Eusker 5 (15)

Planar Bestiary

Though they use deception to disguise themself as a humanoid beggar, a eusker (often called an "eye taker" or "eye eater" by other creatures) soon reveals their fiendish nature when they decide they would rather have newly met strangers' eyes for themself.

A eusker is rarely without one or more eyes, stolen from a previous victim, that are magically embedded in their flesh. Because those eyes are consumed over time, more eyes are always required to keep them satisfied. The eyes of intelligent creatures are preferred.

Motive: Collect and consume eyes

Environment: Anywhere in the multiverse

Health: 25

Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (5 points)

Armor: 2

Movement: Short

Modifications: Perception as level 8; resists blinding effects as level 9

Combat: The eusker attacks twice each round with their claws.

Alternatively, they can attempt one of the following special attacks, once every few rounds.

• A target within short range that can see the eusker and fails an Intellect defense task does as the eusker asks (usually telepathically) either immediately, or within 8 hours if there is a trigger. Asking the target to stab themself, throw themself into lava, or do some other obviously harmful act ends the effect immediately.
• A target within short range that can see the eusker and fails an Intellect defense task falls unconscious for one minute. They wake up if they take any damage or if another creature uses their action to shake the sleeper awake.
• A target within short range that can see the eusker and fails an Intellect defense task becomes frightened of the eye eater and moves as far away as possible on subsequent turns. If the target moves to a place a long distance away from the eusker where they can no longer see the creature, the fear ends.

As part of another action, the eusker can scoop an eye from a corpse within immediate range. The eye stitches itself into the eusker's flesh and the eusker regains 5 points of health. Allies of the slain creature who see the eye of their comrade now part of the eusker are shaken, and their attacks against the eusker are hindered for about a minute.

Interaction: A eusker may lurk in shadows or pretend to be docile until they attack. Negotiation with an eye taker might be possible if a gift of eyes were offered. A eusker speaks several common languages.

Use: Refugees with no eyes arrive in town with stories of horror from a nearby village.

Loot: A eusker may carry a useful cypher or two, such as a ring of disarm or figurine of detonation (web).

GM Intrusion: A character that fails a Might defense task after taking damage from a eusker loses one eye. The eye is transferred to the eusker's flesh, blinking back at the victim. The victim's actions requiring sight are hindered for a few days until they adjust, or until magic is used to regenerate their lost eye.