[How to make a niche for the unloved phasm, the monster whose only power is to turn into other monsters? Two thoughts. One: make it better at turning into other monsters than anything else. Two: make it a goo boy or girl, a monster type super popular on the internet, but under-served by tabletop RPGs. I chose this image because it seems very transitional.]
Phasm In the blink of an eye, this
person collapses into a puddle of greenish slime. A faintly humanoid head,
torso and arms rise from the ooze.
Sometimes
called “protein polymorphs”, phasms are strange and mercurial creatures that
delight in assuming a myriad of forms. They are hedonistic by nature, adopting
forms that allow them to experience new sensations or live lives of luxury.
They are especially fond of assuming mortal shape and indulging in all manner
of vices, then escaping before they have to face any consequences.
Phasms
are frequently looking for new information, sensations and forms to assume.
Those that offer any of these to a phasm can usually parley their way out of
combat. If forced into combat, a phasm will shift effortlessly between shapes
designed to terrorize and inflict as much damage as possible. Phasms will not
hesitate to flee from a fight, often adopting a flying or swimming form to do
so.
The
origins of phasms are unknown, and most phasms will gladly weave a dozen
contradictory tales if asked. Some sages speculate that they are an advanced
form of doppelganger, and phasms do frequently associate with doppelgangers as
partners in crime and convenient decoys. Others propose an ooze given life by
demonic or protean forces, the spawn of a Great Old One, or even sentient
particles of the plane of Limbo.
The average phasm is capable of assuming the forms of humanoids or beasts, but advanced phasms add more variety of shapes to their repertoire. Especially old and powerful phasms can take any form allowed by the shapechangespell, and some wicked phasms can even assume undead form (as per undead anatomy IV)
Phasms favor the urban areas of Gladia, especially Egdwen. They are sometimes hired by the dock-lords as spies, working to infiltrate and sabotage their rivals.
Shores of Swords 