Nazgorean, Nehnite

Description

The term Nazgorean refers to any of a group of monstrous otherworldly creatures believed to be from a realm or dimension called Nazgor. Little is known about this realm or its inhabitants, but all that have been encountered so far share a few common traits.

In general, a being from Nazgor has a grayish cast to its skin, which is usually wet and slimy. It suffers damage when exposed to sunlight and/or dry air. Sunlight alone causes 1d4 points of damage per hour, as does dry air; exposure to both causes 1d8 points of damage per hour unless the being can periodically wet its skin and move into areas of shadow or darkness.

Nazgoreans are truly alien, so much so that their brains are effectively immune to all forms of Sleep, charm, or hold magic. Attempting to read the mind of a Nazgorean (via Detect Thoughts (ESP), for example) causes the character who made the attempt to make a saving throw or become confused (as the spell) for 2d6 rounds. Those which are apparently sentient cannot learn any normal language, nor is it generally possible for normal characters or creatures to learn their language (if indeed they have one; none have ever been witnessed engaging in any sort of conversation). Finally, they cannot perform magic in any normal way; even magic items that normally work for any character or creature will not function in their hands.

About the size of an average dog, a Nehnite has a segmented chitinous body similar to what one might see on certain spider or insect species. From this lower portion the nehnite's head, small manipulating arms, and hands can be extended to give the creature an almost centaur-like form. The similarity ends there as the upper portion resembles something like a slimy salamander or eel. This soft vulnerable portion (AC 9 [10]) can be fully retracted into the carapace (AC 5 [14]) when threatened, with only its alien face showing through.

A nehnite avoids combat, preferring to command other Nazgoreans to protect it, but if cornered may bite with its poisonous fangs. Those bitten must make a saving throw or suffer an additional 2d6 points of damage.

Like other Nazgoreans, nehnites have an alien intelligence which is impossible for others to understand, causing them to be immune to charm magic as well as Detect Thoughts (ESP) or any other form of mind-reading. Each can cast spells like a Magic-user, but with unfamiliar, even strange displays. For instance, one might produce a Fireball effect made of green lightning, or magic missiles in the form of acid globes.

Nehnites are fond of carrying wands; each has a 10% per hit die chance of owning one, and if one is indicated, another 5% per hit die chance of owning a second. Such a wand has a 75% chance of being of Nazgorean origin, and thus possibly unusable by a normal character. However, a nehnite can always use a wand of the more common type, even without knowing (or speaking!) the command word or words.

Nehnites can command certain other Nazgoreans. One is almost never found without some frogmen around to serve it, and occasionally one might encounter a powerful nehnite protected by a gray render.

Nehnites, like other outsiders from Nazgor, suffer damage when exposed to sunlight or dry air. Sunlight alone causes 1d4 points of damage per hour, as does dry air; exposure to both results in 1d8 points of damage per hour.

Source note: This creature is converted from The Basic Fantasy Field Guide of Creatures Malevolent and Benign – Omnibus Edition, 1st Edition Release 4, © 2010–2025 Chris Gonnerman, R. Kevin Smoot, James Lemon, Matt Sluis, and Contributors. The Basic Fantasy Field Guide textual material is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International; this page adapts that creature to White Box.

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