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Legacy of the Dragons
Squamous Lir Medium Humanoid Hit Dice: 6d8 (27 hp), dying/dead –1/–11 Initiative: +2 Speed: 30 feet AC: 17 (+2 Dexterity, +5 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 15 Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+4 Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d4) or spikestick +6 melee (1d8) Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d4) or spikestick +6 melee (1d8) Space/Reach: 5 feet/5 feet (Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet) Special Attacks: Spell-like abilities, earth template Special Qualities: Low-light vision Saves: Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +5 Abilities: Str 10, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 15, Wis 12, Cha 19 Skills: Concentration +9, Knowledge (history) +7, Knowledge (magic) +7, Listen +8, Sneak +9, Spellcraft +7 Feats: Blood as Power, Iron Will, Sense the Unseen, Weapon Finesse Environment: Warm or temperate plains Organization: Solitary, pair, or band (3–6) Challenge Rating: 3 Treasure: Standard Advancement: By character class Level Adjustment: +1 Squamous lir (singular and plural) vie with the slassans (see Chapter Four of The Diamond Throne) for the distinction of being the “ultimate legacy” of the dramojh. Unlike the slassans, however, these dramojh creations reject the path set out for them by their cruel masters. Long ago, the squamous lir learned that not all dragons were selfish and vile. They have since sought a better path. For this reason, they are sometimes called the “redeemed,” or even the “redeemed dramojh”—although the latter is wholly inaccurate. Some say it was the squamous lir that taught humans the rituals for transforming into mojh. This might be true. Squamous lir call mojh “vajel darr,” which in Draconic means “little brothers.” In any event, it is easy to see the resemblance. Squamous lir very much resemble mojh, but are even more inherently magical. Some of their inherent magical abilities are tied loosely to the earth, and the creatures have a close connection with stone and earth. Today, squamous lir have little contact with humans, mojh, or other humanoids. Most spend their long life spans seeking out dragons—specifically, nonmalevolent dragons. Many squamous lir have traveled to the Unknown West on this quest, but others seek their distant forebears in a far less straightforward manner. They search dramojh ruins, examine and interrogate creatures created by the dramojh, and study records of dramojh activities. These squamous lir researchers believe that within the activities and creations of
the dramojh lie some vital secret of the dragons who created them. They call this secret, whatever it is, the Legacy of the Dragons, and they believe it ties in with the land, the runechildren, and more. Unlike mojh, these humanoid creatures have genders and bear children through sexual reproduction. (The genderless nature of the mojh has more to do with their transformation than the necessities of their physiology.) They are long lived, with life spans of up to 500 years. Children, however, are rare, for few squamous lir take the time from their quest for the Legacy of the Dragons to bear and care for young. Squamous lir look a little like mojh—scaly-skinned, reptilian humanoids—except that their flesh is a reddishbrown color, and their heads are crested. The crest ranges from a golden yellow to a deep, blood-red. Squamous lir use spikesticks in combat, although they call the weapon a jiras and claim to have developed it on their own. They speak Common, Draconic, and Terran. A squamous lir is never Unbound, unless it is some aberrant outcast.
Combat Though most carry weapons to protect themselves (and all have a vicious bite), squamous lir prefer to use their spelllike abilities in a fight. While not particularly bloodthirsty, they recognize that sometimes conflict is necessary and would never shrink from defending themselves if threatened. Their magical abilities often have earth-and-stone visual effects. For example, when they cast magic armor, the armor takes a stony appearance. When they levitate, the spell tears away a small piece of the ground at their feet or summons a small rock, which they float atop. These are just visual effects—the spell-like abilities work just like the spells of the same name. All squamous lir are proficient with spikesticks. Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): A squamous lir can cast the following spells as a 5th-level mage blade: 3/day—earth burst, read mind, stone blast, stone shield†; 1/day—dispel magic, levitate, magic armor, magic weapon, sorcerous guise. The save DC against these spells is DC 14 + spell level. Earth Template (Su): All squamous lir can give their spells and even their spell-like abilities the earth spell template.
Squamous Lir Society Squamous lir live and work in very small groups and often in just pairs. Most focus on their quest for the Legacy of the Dragons and do not travel or communicate with others (even of their own kind) except as part of that quest. They recognize, however, that combat training and learning new spells can be vital to that quest, so many of them gain levels in character classes. While they have no government or hierarchy, squamous lir respect those of their kind with such training more than those without. (Likewise, they respect