Category:Pale Morph: Difference between revisions

I threw open the door and saw a bizarre and eerie scene; the "room" was a vast gray plain, on which stood a number of pale and flimsy creatures like starving children. They squeaked and fluttered, leaping here and there and quickly merging (to my startled eyes) into walls, books, a table, a chair, forming at last (it took perhaps two heartbeats) my father's library. It was as if I had turned the light on a stage between acts and caught the stage-hands rearranging the scenery--if there existed any place in the waking world in which the stage-hands were the scenery.

From a purported journal of Dr. Gregory Illhousen written in the Nightmare Lands, purchased by the Great Library of Port-a-Lucine, 21 February 759

Pale Morph^[1]

Pale morphs are the lowliest of the dreamspawn. In dreamscape, they play the roles of distant figures and minor objects. They are poor at mimicking fine details, however. If a pale morph assumes the shape of an ancient tome, it might look fine at first glance, but a reader who flipped through its pages would discover them filled with unintelligible gibberish, not words. Pale morphs are the weakest of the dreamspawn that warp the dreamscape and alter their own forms to evoke the most terror possible terror in dreamers.

This creature was created by John Mangrum.

Mangrum's Pale Morph Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (the planes) can learn more about pale morphs. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

DC Result

11 This flitting entitiy is a spirit of elemental dream called a pale morph. This result reveals all elemental traits and the dream subtype. 16 Pale morphs are the weakest of all dream spawn. Pale morphs speak Oneiros, but they also understand all languages known to the dreamer. A pale morph can take the form of many lesser creature, and literally feeds on fear. 21 Hearing Oneiros lulls mortals to sleep. Dream spawn can absorb memories with a touch, gaining access to much of a dreamer’s knowledge and weakening the victim’s intellect. A pale morph’s quicksilver body is somewhat resistant to harm, but magic weapons can pierce its supernatural defenses. 26 Natural sunlight instantly destroys a pale morph. 31 Some spellcasters who specialize in dream magic acquire pale morphs for use as familiars. These creatures help their masters dream with great clarity and detail.

Pale Morph Statistics^[2]

Pale Morph (Lesser Dream Spawn) Tiny Elemental (Dream, Shapechanger) Hit Dice: 1d8+1 (5 hp) Initiative: +0 Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares) Armor Class: 13 (+2 size, +1 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13 Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–10 Attack: Claw +0 melee (1d2–2) Full Attack: 2 claws +0 melee (1d2–2) Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft. Special Attacks: Absorb memories, detect thoughts, lullaby Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/magic, darkvision 60 ft., elemental traits, fear eater, shapechange, sunlight vulnerability Saves: Fort +1, Ref +0, Will +2 Abilities: Str 7, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 4, Wis 10, Cha 11 Skills: Bluff +5, Disguise +11*, Hide +8, Move Silently +5, Sense Motive +1* Outcast Rating: 6 (–1 size, +3 appearance, +2 reputation, +1 beyond the pale, +1 unnatural powers) Feats: Weapon Finesse Environment: Dreamscapes Organization: Solitary, pair, gang (3–6), or pack (9–20) Challenge Rating: 1 Treasure: None Alignment: Usually neutral Advancement: 2–3 HD (Tiny); 4–6 HD (Small) Level Adjustment: +0 (improved familiar)

Pale morphs are the lowliest of the dream spawn. In dreamscapes, they play the roles of distant figures and minor objects. They are poor at mimicking fine details, however. If a pale morph assumes the shape of an ancient tome, it might look fine at first glance, but a reader who flipped through its pages would discover them filled with unintelligible gibberish, not words.

A pale morph is usually about the size of a cat. In its true form, its colorless body flows like liquid, seemingly struggling to maintain even a vague humanoid shape.

A pale morph is about 2 feet tall and weighs 10–15 pounds.

Combat Pale morphs follow the orders of more powerful dream spawn, attacking in whatever forms they have been assigned. In their true forms, they lash out with their claws, but usually just try to melt into the woodwork (sometimes literally).

Will saves against a pale morph’s absorb memories, detect thoughts, and lullaby abilities have a DC of 10.

Shapechange (Sp): A pale morph can assume the form of any creature with up to 1 Hit Die.

Sunlight Vulnerability (Ex): A pale morph exposed to natural sunlight (not just a daylight spell) is instantly slain. Its body vanishes in a puff of vapor, leaving no trace.

Pale Morph Familiars Spellcasters with the Improved Familiar feat can take a pale morph as a familiar. A pale morph has no innate ability to cross the Veil of Sleep, so it usually remains in the Region of Dreams, joining its master whenever she sleeps. The master can retrieve its familiar using dream travel spells or by journeying to the Nightmare Lands to physically recover it. Abber nomad shamans are the most common masters of pale morph familiars. A pale familiar grants its master a +3 bonus on Lucid Dreaming checks.

References