Genius Loci

General: A genius loci or “place-spirit” is a non-corporeal
being that is attached to a particular location or geographic feature and feeds
on the emotional attention of others. Some will never be stumbled upon by
intelligent creatures, and will simply waste away and eventually starve for
attention. Others will be discovered and come to be venerated as nature
spirits, receiving offerings in return for minor gifts. A few rare and lucky
ones will merge with some living creature that is also tied to the spot
(granite men, tree men, dryads, black willows, and occasionally creatures such
as nagas, banshees, or dragon turtles. The criteria for merging is that the
creature itself should not have more hit dice than the genius loci and should
be both alone and not inclined to leave its home.

Once a genius loci merges with a creature, they become one
being in all respects, with the personality of the genius loci becoming more
and more dominant as time goes on, but always being recognizable as the
original creature; a dryad/genius loci, for instance, will still attempt to
lure handsome men, and a granite man/genius loci will have a preference for
gems and precious stones.

The merged being will have the outward physical form of
whatever creature it used to be, and is able to use any of its former powers as
well as those of the genius loci. The number of hit dice will be a combination of
the original creatures’ and the genius loci; use whichever hit die type is
larger (d10 or that belonging to the other creature). It will still not desire
(or be able to) leave its home; it is physically unable to go beyond a
quarter-mile radius, but those which are more powerful will have agents more
than willing to work on its behalf.

The genius loci will attempt to encourage those near its
location to venerate and even worship it, making offerings in return for the
application of its powers. It is quite needy and grasping in its desire for
such attention, and will develop elaborate ruses and go to great lengths to
ensure it has a steady supply of tribute. Genius loci pretending to be gods are
certainly not uncommon.

Many of the statistics of the genius loci depend on how long
it has been able to maintain its attention-cult. Just being present in the
location is not enough to strengthen it; indeed, a genius loci that goes for
1d12 years without any sort of offerings or attention will die (if joined to another
creature, they will both die). If the strength of the genius loci is not known,
roll randomly.

Treasure value and magical treasure is not cumulative.
If the genius loci is merged with some creature, add the x.p. value for that
creature to the value for slaying the genius loci. Each month that goes by
which sees the genius loci not venerated counts as an entire year lost in terms
of its powers. Veneration can take many forms; outright gifts of food or
precious items, intense prayers and meditation on its name and/or form (in its
presence), ritual adultation and supplication, and so forth. It is speculated
that if a genius loci is venerated for long enough, it will undergo an actual
apotheosis, turning into a genuine deity.

Combat: The genius loci does not attack in a conventional
sense, nor is it harmed by weapons of less than +2 enchantment. All illusion/phantasm and
enchantment/charm type spells are useless against it. It has hit dice and magic
powers as noted below (in all cases, the reverse of the spell effect is within
the power of the genius loci, if applicable, and no material components,
gestures, or incantations are required):

Appearance: A genius loci is non-corporeal, and even on the
ethereal plane will only appear as a shimmering humanoid form. If joined with
some other creature, that skin of the creature will itself glow, and its eyes
will be solid silver lights. It can use empathy
at all times for communication, and can use outright telepathy to communicate once it has been venerated for 10 years or
more.
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* All of the material being presented
during the open playtest of ADD is very deliberately not presented as open gaming content; that designation is planned to change
once the final version is published.