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Legacy of the Dragons
Navver’s Curse Large Fey Hit Dice: 9d6+18 (49 hp), dying/dead –3/–14 Initiative: +4 Speed: 30 feet AC: 27 (–1 size, +4 Dexterity, +5 natural, +9 armor), touch 13, flat-footed 23 Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+11 Attack: Greatsword +7 melee (2d6+4) Full Attack: Greatsword +7 melee (2d6+4) and short sword +7 melee (1d6+2) Space/Reach: 10 feet/10 feet (Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/10 feet) Special Attacks: Spell-like abilities, curses Special Qualities: Low-light vision, SR 20, DR 10/magic (or 10/+1) Saves: Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +7 Abilities: Str 17, Dex 19, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 12, Cha 19 Skills: Climb +14, Concentration +10, Sneak +12, Spot +11 Feats: Ambidexterity, Iron Will, Natural Swordsman, Skill Focus (Sneak), Two-Weapon Fighting Environment: Temperate or cold woods Organization: Solitary or pair Challenge Rating: 6 Treasure: Standard Advancement: By character class Level Adjustment: +1 The faerie creatures known as Navver’s curse are tall, lithe beings of an awkward grace, clad in dragonscale armor and wielding Devanian weapons. To understand these forestdwelling creatures, one must first know the story of Navver. Navver was a loresong faen living in the Harrowdeep who wanted to engage in the metamorphosis unique to his people and transform himself into a spryte. He wandered deep within the dangerous woods that were his home to find a place he thought appropriate. As he tried to create his chrysalis, however, he was attacked by the murderous faen known as darklings (see “Beyond the Diamond Throne” in Chapter One of The Diamond Throne). They destroyed his partially created chrysalis and wounded him grievously, leaving him for dead. When his friends came to check on him days later, he still lay unconscious. However, the psychotic darklings remained nearby and ambushed Navver’s friends, slaying them all. When Navver awoke, days later still, he expected to find himself transformed, for a terrible head wound had destroyed his memory of the attack. Instead, he found his chrysalis destroyed and everyone he had ever loved dead all around him. First Navver thought he had acquired some dreaded curse or disease, like vampirism, and became convinced that he had killed his friends. He wandered the Harrowdeep engulfed in sorrow, con-
templating suicide. Finally, he decided to complete the metamorphosis, hoping the transformation into a spryte would not only cure him of his affliction but would ease his conscience as well. Alas, he found he could no longer create a chrysalis—the ability was lost to him in the trauma he had suffered. At that point, the young faen lost all hope and faith. When he found a nearby faen village, he thought to give in to the murderous curse that gripped him. He began murdering the faen villagers one by one, whenever he could find one alone. He thought these acts would ease the terrible feelings inside him, convinced as he was that he had become some kind of vampire or cursed killer. This not being the case, of course, his actions only made things much worse. Finally, he left the village he had preyed upon, just as the villagers were readying to mobilize against him. Deeper in the woods, Navver encountered another band of darklings. As they swarmed around him, his memories came rushing back. He realized it was the darklings who had killed his friends, not he. The horror of what he had done in the village crashed upon him in a wave far worse than the physical attacks of his assailants. He did not struggle or defend himself. He took each blow and each lash as a mark of shame, justice, and as a testament to the cruel whims of fate. As he took his deathblow, Navver spoke a terrible curse, bequeathing his soul to the Harrowdeep if that dark forest would in turn manifest itself as a force of terror that reflected the horrors perpetrated upon him. Thus, the creatures known as Navver’s curse rose from the forest and have been a bane in that region ever since. Also called “dread slayers,” the creatures collectively known as Navver’s curse not only wield their weapons with prowess, but also have a number of spell-like abilities enabling them to wreak havoc. They live only to stalk and kill those they find in the forest, particularly faen. And—perhaps due to Navver’s quest to become one—they hold a special hatred for sprytes. Navver’s curse are malicious creatures of hatred and spite. A Navver’s curse stands 9 feet tall but weighs only 300 lbs. (without armor). Its flesh is pale, its body gaunt. The eyes of a Navver’s curse are pits of churning darkness and seething spite. Their armor and weapons—said to be items lost within the Harrowdeep or worn by those who died there and were never recovered—are always ornate and well cared for. These creatures do no reproduce normally; their numbers are finite. When they are finally all slain, the world will be free from the curse. Navver’s curse speak Faen.
Combat A Navver’s curse attacks when it is ready, and not before. It almost always knows the surrounding terrain and makes use of it if possible. With its spell-like abilities it sneaks up on unwary victims, then strikes without mercy. Once it enters combat, it does not flee—except to maneuver for a more advantageous position or to lure foes into a trap.
