“Imagine the horror of a dozen angry squirrel-folk ready to cut you to pieces. Now, imagine them with a warlock’s eldritch might or a monk’s inner power.” (Lucano Volpe)
Some ratatosk use their knowledge of the planes to gain martial or magical abilities, either by exploring their own inner power or else by forging a pact with the spiritual might of the World Tree
Way of the Clawed Acorn
Utilizing secret techniques stolen from the Eastern Lands of Midgard, some ratatosk learn to harness the power of ki. The Clawed Acorn Order is a loose community of martial artists usually denoted by the braided headbands worn by members.
Ratatosk Monk
Tiny celestial, chaotic neutral
Armor Class 15 (unarmored defense)
Hit Points 87 (25d4 + 25)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
4(−3) | 18(+4) | 12(+1) | 17(+3) | 12(+1) | 16(+3) |
Saving Throws Wis +6, Cha +6
Skills Deception +6, Persuasion +6, Stealth +7
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Celestial, Common; telepathy 100 ft.
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Ki Power. The ratatosk monk has a pool of martial power represented by 4 ki points. These points can be spent to activate their Martial Maneuvers.
Martial Maneuver. Once per turn, when the ratatosk monk hits a target with their unarmed strike or gore attack, they can spend ki points to add one of the following effects to the attack. Unless indicated, each maneuver costs 1 ki point. Succeeding at the saving throw listed for a maneuver negates the effect but not the damage from the initial attack.
- Apprehensive. The target has disadvantage on all attack rolls until the start of the monk’s next turn (DC 14 Charisma).
- Confused. The target is affected as if by a confusion spell until the start of the monk’s next turn (DC 14 Wisdom).
- Disarmed. An object, weapon, or item held by the target is knocked 10 feet away (DC 14 Strength).
- Knockdown. The target falls prone (DC 14 Dexterity).
- Stun (Costs 3 Ki Points). The target is stunned until the start of the monk’s next turn. (DC 14 Constitution)
Unarmored Defense. While the ratatosk monk is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, their AC includes their Wisdom modifier.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The ratatosk monk makes two unarmed attacks or one unarmed attack and one gore attack.
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 bludgeoning damage plus 21 (6d6) psychic damage.
Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) psychic damage, and the target must make a successful DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 round. While charmed in this way, the creature regards one randomly determined ally as a foe.
REACTIONS
Kinetic Recovery. If the ratatosk monk begins a turn with no ki points and is hit with a melee or ranged weapon attack, the monk gains 1 ki point.
World Tree Bound Warlock
Many ratatosk believe Yggdrasil possesses a spirit, or a living energy, and worship it as a deity in its own right. Some, however, take this adoration further, fusing their souls to the World Tree with a binding pact. These fanatical squirrel-folk defend Yggdrasil from all threats, both actual and perceived.
Ratatosk Warlock
Tiny celestial, chaotic neutral
Armor Class 17 (Armor of Shadows)
Hit Points 63 (18d4 + 18)
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
4(−3) | 18(+4) | 12(+1) | 17(+3) | 10(+0) | 18(+4) |
Saving Throws Wis +4, Cha +8
Skills Deception +8, Persuasion +8, Perception +4
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Celestial, Common; telepathy 100 ft.
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)
Innate Spellcasting. The ratatosk’s spellcasting attribute is Charisma (save DC 14). It can innately cast the following spells without requiring material or somatic components:
- At will: animal messenger, message, vicious mockery
- 1/day each: commune, mirror image
- 3/day each: sending, suggestion
Invocations. The ratatosk warlock knows the following warlock invocations: agonizing blast, armor of shadows, mask of many faces, misty visions, and one with shadows.
Skitter. The ratatosk can take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action on each of their turns.
Spellcasting. The ratatosk warlock is an 11th-level spellcaster. Their spellcasting attribute is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). They have two 5th-level spell slots, which they regain after finishing a short or long rest, and know the following warlock spells:
- Cantrips (at will): eldritch blast, hobble*, minor illusion, pummelstone*
- 1st level: hellish rebuke, twist the skein*
- 2nd level: hold person, thorn cage*
- 3rd level: dispel magic, phase bolt*
- 4th level: banishment, power word: pain*
- 5th level: hold monster, exsanguinate*
* see Deep Magic
ACTIONS
Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) psychic damage, and the target must make a successful DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 round. While charmed in this way, the creature regards one randomly determined ally as a foe.
Yggdrasil’s Wrath (recharge 5–6). Up to six creatures within 60 feet that the ratatosk warlock can see must make DC 16 Dexterity saving throws as spear-like tree roots explode out of the ground beneath them. On a failure, the creature takes 28 (8d6) piercing damage and is restrained. On a success, the creature takes half as much damage and is not restrained. A restrained creature can use its action to make a DC 16 Strength check to free itself or another creature restrained by the roots.
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Pay heed! Next time we shall reveal some foes who threaten the ratatosk!
Until then, my friends, stay squirrely.
The post Ratatosk: New Squirrel-Folk Variants (Part Two) appeared first on Kobold Press.