Thriae Dancer

Medium Monstrous Humanoid, Lawful Neutral

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Armor Class: 17 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 85 (10d8 + 40)
Speed: 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	18 (+4)	18 (+4)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)

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Saving Throws: Dex +8, Con +8, Wis +6
Skills: Acrobatics +8, Perception +6, Performance +7, Stealth +8
Damage Resistances: Poison
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 16
Languages: Common, Thriae
Challenge: 6 (2,300 XP)
Proficiency Bonus: +3

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Actions

• Multiattack. The Thriae Dancer makes two attacks with its glaive.
• Glaive. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage.
• Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned in this way, the target takes 10 (3d6) poison damage at the start of each of its turns. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
• Inspiring Dance (Recharge 5–6). The Thriae Dancer performs an intricate dance, creating one of the following effects (choose one):
• Dance of Fervor: All creatures of the Dancer’s choice within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be affected by the confusion spell for 1 minute. Additionally, affected creatures are under the effect of the rage spell for the duration. The effect ends early if a creature is incapacitated or if the Dancer uses this ability again.
• Dance of Grace: All allies within 30 feet gain a +1 bonus to AC and Dexterity saving throws. This bonus increases to +2 if at least three Thriae Dancers are performing a Dance of Grace within range.
• Dance of Passion: All allies within 30 feet gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls. This bonus increases to +2 if at least three Thriae Dancers are performing a Dance of Passion within range.
• Hypnotic Gaze (1/Day). The Thriae Dancer can use its hypnotic abilities to charm a creature. One creature within 30 feet that can see the Dancer must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 hour. While charmed in this way, the creature is incapacitated and has a speed of 0. The charmed target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If the Dancer or its allies attack the charmed target, the effect ends.

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Reactions

• Deflect Attack. When a creature the Thriae Dancer can see attacks it with a melee weapon attack, it can use its reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. If the attack still hits, the Dancer takes half damage from the attack.

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Tactics

• Dance and Disrupt: The Thriae Dancer excels in disrupting enemy formations and supporting allies. It will use its Inspiring Dance abilities to turn the tide of battle, either by causing chaos among foes or bolstering its allies.
• Mobility: Utilize its superior flying speed to maintain a safe distance from melee combatants and reposition strategically. The ability to hover allows the Dancer to stay out of reach while continuing to influence the battlefield.
• Sting and Poison: Leverage its sting to deal significant damage and inflict poison, targeting high-value enemies or those trying to close the distance.
• Hypnotic Control: Use Hypnotic Gaze on key opponents to incapacitate them, especially if they pose a significant threat. Combine this with its dance abilities to maximize control over the battlefield.

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Description:

The Thriae Dancer is an elegant and formidable opponent, with a graceful appearance that belies its deadly combat prowess. Its body is a blend of humanoid and insectoid features, covered in iridescent scales and adorned with flowing garments that accentuate its fluid movements. With a blend of mesmerizing dances and potent poison, the Thriae Dancer not only charms and confuses its enemies but also supports its allies with strategic boosts and enchantments.

This elegant half-woman, half-bee wields a glaive and is clad in flowing, gauzy garments. A veil covers most of her face.

Thriae Dancer CR 6

XP 2,400
LN Medium monstrous humanoid
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect secret doors; Perception +10

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +6 natural)
hp 60 (8d10+16)
Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +7; +4 vs. mind–affecting effects
Immune poison, sonic; Resist acid 10

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)
Melee mwk glaive +13/+8 (1d10+6/×3), sting +10 (1d8+2 plus poison)
Special Attacks inspiring dance, poison
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th; concentration +11)

Constant—detect secret doors
At will—lullaby (DC 13)
3/day—calm emotions (DC 15), charm person (DC 14), hypnotism (DC 14)
1/day—deep slumber (DC 16), suggestion (DC 15)

STATISTICS

Str 19, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 16
Base Atk +8; CMB +12; CMD 25
Feats Combat Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Multiattack
Skills Acrobatics +11, Diplomacy +11, Fly +11, Perception +10, Perform (dance) +11, Sleight of Hand +6, Stealth +12
Languages Common, Thriae

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Inspiring Dance (Su)

Three times per day as a standard action, a thriae dancer can consume a dose of merope and dance to create one of three effects. The thriae dancer may maintain her dance as a free action, and the effects persist as long as the thriae performs her dance.

A thriae dancer can dance for a number of rounds equal to her Hit Dice before becoming fatigued. After that, if she continues dancing for that same number of rounds, she becomes exhausted. A thriae dancer may switch between performances as a swift action. All dances have a range of 60 feet. This is a mind-affecting effect.

• Dance of Fervor: All non-thriae are affected by confusion and rage (Will DC 17 negates). When this effect ends, affected creatures are fatigued for a number of rounds equal to the time they were affected and are immune to that thriae dancer’s dance of fervor effect for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.
• Dance of Grace: All thriae gain a +1 insight bonus to AC and on Reflex saves. This bonus increases to +2 if three or more thriae dancers are performing a dance of grace within range.
• Dance of Passion: All thriae gain a +1 insight bonus on attack and damage rolls. This bonus increases to +2 if three or more thriae dancers are performing a dance of passion within range.

Poison (Ex)

Sting—injury; save Fort DC 16; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Str; cure 1 save.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary, duet, trio, or troupe (4–8)
Treasure standard (mwk glaive, 3 doses of royal jelly, other treasure)

For as stoic and pragmatic as the thriae may be, they do appreciate art, grace, and beauty. This is exemplified not only by their ornately crafted weapons, armor, and jewelry, but also by their renowned dancers. These talented individuals are the most honored performers of their race, and they grace the halls and temple chambers of every thriae colony.

While all thriae can be considered the epitome of alien grace and charm, thriae dancers are always among the most beautiful of their kind. They are typically 6 feet tall and weigh 140 pounds.

Ecology

Other races may scoff at the fact that thriae dancers seemingly rely on royal jelly consumption in order to channel their mystical power into their dances, but there is much more to this act than one might realize.

A thriae dancer’s reliance on royal jelly to execute her awesome performances is akin to a ballerina’s reliance on her specialized shoes—while a ballet can be performed without them, the final result lacks a certain amount of finish without this integral element. So too does a thriae dancer’s use of royal jelly enhance her performance, with the potent serum pushing her body to its utmost limits.

As the royal jelly courses through a dancer, she channels her mysterious art into a spiritual energy capable of thrusting viewers to previously unknown heights of pleasure, awe, and sorrow. It’s true that thriae are a stoic, nigh-unf linching race, but in the middle of a thriae dancer’s performance, it’s rare to see any thriae witnesses unmoved by such a powerful spectacle.

Habitat & Society

Like all thriae, a dancer’s role in the colony is chosen for her during adolescence, and she’s thereafter cared for and trained by elder members from the same occupation until ready to perform on her own. A dancer’s training takes many years of concentrated effort and tutelage from her superiors, during which time she’s permitted to see no one but her fellow dancers. Thriae seers reason that dancers must be completely virginal in order for them to channel only the purest forms of nature’s secrets. All training takes place within a special temple room in the thriae colony, where incense derived from royal jelly is burned constantly to ensure the dancers’ focus is sustained for hours on end.

Dancers train in troupes, and most performances are choreographed group pieces performed once a month in the colony’s largest hall, with an audience of thriae from all parts of the colony and caste system. The buzz of wings and even the sound of twitching antennae become muted as thriae soldiers, seers, and workers eagerly witness the highly spiritual dance ceremony.

Drones—those humanoid men inducted into thriae society—are not permitted to witness thriae dances, as to behold such beauty would surely drive them irreparably mad.

Only the most talented and coveted thriae dancers are permitted to perform alone—there’s typically only one such dancer in the entire colony, though some colonies might host a pair of honored performers. The solo or duet performances of these honored individuals are considered sacred affairs, and are typically attended only by the queen and upper class thriae such as seers, royal consorts, and generals.

Variants

Venerated by their peers, these dancers are known as thriae terpsichoreans, and occupy the upper echelons of thriae society.

Thriae terpsichoreans typically have levels in bard, are at least CR 9, and have access to the following spell-like abilities: 3/day—heroism, suggestion; 1/ day—zone of silence.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 5 © 2015, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, John Bennett, Logan Bonner, Creighton Broadhurst, Robert Brookes, Benjamin Bruck, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, Thurston Hillman, Eric Hindley, Joe Homes, James Jacobs, Amanda Hamon Kunz, Ben McFarland, Jason Nelson, Thom Phillips, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Alistair Rigg, Alex Riggs, David N. Ross, Wes Schneider, David Schwartz, Mark Seifter, Mike Shel, James L. Sutter, and Linda Zayas-Palmer.

Pathfinder Adventure Path #81: Shifting Sands © 2014, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Richard Pett, with Benjamin Bruck, Adam Daigle, Thurston Hillman, Michael McCarthy, Patrick Renie, Amber E. Scott, and Russ Taylor.