Sprite, Night

Description

This creature looks like a miniscule elf. The flesh is a dark gray, almost blackish hue, with hair to match, and it has black, baleful eyes. Its wings appear tattered but serviceable. A perpetual mist of charcoal seems to rain off its form.

These foul creatures are sprites that have become corrupted by the evil magic of the Unseelie court. As such they have become more powerful beings, but are now utterly twisted and malevolent. They serve the dark queen as her sinister furies, and are dispatched to reap vengeance against her lesser enemies, whether foul or fair. They particularly excel in the arts of trickery and stealth, patiently waiting for the prime moment in which to ruthlessly strike, then lashing out with lightning speed to dispatch a foe.

In their native form they resemble dour, ugly pixies, with a colorless, dark gray flesh, dull black hair, and transparent, ragged wings. Their eyes are entirely black, and always stare with a malevolent glare that will send a chill up the spine of the most hardened veteran. As they fly about, they leave a faint trail of charcoal mist lingering in the air that slowly disperses. Night sprites can fade into the shadows with uncanny ability, becoming all but invisible to even the most observant guard.

In addition to their natural form, a night sprite can assume the shape of a tiny monstrous spider. This spider is jet-black in hue, similar to a black widow spider, but lacking a red mark.

Combat

Night sprites often work in coordinated teams to attack a foe, usually from ambush. They prefer to sneak up on a foe when lighting is poor and strike while the guard of their enemy is down. They can follow an opponent for many days, waiting for the ideal moment when their armor has been removed, weapons set aside, spells expended, and fatigue has dulled their minds.

Alternate Form (Su): A night sprite can shift between its fey and spider forms as a standard action. In spider form, it gains all the abilities of a tiny spider, including a poison bite, tremorsense, and web-spinning quality. However it cannot fly, cast spells, or use its sneak attack ability.

A night sprite remains in one form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, nor does the night sprite revert to any particular form when killed. A true seeing spell or ability, however, reveals both forms simultaneously.

Sneak Attack (Ex): This is similar to the sneak attack ability of the Rogue, but it can only be used three times per day.

Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day―blur, darkness; 1/day―daze monster (DC 13), ghost sound, true strike. Effective caster level 4th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Skills: Night sprites have a +4 racial bonus on Intimidate and Move Silently checks. *Due to their dark coloration and the charcoal-hued cloud they emit, night sprites also have a +8 racial bonus on Hide checks while in shadows. This bonus is not factored into the Hide skill modifier above.

Advanced Benefits

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

• Spell resistance is equal to creature's HD + 11 (maximum 20).
• 2 HD ― Use the spell-like ability true strike three times per day.
• 3 HD ― Sneak attack improves to +3d6 and can be used four times per day.
• 4 HD ― Add 1/day―invisibility to spell-like abilities.