Scarecrow Kindred-Class
An unofficial #Dolmenwood homebrew
What's more terrifying than encountering a brain-eating autumnal scarecrow on the road? Inviting one into your party. This is my stab at creating a custom kindred-class for Dolmenwood, and I chose the Scarecrow. It's not suitable for every party, in part because, like keeping something like a werewolf around, the party is in danger at least part of the year.
Anyway, I could use feedback on this. It's a strong class, lots of hit points. Closest I think to what a Dolmenwood barbarian might look like. It also levels slowly, like elves, but uses the breggle saving throw chart. If you know where I hang out, I've probably shared this there, and so you already know where to find me.
Prime Abilities Constitution and Charisma Hit Points 1d8 per level, +2 after Level 10 Combat Aptitude Martial Armour Any, including shields Weapons Any (favors primarily wooden weapons) Native Languages Woldish or the language(s) of whoever constructed them
Scarecrow adventurers are those rare scarecrows who are driven by their wanderlust to join up with other adventuring parties. They are fast to make friends and fierce defenders, though their half-year tendency toward either moroseness or outright dangerousness to an adventuring party makes them questionable companions at best. Like other animated scarecrows in Dolmenwood, scarecrow adventurers' alignments are bound by the seasons: lawful in spring and summer, chaotic in autumn, and neutral in winter. Scarecrows do not take adventurer classes but are proficient warriors. As pedlars of all manner of trinkets, scarecrows have a knack for being able to find or procure the right tool at a moment's notice.
Starting Equipment
Armour (roll 1d6): 1. Leather armour. 2. Leather armour + shield. 3. Chainmail. 4. Chainmail + shield. 5. Plate mail. 6. Plate mail + shield.
Weapons (roll 1d6 twice): 1-2. Club. 3. Sling + 20 stones. 4. Stave. 5-6. Shortsword.
Constructs
Scarecrows are animated constructs who can be killed, but they do not die naturally. They are immune to diseases of non-magical origin. They do not breathe or feel pain. Scarecrows also need neither rest nor nourishment, though they often appear to sleep and can eat, drink, and smoke to fit in with others.
Food for Thought
Scarecrows gain insights from consuming the brains of sentient creatures. They have a 1-in-6 chance of being able to identify any item, magical or mundane, that would otherwise require the services of a sage, herbalist, or other specialist. This chance increases by 1, to a maximum of 5, for each sentient brain they have consumed. The chance resets to 1-in-6 upon use.
Immune to Charm
Scarecrows are immune to charming runes, spells, and abilities.
Procurement Experts
Whenever a scarecrow forages, they have a chance of finding a random object instead of food or fungi. On a roll of 6, the scarecrow finds one item from the Miscellaneous Tools table.
Additionally, three times per day, a scarecrow may procure from their pouch any single mundane piece of adventuring gear, pipeleaf, food, or beverage worth 10 gold or less.
Seasonal Curse
In the autumn, scarecrows are compelled feed regularly on the brains of sentient creatures, a fact they usually hide from any companions. Each night during the autumn, an unrestrained scarecrow has a 1-in-6 chance of attacking the nearest sentient creature, including companions, which it will do as stealthily as possible.
Terrifying Gaze
At 3rd level, the scarecrow gains Terrifying Gaze as per the scarecrow monster block. The feature can be used a number of times per day depending on the scarecrow's level.
Scarecrow Advancement
| Level | XP | Hit Points | Attack | Gaze | Doom | Ray | Hold | Blast | Spell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1d8 | +1 | - | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 2 | 3,500 | +1d8 | +1 | - | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 3 | 7,000 | +1d8 | +2 | 1/day | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 4 | 14,000 | +1d8 | +3 | 1/day | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 5 | 28,000 | +1d8 | +3 | 1/day | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 6 | 56,000 | +1d8 | +4 | 2/day | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 7 | 112,000 | +1d8 | +5 | 2/day | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 8 | 224,000 | +1d8 | +5 | 3/day | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 9 | 450,000 | +1d8 | +6 | 3/day | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 10 | 620,000 | +1d8 | +7 | 4/day | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 790,000 | +2 | +7 | 4/day | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 12 | 960,000 | +2 | +8 | 4/day | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 13 | 1,130,000 | +2 | +9 | 5/day | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 14 | 1,300,000 | +2 | +9 | 5/day | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 15 | 1,470,000 | +2 | +10 | 5/day | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
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