Norn

This towering, stern woman wears her long blonde hair in braids. She carries a reel of golden thread and a pair of shears.

Norn (CR 18)

Large Fey
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Initiative: +16
Senses: All-Around Vision, Blindsight 120 feet, Low-Light Vision, Arcane Sight, Greater, True Seeing; Perception +30

Speed: 40 feet (30 feet with armor)
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 33, touch 21, flat-footed 31 (+7 armor, +2 Dex, +10 insight, +5 natural, -1 size)
Hit Points: 270 (20d6+200) Regeneration 10 (cold iron)
Saving Throws: Fort +18, Ref +18, Will +21; +8 vs. mind-affecting spells and effects; +4 vs. death spells and effects
fated, foresight, mind blank, never surprised or flat-footed
Damage Reduction: 15/cold iron
Immunity: cold, energy drain, negative energy
Energy Resistance: acid 30, electricity 30, fire 30
Spell Resistance: 29

Offense

Melee: shears +21/+21/+16 (1d8+12/15-20 plus Energy Drain), touch +11 (Energy Drain)
Reach: 10 feet

Special Attacks: Energy Drain (2 levels, DC 30), shift fate, snip thread

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 18th; Concentration +28):

• Constant- Death Ward, Foresight, Arcane Sight, Greater, Mind Blank, Tongues, True Seeing
  
  
• At Will- Bestow Curse (DC 23), Divination, Dispel Magic, Greater, Geas/Quest, Vision, Wind Walk (self only)
  
  
• 1/day- Maze, Moment of Prescience, quickened Phantasmal Killer (DC 24), Power Word Kill, Time Stop, Weird (DC 29)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
25 (+7)	14 (+2)	30 (+10)	21 (+5)	24 (+7)	31 (+10)

Base Attack Bonus: +10
CMB +18
CMD 40

Feats: Combat Reflexes, Diehard, Great Fortitude, Improved Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Improved Iron Will, Improved Lightning Reflexes, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (Phantasmal Killer)

Skills: Bluff +23, Craft (cloth) +18, Heal +11, Intimidate +30, Knowledge (all) +18, Perception +30, Perform (oratory) +18, Sense Motive +30, Use Magic Device +23

Languages: Common, Giant, Sylvan; tongues

Special Qualities: Change Shape (humanoid; alter self or giant form II)

Special Abilities

Fated (Su)

A norn adds her Charisma modifier as an insight bonus to AC and on initiative checks.

Shears (Su)

A norn's shears function as a +5 mithral keen speed scimitar, but only for a norn.

Shift Fate (Su)

As an immediate action, a norn can force any one target within 120 feet to reroll a saving throw-this ability must be used immediately after the saving throw is rolled, and the target must abide by the result of this second roll.

Snip Thread (Su)

As a standard action up to three times per day but no more often than once every 1d4 rounds, a norn may produce a golden thread linked to a creature's fate and then attempt to snip it short with her shears. The target creature must be within 120 feet and in the norn's line of sight. The target immediately takes 20d6 points of damage (Fortitude DC 30 half). If the target dies from this damage, the norn has cut through the thread-in this case, the target may only be restored to life via miracle, wish, or divine intervention. This is a death effect. The Save DC is Charisma-based.

Ecology

Environment: Cold Mountains
Organization: solitary, pair, or trio
Treasure: double (+3 hide armor, shears, golden thread worth 500 gp, other treasure)


Ancient beyond imagining, the norns are a race of powerful women who hold in their hands the physical manifestation of fate and destiny in the form of golden thread. They watch over all life, intervening with reluctance when called upon or with a vengeance when the strands of fate are twisted and abused by lesser beings.

Worshiped as gods by some, the norns do little to discourage this veneration. A norn stands 14 feet tall and weighs 800 pounds.