Buy me a coffeeRakshasa, Dandasuka
This small creature looks like a well-dressed and jewelry-bedecked fiendish gnome, its face mostly mouth and fangs.
[This content was created for the Pathfinder rules by Paizo Publishing LLC and is part of the Pathfinder RPG product line.]
Dandasukas, also known as “biters” among rakshasas, serve as spies and assassins. They often appear as part of a rakshasa’s retinue or secret network. Born to manipulate and murder, they revel in their work and delight in the sight of blood. Thus, dandasukas go about their work cheerfully, laughing as they manipulate foes and butcher victims.
They are restless and energetic. They crave activity and entertainment, preferring the sick and cruel to conventional fare. Dandasuka pranks are rarely amusing for the victim.
Monstrous hunger gnaws at the hyperactive dandasuka’s body, making the creature crave humanoid flesh and blood. When such blood is spilled, a dandasuka is often not able to contain its fiendish appetite. It might lick a bloody blade, lap up fallen drops, or even take a bite out of a fallen foe at the expense of a more tactically sound option in a fight. A dandasuka settles for other meat when it must, but it always prefers humanoid flesh.
Murder and mayhem are not the only duties of a dandasuka. Stronger rakshasas dispatch dandasukas as emissaries and servants to allies. Despite their usual disorderly habits, they bargain good-naturedly and in good faith, only implying dire consequences for noncompliance. Dandasuka negotiators efficiently take care of impasses if no favorable resolution can be reached. Similarly, retainers serving rakshasa allies curb their fiendish ways as best they can, though their employers would still do well to keep them amused and fed. One has to be careful of keeping them too pleased, however, since they are known to take unwanted initiative because of off-hand remarks, such as idle wishes that a certain person were dead.
Dandasuka greed extends from amusements and food to wealth. All dandasukas love comfort, fine clothing, and shiny baubles. Most of them wear as much jewelry as they possibly can without looking ridiculous, and some cross that line. A dandasuka is 3 feet tall and weighs 55 pounds.
| Dandasuka CR 5 |
| XP 1,600 LE Small outsider (native, rakshasa, shapechanger) Init +4; Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +9 |
| DEFENSE |
| AC 19, touch 16, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dexterity, +1 Dodge, +3 natural, +1 size) hp 51 (6d10+18) Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +6 DR 5/good or piercing; SR 20 |
| OFFENSE |
| Speed 30 ft., Climb 20 ft. Melee bite +8 (1d6+1 plus bleed), 2 claws +8 (1d4+1) Special Attacks bleed 1d4, detect thoughts (DC 15), sneak attack +1d6 Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; Concentration +7) 1/day – clairaudience/clairvoyance Spells Known (CL 2nd; Concentration +4) 1st (7/day) – charm person (DC 13), ventriloquism (DC 13) 0 (at will) – bleed (DC 12), daze (DC 12), detect magic, ghost sound (DC 12), mage hand |
| STATISTICS |
| Strength 13, Dexterity 18, Constitution 16, Intelligence 13, Wisdom 12, Charisma 15 Base Atk +6; CMB +6; CMD 21 Feats Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack Skills Acrobatics +10, Bluff +15, Climb +10, Disguise +19, Perception +9, Sense Motive +10, Sleight of Hand +10, Stealth +17; Racial Modifiers +4 Bluff, +8 Disguise Languages Common, Infernal, Undercommon SQ change shape (any humanoid; alter self ) |
| SPECIAL ABILITIES |
| Spells A dandasuka casts arcane spells as a 2nd-level sorcerer. |
| ECOLOGY |
| Environment any Organization solitary, pair, or murder (3-10) Treasure standard |
Section 15: Copyright Notice – Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3, © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Jesse Benner, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Michael Kenway, Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, Chris Sims, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, and Russ Taylor, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.