Monster Monday: Crystal Unicorn - The Prancing Prism

Today's Monster Monday is the crystal unicorn, a dazzlingly brilliant construct hewn from solid rock crystal into the shape of nature's most beautiful creation - the unicorn. This creature filters light into a dazzling array of magically enhanced colors, and its flawless facets are able to reflect spells back on their casters. The crystal unicorn is at once a deadly foe and a wealthy wizard's prized decoration. And don't be to hasty in celebrating your victory over this overgrown knick-knack - when defeated, these unicorns explode in a shower of crystal shards.

© Jennifer Petrie, Creative Commons Licence, via geograph

Like the arachnocalliope, I originally created this monster for my current campaign. The party was fighting their way through the lair of an old witch who, aside from having a lot of stereotypical old lady habits, was also a bloodthirsty murderer who built the bones of her victims into necromantically animated puppets. In one of her rooms, the adventurers had to fight off her private puppet circus which included a wind-up ballerina with a wicked kick, a mechanical magician marionette, and a crystal unicorn.

The best part about the crystal unicorn is, if you grew up in the household of a fantasy enthusiast during the 1980s, you probably already have a suitable miniature. All that's left now is to stat up little pewter wizards and ceramic dragons.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2018 Jonah Bomgaars.

This multifaceted unicorn carved from solid crystal glimmers and sparkles with reflected light

Crystal Unicorn    CR 7

XP 3,200

N Large construct

Init +3; Senses low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1

Aura dazzling light (DC 18, 20 ft., dazzled)

DEFENSE

AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+3 Dex, +6 natural, +2 deflection, -1 size)

hp 79 (9d10+30)

Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +4

DR 5/magic and bludgeoning

Immune construct traits; Resist electricity 10, fire 10

Vulnerability sonic

Defensive Abilities ray reflection

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft.

Melee gore +12 (2d8+4), 2 hooves +10 (1d6+2)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks death throes, powerful charge (gore, 4d8+8)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9^th)

   3/day – color spray (DC 16), daylight, hypnotic pattern (DC 17)

STATISTICS

Str 18, Dex 17, Con --, Int --, Wis 12, Cha 18

Base Atk +9; CMB +14; CMD 27 (

Feats Arcane Strike^B, Multiattack^B, Spell Focus (illusion)^B

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Dazzling Light Aura (Su)

The crystal unicorn increases the light level by one step in a 20 foot radius around it. All creatures within 20 feet of the crystal unicorn and who can see the unicorn must make a DC 18 Will save or be dazzled. The effect lasts for as long as they remain within the crystal unicorn’s dazzling light aura and for 1 round thereafter, or until they make a successful save. Affected creatures are entitled to a new save at the end of each turn to break free of the effects. This is a vision-based mind-affecting enchantment effect.

Ray Reflection (Su)

Any ray spell cast at the crystal unicorn is reflected back at the caster as if by the spell spell turning.

Death Throes (Ex)

When a crystal unicorn is destroyed, it shatters, spraying shards of crystal in the surrounding area. All creatures within 10 feet of the unicorn take 4d6 points of magical piercing and slashing damage. A DC 14 Reflex save halves the damage.

ECOLOGY

Environment any

Organization solitary

Treasure 2d10x100gp worth of crystal

The crystal unicorn is a dazzling construct carved from flawless, faceted rock crystal. Its magically-enhanced reflective properties let it dazzle its foes and even turn spells back on them. It can also channel refracted light into several spell-like abilities. These ostentatious constructs are rarely created except as a display of wealth and magical prowess.

Construction

A crystal unicorn must be fashioned from 2,000 pounds of rock crystal costing 5,000 gp.

Name

CL 13^th; Price 25,000 gp

Requirements Craft Construct, color spray, daylight, hypnotic pattern, limited wish, spell turning, creator must be caster level 13^th;

Skill Craft (gemcutting) or Craft (jewelry) DC 17; Cost 15,000 gp

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Plot Hooks and Encounter Ideas

• As assassins crash the royal masquerade ball, a commotion from the drinks table reveals that the unicorn-shaped ice sculpture was more than met the eye.
• The entrance to the archwizard's sanctum in the Plane of Earth is guarded by a pair of giant crystalline unicorns. 
• The wicked fey enchantress appears in the clearing, mounted on a rearing crystal unicorn and wielding her diamond-bladed scimitar, Bloodsinger.

-your chiral d20 despot

I grew up in a house where the shelves of fantasy books were strewn with little pewter wizards and crystal unicorns, yet my dad (who used to own a slide-rule holster) somehow refuses to play D&D.