Skiurid CR ½
XP 200
NE Tiny magical beast (extraplanar)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +5, see in darkness
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 size)
hp 5 (1d10)
Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +1
Resist cold 10
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee bite -1 (1d4-4)
Space 2 ½ ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks chill darkness
Str 3, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 12
Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 7 (11 vs. trip)
Feats Improved Initiative
Skills Acrobatics +10, Climb +10, Perception +5, Stealth +18; Racial Modifiers +8 Acrobatics, +8 Stealth, uses Dex to Climb
Languages Infernal (cannot speak)
SQ shadow jump (30 ft/day)
Environment cold forests (Plane of Shadow)
Organization solitary, troop (2-12) or colony (13-40)
Treasure special
As a standard action, a skiurid can touch an object in order to cause it to radiate darkness in a 20 foot radius. This magical darkness lowers the illumination by 1 step, as per the darkness spell, except that all creatures in the area take 1d6 points of cold damage and must succeed a DC 11 Fortitude save or take 1 point of Strength damage. Creatures that do not take the cold damage are not affected by the Strength damage. Creatures remaining in the aura do not take damage each round, but a creature that leaves the aura and enters it again takes damage when it reenters the aura. This chill darkness lasts for 1 minute, and interacts with light spells and light sources as per a darkness spell. A skiurid can create chill darkness three times per day, but must wait 1d4 rounds between uses. The save DC is Charisma based.
This small furry creature resembles a black squirrel the size of a cat. Its features are pointed and cruel, and its eye glow a sinister red.
Skiurids are malevolent squirrel-like beasts native to the Plane of Shadow. Their appearance often strikes novice adventurers as comical, but their attacks are anything but. A skiurid feeds by enveloping an area in a radius of freezing darknessâif any living creature takes damage from the aura, a kernel of shadow coalesces once the chill darkness dissipates. The size and nutritional value of this shadow nugget varies depending on how many creatures were injured, and so skiurids attempt to attack large groups whenever possible.
Creatures that make use of shadow magic often covet skiruids, both for their inherent abilities and the shadow nuggets they create. A shadow nugget can be used as a component in any necromancy or illusion (shadow) spell worth up to 250 gp, or can be used to shorten the duration of creating a magic item of these schools by 1 day. Only a single shadow nugget can be used per spell or magic item in this fashion, and the nugget is worth 250 gp to an interested buyer. A skiurid can also be taken as a familiar by an evil spellcaster with the Improved Familiar feat.