[PnP] "Abnaric" Redux - The Ultimate Edition

[Guy Cornmesser]

The Creations Of Abnaric Elgar
as reported by Drachir Redins, Scholar

The career of the mage Abnaric Elgar is a thing of legend in Gom. Many  
revile his name for the great evils that he sponsored in his youth. Others  
hold his name in reverence and fear because of the sheer magnitude of his  
power. Before discussing his major creations, some background history  
would be of value.

Some years back I met Thabolan Elgar in Roghara. This son of Abnaric told  
me much about his father. Abnaric Elgar began his life in magic at the age  
of ten, when his father gave him to a Chaos Wizard in exchange for relief  
 from a curse. Little is known about his apprenticeship. He rarely spoke of  
it and never with other than extreme coldness. It is likely that the years  
he spent with his master were not pleasant ones. It is known that Abnaric  
Elgar's appearance in Gom coincided with the disappearance of his master  
 from the environs of Araou. That wizard was never seen again.

Abnaric's early career was unremarkable. The turning point in his life was  
his eviction from Gom by the wizard Esharal, a law wizard of some power.  
In his journey to Araou, Abnaric ran afoul of the forces of Kototh. By the  
greatest of luck, and because of his natural talent, he made a deal with  
these creatures. In performing their will, and seeking his own advantage  
thereafter, he gained a position as Master of the Kotothi in the Southern  
Continent and, according to his son, defacto ruler of Gom, Port Doman,  
Shurikal and the Rogizini Empire. While I consider this claim to be  
exaggerated, I do believe that it is likely that he held considerable  
power in these areas.

What made this mage so formidable was his natural gift for magic of all  
kinds. According to legend, he learned and mastered every form of magic  
known to man, from Shamanism to the hidden rites of the Sidh. It is  
obvious from what is known of his career that he was a natural magician of  
great learning.

What is germane for the purpose of this article is his study, mastery and  
use of the powers of Creation. He is responsible for creating new races,  
some of which are growing with significant speed. The grimoire below lists  
five of these beasts, their synthesis and facts about them that travellers  
need to know if they wander south.


THE ELEFAN	ALIGNMENT - None
HPV 30 OCV 12 DCV 5 NWI - 3
S 40( + 2) St 35( + 2) D 8 A 25( + 1)
MR 11 NAV 2 MDV 10 EnL 30
DTV -3 HC 38% CDF 3
CL NA INT 9

APPEARANCE
Only females of this species have ever been encountered. These creatures  
are seven to seven and a half feet tall and weigh two hundred to three  
hundred pounds. They have the bodies of women, a grayish cast to their  
skin and the heads of elephants. Their trunks are short and useless as a  
manipulative organ. Their tusks are sharp, efficient weapons.

NOTE - The Elefan have a home range centered around an island in the river  
that flows down to Port Doman. Males of the race are only encountered on  
or near this island. They have twice the Strength and Stamina of females,  
half the Dexterity and Agility and an Intellect rating of eight instead of  
nine.

SPECIAL
The Elefan are an immense physical force. Females range wide, seeking  
knowledge and serving various forces as mercenaries. When encountered the  
Elefan warriors will be wearing Chainmail or Plate Mail. They are armed  
with Spears (if wearing Chainmail) or Halberds (with Plate Mail).

Elefan are intelligent and loyal. If serving someone, they obey to the  
letter. Otherwise, they are peaceful creatures who fight only when they  
must. According to rumors, they have a written language and a strong  
culture in their homeland. One informant went so far as to say that they  
are strongly versed in Philosophy and take great enjoyment in scholarly  
work. Given this, it is quite likely that they would rather read and  
debate than fight, when they have an honorable choice.

SYNTHESIS
 From all accounts, the Elefan were Abnaric Elgar's first creation. They  
were created during his campaign leading a major native rebellion against  
the Fomorians in Port Doman. From their inception and control, they served  
as his personal guards in the jungle and, to a limited extent, as shock  
troops in battle.

It is extremely likely that the synthesis of these creatures was entirely  
in the imagination of the mage. There are large creatures in the foothills  
of the Ny'lasa Mountains that certainly gave him the idea for the size and  
features. Putting this together with his preference for female associates,  
and the fact that females are dominant with this creature, you have the  
Elefan.


LEON	ALIGNMENT – Kotothi/Elder
HPV 40 OCV 17 DCV 10(13) NWI –10
S 80( + 4) St 60( + 3) D 40( + 2) A 55( + 3)
MR 12(28) NAV 4 MDV 20 EnL 100
DTV – 4* HC 70% CDF 8
CL NA INT 10

APPEARANCE
Leons range from six to six and a half feet tall. They weigh 180 to 220  
pounds. They have the appearance of a maneless lion walking on its hind  
legs. They are lean and wiry with incredible strength. Their eyes glow a  
baleful green. Their teeth and claws are composed of magic iron that has a  
devastating affect on any Sidh creature they strike.

SPECIAL
The first Leon was created to destroy an Asrai castle populated by Asrai  
who had earlier offended Abnaric. They are solely dedicated to the  
destruction of the Sidh and are especially potent in the water.

All Leons are totally immune to acid, poison and disease of any kind. They  
use Water Powers at MEL8/EL4 and have EL4 immunity to both Storm and Fire  
Powers. All can breathe water and air with equal facility. They are  
designed to make the water their home and strike from it onto the land  
beyond.

Leons are potent weapons against the Sidh. They have EL8 Immunity to both  
Sidh and Elder Magic. Their claws and teeth allow them to apply DOUBLE  
their normal SB against Sidh creatures, i.e. + 8 instead of + 4. When a  
choice is available, Leons will attack Sidh creatures before any other  
target. In judging this, remember their intellect. They are too smart to  
ignore targets on the ground while a Faerry, for example, flits above them  
trying to be a distraction.

IMPORTANT – Any person tied in any way to the Sidh is considered to be  
Sidh by these creatures. If you have innate power in Sidh Magic, carry an  
item enhanced with Sidh Magic, etc, you are Sidh to a Leon.

SYNTHESIS
The Leon was created as a weapon against the Asrai. Early in his career,  
Abnaric suffered a slight at their hands and never forgave them. The Leon  
was designed to avenge that slight.

Abnaric formed the Leons using an advanced Creation ritual which employed  
magical tools and components of various creatures. The items that feature  
in the creation of the Leon are magical iron of his creation, the skin of  
a Waste Lion, Grundwergen blood and other components to enhance its powers.



THE NAR'MOREL	ALIGNMENT - Kotothi/Elder

                              MALE
HPV 36 OCV 13 DCV 8 NWI — 6
S 60( + 3) St 20( + 1) D 30( + 1) A 40( + 2)
MR 20 NAV 2 MDV 7 EnL 21
DTV -4 HC 40% CDF 4
CL NA INT 6


		FEMALE
HPV 20	OCV 6 DCV 13 NWI — 3
S 30( + 1) St 10 D 60( + 3) A 90( + 4)
MR 24 	NAV 1 MDV 7 EnL 21
DTV -2 	HC 	20% CDF 2
CL NA	INT 6

APPEARANCE
The Nar'morel are perfectly proportioned, beautiful physical specimens.  
The males are heavily muscled, yet lithe. The females are fantastically  
limber and beautiful women. The basic appearance of these creatures is  
human. They are covered with a light, barely perceptible, fur and have  
sharp, catlike, teeth. All also have retractable claws and eyes more kin  
to the cat than to man.

SPECIAL
The word Nar'morel is taken from the Kacili name for these creatures. It  
means "Death Shadow". The Nar'morel are supernaturally attuned to Desert  
and Badlands terrain. They have double the normal chance to ambush when  
they are encountered and the chance that a party can ambush them is  
reduced by 15, i.e. if a party has a 29% chance of ambush in the desert  
with their highest EL the chance is 14% if they encounter the Nar'morel.

The Nar'morel are hunters who live together in communal bands. They enjoy  
hunting, killing and combat. They also possess the love of pleasure and  
luxury that all cats savor. They act for the good of their own kind  
whatever the cost to others. If the pride's needs do not call for a set  
action, they can be reasoned with and even enjoyed. If you must die for  
the good of the pride, they are implacable.

SYNTHESIS
The purpose for the creation of the Nar'morel was to provide night raiders  
for Abnaric's Kacili campaign — his last act before his disappearance.  
 From the name given them by the Kacili, it can be seen that they were  
quite effective at their appointed task.
The Nar'morel were created with a ritual fusion of the Waste Lion with  
humanity. The result, as seen above, is a fighting creature of great  
potential.


SHIROONA	ALIGNMENT - Elder
HPV 14 OCV 7 DCV 5 NWI - 4
S 16( + 1) St 40( +2) D 12 A 25( + 1)
MR 16 NAV 0 MDV 15 EnL 75
DTV -2 HC 28% CDF 7
CL NA INT 5

APPEARANCE
Shiroona are russet brown to red hounds with six legs and large, saucer  
shaped eyes. Their appearance is extremely fearsome. They have large,  
viciously pointed teeth, heavy claws and massive forebodies. Shiroona  
average two feet at the shoulder and weigh eighty to one hundred pounds.

SPECIAL
Shiroona were created for use as messengers and guards. They are capable  
of MEL10/EL10 Travel Powers. They also have total immunity to iron and EL6  
immunity to Elder Magic.


Though the powers of the Shiroona are potent, and their appearance is  
fearsome, they are not as dangerous as they could be. Shiroona are  
garrulous creatures who are quite friendly and very curious. They are also  
a bit cowardly, unless they are encountered in packs. In general, these  
creatures only fight when they must, either to protect themselves or  
someone or something that they have a great fondness for. In other  
situations, they would rather avoid combat. In no way can they be  
considered to be vicious. In fact, sometimes the extremes that they go to  
to avoid a fight can be very humorous.

SYNTHESIS
The existence of the Shiroona is proof that the Great Mage was a doting  
father. He created them, originally, as a long range strike weapon to  
terrorize his enemies. When they proved inadequate to this task, because  
of the kindness of their natures, he was most upset. Except for the  
intervention of one of his daughters he would have destroyed them. Because  
this girl asked her father "not to hurt the pretty doggies", Abnaric found  
a use for them. As messengers and guards, they served him quite well.

Little is known about the actual creation of these creatures. It is likely  
that something of the Cu Sidh went into them but what else is part of  
their nature can only be guessed. It could be anything, up to and  
including hair from the mane of Odin's steed.



MIDGE	ALIGNMENT – Elder/Sidh
HPV 1 OCV 0 DCV 19 NWI + 8
S 1(-1) 	St 6  D 120(+5) A 185(+7)
MR 2(32) NAV 0 MDV 14 EnL 40
DTV -1 HC 4% CDF 4
CL NA INT 6

APPEARANCE
Midges were created to spy for Abnaric. In appearance, they are much like  
the Faerry. They are exquisitely beautiful creatures with uncommon, and  
sometimes troublesome, wit. The average height of a Midge is three inches.  
Their weight is usually less than a few ounces.

SPECIAL
It is difficult to detect the presence of a Midge if he or she does not  
want to be seen. They have an innate ability, MEL8/EL4, to conceal their  
presence when they choose to do so. The MDV of the perceiver does NOT  
apply against this role. Persons trying to spot the Midge are allowed to  
roll their Empathy divided by FOUR, rounded up, to detect the Midge. With  
success they see it, with a partial they feel or sense something in the  
general vicinity of the Midge but pick up nothing definite.

Midges are gregarious pranksters with a good sense of humor and a good  
deal of kindness and compassion. They have been known to be attracted to a  
person or group and stay with them, unknown to anyone, for weeks on end,  
enjoying their adventures and playing pranks. Midges have a strong liking  
for wine and sweets. They are also curious creatures. There have been  
instances where a person being tormented by their whimsy has captured them  
by using one or both of these traits against them.

SYNTHESIS
The creation of the Midge race was one of Abnaric's most perverse and vile  
actions. Through mystical corruption of  captured Faerry, the first pair  
of Midges came into being. The Faerry subjects did not survive this act.  
Their descendants have survived quite well.


A FINAL NOTE
While this in no way gives a full listing of Abnaric's creations, it does  
give a sample of his best. From all reports, this mage was fascinated with  
the act of creation and went to great extremes to perfect the creatures  
that his mind gave birth. If certain informants can be believed, he  
considered them to be, and often treated them as, his children. Despite  
the great evils attributed to this man, he was a creator who cared for his  
creations and did not abuse his ability to shape new forms of life. Every  
creation of his making was made for a specific purpose, either for his own  
good or to enhance the effectiveness of his empire in the southern  
continent. Other creations of Abnaric exist. These are the most prolific  
and notable of his "children".

THE END	






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