Earth Crystal

An earth crystal is a special stone imbued with a fragment of the personality of an intelligent creature from the Elemental Plane of Earth, manifested into physical form as a stone of the Material Plane. An earth crystal appears as a crystal shard about the size of a human hand, and ranges in type and color from that of agate and clear or rose quartz, to that of an amethyst or turquoise. Because it is an extension of the earth shaper’s affinity to earth magic, it always takes the form its master desires. Once chosen, it cannot be changed.

An earth crystal can float in the air at will and must remain within 1 to 3 feet of its master to continue to do so. When an earth shaper first acquires an earth crystal, he must hold it and then release it, whereupon it takes up a circling orbit 1d3 feet from his head. Thereafter, an earth crystal must be grasped or netted to separate it from its master. The master may voluntarily seize and stow an earth crystal (to keep it safe while he is sleeping, for example), or place it in a separate location (such as a nearby room) to eavesdrop or learn secret information.

An earth crystal is treated as a construct for the purposes of all effects that depend on its type.

An earth crystal grants special abilities to its master, as shown in the Earth Crystal Special Abilities section below. These special abilities and bonuses apply only when the master and the earth crystal are within 1 mile of each other.

Earth crystal abilities are based on the master’s levels in the wizard class. Levels from other classes do not count toward the master’s level for purposes of earth crystal abilities.

An earth crystal can speak Common and Terran, but cannot communicate verbally. An earth crystal can understand all other languages known by its master, but cannot speak them. This is a supernatural ability.

Earth Crystal Base Statistics

Earth crystals have the following base statistics.

XP 0

Diminutive construct (alignment as master)

Init +0 Senses sighted 40 ft., Perception +6 (+10)

DEFENSE

AC 16, 16 touch, 16 flat-footed (+2 natural, +4 size)

hp 1/2 master’s

Fort *, Ref *, Will * – * as master’s saves; Hardness 10

OFFENSE

Speed –

Melee –

Space 1 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

STATISTICS

Str –, Dex –, Con –, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 10

Base Attack –; CMB –; CMD –

Feats –

Skills Knowledge (planes) +3, Perception +6 (+10); Racial Modifiers +4 Perception (when in contact with the ground)

The earth crystal uses its base statistics, but with the following changes.

Hit Dice: For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, the earth crystal uses its master’s character level.

Hit Points: The earth crystal has half its master’s total hit points (not including temporary hit points), rounded down, regardless of its actual Hit Dice.

Saving Throws: The earth crystal uses its master’s base save. It doesn't share any of the other bonuses that its master might have on saves.

Skills: The earth crystal has no skills, but grants its master a bonus to all Knowledge (dungeoneering) and Knowledge (engineering; stone and earthen structures only) skill checks equal to 1/2 his earth shaper level.

Natural Armor Adjustment: The earth crystal has a base AC of 12 and gains a bonus to its natural armor equal to that of a wizard’s familiar of the earth shaper’s level (see the table below).

Construct Traits: The earth crystal has immunity to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, necromancy effects, mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects), and any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless it also works on objects or is harmless. It is not subject to non-lethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain. It cannot heal damage, but it can be repaired. Due to its crystline stone structure, an earth crystal also has immunity to acid, shatter, and any spell or affect that would alter the shape or composition of the crystal (such as transmute rock to mud). Earth crystals do not have the usual construct traits of darkvision and low-light vision, but do possess blindsense and tremorsense (see the Earth Crystal stat block).

Earth Crystal Special Abilities

All earth crystals have special abilities (or impart abilities to their masters) depending on the master's combined level (see the table in the Familiar Ability Description). The following abilities are granted by the earth crystal and may replace those normally granted by a familiar.

Alertness (Ex): While an earth crystal is within arm's reach, the master gains the Alertness feat.

Darkvision: The earth crystal grants its master darkvision out to 60 feet. If the master already has darkvision, it increases by an additional 30 feet.

Int: The earth crystal’s intelligence score.

Share Spells: The master may cast a spell with a target of “You” on his earth crystal (as a touch spell) instead of on himself. A master may cast spells on his earth crystal even if the spells do not normally affect earth crystal (bonded item).

Sighted (Ex): Although it has no physical sensory organs, an earth crystal can telepathically sense its environment as well as a creature with normal vision and hearing. Darkness (even supernatural darkness) is irrelevant, as are areas of supernatural silence, though a earth crystal still can’t discern invisible or ethereal beings. An earth crystal’s sighted range is 40 feet.

Stonecunning: The master gains a +2 bonus on Perception checks to notice unusual stonework, such as traps and hidden doors located in stone walls or floors. If the master already has stonecunning, this Perception bonus increases to +4. The master receives a check to notice such features whenever he passes within 10 feet of them, whether or not he is actively looking.

Telepathic Link (Su): The master has a telepathic link with his earth crystal out to a distance of up to 1 mile. The master cannot see through the earth crystal’s senses, but the two of them can communicate telepathically as if the earth crystal were the target of a telepathic bond spell cast by the master. For instance, an earth crystal placed in a distant room could relay the activities occurring in that room. Because of the telepathic link between n earth crystal and its master, the master has the same connection to an item or place that the earth crystal does. For instance, if his earth crystal has seen a room, the master can teleport into that room as if he has seen it too.

Earth Resistance (Ex): If the master is 3rd level or higher, he gains a+4 bonus on all saving throws against earth-based spells and effects while the earth crystal is in his possession.

Telepathic Speech (Ex): If the master is 5th level or higher, the earth crystal can communicate telepathically with any creature that has a language and is within 30 feet of the earth crystal, while the earth crystal is also within 1 mile of its master.

Speak with Stone (Ex): If the master is 7th level or higher, an earth crystal can communicate with stones as the speak with plant spell, but the crystal is limited to other stones, crystals, and rocks.

Flight (Su): If the master is 9th level or higher, he can, as a standard action, will his earth crystal to fly at a speed of 50 feet (poor). The earth crystal drifts gently to the ground after one day (or sooner, if the master desires).

Spell Resistance (Ex): If the master is 11th level or higher, an earth crystal gains spell resistance equal to the master's level + 5. To affect the earth crystal with a spell, another spellcaster must get a result on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) that equals or exceeds the earth crystal's spell resistance.

Scry on Crystal (Sp): If the master is 13th level or higher, he may scry on his earth crystal (as if casting the scrying spell) once per day.