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

XP 153,600

LN Large fey

Init +16; Senses all-around vision, blindsight 120 ft., low-light vision, greater arcane sight, true seeing; Perception +30

Defense

AC 33, touch 21, flat-footed 31 (+7 armor, +2 Dex, +10 insight, +5 natural, –1 size)

hp 270 (20d6+200); regeneration 10 (cold iron)

Fort +18, Ref +18, Will +21; +8 vs. mind-affecting spells and effects; +4 vs. death spells and effects

Defensive Abilities death ward, fated, foresight, mind blank, never surprised or flat-footed; DR 15/cold iron; Immune cold, energy drain, negative energy; Resist acid 30, electricity 30, fire 30; SR 29

Offense

Speed 40 ft. (30 ft. with armor)

Melee shears +21/+21/+16 (1d8+12/15–20 plus energy drain), touch +11 (energy drain)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks energy drain (2 levels, DC 30), shift fate, snip thread

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

Constant—death ward, foresight, greater arcane sight, mind blank, tongues, true seeing

At will—bestow curse (DC 23), divination, greater dispel magic, 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 25, Dex 14, Con 30, Int 21, Wis 24, Cha 31

Base Atk +10; CMB +18; CMD 40

Feats Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, DiehardB, 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

SQ change shape (humanoid; alter self or giant form II)

Ecology

Environment cold mountains

Organization solitary, pair, or trio

Treasure double (+3 hide armor, shears, golden thread worth 500 gp, other treasure)

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 for 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.

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.