deviantArt user JLeichliter. Accessed at his dA page here.
[I’ve been on the fence about melonheads for a while. On the one hand, they’re a common American urban legend, and murderous cannibals in the woods are always good for campaigns. On the other hand, they’re awfully ableist, being essentially “hydrocephalus as monster”. So I removed any and all references to real conditions and made them mutant gnomes instead. Why gnomes? There’s all sorts of offshoot humans, elves, and dwarves in Pathfinder and D&D. When was the last time you saw a mutant gnome?]
Melonhead This
wizened humanoid has pointed ears and an enormously swollen head. Its body is
wiry and thin, as if it’s been stretched out of proportion. Its teeth are
pointed and it wears little more than rags.
Melonheads are simultaneously pathetic and frightening
figures. Melonheads are developed from gnomish stock and are rumored to have
been created by a gnomish alchemist attempting to bring gnomes to human size.
He succeeded through the use of alchemical reagents and selective breeding, but
the proportions were dramatically off, resulting in a humanoid with
an oversized head and sharp teeth to match.
Most melonheads have been abandoned to the elements and
live feral existences in small communities. They are carnivorous, as they need
large stores of protein to fuel their strange, enlarged brains. Many tribes
view other humanoids as food sources, as they have been rejected for their
appearance and are jealous of the creature comforts that others enjoy. They are
not inherently evil, but cults devoted to monstrosity and murder often recruit
melonheads into their ranks, giving the creatures a sense of belonging while
enticing them to ever more evil acts. A melonhead feels emotions very strongly and openly, which can make them either fast friends or frightening enemies depending on how they are treated.
The average melonhead stands about five feet tall and
weighs 120 pounds. They have little material culture and view metal weapons and
armor as rare treasure to be prized. Melonheads advance by class level, with
ranger, rogue and barbarian being the most common among them. Melonheads do
have a tendency towards psychic magic, and the leaders of melonhead communities
are often psychics or mesmerists.
Melondheads
as Characters
Melonheads are defined by their class levels; they do not
possess racial Hit Dice. A melonhead character has the following racial traits
+2 Con,
+2 Cha, -4 Wis Melonheads have tough bodies and forceful personalities, but have an
exaggerated form of gnomish flightiness and distraction. Senses: Melonheads
have darkvision 60 ft. Natural
Attacks: Melonheads
have a bite attack that deals 1d6 points of damage. This is a primary natural
attack Hunter’s
Senses A melonhead gains a +2 racial bonus on Perception and
Stealth checks. Gnome-blooded Melonheads count as gnomes for the purposes of spells or abilities
that effect gnomes specificially. Mental
Fury (Su) A melonhead can still use spells with emotion components
when under a harmful emotional effect. This does not allow a melonhead to cast
spells while raging. In addition, a melonhead with levels in the psychic class
use their Charisma modifier for their phrenic pool and psychic discipline
abilities, no matter their psychic discipline. Off
Balance (Ex) A melonhead takes a -2 penalty to its CMB against grapple
and trip attempts. Languages: Melonheads begin play speaking Gnome. Melonheads with an Intelligence
bonus may choose from the following bonus languages: Aklo, Common, Elven,
Giant, Goblin, Orc or Sylvan
Melonheads are found in the darkest forests of Vedzeva. They only appear on records after the War with the Western Queen, and are thought to be a result of gnomes who were mutated by the magical fallout of closing the Mount Kunlun rift. Gnomes despise them, and few things will unite gnomes in purpose like the chance to end these wicked creatures.
Shores of Swords 