Nikaal
Nikaal
CR 2 N Monstrous Humanoid
This thin humanoid has a man shaped face, but scales, serpentine eyes and an inhuman color. Both hair and crests grow from their head, and their lean limbs end in three thick claws.
The nikaal are desert dwelling nomads and traders with occult powers. They are especially interested in items of psychic significance, for which they will pay handsomely. Nikaal believe that material goods have lives of their own, and honor and respect the things they own and trade. This respect is most clearly seen in their signature polearm, the tkaesali. This polearm is made of a hoop studded with sharpened obsidian or teeth and decorated with runic symbols (treat as a masterwork tepoztopilli). Only those who have earned the right through deeds to their community may carry a tkaesali, and these items have storied histories that are passed down through oral and magical tradition. If a tkaesali is stolen, the entire tribe will stop at nothing to track it down and get it back.
Although they may seem slow and deliberate in both thought and motion, nikaal are by no means stupid or weak. Their psychic powers are most useful in interpersonal relations, so rarely are brought into play in battle. Their skins are tougher than leather, they can withstand fire and typically carry one handed weapons and shields into battle. They almost never wear armor, as covering their whole bodies interferes with their heat balance, and forces them to consume more food and water to survive. Nikaal can spit acid, but rarely use this in combat with other nikaal, seeing doing so as a sign of utter disrespect.
Nikaal live in peripatetic communities united under an elected council. These elected elders are often gifted in magic, and use their powers to determine where and when the nikaal travel. Arcane magic is of less interest to them than either occult or divine—most of their powerful spellcasters are clerics favoring gods of travel and trade, or druids with mastery over the desert, fire or water. There is no division between the sexes, and telling different genders is difficult, if not impossible, for those that are not nikaal.
A nikaal has a lifespan equivalent to that of a dwarf. They are typically covered in fine purple scales, but both cooler blues and warmer reds are possible. Their claws (and bones) are green in color, and faintly luminous in moonlight.
Nikaal CR 2
XP 600
N Medium monstrous humanoid
Init -1; Senses low-light vision, Perception +7
Defense
AC 15, touch 9, flat-footed 15 (-1 Dex, +4 natural, +2 shield)
hp 16 (3d10)
Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +3; +4 vs. fire effects
Defensive Abilities unarmored resistance
Offense
Speed 20 ft.
Melee heavy mace +3 (1d8) or claw +3 (1d4)
Ranged acid spit +2 touch (2d4 acid)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Psychic Magic CL 3rd, concentration +4
5 PE—detect psychic significance (0 PE), message (0 PE), mindlink (1 PE), object reading (2 PE), telempathic projection (1 PE, DC 12), thought shield I (2 PE)
Statistics
Str 10, Dex 9, Con 11, Int 10, Wis10, Cha 13
Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 12
Feats Alertness, Psychic Virtuoso
Skills Appraise +2, Craft (woodworking) +5, Diplomacy +3, Perception +7, Sense Motive +4, Survival +7
Languages Common, Nikaal
Ecology
Environment warm land
Organization solitary, team (2-9 plus 1 tkaesali bearer of 3rd level), tribe (10-80 plus 1 3rd level tkaesali bearer per 10 individuals, 3-10 elders of 7th level)
Treasure standard (heavy mace, heavy wooden shield, other treasure)
Special Abilities
Acid Spit (Ex) Once every 1d4 rounds as a swift action, a nikaal may spit acid as a ranged touch attack with a range of 20 feet and no range increment. A creature struck takes 2d4 points of acid damage.
Unarmored Resistance (Ex) A nikaal gains a +4 racial bonus on all saving throws against fire spells and effects and Fortitude saves to avoid damage from environmental heat. It also requires half as much food and water as a typical Medium creature. These benefits are lost if the nikaal wears armor or is carrying more than a light load.