Khardra

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by James O'Rance

Medium-size Monstrous Humanoid, 4th-level Fighter
Hit Dice: 2d10+6 plus 4d10+12 (55 hp)
Initiative: +6 (Dex, Improved Initiative)
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 20 (+2 Dex, +8 natural)
Attacks: Quarterstaff +8/+8/+5 melee; or unarmed strike +10/+5 melee
Damage: Quarterstaff 1d6+6, unarmed strike 1d4+4 (subdual)
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Blending ceremony
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., death throe, disease immunity, low metabolism
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +6
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 17, Wis 13, Cha 17
Skills: Bluff +12, Hide +6, Jump +13, Listen +7, Move Silently +7, Search +8, Sense Motive +8, Spot +7, Swim +8, Tumble +6
Feats: Ambidexterity, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Improved Unarmed Attack, Iron Will, Mobility, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Specialisation (Quarterstaff)
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organisation: Solitary*
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Lawful evil
Advancement: —

* Khardra is a unique creature.

Khardra is nearly eight feet tall with the sleekly-muscled body of an athlete and greenish-grey skin. There is not a single hair on his body, and his entire head is crossed with jagged scars and long-healed burns. Khardra's eyes are striking—jet-black with white pupils. He wears simple peasant clothes and likes to charm and ingratiate himself with human commoners, Khardra has a fierce temper, an intense fury directed towards dragons, and a hatred of arcane magic.

Combat

Although Khardra is usually unarmoured and bears no weapon heavier than a plain quarterstaff, he is capable of greater violence than his equipment would suggest. Khardra fights with both ends of his quarterstaff, delivering a flurry of strikes and skillfully moving among combatants to focus on vulnerable or dangerous opponents. Even if disarmed Khardra's punches are unsually powerful, and his inhuman skin provides adequate protection from blows.

Blending Ceremony (Sp): Khardra can perform a one-hour ceremony with the goddess Artha, If uninterrupted, Khardra gains a +2 profane bonus to attack rolls and AC for 4d6 hours thereafter.

Death Throe (Su): When reduced to 0 hit points, Khardra's flesh shrivels on his bones and crumbles into dust, and then the bones explode for 1d6 damage within a 10 ft radius (Reflex negates, DC 16).

Disease Immunity (Ex): As a draconian, Khardra is immune to all natural diseases.

Low Metabolism (Ex): Khardra can survive on one-tenth the food and water it takes to sustain a human.

Khardra in the In Search of Dragons modules

Tarligor, a renegade from the Black Robes, attempted to create an enhanced draconian to find favour with the Dragon Highlords. In 344 AC, he successfully transformed a bozak into a new creature that he called Khardra, or "corrupt flesh." However, Khardra brutally killed Tarligor within mere hours and escaped. In 346 AC, Khardra met the demigoddess Artha, and they formed a close bond. They shared a mystical rite that allowed them to blend their spirits temprarily, an experience that Artha enjoyed.

An attack by metallic dragons resulted in Kharda's death, and the explosion of his draconian skeleton, in 354 AC. However, Artha seized his fleeing spirit and blended it with her own one last time. Although Khardra longed for the release of death, he was forced to endure painful treatments that would result in his rebirth. His resentmet of Artha grew into a consuming hatred, and upon his rebirth, Khardra wanted nothing more than her destruction. He turned to enemies of Artha in order to bring this about.

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