Nomadic Shepherd - An encounter, an NPC, and an item

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miqued
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Nomadic Shepherd - An encounter, an NPC, and an item

Post by miqued »

Encounter
A solo elvish tune carries throughout the area, the sound of singing. Elvish speakers recognize a familiar hymnal beseeching good fortune and safe travels. As the singer gets closer, players may notice that nearby fauna do not seem disturbed by the song or the singer's approach. Players see a flock of sheep moving through the area with a human-looking shepherd at its center. Both sheep and shepherd are ordinary looking. The shepherd sings his hymnals, and the sheep follow his unheard commands as the group moves together through the area. The shepherd hails the party in whatever way appropriate for the region but has no intention of stopping unless the party initiates a more involved conversation.

NPC
Nomadic Shepherd
Armor Class: 13
HD: 6*
No. of Attacks: 1 crook +2 or spellcasting
Damage: 1d6+2
Movement: 30' Unarmored 40'
No. Appearing: 1
Save as: Cleric 6
Morale: 10
Treasure Type: None
XP: 555
Spells prepared
1st-level: Protection from Evil, Purify Food and Water
2nd-level: Charm Animal, Speak with Animals
3rd-level: Growth of Animals

The Nomadic Shepherd is a 6th-level human Cleric (or Druid, if a druid supplement is in use). He wears a loose-fitting wool garment that acts as leather armor (AC 13) and carries a magical quarterstaff. The shepherd is ordinary in most respects, is a devout follower of any deity of peace or nature, and, while he has a commanding presence, he is not physically imposing. While nomadic, he does not travel very distantly and stays in the same general region. He speaks Common and Elvish, he knows of most matters of happenstance of the wilderness he inhabits, and he is an expert in local flora and fauna. He knows of all but the most well-obscured locations of interest in the region, though he is not an adventurer and has no interest in exploring such places as dungeons and caves. He will not trade, sell, or give any sheep away, but he will sell a sack full of unprocessed wool for 5 silver pieces.

Above all, the shepherd values his sheep, and, if he or they are attacked, he will fight in defense while his sheep flee together in whichever direction has the least obstructions, trampling anything in the way. Once his sheep have gone several rounds of distance, he will activate his crook to teleport instantly to them, at which time the sheep will become calm and under his command again. Morale should be interpreted differently for the shepherd. He will always flee from combat only once he's sure his flock is a safe distance away, so a morale failure should be interpreted as the shepherd remaining to fight to the death regardless of his ability to flee.

Item
The Blessed Shepherd's Crook is a magical quarterstaff +2 that is only usable by Clerics or Druids.. The crook has a passive magical ability that cause up to 40 HD of a single type of herd animal within 100 yards to flock around the wielder. The wielder can then command the flock telepathically but only with simple commands ("go there", "stay here", " graze", "rest", etc.). If commanded to desert the shepherd (as in the encounter description above), the herd will stay together as much as is possible. The flock regards the wielder of the crook as friendly and will allow normal harvesting of any good produced by the animal, such as milk or fur. The animals will also allow the shepherd to slaughter them, but any abuse will cause the crook to curse the wielder. The flock will desert the area immediately, the crook will burn the flesh of the wielder any time contact is made (2d4 damage), and animals of the same type that were in the flock will forever stay at least 100 yards from the wielder even if their sight is obscured.

The Blessed Shepherd's Crook has an activated ability as well. Once per day, the wielder of the crook may teleport to the flock gathered by the crook's magic, up to 100 yards away. This power only works once a flock has gathered around the new shepherd at least once; the power won't work immediately after picking up the crook for the first time.
Mique D.
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