Welcome back to another Frightful Fridays! This week’s #dungeon23 prompt was “childhood,” and I decided to design a childhood guardian, in the form of the protector bear construct. It may not be something PCs will typically encounter as an enemy, but it might prove to be a worthwhile short-term ally in adventures where the PCs are required to prevent attacks on the child of a powerful NPC, for example.
I hope you like the protector bear. I’ll see you next week with another #dungeon23-inspired creation!
A stuffed animal shaped like a two-legged bear stands guard over its young charge.
Protector Bear CR 1
XP 400
NG Tiny construct
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +3
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 size)
hp 16 (3d10)
Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +3
Immune construct traits; Resist acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee slam +1 (1d4–4)
Space 2–1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks smite evil 1/day (+1 attack, +3 damage)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 3th; concentration +4)
1/day—modify memory (DC 15), remove fear, sanctuary (DC 12)
STATISTICS
Str 2, Dex 15, Con —, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 13
Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 9
Feats Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes
Skills Intimidate +2, Perception +3, Sense Motive +3
Languages one language spoken by bonded creature (can’t speak other than a handful of preprogrammed phrases)
SQ freeze, guardian bond, heroic growth
ECOLOGY
Environment any land
Organization solitary
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Guardian Bond (Su) A protector bear is bonded to a creature. When within 5 feet of the bonded creature, the bear gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls and damage, and attacks against the bonded creature take a –2 penalty. As an immediate action when the bonded creature moves, the protector bear can move up to twice its base speed to move as close as possible to the bonded creature.
Heroic Growth (Sp) Once per day as a move action, a protector bear can increase its size to Small. The bear gains a +6 size bonus to Strength, a –2 penalty to Dexterity (to a minimum of 1), and a –1 penalty on attack rolls and AC. Additionally, its slam attack deals 1d6 damage. This effect lasts for 1 hour or until the bear ends it as a swift action.
The bear’s base statistics change as follows: AC 13, touch 13; Ref +4; Melee slam +3 (1d6–1); CMB +5; CMD 12.
Protector bears are related to golems, and spellcasters can create them in a similar manner, but the bears receive their animation from a volunteer celestial spirit. A protector bear may also spontaneously animate when a celestial decides to protect a child or other defenseless creature. The “protector bear” is somewhat of a misnomer, owing to the most common vessel, the humble teddy bear. However, these constructs can be any stuffed animal or toy, such as elephants, giraffes, goblins, or more unusual creatures like owlbears or bulettes.
Protector bears exist only to prevent harm to their bonded creatures and don’t follow orders from their creators or their bonded creatures. They use their abilities to keep their charges safe and stick close to their charges, becoming more adroit through their adjacency. After particularly traumatic experiences and to secure their secret identities, they smooth over or erase their charges’ memories. Some protector bears give up their secrets to bonded creatures who seem lonely, though, so they can act as companions to their wards.
Construction
A protector bear’s body does not require any special material and could simply comprise a tatty old stuffed animal belonging to the bonded creature. The body is treated with holy water and oils, which do no harm to it.
Protector Bear
CL 7th; Price 1,050 gp
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Construct, animate objects, lesser planar ally, remove fear, sanctuary, creator must be good and caster level 7th; Skill Craft (sculptures) DC 13; Cost 550 gp
PROTECTOR BEAR CREATURE 1
NG Tiny Construct
Perception +10; darkvision
Languages one language spoken by bonded creature (can’t speak other than a handful of preprogrammed phrases)
Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +4, Intimidation +6
Str –4, Dex +4, Con +0, Int –2, Wis +3, Cha +1
AC15; Fort +2, Ref +10, Will +7
HP 21; Immunities bleed, death effects, disease, doomed, drained, fatigued, healing, mental, necromancy, nonlethal attacks, paralyzed, poison, sickened, unconscious; Resistances acid 2, cold 2, electricity 2
Follow Bonded Creature [reaction] Trigger The protector bear’s bonded creature Strides. Effect The protector bear Strides up to double its Speed, and must end its movement as close as possible to the bonded creature.
Speed 20 feet
Melee [one-action] body +7, Damage 1d4+2 bludgeoning plus 1 persistent good
Occult Innate Spells DC 17; 4th modify memory; 2nd remove fear; 1st sanctuary
Guardian Bond A protector bear is bonded to a creature. When it is adjacent to the bonded creature, the bear gains a +1 status bonus on attack rolls and melee damage, and attacks against the bonded creature have a –1 status penalty.
Heroic Growth [one-action] (occult, transmutation) Once per day, the guardian bear can grow to size Small. Its reach increases to 5 feet, and it gains a +2 status bonus to melee damage.
Toy [one-action] (concentrate) Until the next time it acts, the protector bear appears to be an ordinary toy. It has an automatic result of 27 on Deception checks and DCs to pass as a toy.
Protector Bear
Tiny Construct, Neutral Good
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Armor Class 13
Hit Points 49 (9d4 + 27)
Speed 20 ft.
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STR 2 (–4), DEX 17 (+3), CON 16 (+3), INT 7 (–2), WIS 14 (+2), CHA 13 (+1)
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Damage Resistances acid, cold, lightning
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, unconscious
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages one language spoken by bonded creature (can’t speak other than a handful of preprogrammed phrases)
Challenge 1 (200 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
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Construct Nature. The protector bear doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.
False Appearance. While the protector bear remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an inanimate toy.
Guardian Bond. The protector bear is bonded to a creature. While within 5 feet of the bonded creature, the bear has advantage on its attack rolls, its slam attack deals 2 (1d4) extra damage, and attacks against the bonded creature have disadvantage. Additionally, when the bonded creature moves, the protector bear can use its reaction to take the Dash action, which it must use to move as close as possible to the bonded creature.
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Actions
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Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
Spellcasting. The protector bear casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 12):
1/day each: calm emotions, modify memory, sanctuary
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Bonus Actions
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Heroic Growth (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The protector bear grows to Small size for 1 hour or until it uses a bonus action to end this effect. While enlarged, the bear has advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws. Its slam attack deals 2 (1d4) extra damage.
Mythopoeic Rambling 