The Houri for Basic D&D

A few posts back I mentioned the Houri class as a follow-up to the posts at Dangerous Brian. 

http://timbrannan.blogspot.com/2010/12/houri-class.html
http://dangerousbrian.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-osric-class-houri-part-i.html
http://dangerousbrian.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-character-class-houri-part-ii.html

The class is an update of the Houri class from White Dwarf #13 by Brian Asbury back in June of 1979.
In my discussion I felt that the class had certain qualities to it that would work as a race as well as a class. Well since I have been experimenting with Basic D&D of late I thought I would give this a try. 


Since this based on the work of others it is NOT released as part of the OGL. 
 
The Houri Class

The Houri is the offspring of a human or elf and a nymph. Nymphs are known for their unearthly beauty and lascivious natures so the offspring of a chance liaison with an attractive human or elven male is not only expected, but often the way of things. Most of these children are nymphs themselves and continue their lives with their mothers. Every so often though, a child is born that is not wholly nymph. She is not wholly mortal either, but finds a way to live in the world of mortals. Such a creature is known as a Houri.

The typical houri appears as a very attractive female human with elven features, or as an elf with something human about her. Many will claim to be "half-elfs" to avoid any confusion about their racial make up. The houri knows a bit of magic, not as much as a full magic-user or elf and she knows a bit of thief skills, but the main power of the houri comes from her powers of seduction. The Houri has a natural Charm Person like ability that is modified by her own preternatural Charisma.

(*Whitewitch by Tommie Lejis, http://www.elfwood.com/~tommie)

Minimum Ability Scores: Cha 15, Dex 10, Int 10

Hit Dice Type: d4 (maximum level 11)

Alignment: Any

Experience Bonus: Dex and Cha both 15+

Armour/Shield Permitted: Leather Armour and Small shield (which often features in certain erotic dances) only.

Weapons Permitted: Dagger, Concealed Pin, Flaming Oil, Scimitar (again, all used in certain performances)

Level	Title	XP Required	Hit dice (d4)	Special		1	2	3	4	5	6
1	Novice	0	1	Seduction		1	-	-	-	-	-
2	Flirt	1,200	2	Thief 1		2	-	-	-	-	-
3	Charmer	2,400	3			3	1	-	-	-	-
4	Allurer	4,800	4	Thief 2		3	2	-	-	-	-
5	Temptress	9,600	5			4	3	1	-	-	-
6	Enchantress	20,000	6	Thief 3		5	3	2	-	-	-
7	Vixen	40,000	7			5	4	3	1	-	-
8	Courtesan	80,000	8	Thief 4		6	5	3	2	-	-
9	Seductress	160,000	9			6	5	4	3	1	-
10	Houri	260,000	10	Thief 5		6	6	5	3	2	-
11	Nymph	360,000	11			7	6	5	4	3	1

 

HOURI SAVING THROWS
Level	1-4	5-8	9-10	11
Death Ray or Poison	12	10	8	6
Magic Wands	13	11	9	6
Paralysis or Turn to Stone	13	11	9	5
Dragon Breath	15	12	9	7
Rods, Staffs and Spells	15	12	9	6

 

CHARACTER HIT ROLLS (on 1d20)
Level	Target's Armor Class
Houri	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9
1-4	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	20	20	20	20	21	22	23	24
5-8	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	20	20	20	20	21	22
9-10	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	20	20	20	20
11	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	20	20

Special Abilities


Seduction: the Houri may attempt to seduce a single humanoid of the opposite sex or aligned sexual orientation as per the Charm Person spell. The seduction may only focus on one person and their saving throw is penalized by -1 for every level of the Houri. So for example a 6^th level houri would impose a -6 to the target's saving throw vs Spells. The seduction is not a spell, but rather a natural spell like ability of the houri.



Thief: At 2^nd level and every other level after the houri can use thieves' skills as a thief half her level. The skills are mundane and still require the proper tools.



Spells: The houri may cast spells as per a Magic-user or Elf. Her spells though are more limited in nature and are listed here. Houri record their spells in a spell-book as do magic-users. Note: A houri may also use cantrips if the Game Master allows them. Houri gain bonus cantrips based on her Charisma score rather than intelligence.


As a Monster

Houri
Armor Class: 9
Hit dice: 1*
Move: 120' (40')
Attacks: 1 Weapon
Damage: By Weapon (typically 1d4)
No. Appearing: 1 / 1-2
Save As: Elf 1
Morale: 10
Treasure: Same as Nymph
Intelligence: 10
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 10

Monster Type: Demihuman (race)
The Houri are the offspring of a nymph and a human or elf.  There are fey creatures, but the more mortal ones choose to join the worlds of humans and elves.
A Houri can cast Charm Person any number of times a day, but can only have one charmed "thrall" at a time.

Houri that are closer to their elven parent are sometime indistinguishable from other elves.  Houri's are often found with Gypsy Elves whether their lineage includes elf or not.