Manual of the Planes

matter at hand. They use alter self to appear as almost anyhumanoid—useful if they need to go undercover tocatch their quarry.CombatLike all inevitables, kolyaruts are patient enough to studya target before striking. They have a good idea of the dealbreaker’sabilities and defenses before they enter battle.When they fight, they try to get the conflict over as soonas possible, minimizing excess bloodshed and mayhem.They don’t let concern for innocents delay or endangertheir mission, however.A kolyarut’s favorite tactic is to use invisibility or alter selfto sneak close, then eliminate the quarry with vampirictouch before it can react. Kolyaruts have no compunctionsabout using their vampiric touch ability on alliesto increase their own power, if it helps them completetheir mission.Spell-Like Abilities: At will—alter self, discern lies, fear,hold person, invisibility, locate creature, suggestion; 1/day—hold monster, mark of justice; 1/week—geas/quest. Theseabilities are as the spells as cast by an 11th-level sorcerer(save DC = 13 + spell level).Vampiric Touch (Su): As a melee touch attack, a kolyarutcan drain life force from its foe, as the vampiric touchspell cast by a 10th-level sorcerer.Enervation Ray (Su): The kolyarut can fire a blackenervation ray at targets within 200 feet. This is identicalwith the enervation spell cast by a 10th-level sorcerer.MARUTMaruts represent the inevitability of death. They confrontthose who would try to deny the grave itself.Any who use unnatural means to extend their lifespan (such as a lich) could be targeted by a marut.Those who take extraordinary measures to cheat deathin some other way (such as sacrificing hundreds ofothers to keep oneself safe from a plague) might belabeled transgressors as well. Those who use magic toreverse death (raise dead spells, for example) aren’tworthy of a marut’s attention unless they do so repeatedlyor on a massive scale.A marut appears as an onyx statue garbed in goldenarmor. Disdaining weapons or other equipment, marutswalk surely and implacably toward their foes, never resting.CombatOnce it has found its target, a marut brings it the deathit has been trying to avoid. Those who defile deaththrough necromancy may instead receive a geas and/ormark of justice to enforce proper respect. It typically useswall of force to shut off any escape routes, then opens upwith chain lightning while it closes to melee range. Oncethere, it strikes with its massive fists, using circle of deathif beset by numbers of defenders. It hits spellcastingopponents with greater dispelling after greater dispellingand uses dimension door and locate creature to track downfoes who flee.Spell-Like Abilities: At will—circle of doom, dimensiondoor, dominate person, fear, greater dispelling, locate creature,true seeing; 1/day—chain lightning, circle of death, mark ofjustice, wall of force; 1/week—earthquake, geas/quest, planeshift. These abilities are as the spells as cast by a 14th-levelsorcerer (save DC = 14 + spell level).Fists of Thunder and Lightning (Su): The marut’sleft fist delivers a loud thunderclap whenever it hitssomething, dealing an additional 3d6 points of sonicdamage and deafening the target for 2d6 rounds (Fortitudesave DC 17 negates the deafness). The right fistdelivers a shock for an additional 3d6 points of electricitydamage, and the flash of lightning blinds thetarget for 2d6 rounds (Fortitude save DC 17 negatesthe blindness).MERCANELarge Outsider (Lawful)Hit Dice: 7d8+21 (52 hp)Initiative: +2 (Dex)Speed: 30 ft.AC: 15 (–1 size, +2 Dex, +4 natural)Attacks: Masterwork falchion +9/+4 meleeDamage: Falchion 2d4+3Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./10 ft.Special Qualities: SR 25, spell-like abilities, telepathySaves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +8Abilities: Str 15, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 20, Wis 17, Cha 15Skills: Appraise +19, Bluff +12, Diplomacy +16, GatherInformation +12, Innuendo +15, Intimidate +9, Knowledge(arcana) +15, Knowledge (the planes) +15, SenseMotive +13, Spot +9Feats: Expertise, Improved DisarmClimate/Terrain: Any land and undergroundOrganization: Company (1–4 mercanes and 3–18 5thlevelfighter bodyguards)Challenge Rating: 5Treasure: Double standardAlignment: Always lawful neutralAdvancement: By character classMercanes are extraplanar merchants, selling weapons,magic, and other treasures from plane to plane.They profess neutrality in the conflicts and rivalries ofthe planes, preferring to do their business and move on.But beneath the mercanes’ veneer of impartiality aremotives of their own, and they often hire adventurers toset their plans in motion.A mercane stands out in the most crowded bazaar. A12-foot tall, blue-skinned creature dressed in voluminousrobes, it moves with a slow, languid grace. Itshands are spidery and delicate, with an extra joint oneach finger.Each mercane speaks Abyssal, Celestial, Draconic,Infernal, and at least two other languages.CHAPTER 9:MONSTERS179