General Rules: Monsters - Mana Symbiote

Mana Symbiote (adapted from Twisted Lore)
Fine Aberration

Hit Dice: ¼d8 (1 hit point)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 30 feet
Armor Class: 26 (+6 Dexterity, +8 size, +2 natural)
BAB/Grapple: +0/-12

Attack: Bite +14 melee (1d2-5, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing, 20 x2)

Full Attack: Bite +14 melee (1d2-5, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing, 20 x2)

Space/Reach: ½ feet by ½ feet/0 feet
Special Attacks: -

Special Qualities: Bond

Saves: Fortitude +0, Reflex +6, Will +4
Abilities: Str 1, Int 18, Wis 14, Dex 22, Con 11, Cha 14
Skills: Climb +11, Hide +22, Listen +12, Spot +12
Feats: Skill Augmentation (Listen and Spot), Weapon Finesse
Environment: Cold or temperate mountains
Organization: Solitary or cluster (2 - 24)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always lawful neutral
Advancement: ½ - 1 Hit Dice (Fine)

On their own, mana symbiotes are weak, harmless creatures, posing little to no threat to adventurers or other monsters. In the hands of a wizard, though, these creatures become much more formidable.

At first glance, wild mana symbiotes look like spiders and are approximately the size of a gnome's fist. The main body of the symbiote resembles a large, unblinking eye. Underneath this eye is a small mouth with two long fangs. When not bonded to a wizard, these creatures can be found living in large groups or clusters high in the mountains, although their tiny size and reclusive nature makes them difficult to locate. Mana symbiotes are at their most effective when bonded with an arcane spellcaster who prepares his spells. All mana symbiotes have spell-like powers that they cannot use on their own. When bonded with an arcane caster, however, these powers can be unleashed.

While most arcane spellcasters must find mana symbiotes in the wild and persuade them to form a symbiotic relationship, mages of the Collegium appear to have figured out a means of raising these creatures in captivity. While the blue robes and silver masks of the wizards of the guild are their most obvious calling cards, being bonded to a mana symbiote is one of the most useful, and such bonded symbioses are universal among full members of the Collegium.

All mana symbiotes can speak one of the common tongues of the Three Worlds, frequently Enslaic, Kansattish, Sûlic, or Rhadynnic. They generally choose only to speak with their host wizard or with other symbiotes in their cluster.

Combat
Wild mana symbiotes unattached to a host wizard are poor fighters and usually scatter if confronted by an attacker. If forced to fight, they will pounce as a group upon a foe, hoping to overwhelm it with their multiple biting attacks.

When bonded with a host, mana symbiotes cannot usually directly contribute to combat, and so their hosts take the lead in battle. They may, however, choose to provide tactical advice to their host.

Bond (Su): While mana symbiotes are all biologically similar, there are four subtypes wthin the species. The only difference between the four subtypes is in the different spell abilities they provide their arcane spellcasting hosts. All mana symbiote clusters are comprised of a single subtype, and symbiotes of different subtypes always fight to the death should they happen to encounter each other. The different subtypes of mana symbiotes are as follows:

• Offensive Subtype: When this symbiote subtype bonds with an arcane caster, it permanently takes up one of the caster's 1^st-level spell slots. In exchange for taking away that spell slot, the offensive mana symbiote gives its host the supernatural ability to cast magic missile at his caster level three times per day as a free action. This ability may not be used more than once per round. 40% of all mana symbiotes found in the wild are offensive symbiotes.


• Defensive Subtype: When this symbiote subtype bonds with an arcane caster, it permanently takes up one of the caster's 1^st-level spell slots. This symbiote subtype gives its host the supernatural ability to cast shield at his caster level three times per day as a free action. This ability may not be used more than once per round. 40% of all mana symbiotes found in the wild are defensive symbiotes.


• Scrying Subtype: When this symbiote subtype bonds with an arcane caster, it permanently takes up one of the caster's 4^th-level spell slots. This symbiote subtype gives its host the supernatural ability to cast scrying at his caster level twice times per day as a free action without the required focus. This ability may not be used more than once per round, and can only be used by a caster capable of casting 4^th-level arcane spells. 15% of all mana symbiotes found in the wild are scrying symbiotes.


• Transport Subtype: When this symbiote subtype bonds with an arcane caster, it permanently takes up one of the caster's 5^th-level spell slots. This symbiote subtype gives its host the supernatural ability to cast teleport at his caster level twice times per day as a free action without the required focus. This ability may not be used more than once per round, and can only be used by a caster capable of casting 5^th-level arcane spells. Theoretically, 5% of all mana symbiotes found in the wild should be transport symbiotes, but as a practical matter, they are only found bonded to members of the Navigator's Guild.

In addition to these spell-like powers, all mana symbiotes form a telepathic link with their hosts and are able to communicate with them constantly. The symbiotes are actually very personable and highly intelligent creatures, and the symbiotic partnership between symbiote and host typically turns into genuine friendship. Symbiotes are able to share their experiences and knowledge with their hosts and occasionally are able to act as a sort of advisor or sage.

To properly bond with an arcane caster, the mana symbiote must crawl onto the back of one of the caster's hands. Once in place, the symbiote bites into the caster's flesh. as long as the caster willingly allows and accepts the creature's bite, the mana symbiote slowly becomes part of the caster's physical body. Its legs disappear and merge with the wizard's veins, and its body merges into the host's flesh. Only its unblinking eye is left outside the caster's skin. This process of merging takes 1d4 rounds; at the end of the process, the host permanently loses 1 hit point but immediately receives all of the powers and abilities that the mana symbiote provides. Once bonded, both symbiote and host become permanently attached - the only way to separate the two is to kill one of them. If the host does not willingly choose to become one with the symbiote, the bite only causes normal damage and the symbiote cannot merge with the intended host.

Multiple mana symbiotes cannot merge with a single host. Mana symbiotes cannot merge with constructs, even living constructs, and cannot merge with undead casters: The chosen host must be a living being of flesh and blood.

Mana symbiotes cannot bond with arcane casters who cast their spells spontaneously, such as sorcerers. In fact, most mana symbiotes dislike sorcerers intensely. The reasons for this animosity are not entirely clear, but it is this animosity that has caused the widespread belief that mana symbiotes are a gnomish creation, endowed with this dislike of sorcerers as a means of preventing the alvari from appropriating this gnomish invention.

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