The Cloud that whispers
Perhaps a relative of the Skairai, the "cloud that whispers" is
the largest creature that flies. The beast consists of a huge
bladder, which it fills with hydrogen, by a process akin to that
which generates the fiery breath of dragons. Below the bladder hangs
the animal's body, from which dangle its greatly elongated forelimbs.
These end in cruel hooked claws, with which it snares its prey -
mostly birds, but anything which flies will serve. The creature gets
its name from its habit of lurking in clouds, where it is all but
invisible, since the great bladder which makes up most of its bulk is
nearly transparent. The cloud that whispers can reach up to 30 metres
in length and large ones can even hold small dragons aloft. There are
legends of heroes who have ridden the back of the cloud that whispers
into strange adventures. The cloud that whispers spends its whole
life in the sky, drifting from land to land, but if food is scarce,
they will sometimes descend at night, when the coolness of the air
makes it easier for them to hunt prey on the ground. They ballast
themselves for this by accumulating water from clouds in the bladder
until they are heavy enough to sink down. Once a meal is seized, they
dump the water and bound skywards. The water is taken in and released
by specialised pores that act as vents. The skin of the cloud that
whispers is tough, but a fire-based spell can still have quite an
effect on these monsters. It is said that the skyships of the
Artificers of Penume were inspired by the cloud that whispers.
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STR
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20
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-20
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DEX
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15
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+15
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CON
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15
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+10
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BOD
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16
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INT
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3
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-7
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EGO
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3
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-14
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PRE
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13
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+3
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COM
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8
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-1
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PD
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7
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ED
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3
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SPD
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3
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+5
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REC
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5
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END
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30
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STUN
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30
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+3
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Total
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-6
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OCV
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5
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DCV
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1
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ECV
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1
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POWERS
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20
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Flight 20" at 0 END, persistant, only by
drifting (-2)
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45
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30 points of growth, always on
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20
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1d6+1 HKA (21/2 d6 with STR)
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15
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Invisibility (to sight), always on, - only
partial (Normal PER roll reveals) (+1)
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45
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Resistant damage reduction : 1/2 (physical) 1/4
(Energy)
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3
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Meteorology 10-
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5
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+1" stretching (+4" with growth)
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153
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Total powers and skills
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147
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Total creature cost
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NOTES
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: +4 to others PER, -6" to KNB
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50 +
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DISADVANTAGES
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15
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Physical limit. No fine manipulation
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15
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Physical limit. Poorly mobile on ground (1/2
DCV)
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60
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Vulnerability. Triple damage from fire
attacks
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7
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Quietly-lurking-in-wait bonus
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