Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons® Players Handbook, Third Edition, published by Wizards of the Coast®.

The 23rd edition of the original Lord Erbian’s, verified by Imperial exchequer — accept no imitation. Surveying the Known Worlds and beyond since 4732. The foremost guide to dangerous and intriguing zoology, xenology and cryptoxenology, including beasts and aliens real, imagined and devilish. Don’t be taken in by false editions! Let theSample original andfile verified Lord Erbian’s mentor your purchase or safari!

Lord Erbian’s Stellar Bestiary is a collection of creatures for Fading Suns and Fading Suns: d20 space-fantasy roleplaying. It presents dual stats for each creature — both HDI’s Victory Point System and Wizards of the Coast’s d20 System. It includes alien beasts from all over the Known Worlds, the barbarian worlds and even Vau and Symbiot space.

Price: $20.00 FS #252

www.fading suns.com

Dungeons & Dragons® and Wizards of the Coast® are Registered Trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, and are used with Permission. Fading Suns is a trademark of Holistic Design, Inc. INTRODUCTION

Credits Authors: David Blank (Candeopluma), Alan Bryden (Big-EyedSample Bat, Bilge file Dark, Naked Snake, Red Sleeping Beauty Drone and Live- stock), Mathieu Farradou (Griffins, Madoc Giant Sea Tortoises, Psi-Crow, Regis), Sam Inabinet (Bolzeng, Flying Asp, GLO-OPF / GLE- EPF, Ground Troll, Kelet-i-Kurga: Kurgan Spirits, Kraken Spawn, Malignatian Husks, Needletongue Zipstrider, Rukh, Scarlet Whipwinder, T’ogh: The Wild Boar of Ungavorox, Tumblemound, Water-Dragon, Whip-Tailed Dragon-Fly, Zad-jang, Zlexong, Zumox), James Maliszewski (Annonne, Bandithen, Dhiarmada, Guernicabeast, H’haraniss, Mikhorana, Un’ualla), Bill Maxwell (Largo Strangleweed, Lawgiver, Scrup Monkey, Warp Rat), Paul Monteleoni (Avicenna’s Curse, Charybdocanth, Decian Crawler, Skell, Tagalath, Twerrin, Verigrim, Vulpanthrope, Walking Gargoyle), Sandra Schneider (Desert Bat, Rust Slug), Sheena Teed (Chauki Avenger, Keffa, Molad Bhenz, Nakuut, Sand Boryena, Texspider), Jay Verkuilen (Silicon Consuming Bacteria), Matt Wakefield & Mareen Goebel (Blushing Orchid, Fleshwing, Glimmerwraith, Huntsmen, Midian Vixen, Ruakar, Severan Angler, Shriva, Tethyan War Mink, Unicorn, Wechselbalg), Marin Welnicki (Fordanian Wraith, Rados), Gabriel Zarate (Aarlubeast, Apophis Dragon, Ashtati, Carib Lizard, Fosha g’maud, Tuktuvak, Ulik, Vuann)

Development: Bill Bridges and Andrew Greenberg

Art Direction: John Bridges

Art: John Bridges, Chris Howard, Sam Inabinet, Jason Waltrip, John Waltrip

©2002 by Holistic Design Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission of the publisher is expressly denied, except for the purpose of reviews. Fading Suns and Lord Erbian’s Stellar Bestiary are trademarks and copyrights of Holistic Design Inc.

The mention of or reference to any companies or products in these pages is not a challenge to the trademarks or copyrights concerned. Holistic Design Inc. 5295 Hwy 78, D-337 1 Printed in the US of A Stone Mountain, GA 30087 LORD ERBIAN’S STELLAR BESTIARY

Open Game Licensing Information The printing of Lord Erbian’s Stellar Bestiary is done under version 1.0a of the Open Gaming Licence and the d20 System Trademark License, d20 System Trademark Logo Guide and System Reference Document by permission from Wizards of the Coast®. This product requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons® Players Handbook, Third Edition, published by Wizards of the Coast®. Dungeons & Dragons® and Wizards of the Coast® are Registered Trademarks of Wizards of the Coast®, and are used with permission. “d20 System” and the “d20 System” logo are trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast® and are used according to the terms of the d20 System License, version 1.0a. A copy of this license can be found at www.wizards.com. Portions of Lord Erbian’s Stellar Bestiary are Open Game Content licensed with version 1.0a of the Open Game License (see below). Designation of Product Identity: All material other than game rules already considered Open Game Content is considered Product Identity as described in Section I(e) of the Open Game License v1.0a (see below). This includes, but is not limited to, any product identity designated as such in the Fading Suns: d20 rulebook, text appearing in a serifed or semi-serifed font (specifically Bernhard Modern, Caxton or Eterna), Fading Suns, all-non-historical characters, artifacts, creatures, occult powers, non-historical place names, events, plots, artwork, logos, trade dress, product names, and product lines. In addition, the following specific terms are considered Product Identity: Known Worlds, Passion Play, Second Republic, Phoenix Empire, Phoenix Throne, Merchant League, Universal Church of the Celestial Sun, Emperor Alexius, Hawkwood, Decados, Hazat, Li Halan, al-Malik, Urth Orthodox, Brother Battle, Eskatonic and Eskatonic Order, Avestite and Temple Avesti, Amalthean and Sanctuary Aeon, Voavenlohjun, Hesychast, Charioteer, Engineer, Scraver, Muster, Reeve, Yeoman, Vuldrok, Kurgan, Questing Knight, Order of the Phoenix, Imperial Cohort, Imperial Eye, Rook, Jakovian, Archon, Hidden Martyrs, Mutasih, Synecullum, Killroys, Harbingers, Penitent, Zebulon, Paulus, Lextius, Amalthea, Mantius, Maya, Horace, Hombor, Ven Lohji, Ur-Obun, Lojmaa, Ur-Ukar, Uryari, Vorox, Gannok, Shantor, Ascorbites, Hironem, Etyri, Oro’ym, Vau, G’nesh, Symbiot, Void Kraken, Anunnaki, Jumpgate, Soul Shard, firebird, synthsilk, stiffsynth, polymer knit, plasteel, hephaestium, mercurium, ceramsteel, skimmer, flitter, hopper, Wyrd, Urge, Hubris, Antinomy, Bharata zhoVeda, Graa, Iron Heel, Jox Kai Von, Jox Boxing, Koto, Mantok, Shaidan. Designation of Open Game Content: With the exception of Product Identity, text presented in the san-serifed Univers font is considered to be Open Game Content. All content from the System Reference Document (www.wizards.com/d20), or derived from the System Reference Document, is also Open Game Content. if you have questions= about the Open Game Content status of any material herein, please contact Holistic Design for clarification.

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Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with System Reference Document: Copyright 2001, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content. Lord Erbian’s Stellar Bestiary, Fading Suns: d20, and all related Product Identity 2 5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original mate- trademarks defined above, are Copyright 2002, Holistic Design, Inc. INTRODUCTION

Introduction to the 23rd Edition

Welcome to the newest edition of Lord Erbian’s, the authorita- tive reference work on the beastiology of the Known Worlds and Fading Suns: d20 beyond. Since Lord Edger Erbian Trusnikron first published his Many of the d20 System rules in this book refer to Holis- masterwork in 4732, the scholarly society he established to con- tic Design’s Fading Suns: d20 rulebook. That book introduces tinue his work of updating and compiling new data has endeavored many d20 System rules for roleplaying in the far-future space- to publish only the most factual legendry concerning the flora, fauna fantasy setting of Fading Suns. It is available in most hobby and other strange creatures of the Pancreator’s universe. Only the stores or online from Holistic Design at www.fadingsuns.com. most distinguished scholars across the Known Worlds are invited to join the Sabor Safari Society and act as advisory staff to the Lord Vi ctory Point System Size Erbian’s guide. They are admitted into the Grand Meeting Hall on Ratings Byzantium Secundus and there partake in vigorous discussionsSample file about creatures encountered on many worlds. The creatures in this bestiary are rated by the following The guide’s editors have followed Lord Erbian’s decree to pub- size categories: lish a new edition every 10 years, circumstances allowing. Many T (tiny — an insect), XS (extra small — a mouse), S (small times in the publication’s history, events conspired to keep editions — a rabbit), MS (medium small — a cat), L (large — a fox or from seeing print, whether it was the tumultuous decades of the dog), ML (medium large — a wolf), XL (extra large — a hu- Emperor Wars, during which time few communications were had man; see below), H (huge — a bear or horse), G (gigantic — a between Safari Society members, or the dark times of Theocrat brute), I (immense — a tank or triceratops), GA (gargantuan Halvor’s reign, when publication of the Stellar Bestiary was forbid- — a building or T-Rex), M (monumental — a large building, den by Church decree. Thankfully, the Church later rescinded its starship or brontosaurus) decree, recognizing the value such a reference work held to its own Most humanoids (XL) are also classified as either: dwarf missionaries. Indeed, many renowned missionaries have since filled (about 3 feet tall), short (4 feet tall), average (5 – 6 feet tall), the ranks of the Safari Society and have provided indispensable tall (7 feet tall), or giant (9-10 feet tall). Vorox are either XL eyewitness reports for the editors. giant-sized or Huge-sized beings. We hope this edition of the perennial guide, published in the Beastfriend Cohorts year 5002 UC (Urthish calendar), will prove as indispensable for Beastfriends have psychic relationships with a specific you as it has for our scholars. The Pancreator’s vast universe hosts animal, called a cohort. Certain beasts in this guide may act as many a strange creature, both sacred and profane. May the Empy- cohorts. They are identified by a category labeled “Wild Gift,” rean shine its grace on you in your encounters. explaining which abilities the beastfriend may borrow from his cohort.

3 LORD ERBIAN’S STELLAR BESTIARY

few instances have been recorded where an aarlubeast attempted Aarlubeast to steady sinking ships or even bear drowning crews to land, but Homeworld: Malignatius the frigid seas of Malignatius ensure a high mortality rate even Present Distribution: Malignatius only with an aarlubeast’s assistance. Type: Animalia (chordata, mammalia, cetacea) Aarlubeasts mate for life, and commonly bear a cub every five Role: Secondary carnivore years after a gestational period of 18 months. Young aarlubeasts do Size: 25 m (80 ft.) not nurse; they leave their parents immediately for the nearest coast. Weight: 90 tons There they subsist on coastal fish and other marine animals. These Habitat: Ocean; sublittoral to hadal zones young harass coastal communities for lappins, an indigenous Social Organization: Solitary while young, mated pairs when ma- Malignatian sea-mammal that is a domestic herd-beast for human- ture. ity. When they reach maturity, they return to the deep sea to exer- Description: The aarlubeast is a huge mammal of Malignatius’ seas. cise their mature diving capabilities and raid the oceanic trenches. It is instantly recognizable as one of the primary heraldic beasts of From their dissections, xenobiologists theorize that mature the world, analogous to the urroc of Ravenna or the Sheng-long of aarlubeasts feed on the animal life thriving around the rich volca- Icon. It is also of spiritual importance among the primitive pagan nic trenches along Malignatius’ ocean floor. The heat quickens their communities of the Malignatian frontier. During the Diaspora, the metabolic rate and induces the breeding cycle. Thus trips to aarlubeast came perilously close to extinction, but a rigorous the surface become infrequent, necessary only conservation program during the Second Republic pre- to replenish their enormous served the species. Their numbers have re- lung capacity. mained steady until recently, but now Commodity: The fat of an suffer from Decados resource-extrac- aarlubeast is a commercial ex- tion operations. port, used in the manufacture The aarlubeast bear the of wax and oil for industrial same basic fish-shape common products. A mature to aquatic animals on many aarlubeast’s raw carcass worlds, with certain distinc- might be worth a few hundred tive features. Most visually ob- firebirds. Trained whalers vious is the massive, spiral strip the flesh and sell the oil tooth protruding from its upper for 1000 firebirds. Addition- lip, reminiscent of the mythical ally, the aarlubeast’s frontal narwhale of Holy Terra. This horn has alchemical uses. “horn,” for so it appears, is of un- Sample file The horns are mere trinkets known function, but theories in the marketplaces of abound: intra-species territoriality, Malignatius, but off-world sexual selection, sea-floor digging and ice-breaking. More subtly, occultists might offer hundreds of firebirds to an enterprising mer- the animal also has unusually powerful forward flukes, such that chant. young individuals are capable of surprisingly quick movement on Vi ctory Points System Traits top of ice floes. Body: Str 23, Dex 6, End 34 As an aarlubeast matures, it develops photoluminescent abili- Mind: Wits 2, Per 8, Tech 0 ties, centered at an unusual gland at the back of its mouth. During Natural Skills: Dod 4, Fht 6, Obs 4, Vig 9 the Second Republic, this gland was the subject of some scientific Size: M curiousity, for photoluminescence was seldom found in so large a Movement: 26 m underwater; adults can no longer move on land. species. Interest waned when it was discovered that the aarlubeast’s Special: Photoluminescence (can illuminate area from gland in technique was not significantly different from that employed by mouth; used for night and abyssal vision), pressure resistant (can many abyssal animals, and had little commercial value. withstand water pressure even to the bottom of Malignatius’ deep- Behavior: The aarlubeast’s behavior has been the subject of a host est marine trenches). of misconceptions, including ill-temper, territoriality, bloodlust and Attacks: (STR bonus: +6) outright malice. It was not until the publication of Anthony Kashyap’s ATTACK INIT GOAL DMG groundbreaking anthropological study of the northern pagan peoples Horn 5 12 9 of Malignatius that another perspective gained popularity. The pa- Bite 5 13 8 gans viewed the aarlubeast as a trickster, intelligent and extremely Tail swipe 6 11 8 playful. Its penchant for attacking and sinking fishing boats could Armor: Thick skin (ARM 3d) be explained as curiousity and rambunctiousness. Their unusual Vitality: -10/-8/-6/-4/-2/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/ habit of attacking lappin herds and killing more than they ate was 0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0 explained as a willingness to share the kill with nearby humans. A 4 LORD ERBIAN’S STELLAR BESTIARY

d20 System Stats both for its brilliant coloration and its unpleasant nature. Standing Gargantuan Beast almost two meters tall and almost four meters long from head to Hit Dice: 8d12 + 32 (84 hp) tail, the existence of this beast was only confirmed just over two Initiative: 0 centuries ago. Prior to that, there were numerous reports of giant Speed: swim 50 ft. lizards on Severus that walked on two legs and hunted men as well AC: 14 (-2 from Dex, -4 size, +10 natural) as beasts. Of course, these reports came almost exclusively from Attacks: Horn +15 melee, bite +15 melee, tail +15 melee peasants, whose Decados overlords paid them little heed. Damage: Horn 2d6+9, bite 1d12+9, tail 1d10+9 All that changed when the noted big game hunter Sir Lionel Face/Reach: 20 ft. by 40 ft./10 ft. Alexandrovich de Botz, a servant of Countess Natalya Decados, killed Special Qualities: Photoluminescence, Pressure Resistant an annonne in 4796 and brought its carcass back to the court of his Saves: Fort +8, Ref +2, Will +2 mistress. It didn’t take long before other hunters descended on Abilities: Str 28, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 10 Severus, intent on killing or capturing these reptilian beasts for them- Skills: Swim + 20 selves. The ferocity and cunning of the annonne impressed some of Challenge Rating: 4 the more jaded members of House Decados, who quickly adopted Treasure: None the creatures as pets. At first, the practice was limited to Severan Alignment: Neutral Decados, but it gained wider currency in 4830, when Duke Gyorgi Advancement: None Decados took his stable of annonnes with him as he began his tour COMBAT of the Known Worlds. Many younger scions of the house looked Not an aggressive animal, an aarlubeast rarely fights to the upon Gyorgi as an arbiter of taste and fashion death. If attacked, it seeks to render its foe unable to pursue it and and aped his every move — right down to then make its own escape. having a pack of domesticated Photoluminescence (Ex): Creates as much light as the Il- annonnes. Since then, the practice has lumination theurgy light at DC 20; used for night and abyssal vi- become even more common, extending sion even to vassal houses of the Decados, such Pressure Resistant (Ex): Can withstand water pressure even as the Van Gelder. to the bottom of Malignatius’ deepest marine trenches Of course, “domesticated” is a rela- tive term when one is talking about Annonne large, pack-hunting lizards like the Homeworld: Severus annonnes. Though extraordinarily Present Distribution: Cadavus, Cadiz, Malignatius, Pandemonium cunning in their native environment (and Type: Animalia (chordata, reptilia) quite adaptable to others as well), these crea- Role: Carnivore Sampletures lackfile the intelligence necessary to be more than guard animals Size: 1.8 m (6 ft.) or curiosities in a menagerie. With their large heads full of flesh- Weight: 270 kg (600 lbs.) tearing teeth and quick moving fore claws, annonnes are hardly the Habitat: Temperate forests and grasslands stuff from which lovable companions are made. That’s exactly the Social Organization: Solitary, pair or point as far as the Decados are concerned, who have established pack (3-8) breeding facilities on several worlds beyond Severus, including Cadiz Description: The vicious annonne and Grail. These nobles point to several noteworthy incidents over is a large reptilian creature noted the years in which annonnes have foiled burglary and assassina- tion attempts as proof that the beasts are more than just a perverse affectation. However, few Decados are willing to discuss rumors of blood sports involving annonnes. Detractors accuse them of sponsoring everything from pit fights to elaborate hunts in which criminals are placed in a maze filled with annonnes and promised their freedom if they can escape alive. Whether true or not, these rumors speak to the general impression (held even by other noble houses) that keep- ing giant carnivorous reptiles has no place among the civilized folk of the Known Worlds. As usual, the Decados keep their own coun- sel. Behavior: The annonne is a dangerous hunter that uses its potent natural endowments to defeat even opponents much larger (or more intelligent) than itself. One secret of these beasts’ success is their ability to work together in packs of three to eight annonnes. Instinctually, they know how to act in concert to overcome an opponent’s advantages and corner him. Once trapped, annonnes 5