#Evolved Truesight

[captainkurosolaire]

~ Possessor ov' th' Sight ~

[paperanddice]

Image ID: Two pictures of game stat blocks for the draudnu. The first is for 5th Edition D&D and the second is for 13th Age. Full text is available below the read more. End ID.

Draudnu are a truly ancient form of demon, and exist in constant conflict with more “modern” fiends. They represent a time before mortals came in contact with the Abyss, when demons were primal monsters of pure destruction, and have never adapted and evolved over time. Filled with hatred toward the “impure” modern demons, with their forms and desires shaped by mortal fear and influence, they have no true place anywhere in existence and small numbers of them lay siege to all of reality in their fury. They slaughter other demons whenever possible, though they are not really strong enough to pose a threat to greater demons and so mostly just tear through lesser ones.

The primal horror of the draudnu burrows into the minds of other creatures, deeper than fear. Anyone who gazes upon a draudnu too closely feels a terrible dread of something getting planted deep into their body and soul. A horrible, squirming thing that they know is present and growing, feeding off of them. Someday it will drain them of everything they are, bursting forth in a violent, fatal birth and bringing a new evil into the world. Of course, nothing can detect this supposed parasite, and those few who know of draudnu and try to study them debate whether this is a real thing or just a psychosomatic creation of the ancient demon. Given that the magic required to drive out the conviction is the same kind that would likely be needed to strip out a demonic parasite however, none so far have been willing to hold onto this potential growth long enough to be entirely certain.

To see a draudnu is to see monsters almost entirely free of mortal expectations of what something living should look like. While balor, dretches, mariliths, and even nalfeshnee have portions of their form that look like animals or people, the draudnu predates all such beasts and instead draws from what may be pure chaos. It’s body is about the size of a human torso, between 3-5 feet, with three long legs that protrude from the top of its body with trilateral symmetry. These legs have two knees to allow them to rest on the ground below the draudnu’s dangling body, and despite this awkward arrangement of limbs the creature can move at exceptional speeds. At the “head” of its body it has a single, massive, red eye that swirls with strange patterns, which is surrounded by three arms tipped with bone hooks. It’s body is covered in thick hairs and diseased looking pustules that swirl with thick, noxious acid. When it stabs a creature with its bone hooked arms, it can slam the hook into the nearby ground or another surface and then break it off, leaving the creature impaled and trapped to the surface. The hook grows back near instantly, allowing the draudnu to keep fighting without any delay.

Originally from the 3.5 Monster Manual V. This post came out a week ago on my Patreon. If you want to get access to all my monster conversions early, as well as a spot on the Paper and Dice Discord server, consider backing me there!

5th Edition

Draudnu Medium fiend, chaotic evil Armor Class 17 (natural armor) Hit Points 153 (18d8 + 72) Speed 50 ft. Str 18 (+4) Dex 19 (+4) Con 18 (+4) Int 13 (+1) Wis 16 (+3) Cha 17 (+3) Saving Throws Dex +8, Wis +7, Cha +7 Skills Athletics +8 Damage Immunities acid, poison, psychic Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned Senses darkvision 120 ft., truesight 30 ft. passive Perception 13 Languages telepathy 100 ft. Challenge 10 (5900 XP) Acid Spray. When the draudnu takes damage of any type, each creature within 5 feet of the drednau takes 9 (2d8) acid damage. Magic Resistance. The draudnu has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Magic Weapons. The draudnu's weapon attacks are magical. Actions Multiattack. The draudnu can use its Implant Horror. It then makes three flesh hook attacks. Flesh Hook. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6+4) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or be restrained as the tip of the hook pins the creature to a surface within reach. This effect automatically fails if there is no available surface adjacent to the target. As a bonus action, a creature can make a DC 16 Strength check, ripping the hook free on a success, freeing the restrained creature but dealing 5 (1d10) damage to it. Alternatively, as an action a creature can make a DC 16 Wisdom (Medicine) check, removing the hook and freeing the restrained creature on a success. Implant Horror. Each creature of the draudnu's choice within 60 feet of the draudnu and able to see it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become convinced that something is growing inside of it. The creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks until cured by greater restoration, heal, or similar magic. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the draudnu's Implant Horror for the next 24 hours.

13th Age

Draudnu hate the Diabolist more than any other creature, as they view her influence upon demons as the ultimate example of how ancient demons have fallen. To be conjured and directed by a mortal, any mortal, is a shame they cannot abide. The Diabolist may actually team up with the kinds of do-gooders she normally laughs at when a new pack of draudnu show up and start shredding their way through her legions and weakening her control over her demonic summons.

Draudnu Triple-strength 5th level wrecker [demon] Initiative: +12 Flesh Hook +10 vs. AC (3 attacks) - 18 damage Natural Even Hit: The target is stuck (hard save ends, 16+). The target can gain a +5 bonus on the saving throw if it chooses to take 5 points of damage. C: Implant Horror +8 vs. MD (all nearby enemies) - The target is dazed (easy save ends, 6+) Natural 12+: The save against being dazed becomes normal (11+). Natural 16+: The save against being dazed becomes hard (16+). Natural 20: The target is instead dazed until the end of the battle. Limited Use: 1/round as a quick action. Once an enemy has been hit or missed by this attack, it cannot be targeted by this attack again during this battle. Acid Spray: When an enemy engaged with the draudnu attacks it, that enemy takes 5 acid damage. AC 20 PD 19 MD 17 HP 212

[astralsunset]

i could unpack my giant pile of stuff in the living room or i could hash out some hikari headcanons and one of those options means i can stay on my couch

[takeru] [daisuke] [miyako] [iori] [ken]

there are no bad pictures of hikari. either she has a sixth sense for when there’s a camera pointed in her direction or she’s just that photogenic, but there can be a blurry 3AM selfie that she’s barely in the frame of and she’ll still be looking flawless. it’s a mystery.

she makes a point to adopt the kind of cats that are sometimes seen as “less adoptable” - cats with FIV or three legs or neurological problems. it sucks that they’re so often overlooked and she loves giving them the good home they deserve.  

she and noriko end up going to the same college for elementary ed and room with each other. the first time it’s a total coincidence but they hit it off and live with each other for most of college. 

out of self-preservation, given her circumstances, she’s taught herself a lot about the occult and non-mainstream religions. has a healthy wariness of ouija boards and seances and the like, but also is a stickler about ~proper etiquette~.  

hikari is kind and generous and sweet and normally willing to let people borrow basically anything from her, from pens to much more expensive and important stuff, but try and take her pokemon yellow game from her on pain of D E A T H 

can and will sell you to satan for one corn chip strawberry ice cream.

gets some serious bedhead in the mornings, to the point where people look at her and taichi and joke about how they can suddenly see the family resemblance. 

she’s astonishingly good at poker and similar card games. her innocent face hides the fact that she can and will clean you out and will have a great time doing it. 

contrary to popular belief, would absolutely throw taichi under the bus for laughs in day to day life. her comedic timing is #goals. somehow nobody ever sees it coming even though it’s not exactly a rare occurrence.  

(that being said, try to throw him under the bus for something that’s not harmless and funny and she will e n d you. she’s very protective of her brother in her own way.)

hikari is well aware that she has some kind of supernatural power, and it unnerves her that she’s not sure of its limits. truesight, occasionally attracting eldritch horrors, the shenanigans she pulled in the sewers in Adventure where she lowkey evolved other people’s partners and the numemon worshipped her as some kind of deity - how far does it go, she wonders?

as much as she wants to know, she’s scared to find out. 

[captainkurosolaire]

So... I see now... To think, your Star diminished in guiding me to the path of fates How wrong I was Placed back to the orbit surrounding you I have found, your meanings. That these eyes that once held your image now Refract the shining brilliance you exhibited. These spectacles have unlocked their true purpose, A gaze to hold constellations.

[captainkurosolaire]

When ye think you’re done,              Set sights fer the stars                        Kismet reflects through.

[captainkurosolaire]

Winner’s Lose  - Budokai 2 ~ End

[/// ♫  Woke Up a Rebel ♫ \\\] [/// ♫  Nowhere to Run ♫ \\\] [/// ♫  My Name is Human ♫ \\\]

Shiro’s reinforced barrier would be pelted in drilling with these pesky katana’s coated in halite before the upheaval of a howl and an icy mist took over the Nobleman. Shards from randomly started to dart through like hail. Piercing a clone and vanquishing it before the Captain just sent his remaining. But constantly the hearing of Kuro being slain before the only remaining one was the Captain himself. He drew in stepping in, dodging and far more mobile. As the athletic and toned figure did cartwheels to evade being hit. His hand slipping on the sleet scooting and accidentally passing through with clumsiness landing before the Shiro hidden in the fog. Landing harshly before attempting a diagonal strike with the blackened blades or what we call, - Grade 2, crafted from wyvern obsidian into weaponized black-glass solely made for this encounter. He swiped only for a mirage Shiro to be instead swiped and broken.

Before Kuro felt the icy winds against his nape. The fog disappearing after taking out the illusion. Shiro infamous pair white gloves were removed before putting each crooked hand into half-opened palm fist that made his fingers come together like that of a dragon stance. He began channeling something powerfully and presenting his almighty influence. A shell of diamond coating around his already stellar defense. He was revealing the defense that was believed to be absolutely invulnerable to break. Staggering and hopping up with a careful kip up the Captain wide-open gazed and then snapped out of it. He’d remove his eye-patch. This was it. Where all his training was meant for by the Poro who guided his fallen Star in former. Passing and awakening his own. A bundle of rich concentrated aether came drawing out of him where he stored all the aether in his eye-patch at the cost of being partially blind. Truesight brought to the fold. But surely foresight couldn’t run away from this especially the field caused running to be dangerous. Instead the Captain walked towards the channeling Shiro. Before the torrent and massive release of a conjured serpentine icy dragon came gnarling in with a viscous force to attempt to swallow and freeze Kuro once and for all. The pirate lowly grinned before settling with determination. His eye obscured and arms came outwardly he was going to try holding it back -- seemingly. He’d grip to the sides of the ice-scales. His main Truesight eye began to reveal, Star-Sight. The evolved state, which opened a wormhole that was like a vortex that aided against anti-magic to the next stage. It’d begin swallowing one spell into the Captain’s system. It all came to timing. The mighty force clashed against as the Captain’s back hit the stadium outer ring with a thud. But the magical presence seemed to be lost suspiciously. His lips went blue, his internal body screamed in the coldness the eye that was holding back the magic felt the effects of whatever was absorbed. His skin became grayish pale and limbs grew heavy and slow. He was crashed below on the sleeted ground. The countdown began. Shiro would become halted and distracted as his fiance and child entered the stadium who wouldn’t question why his mighty attack didn’t do its full-effects, the countdown already ensured him a victory regardless. Surely the rebellious would fall like any other soul who’s ever rebelled, ten-feet often in crypts often. The Keeper was barely making out the sounds of what seemed like Rose delivering some huge news, the interference, raked against Shiro, as this wasn’t the time. The pirate’s rattled skull laughed knowing the transpired exchange. His instinctual prowess was more attuned from his wild-split soul, curved, carved into his flesh as forearm rune bindings. While the Noble struggled wondering in question why his betrothed stepped into the arena in a random swoop. She passed her farewells in a delivery message, this was her; goodbye, Shiro. - He made an error, the one who was noted to calculate every outcome and conceivable thing. He made a graveness with his sinned pride. Willingly to be so blinded to -win, win, win- he only saw that. He made a mercilessly, dishonorable blow directly to the Captain previously, even though it was a clone. The damage was done. It showed her the painted coloring of the character he hid behind closed gloss-doors. Though he didn’t hear that. His perception even now chewed at him, telling her to return to the stadium. Staying distracted and off-the-prize. The believed impregnable shield of made diamond stayed isolated and surrounding. The Noble even now stayed arrogant to his superiority. This was his weakness- his crack in his defenses. This is where it all stood barely visible and noticeable. But to a rogue... To a heathen. This is opportunity all to common of learning from a Ul’dah denizen. At a count of 9, the ruffian stood swiftly. He writ a sinister confident grin despite looking roughed up. His Truesight pupil gleamed and expanded his soul’s energy raising before spinning like a cogwheel then the predatory pupil spun into a setting Star. This was its unlocked and evolved state, his True Gift’s meaning. To hold and give the constellations or in this cased term the magic that Shiro unleashed previously, like a mirror. A worm hole began to flux around the eye before an incredible burst of aether shot directly out the Diamond Serpentine Dragon, came now bellowing out in matching aggression. Shiro instantly turned baffled and gasping his hands coming outwardly to extra support protecting and fortify. The speed of his most devastating attack colliding. Diamond against Diamond pinning against each-other the enforcement was intense. The pirate shot an uproar pitch, “What goes around, comes around! -- NOW!” He’d sprint directly with all his remaining stamina behind pulling out his wyvern obsidian blades. Then unleashed a flurry of blows in combinations behind the enforced stolen magic. Chipping, cracking, as the impossible was crumbling from momentous shakes, the big bad wolf was huffing and blowing the fort down. Shiro growled defiantly, tiny dents and the damage done was being sewn back but the pressure was unrelenting. He channeled back his full-frontal defenses but tried not to get devoured by his own draconian magic attack. A barbaric-figured Seeker drew out everything attacking his speed and pace increasing as the more he drew against and was denied his blades bouncing back against or slipping just indicating to strike more. He worked with a frenzy. His sweat and body combating against the arctic making freezing droplets against his skin. The formidable spell clashing and eventually would evaporated as Shiro eventually started absorbing but it was at an cost. That mongrel...                 He did it... That, who should not be. Collapsed in a heap drained and using it all. The countdown beginning. Shiro looked devastated and caught off-guard. His mouth agape. Silence befell before a sound of diamond glass and a barrier shattered and broke-form the delayed blows finally drawing to one point and combusting in a scenic dismay. Speechless... How did the gap close this far? How had the pirate who couldn’t do anything by himself finally overcome the immovable object. He dropped to a knee weakly. The audience going in an uproar as the one of the Free did the impossible and broke the Shield of the Orderly. Shiro staggered but managed to get back up in solid stance. Kuro remained unconscious a low-grin on his face. The referee officiating would shoot out at Ten. It was over, concluded... Which, yes, it’s true the pirate lost again. -- A battle. But this one was of Pride. And we saw what both competitors did with their Pride. The Noble became consumed and in actuality lost truly what mattered. His angelic love and child of dove, left him. He was not the victor here. The applauds of the others in his court, they did not bring him a sense of happiness or glee. Because deep-down when he turned his head. He saw the only two that mattered in attendance, were gone. They stepped out, his crown--weightless. Turned speechless. Before the rising of the Phoenix himself stood up as the crowd chanted. Shiro was unscratched physically. But his shield, broken. This was an omen. A wake-up call. “You won... But know... You’ll never win again anytime you fite me here on out. And if you’re wondering where they went. They told you during our battle, she’s done with you. You revealed what I always told you. Ye been ingrained to be perfect. To be so Grand, but in doin’ that froze yourselves limits, losin’ it all, ye lost senses, who cares if you got a big brain, if yer still capable of being a stupid-ass? Join the club, welcome to being a fuck-up, now you get to climb back and become someone worthy, or you get to watch everything burn.” The scoundrel fired back, beaten, bruised. It took every source and recent training to overcome this hurdle. He, the bold, vowed here, that there would not be another time he’d lose to this Lord. And dug descended to thoughts laid truth... If the Captain figured out the schematic here and was only continuing to grow because he found the Answers, those who surrounded and empowered him. That gave him value. His price would exceed to newer heights.

Shiro wouldn’t fire back verbally. Usually he did... Not now. He felt loss, defeated, humiliated. He was victorious. But... he wasn’t. How does one like the street-rat, have everything preserved upon obtaining, while he an Ishgardian Elite lost it all? This contest showed that winning doesn’t always bring guarantee happiness or peace. That a victor, can be a loser. Perfection... It’s a flaw

Behold... Beholder,

               For

       You are Humanity.

Previous Chapter

[un-enfant-immature]

Airvet, a telehealth veterinary platform, just clawed its way to a $14 million Series A round

Telemedicine is becoming more widely embraced by the day — and not just for humans. With a pet in roughly 65% of U.S. homes, there is now a dizzying number of companies enabling vets to meet with their furry patients remotely, including Petriage, Anipanion, TeleVet, Linkyvet, TeleTails, VetNOW, PawSquad, Vetoclock, and Petpro Connect.

One of these — a two-year-old, 13-person, L.A.-based startup called Airvet — unsurprisingly thinks it is the best among the bunch, and it has persuaded investors of as much. Today, the company is announcing $14 million in Series A funding led by Canvas Ventures, with participation by e.ventures, Burst Capital, Starting Line, TrueSight Ventures, Hawke Ventures, and Bracket Capital, as well as individual investors.

The pandemic played a role in Canvas’s decision, as did a smart model, suggests general partner Rebecca Lynn, who says she has looked at many telemedicine startups over the last 11 years and that she fell for Airvet after using the service for the animals that live on her own small farm. While vets were initially slow to embrace the shift to more telehealth visits, Airvet has “solved” some of the “objections unique to the space,” she says. Plus, “COVID has been a massive accelerant to adoption.”

We asked Airvet’s founder and CEO, Brandon Werber, to make the company’s case to us separately.

TC: Why start the company?

BW: My dad is one of the most well-known vets in the U.S. – celebrity vet Dr. Jeff Werber. We saw the impact that telehealth was making in the human world and wanted to bring the same access to and level of care we get for ourselves to our pets.Since I grew up in the pet space, I know it intimately and recognized a lot of inefficiencies in the delivery of care and how vets have been unable to meet the evolving expectations of pet owners.

TC: How are you connecting vets with their pet patients?

BW: We have two apps. One is for pet-owners to download to talk with a vet, and one is for vets to download to organize workflows and talk to their clients. We do not usurp any existing vet relationships. Instead, we partner with vet clinics and enable them to conduct telehealth visits and simultaneously enable pet-owners to have access to vets 24/7, even if they don’t live nearby a vet hospital.

A huge portion of pet owners in the US don’t even have a primary vet. For serious health issues like surgery, animals still need to go in-person, and network vets can even refer them. We’ve also seen Airvet used as curbside check-in, where pet-owners can chat and follow their pet’s in-person vet appointment via live video from the parking lot.

TC: I see there is a minimum charge of $30 per visit. How do you make this model work financially for vets?

BW: Vets view us as an additional revenue-generating tool on top of their base income. We don’t hire vets. Our network of 2,600+ vets are largely the same vets who use Airvet within their own hospital. They can decide at will, like an Uber drive, to swipe online to be part of the on-demand network and take calls from pet parents anywhere in the country to generate additional income.

TC: What have you learned from startups to try this model before?

BW: All the startups that came before us are not consumer-first and are just focused on building tools for vets, so their platforms cannot be used by every pet owner. Instead, they can only be used by pet owners whose own vets use that specific platform, which is a tiny fraction of vets and therefore a tiny fraction of pet parents.

TC: Do you have ancillary businesses? Beyond these vet visits, are you selling anything else?

BW: For now, just the vet visits, which range from a $30 minimum to higher, based on the vet and specialty. Over time, we have plans and partnerships lined up to expand into other pet health verticals.

A projected $99 billion will be spent on pets in the U.S. alone in 2020, and for us, telemedicine is only the beginning.

TC: Does Airvet involve specific practice management software?

BW: No. We provide the workflow layer enabling vets to schedule virtual appointments, which will soon be able to be fully integrated with their existing systems and workflows.

TC: When a customer calls a vet for $30, is there a time limit?

BW: There is no time limit and cases will usually stay open for three full days, so pet parents can continue to access the vet via chat for any follow up questions or concerns.

TC: Are you competing at all on pricing?

BW: Our goal is to work alongside the hospitals, not to compete with them or replace them. You can’t take blood virtually or feel a tumor or do a dental. People always will need to go to the vet.

What we want to do is help [pet owners] understand when [to come in]. The average pet parent only goes to the vet 1.5 times a year. A huge segment of users on Airvet have already connected with a vet six times more than that and save time and stress in doing so.

It’s not about competing for us, it’s about being the provider of care in between office visits [and helping] pet parents who have used our service ultimately avoid an unnecessary emergency visit.