Thriae Dancer

This elegant half-woman, half-bee wields a glaive and is clad in flowing, gauzy garments. A veil covers most of her face, revealing only seductive, unnaturally beautiful eyes.

Thriae Dancer (CR 6)

Medium Monstrous Humanoid
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Initiative: +7
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet; Perception +10

Speed: 30 feet, Fly 60 feet (good)
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +6 natural)
Hit Points: 60 (8d10+16)
Saving Throws: Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +7; +4 vs. mind-affecting effects
Immunity: poison, sonic
Energy Resistance: acid 10

Offense

Melee: mwk glaive +12/+7 (1d10+3/x3), sting +10 (1d8+3)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: inspiring dance, poison

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th; Concentration +11):

• Constant- Detect Secret Doors
  
  
• At Will- Lullaby (DC 13)
  
  
• 3/day- Calm Emotions (DC 14), Charm Person (DC 14), Hypnotism (DC 14)
  
  
• 1/day- Deep Slumber (DC 16), Suggestion (DC 16)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
15 (+2)	16 (+3)	15 (+2)	12 (+1)	13 (+1)	16 (+3)

Base Attack Bonus: +8
CMB +10
CMD 23

Feats: Combat Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (Glaive)

Skills: Acrobatics +11, Diplomacy +11, Fly +11, Perception +10, Perform (dance) +11, Sleight of Hand +6, Stealth +12

Languages: Common, Thriae

Special Abilities

Inspiring Dance (Su)

Three times per day as a standard action, a thriae dancer can consume a dose of merope (honey from the thriae queen) to channel her connection to the natural world into an awe-inspiring dance. This dance may have a variety of effects depending on which of the following performances she chooses. Once she has begun, the thriae dancer may maintain her dance as a free action, and the effects of the dance persist as long as the thriae performs her dance. A thriae dancer can dance for a number of rounds equal to her Hit Dice before becoming fatigued. After that, if she continues dancing for that same number of rounds, she becomes exhausted. A thriae dancer may switch between performances as a swift action. Targets must be within 60 feet and able to see the thriae dancer in order to be affected by her dance. This is a mind-affecting effect. Dance of Fervor: This performance affects all non-thriae creatures within its range with the effects of both confusion and rage (Will DC 17 negates). When this effect ends, affected creatures are fatigued for a number of rounds equal to the length of time they were affected by the dance of fervor. A creature may not be affected by the same thriae dancer's dance of fervor more than once in 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based. Dance of Grace: This performance grants all thriae within its range (including the dancer) a +1 insight bonus to AC and on Reflex saving throws. This bonus increases to +2 if three or more thriae dancers are performing a dance of grace within range of the target. Dance of Passion: This performance grants all thriae within its range (including the dancer) a +1 insight bonus on attack and damage rolls. This bonus increases to +2 if three or more thriae dancers are performing a dance of passion within range of the target.

Poison (Ex)

Sting-injury; save Fort DC 16; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Str; cure 1 save.

Ecology

Environment: Any
Organization: solitary, duet, trio, or troupe (4-8)
Treasure: standard (mwk glaive, 3 doses of merope, other treasure)


For as stoic and pragmatic as the thriae may be, they do appreciate art, grace, and beauty. This is exemplified not only by their ornately crafted weapons, armor, and jewelry, but also by their renowned dancers. These talented individuals are the most honored performers of their race, and they grace the halls and temple chambers of every thriae colony. While all thriae can be considered the epitome of alien grace and charm, thriae dancers are always among the most beautiful of their kind. They are typically 6 feet tall and weigh 140 pounds.

Ecology

Other races may scoff at the fact that thriae dancers seemingly rely on merope consumption in order to channel their mystical power into their dances, but there is much more to this act than one might realize. A thriae dancer's reliance on merope to execute her awesome performances is akin to a ballerina's reliance on her specialized shoes-while a ballet can be performed without them, the final result lacks a certain amount of finish without this integral element. So too does a thriae dancer's use of merope enhance her performance, with the potent serum pushing her body to its utmost limits. As the merope courses through a dancer, she channels her mysterious art into a spiritual energy capable of thrusting viewers to previously unknown heights of pleasure, awe, and sorrow. It's true that thriae are a stoic, nigh-unflinching race, but in the middle of a thriae dancer's performance, it's rare to see any thriae witnesses unmoved by such a powerful spectacle.

Habitat & Society

Like all thriae, a dancer's role in the colony is chosen for her during adolescence, and she's thereafter cared for and trained by elder members from the same occupation until ready to perform on her own. A dancer's training takes many years of concentrated effort and tutelage from her superiors, during which time she's permitted to see no one but her fellow dancers. Thriae seers reason that dancers must be completely virginal in order for them to channel only the purest forms of nature's secrets. All training takes place within a special temple room in the thriae colony, where incense derived from merope is burned constantly to ensure the dancers' focus is sustained for hours on end.

Dancers train in troupes, and most performances are choreographed group pieces performed once a month in the colony's largest hall, with an audience of thriae from all parts of the colony and caste system. The buzz of wings and even the sound of twitching antennae become muted as thriae soldiers, seers, and workers eagerly witness the highly spiritual dance ceremony. Drones-those humanoid men inducted into thriae society-are not permitted to witness thriae dances, as to behold such beauty would surely drive them irreparably mad.

Only the most talented and coveted thriae dancers are permitted to perform alone-there's typically only one such dancer in the entire colony, though some colonies might host a pair of honored performers. The solo or duet performances of these honored individuals are considered sacred affairs, and are typically attended only by the queen and upper class thriae such as seers, royal consorts, and generals. Venerated by their peers, these dancers are known as thriae terpsichoreans, and occupy the upper echelons of thriae society. Thriae terpsichoreans typically have levels in bard, are at least CR 9, and have access to the following spell-like abilities: 3/day-heroism, suggestion; 1/day-zone of silence.