Unapproachable East.pdf - The Forgotten Realms

Illustration by Wayne England
Taers are violent and primitive creatures that inhabit the
coldest mountain ranges, dwelling in noisome caves and glacial
crevasses.
In wintertime, taers range far from their mountain retreats,
reaving and pillaging all in their path. In warm
weather, they remain high in their mountains, harassing
anyone bold enough to attempt the high passes. They regard
most other creatures as simple prey but possess a comprehensive
system of myths, stories, and rules for conduct.
A taer is a powerfully built creature about 5 to
6 feet in height, with thickly muscled arms
and an apelike face. A taer carries itself in
a crouch and its knuckles reach the
ground; when a taer straightens up, it
stands almost 7 feet in height. Males
weigh about 220 pounds, females about
180 pounds. The creature is covered in
matted white fur that tends to blend
into its snowy environs.
Combat
Taers can attack barehanded and deal punishing
blows through sheer strength and
savagery, but most are armed with crude
spears or clubs. They often wear poorly
cured hide armor, and many smear
themselves with taer stench grease,
described in the accompanying sidebar.
Cold Subtype (Ex): Taers are
immune to cold damage but are vulnerable
to fire attacks. They take half
again as much (+50%) damage as
normal from fire, regardless of whether
a saving throw is allowed, or if the save is
a success or failure.
Skills: Taers receive a +8 racial bonus on
all Climb checks and can always choose to take 10, even if
rushed or threatened. *Taers also receive a +4 racial bonus on
Hide checks in snowy conditions.
Taer Society
Taers are never far from flying into a blind rage. To keep
from destroying one another, they have developed a complex
Taers brew a foul-smelling substance derived from their own
scent, which they smear on their bodies before entering combat
to sicken and disorient foes. An application of taer stench
grease is sufficient to coat one creature and lasts for 1 hour.
Living creatures within 10 feet must succeed on a Fortitude
MONSTERS OF THE EAST
Taer
Taer Stench Grease
73
society marked by rich myths, rules for governing behavior
and determining status, and methods for contesting issues
through analogy and metaphor rather than physical violence.
They view their existence as a living myth and consider
dreams, stories, and ideas every bit as real and
important as their waking lives. The oldest male who shows
some degree of wisdom and an aptitude for leadership rules
the taer clan. This clan chief usually designates a strong and
ruthless war chief to lead hunts and raids.
Most taers are concerned with accumulating status and
respect within their clan, which in turn guarantees
the best food, sleeping places, and most
desirable mates. They jealously
defend their own prerogatives while
challenging those above them.
Taers rarely resort to physical attacks
to take these things from
other clan members, since that
would entail a loss of status. Any
nontaer, though, is fair game for
robbery, murder, and the cook pot.
Taers are curious about items or
tools from more civilized races and
are likely to murder a woodcutter
simply to take a rusty old axe.
Taer Characters
Taers favor the barbarian class, although
warriors and fighters are also common. Few
taers become arcane spellcasters, but a
small number become adepts, clerics, or
druids. Taer clerics usually venerate Auril
and choose the domains of Evil and
Storm (FRCS).
From time to time, taers who fail in
a bid to oust the current chieftain or
who are “weak” by the standards of the clan are driven
out. These exiles usually fall prey to other dangerous monsters
of the cold lands, but some wander down to the lands
of the “soft ones,” drawn by curiosity about more advanced
folk. Most become brigands or thugs, but a few fall in with
adventuring bands in need of muscle unconstrained by
civilized morals.
Taers have the following racial abilities and characteristics.
save (DC 15) or be sickened, taking a –2 penalty on all attack
rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability
checks for 1d6+4 minutes. A delay poison or neutralize
poison spell removes the effect from the sickened creature, and
taers and creatures immune to poison are unaffected.