Speiroikos
Level 3Abilities
The speiroikos' aggression can be redirected against their own numbers. A creature within 30 feet of the speiroikos can take an action to throw a small object such as a rock among the troop, attempting a DC 17 deception check; this action has the manipulate trait. On a success, the troop deals its two-action Dory Strike damage to itself on its next round, taking no other actions.
1 to 3
Frequency once per round
Effect The speiroikos make a melee attack against each enemy in its space and in a 10-foot emanation (DC 17 reflex save). The damage depends on the number of actions.
1 1d6 piercing damage
2 (1d6+6)[piercing|options:area-damage] damage
3 (2d6+6)[piercing|options:area-damage] damage
The speiroikos channel the power of their progenitor dragon to grow thick, scaly hides. Until the end of their next turn, they gain a +1 circumstance bonus to AC, and they reduce their weaknesses to area damage and splash damage by 2.
The speiroikos let loose a flurry of heavy darts flung from slings. The volley is a 10-foot burst within 60 feet that deals 1d8 piercing damage (DC 17 reflex save) plus 1[bleed|options:area-damage] damage. When the speiroikos are reduced to 2 or fewer segments, this area decreases to a 5-foot burst.
Speiroikos are born of an unusual ritual in which dragon teeth are sown in the ground, giving rise to a legion of fierce warriors formed of earth. Magic items to summon speiroikos also exist and, on rare occasions, they can arise spontaneously after a dragon is slain, and its body decomposes into the soil.
At first glance, a speiroikos looks like a normal humanoid, though close inspection reveals their skin to have a clay-like texture and their teeth to be draconic fangs. They eagerly follow the one who crafted them into battle and obey their creator's orders without question. One might expect them to be perfect soldiers, but they're prone to fighting among themselves if provoked. Typically, speiroikos last only as long as there's a battle to fight, disintegrating back into dirt once hostilities conclude. Some canny creators manage to prolong their existence by hurrying them from one battle to another.
Wandering Speiroikos On rare occasions, a surviving member of a speiroikos troop will maintain its existence after battle, gaining full autonomy; this occurs more often in those created spontaneously. Such survivors often experience an existential crisis, having previously existed only to fight. Some wander the world seeking combat, while others attempt to blend in with humanoid societies and find new aspirations.