Sharod

Description

A translucent, blue-hued creature has the lower body of a slug, with a vaguely humanoid upper half. As it moves the body seems to slosh about in an almost liquid manner, although a pristine white skeletal structure can be seen inside.

The body of the sharod has the lower body shape of a shell-less gastropod, attached to a humanoid upper torso, with a head and two arms. Due to their appearance, these creatures have sometimes been called an ice naga. Such a name is a misnomer, however, as they are purely an elemental being. Most of their body is composed of a blue, viscous liquid that will not freeze even under the most extreme cold temperatures. The body shape is given structure by an icy skeleton that is clearly visible through their liquid form. This ice is tougher than bone and is very difficult to damage.

A sharod draws certain nutrients from the bodies of its fallen foe. It usually allows the body to freeze and then dissolves the precious nutrients by wrapping it in its liquid body.

Note that due to the bitterly cold temperature of the sharod's body, they can not swim in water because it will freeze around their body forming a solid cocoon.

Combat

The surprisingly quick sharod attacks with icy weapons they are able to form at the end of their arms. All such weapons deal the normal damage of their type, plus additional cold damage. The balance provided by heavy tail allows the sharod to perform an attack with each of its arms during the same round. When a sharod is killed its body will collapse in a pool of blue slush, leaving only a hard, icy skeleton. Eventually this skeleton will melt away if the temperature is above freezing.

Cold (Ex): A sharod's claw attack deals slashing damage plus cold damage from the sharod's bitterly cold body. Creatures attacking a sharod unarmed or with natural weapons take 2d6 points of cold damage.

Fast Healing (Ex): In temperatures below freezing the body of a sharod heals 2 points of damage per hour.

Khadol (Su): A special link known as the khadol allows each of the clutch members to know the position and general physical health of clan members, functioning as the status spell. This ability is constant and cannot be dispelled. The tie can last for many years, although it usually only lasts into adulthood for members of the same clan.

Once per day a sharod can draw away up to half the damage from a fellow of his khadol by touch, inflicting a like amount to his own body. However, a sharod can never draw away more damage than is needed to take himself down to 0 Hit Points.

Sharod Society

The sharod forms an elite warrior force on cold planes. They are completely loyal to their current master and will fight until death to protect their ward. They normally form tight-knit clans that will defend their honor to the last drop of their bodies. Sharod are known to hold grudges for many generations, and it is not uncommon for their clans to eradicate each other over a "blood" feud. Sharod are cruel and ruthless warriors, and they gleefully enjoy tormenting their foes.

They reproduce by merging the bodies of a male and female and then splitting into a clutch of 5–8 hatchlings. Thus each hatchling has a memory of its ancestors stretching back many centuries.

Advanced Benefits

In addition to the standard changes due to Hit Dice advancement, sharods also gain the following special benefits.

• 8+ HD ― Fast healing in freezing temperatures improves to 4.
• 10+ HD ― When fighting with another member of the same khadol, the bonus for aiding the sharod ally improves to +4. (See the Aid Another description in the Special Attacks section of the Core Rulebook I). This bonus can be applied to either sharod, depending on which is aiding the other.
• 12+ HD ― Damage reduction improves to 10/good.
• 14+ HD ― Fast healing in freezing temperatures improves to 6.
• 16+ HD ― Damage inflicted due to cold increases to 3d6.
• 18+ HD ― Damage reduction improves to 15/good.
• 20+ HD ― Fast healing in freezing temperatures improves to 8.