Ergotine

Originally Posted by belboz of the Giant in the Playground Forums.

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Ergot is a fungal parasite affecting grains such as rye, wheat, barley, and occasionally oats. Although some alchemists use ergot to create hallucinogenic preparations prized by mysitcs, wise farmers generally seek out and immediately destroy ergot-infected plants. The reasons are threefold: Ergot reduces grain yield, bread made from ergot-infected grain is powerfully toxic, causing terrifying hallucinations, tremors, and occasionally convulsions and death (a condition called “St. Anthony’s Fire”), and worst of all, ergot can attract the ergotine.

Ergotine (the term is both singular and plural) are malicious fairies attracted to ergot or ergot-infected plants. Ergotine, who are immune to the physically toxic effects of the fungus, travel in small caravans of brightly colored covered wagons to find and feast upon it. Inflamed with madness, they then go on the rampage, terrorizing and often killing any nearby.

An ergotine resembles an especially thin elf with very pale skin, hair the color and limp texture of corn silk, and bright yellow eyes. They dress in garishly bright clothing.

Ergotine speak common and sylvan.

Ergotine
Medium fey
Hit Dice	9d6 + 18 (49 HP)
Initiative	+4
Speed	30′ (6 squares), fly 30′ (perfect)
Armor Class	16 (+4 Dexterity, +2 deflection), touch 16, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple	+4/+5
Attack	short sword +8 melee (1d6 +1), Whip +8 melee (1d3 +1 non-lethal), or throwing axe +8 thrown (1d6 + 1)
Full attack	short sword +8 melee (1d6 +1), Whip +8 melee (1d3 +1 non-lethal), or throwing axe +8 thrown (1d6 + 1)
Space/Reach	5’/5′ (or by weapon type)
Special Attacks	Spell-like abilities
Special Qualities	Flight, Mad visions, Partial poison immunity, Ergot dependence, Damage reduction 10/cold iron, Low-Light Vision, Spell Resistance 18
Saves	Fort +5, Ref +10, Will +6
Abilities	Strength 12, Dexterity 19, Constitution 14, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 10, Charisma 15
Skills	Concentration +15, Escape Artist +17, Hide +15, Move Silently +16, Sense Motive +11 , Spot +11, Bluff +15
Feats	Combat Casting, Weapon Finesse, Dodge, Mobility
Environment	Temperate plains
Organization	Band (3-12)
Challenge Rating	7
Treasure	Standard
Alignment	Usually chaotic evil
Advancement	By character class
Level Adjustment	+5

Combat

Ergotine are swift and deadly fighters, usually preferring short swords, throwing axes, or Whips (which they use to trip and disarm their opponents). Bands of ergotine will usually have a mix of weapons. Perhaps more dangerous than their fighting prowess, however, are the illusions that they draw from their ergot-maddened minds.

Spell-like abilities:

An Ergotine has the following spell-like abilities. Caster level 7, saves Charisma-based.

• At will: ghost sound (DC 12), silent image (DC 13), ventriloquism (DC 13)
• 5x/day: blur, mirror image, hypnotic pattern (DC 14), minor image (DC 14)
• 3x/day: displacement, major image (DC 15)
• 1x/day: hallucinatory terrain (DC 16), phantasmal killer (DC 16), rainbow pattern (DC 16), shadow conjuration (DC 16)

Ergot dependence (ex): The spell-like abilities of ergotine depend upon the madness they achieve through the consumption of ergot. A delay or Neutralize poison spell, or a spell that cures insanity, will suppress their spell-like abilities until they consume more ergot. They will attempt to resist these spells, and do make saving throws even against those labeled “harmless.” Being cured of the ergot madness gives the ergotine a -2 penalty to Charisma and a +4 bonus to Wisdom.

Partial poison immunity (ex): Ergotine are immune to the negative physical effects of poisons, such as HP loss or physical ability damage. They still take mental ability damage from poisons.

Flight (su): Ergotine have no wings; their flight is supernatural in nature.

Mad visions (ex): Ergotine live in a world of wildly distorted sensations and mad hallucinations. Because of this, they cannot be dazzled, dazed, confused, fascinated, stunned, shaken, frightened, panicked, driven insane, or made to cower.