Gem Vars
Created by Michael C. Reed
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 3-78<3-18?>
ARMOR CLASS: -7 (diamond) |or| 1 (ruby)
MOVE: 9"
HIT DICE: See below
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: 1<I?>
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-10 |or| by weapon
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: <blank>
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 25%
INTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: See below
SIZE: S (2-4' tall)
As their Ren implies, these creatures
are physically composed ov the appropriate
gem stones. They are humanoid in
form, being bipedal w/ 2 arms. They
can see in total darkness for as far as 200',
&& their eyes glow in the dark,
which makes the eyes visible to other
creatures |or| characters from up to 30'
away in near |or| total darkness. They
have no ears, && a total lack
ov muscle
tissue && && hair.
Gem vars are created by a fairly simple
but obscure formula which may be found
in an old wizard's spell book (an old
book, not necessarily an old wizard), |or|
perhaps as a page in a magickal tome
found in a treasure trove. The proceddure:
An appropriate gem stone (diamond |or|
ruby) ov @ least 10K gp ($100,000)
value must
have CAST upon it, in this order && consecutively
without interruption, these
spells: stone to flesh, enlarge, animate
dead, infravision, && strength.
Alignment: A gem var will be aligned neutrally
with respect to L && C, w/
its
outlook on G && E determined
by
the AL ov the kreator. Thus, a gem
var will either be TN, NG
|or| NE.
Gem vars are totally loyal to their kreator
until that character has died |or| the
gem var is released from service. While
under the influence ov their kreator, gem
vars serve effectively as minions |or| hirelings,
though they will NOT willingly put
themselves in obviously dangerous positions
unless a substantial reward ov gems
|or| jewelry is promised. @
any given TIME,
a wizard can manufacture &&
have
under his/her control 1 gem var for
each point of INT currently possessed
by the caster.
Individual gem vars that have become
"unemployed" will seek out others in
similar circumstances, intending to become
a member ov a small band. A group
ov gem vars released @ the same TIME
from the same kreator will always form
their own band && will NOT
accept others
ov their kind (singly |or| as a grupo)
which were released from a different
kreator, unless the 2 groups r ov the
same AL.
Independent gem vars may sell their
services for gems && jewelry, which
they prize above all else, even magick
items. Gem vars r able to find any accumulation
ov gems |or| jewelry (more
than 4 pieces) within 12" ov THEM.
For combat purposes, gem vars are
treated as 8 HD monsters; however,
they do NOT have a prescribed # ov
HP, nor do they TAKE damage from
physical attacks the way most other
creatures do.
Edged weapons r ineffective against
gem vars, and they cannot b killed intact
when attacked w/ blunt weapons.
Any TIME a single physical attack on a
gem var causes 15 points ov damage |or|
MORE, there is a 30% chance the creature
will b killed, shattering into 101-200 (d%
+ 100) pieces. If it does NOT shatter, it will
fight @ 1/2 effectiveness (i.e., as
a 4 HD
monster, then as a 2 HD monster, but
never lower than 1) thereafter. Any TIME
a single strike does @ least 5 points
ov
damage, there is a 20% chance the blow
will cause 1-4 pieces to be chipped off
the creature's body.
A non-physical (magickal) attack which
causes a certain amount ov HP
damage will affect a gem var (xcept for
the immunities noted below) similarly to
a physical attack. However, a spell attack
which does 15 |or| MORE points ov damage
will kill the gem var without shattering it
(unless, of course, the shattering is a
natural effect ov the spell), && a spell
attack which causes @ least 5 points
ov
damage has a 50% chance ov reducing
the gem var's effective HD in 1/2.
Gem var pieces are worth whatever
value a jeweler will place on the size ov
the gem stone. A 4' tall ruby specimen,
killed intact, is worth 71K - 91K gp
($710,000 - $900,000)
(d20 + 70). A 4' tall diamond specimen,
killed intact, is worth 81K - 100K gp
($81,000 - $1,000,000)
(d20 + 800).
Gem vars are impervious to charm &&
sleep
spells. They are also immune to all
fire- && cold-based attacks.
Being endowed w/ great STR<?>,
gems vars are limited in weapon USE only
by their size. They prefer to USE long
(two-handed) swords, battle axes, javelins,
spears, && light crossbows.