Mithril Cub
Contents
History[edit]
Description[edit]
The Mithril Cub is a very small mechanical, metallic bear with limited intelligence and personality. It can perform simple tasks at the command of its master. It can run and fetch things, open unstuck doors, relay simple messages, clean and mend, among other things. Because it has a Strength of 2, it can lift only 20 pounds or drag 100 pounds, and it weighs only 20 pounds. The mithril cub cannot attack in any way; it is never allowed an attack roll. The mithril cub also has many abilities that mimic spells.
The mithril cub is under its own control, and is never compelled to follow an order given to it by its master, except those given through its control box. It generally avoids actions which would put it into direct harm, such as swimming through lava or jumping onto the back of an orc, and avoids combat situations by disguising itself or hiding. It has a peculiar personality and sometimes attempts to tell stories of its life to those nearby, for no discernable reason, even if they were a part of the story themselves. It eats metal scraps and gets hungry for metal, but obediantly waits to be fed by its master without eating just any source of metal it can find. It understands little about the ways of humanoids, and often asks questions about why things are done, or makes strange suggestions.
Powers[edit]
- Minor Image - At will, the mithril cub produces the effects of the spell minor image, though it usually uses this ability only at personal range. It uses this ability at its own discretion. This is the only means by which the cub can communicate with others, by creating images above its head that describe what message it tries to convey. Sometimes it uses this ability to disguise itself as something non-metallic, or to confuse those who attack it.
- Repair - At will, the mithril cub can produce the effects of the mend spell, though it requires the cub to actually work at repairing the item (with no skill roll needed), which takes a full minute.
- Tinkering - The mithril cub can swallow bits of metals to use as raw materials, and using its internal mechanisms, craft small mundane metal items weighing no more than 5 lbs (such as arrowheads, nails, sling bullets, a sword pommel, etc). It uses its Craft (tinkering) skill for this ability. Once the item has been created, the mithril cub mysteriously produces the finished item to its master without revealing how it was acquired. Generally, the cub determines what to make by observing the needs of those around it, but sometimes makes small items that it just thinks look pretty. The mithril cub is in a continual state of tinkering away, creating new items without needing to concentrate on the activity, and without any of its other actions interfering with the process.
- Spark - The mithril cub can produce a small flame at will by creating a spark next to a self-generating flammable gas source (just like a lighter). This is a free action, and is usually done only when the need for a source of flame is observed.
- Communication - The mithril cub understands everything said by its master, in any language its master uses. However, the mithril cub cannot speak at all, and only understands one language (limited to languages which the cub hears its master commonly speak), which can be changed by using the cub's control box.
- Lamp - At will, the mithril cub can generate a half-circle or a focused 5' beam of light, just like a hooded lantern.
- Control Box - The cub has a control box, held by its owner. This has the ability to turn the cub on and off, as well as the following abilities:
- Status - The cub's control box monitors the condition of the cub, and the distance and direction to the cub, as the spell status with a continual duration.
- Smoke Cloud - #/day the mithril cub can duplicate the effects of obscuring mist by belching black smoke out of its vents.
- Hide the Way - #/day the mithril cub can follow its master, swiftly clearing away any visual evidence of the group (and the cub) passing that way, as the spell pass without trace, though the scent of those who passed is not masked in any way. This ability lasts 100 minutes.
- Slick Spot - #/day the mithril cub can create a slick area in any 5 ft. square immediately adjacent to the cub, with effects otherwise identical to the grease spell.
- Cub Burrow - At will, the mithril cub can burrow into the ground, creating in 30 minutes' time, the effects of the spell halfling burrow. If the cub stays within the burrow, it scoops out a pocket in a wall, allowing it to not be counted toward the total space used by creatures inside.
All abilities controlled by the mithril cub's control box are activated by its master as a move action, assuming that the control box is available (not packed away). These abilities are used at Caster Level 10, and require a standard action by the mithril cub.
Stats[edit]
Mithril Cub[edit]
Tiny Construct
Hit Dice: 8d10 (51 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 20 ft., burrow 5 ft., climb 10 ft.
AC: 21 (+2 size, +4 Dex, +5 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/-4
Attack: -
Space/Reach: 2.5 ft. / 0 ft.
Special Qualities: Self repair, hardness 15, construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +4
Abilities: Str 2, Dex 19, Con -, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 2
Skills Climb +12, Craft (tinkering) +15, Disguise +16, Hide +16, Move Silently +8, Search +1/+7
Feats: Run
Self Repair (Ex): The mithril cub is able to create body parts out of scrap metals. Generally, it can repair 1d6 hp/hour. If it has mithril or lots of other metals it can repair 2d6 hp/hour.
Skills: The mithril cub has a +8 bonus on Climb checks, and can always take 10 on any Climb check, even in stressful situations. It has a +8 bonus on Craft (tinkering) checks, which is uses to make small mundane items out of metal. The mithril cub uses its Dexterity bonus for Disguise checks, and can use this skill to form itself into any Tiny inanimate metallic object, for which it gains a +12 bonus. It gains a +4 bonus to Hide and Move Silently. When searching for pits and snares it gains a +6 bonus.
