing its surroundings. A contemplative kaida is 18 inches long, including a 6-inch long tail, and weighs 20 pounds.

Unlike many other kaida, a contemplative kaida does not bond with an item. The dragon considers itself in tune with the universe, and thus bonded with everything contained within. A contemplative kaida still chooses companions with whom it travels in order to gain alternative insights into the world.

A spellcaster can choose a contemplative kaida as a familiar. The spellcaster must be at least caster level 3rd, character level 7th, have the Improved Familiar feat, and have a ki pool. A contemplative kaida adds its Wisdom modifier to the spellcaster's ki pool, and, once per day, it can grant the spellcaster the benefit of its contemplated action ability.