Bestiary

Star of Serenity- by T.A. Saunders, written S.A. Robles ©2017 v1.0

Stats Description To describe a Star of Serenity is difficult due to their inclination to mask their presence on the Material Plane, however there are written accounts based off of corpses or the occasional few who return to the Bright Heavens. While traversing the Material Plane they occasionally leave glimpses of silvery-hued wind in their wake, evidence of their numerous appendages.

While sometimes debated amongst scholars, common thought is that a Star of Serenity has five impossibly thin limbs that radiate from an equally minute body; a sailor who returned from the dead one described them as ‘Celestial Jellyfish’ due to their amorphous and fluid existence, little more than an organic yet flawlessly symmetrical pentagonal prism with a core-like sphere that radiates light akin to a rainbow. From each horizontal flat emerges a long and wispy coil that can, according to folklore, reach the horizon visible to a man standing beside it. While no dead specimen has ever lingered long enough on the Material Plane to be sure, it appears to be composed of a gelatinous substance; further proof of the sailor’s ‘Celestial Jellyfish’ description.

Lore Stars of Serenity are most often spoken of on Irys, where the Zissah will occasionally employ them for defense against both outsiders and Zissah who returned to the ways of the Lords of Chaos. While generally passive, there have been occasions where those they were instructed to pacify became so serene they ceased all motion; such is the punishment for those who resist the calm they provide with such ferocity.

As readily apparent by their physiology, they are completely alien and possess no method of complex communication with mortal beings, however they do accept telepathic commands from whomever summoned them, or whomever they were sent to protect. So long as these instructions coincide with the edicts of Serenity, they will be followed without hesitation.

Remaining invisible at almost all times, a Star of Serenity’s method of attack is a slow and steady approach until arriving within range of their target, followed by the dispersal of its tentacle-like appendages. Composed of an otherworldly substance, even being severed by an Infernium weapon will only delay these limbs’ regeneration briefly before they return to their objective. Typically, said objective is ‘Pacification’, which involves their complete constriction. (Constriction: Automatically overwhelm and render a single target useless after 1d4 rounds, the target may attempt a Strength Check at a -20% penalty to increase the number of rounds by 1 by sacrificing an attack).

Once the target is deprived of the ability to move, they begin to forcibly apply their gelatinous base to the pores. Upon entry to the bloodstream, it takes on an anesthetic property that will force a sense of serenity upon them. While it would normally be defined as ‘Pleasant’, Chaos-obsessed individuals might find themselves in agony: enough agony to cause sudden death by stroke. It’s been posited that Stars of Serenity are scarcely upset if such occurs. (Anesthetic Touch: Victim is permanently Stunned until receiving appropriate medical treatment for divine poisoning, heavily Chaotic individuals have a 5% flat chance to expire in a fit of agony, only usable after successful Constriction).

To defeat a Star of Serenity is a dubious venture that requires the destruction of their heart, however said heart is also the source of their serene nature; when damaged, they can descend into a destructive tantrum. Said rampage will never be leveled against those who they were meant to protect, but everything else is open game -- including their summoners’ allies. Their appendages will be spun around at supernatural speeds strong enough to cause sonic booms and splay bodies wide open if struck directly. (Pirouette: 1d4 hits to everything within 20' that can be dodged but not parried, adding a +1 to the number of attacks per hit to its heart. Critical Success results in Catastrophic Damage).