Quickling Giant Bee Riders (Totem Warrior)

by Kurt Ringrose

The Giant Bee Totem Warriors are the defenders of the hive.  Their small size in no way lessons the impact of these fierce warriors of the Harrowdeep.  Many beings have perished at their hands (including other Faen) who ventured within their lands.  Many would consider these Quicklings some of the vilest of Darklings within the Harrowdeep (see page 355 of Arcana Evolved) because of the way they treat outsiders.
  A Millennium or two ago a group of Quicklings befriended a hive of Harrowdeep Giant Bees.  The two groups have grown close together; Quicklings even refer to their Bees as sisters.  They live together in Giant Hives in the largest of trees within the Harrowdeep.  Very protective of these hives, they eliminate all invaders into their territory...very few exceptions are made.  Because of this self imposed isolation, few if any Quicklings become Sprytes...those that do are usually banished from the Hive.
  As these warriors gain levels, they become more like their Bee companions.  They grow thick hairs on their body and develop a yellow and black bee-like pattern to their coloring.  Most disturbing of all, they grow antenna on top of their heads (which provides their darkvision ability).  

Hit Dice: d8
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Giant Bee Totem warrior is proficient with all simple, martial weapons and the Exotic Faen SwordAxe and light and medium armors as well as shields.
Additional Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Knowledge (geography) (Int), and Search (Int).
Special: All Giant Bee Totem warriors gain a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class while riding a Bee.  The Bee Totem Warrior also recieves his animal companion at first level instead of third.
Animal Companion: A 3 HD Giant Bee with these stat modifications:
HD 3d8 (12 hp) Sting +2 melee (1d4 plus poison);
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 11, initial and secondary damage 1d4 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based.  (These special Bees do not leave their stingers in the target...they can sting repeatedly)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +2; Strength 12
The Giant Bee never increases in size due to HD gains from its companions Totem Warrior levels.
5 HD: The Bee gains Flight (Perfect) and +1 to Strength and Intellegence.
8 HD: The Bee gains an addition +2 to natural AC (total of +4) and +1 to Strength and Intellegence.
12 HD: The Bee and its rider (if mounted) gain the Evasion ability and +1 to Strength and Intellegence.
14 HD: The Bee gains spell resistance of 5+Totem Warrior Levels.  This spell resistance also affects the totem warrior if he is riding the bee.  Either one can drop the spell resistance for themselves as a free action (see rules for spell resistance in Arcana Unearthed).
16 HD: The Bee and its rider (if mounted) gain the Improved Evasion ability.
Totem Powers: The Giant Bee Totem warrior earns these powers as she gains levels:
1st Level—Warrior of the Honeycomb (Ex): The Giant Bee Totem warrior gains the Mounted Combat feat for free and Darkvision 60ft.
4th Level—Defender of the Hive (Ex): The Giant Bee Totem warrior receives a +4 bonus to Ride and Handle animal checks with his Bee and the Ride-By-Attack feat for free.
8th Level—Sergeant of the Hive (Ex): The Giant Bee Totem warrior gains a +1 to hit and damage while mounted on his Bee and the Mounted Archery feat for free.
12th Level—Captain of the Hive (Sp):  The Giant Bee Totem Warrior can cast SafeFall on themselves and their Bee as a free action 3/day.  Caster level equals their Totem Warrior level.
16th Level-No increased ability: See Bee companion increases...
20th Level-No increased ability: See Bee companion increases...
24th Level—Champion of the Queen (Ex): The Giant Bee Totem warrior gains a permanent, inherent +4 bonus to Dexterity.

HARROWDEEP GIANT BEE

Medium Vermin Hit Dice: 3d8 (13 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), fly 80 ft. (good)
Armor Class: 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+2
Attack: Sting +2 melee (1d4 plus poison)
Full Attack: Sting +2 melee (1d4 plus poison)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Poison
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., vermin traits
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +2
Abilities: Str 11, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 9
Skills: Spot +5, Survival +1*
Feats: —
Environment: Harrowdeep
Although many times larger, growing to a length of about 5 feet, giant bees behave generally the same as their smaller cousins.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 11, initial and secondary damage 1d4 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Skills: Giant bees have a +4 racial bonus on Spot checks. *They also have a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks to orient themselves.