Etherclaw 3 (9)

Planar Bestiary

Etherclaws are hard to spot because they flit into and out of worlds of the Material Plane from the Border Ethereal only long enough to bite and claw their targets.

Elongated and hairless, etherclaws are catlike creatures with filmy wings that trail into Ethereal vapor. Some think them cute when the creatures are encountered napping or playing in one of their demiplane lairs. Indeed, a sated etherclaw is frolicsome, or given to naps, and may even seek physical touch, though usually only among their own kind. But when they become hungry, their underlying hunter instinct rises.

Capable of fast and maneuverable flight in any world, the etherclaw is already a deadly hunter. Add to that their ability to flit into and out of a demiplane or Material Plane world, biting and slashing targets as they come and go, and it's difficult to imagine a more perfect guerilla stalker.

The etherclaw's bite is especially dangerous. The wound begins to fester with particulates of disease bred in a host of odd dimensions. The bite poisons victims, and if left untreated, many succumb to disease. However, etherclaw prides are drawn to such prey, killing and consuming them long before victims must face the prospect of death by disease.

Motive: Hunting prey, playing, napping

Environment: The Ethereal Plane, demiplanes, worlds of the Material Plane along the Border Ethereal, alone or in a pride of up to ten

Health: 10

Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (6 points); see Combat

Movement: Short; short when climbing or flying

Modifications: Perception as level 5 (can see across the divide between the Border Ethereal and an overlapping area of a Material Plane world or demiplane); stealth as level 4

Combat: An etherclaw attacks twice each round, once with their bite and once with their claws. A bite victim takes 3 points of damage plus 3 points of damage from poison and must succeed on a Might defense task or be infected with a disease known as "sewer plague".

• SEWER PLAGUE DISEASE: An infected creature immediately descends one step on the damage track. Every ten to twelve hours, an infected creature that fails a difficulty 3 Might defense task descends another step on the damage track. On a successful task, the character ascends one step on the damage track. If a successful defense task makes the character hale, they recover from the disease.

An etherclaw can step into the Border Ethereal as their action. If already on the Border Ethereal, they can step into an overlapping Material Plane world or demiplane.

Interaction: Etherclaws are clever predators, about as smart as wolves. They range alone, but if particularly toothsome (or troublesome) prey is discovered, the pride is called with a plane-piercing screech. A few rounds later, two or more etherclaws emerge at once from what may seem like thin air to attack. If the hunt is successful, the pride drags the carcass back into the Border Ethereal and then to a nearby demiplane lair where all can feed.

Use: Explorers notice a pride of winged cats napping around the entrance to a structure they wish to explore.

GM Intrusion: The etherclaw paws a character's weapon or accessible piece of equipment, which falls into the Border Ethereal, becoming inaccessible.