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Legacy of the Dragons
Shuyarn Medium Outsider Hit Dice: 18d8+144 (225 hp), dying/dead –9/–27 Initiative: +8 Speed: 40 feet, fly 80 feet (perfect) AC: 41 (+8 Dexterity, +10 natural, +8 armor, +5 deflection), touch 23, flat-footed 33 Base Attack/Grapple: +18/+25 Attack: +5 flaming runic dire greatsword +31 melee (2d6+19+1d6 fire) Full Attack: +5 flaming runic dire greatsword +31/+26/+21/+16 melee (2d6+19+1d6 fire) and 2 wing buffets +25 melee (1d6+3 plus sleep) Space/Reach: 5 feet/5 feet (Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet) Special Attacks: Spell-like abilities, aura of confusion, runes, sleep Special Qualities: DR 15/unholy (or 15/+3), SR 38, rune armor, immunities, darkvision 60 feet, fast healing 5 Saves: Fort +24, Ref +24, Will +24 Abilities: Str 25, Dex 26, Con 27, Int 28, Wis 27, Cha 29 Skills: Alchemy +30, Concentration +29, Diplomacy +30, Intimidate +25, Knowledge (ceremony) +24, Knowledge (cosmology) +30, Knowledge (engineering) +25, Knowledge (geography) +25, Knowledge (magic) +30, Knowledge (nature) +25, Knowledge (religion) +24, Knowledge (runes) +30, Knowledge (science) +25, Listen +29, Search +25, Sense Motive +29, Sneak +29, Spot +29, Tumble +29 Feats: Blessed Mage, Cleave, Craft Constant Item, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Power Attack, Power of the Name, Weapon Focus (greatsword), Weapon Specialization (greatsword) Environment: Any Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: 20 Treasure: Triple standard Advancement: 19–36 HD (Large) Level Adjustment: +6 Shuyarns are so rare that some people believe only one of them exists. Certainly, no one’s ever seen more than one at a time. More often than not, people call shuyarns “rune angels,” and it’s easy to see why. These angelic outsiders embody the essence that allows runes themselves to function. They represent the ordered aspect of the universe that translates precise symbols into exacting effects. As such, shuyarns only rarely come into the world, and when they do, their business normally involves runes—and thus, usually a runethane, runechild, or rune animal.
Occasionally a shuyarn acts as a “guardian angel” for such an individual. Other times, they come to counter the machinations of a rune reaver (see page 86). Shuyarns, for obvious reasons, hate rune reavers and attack them on sight (and usually vice versa). On other occasions, shuyarn motives are more mysterious. Sometimes they act to preserve a bit of runic lore or to grant a new gift of knowledge to an individual deemed worthy (such as a new rune for a runethane). Shuyarns are inherently kind and good-natured. They are not traditional angels, however (or, in fact, related to them in anything but appearance). They do not concern themselves with righting wrongs, fighting evil, or performing good deeds the way an actual angel might. Rune angels despise stupidity and ignorance and have no respect for creatures unable to learn, use logic, and wield (or at least understand) magic. Thus, shuyarns sometimes come across as cold or arrogant, depending on who interacts with them. Most shuyarns appear to be female, although they are actually genderless creatures of magical essence that live on another plane. That same essence ties them to this world as long as runic power remains a force of importance and might. Standing 8 feet tall, these regal, golden-skinned humanoids bear wings made of entwined, floating runes and sigils. They have long, fiery hair, wear glistening breastplates, and wield scintillating, ornate swords in both hands. Shuyarns can speak all languages, thanks to their at-will tongues ability (without that, they speak only Celestial).
Combat Shuyarns are far more likely to be seen teaching or instructing than fighting. If they do fight, shuyarns like to enter combat prepared for their foe—they hate being caught unawares. Most of the time, if surprised, a rune angel will teleport away, ready some appropriate runes, activate appropriate spell-like abilities, then return. Despite their skill with their magical swords, a favored tactic involves keeping to the air and relying on psychic blast and sorcerous blast to harm their enemies. Although they can be kindly and benevolent, once a shuyarn’s relationship with another creature reaches the point of violence, they rarely show mercy. Their attacks are swift and deadly. Runes (Sp): A shuyarn can create any rune except the ultimate rune as if it were an 18th-level runethane with a rune capacity of 36. A typical shuyarn normally has these runes currently inscribed: password-protected, invested rune of blasting on weapon (+20d6 points of fire damage with weapon on first strike, DC 28 Reflex save for half), rune of enrichment on weapon (add +1 luck bonus to attack and damage listed above), elemental rune (fire) on armor (fire resistance 10), rune of cheating death on self. This leaves the shuyarn with a rune capacity of 23.
