Here it is everyone. Technically I am just over twenty minutes late (23 upon typing this), but close enough. Like I mentioned before, I utilized the Pathfinder Unchained rules, so expect the stat blocks to look like those ones and not like those found in other places. If anyone notices any discrepancies in editing or spelling errors feel free to let me know, specifically on the Paizo thread for these creatures, so that I can fix them. As you can see below, these are presented as .jpegs. However there will eventually be a page for each monster with some fluff info and these will have a text format. That may be a few weeks away though.
Anyways, the first monster: the blather bird. The intent on this creature was to make something that was frightening to the players. A scene that plays out with an eerie woodland and eventually the sound of laughter in the background. Psych up the characters a bit wondering what could be making the noise, perhaps let them plan on how to respond. Make them a little paranoid if possible. Suddenly the laughter is nearby, incredibly human sounding, but coming from the beak of a large bird. The sight of a bird with a over-large head, even for a fisher, opening its beak and letting out a human guffaw lightens the mood. Its just a strange bird, right? The answer is no. Suddenly players feel the urge to laugh (hideous laughter) and then the birds attack. Just as suddenly laughter and bodies with rictus grins pour from the shadows and attack, especially those laughing.
Above, you can see some of this intent in the latest version of the monster. Even in the original I had included the ability to use ghost sound and ventriloquism, mostly as flavor and as something I felt the creature would be capable of. This goes for the immunity to sound based illusions as well. As an imitator I felt it could tell the difference somehow. This isn't too significant mechanically as its quite specific, but adds a nice touch for the rare situation it is. Added is nixie's lure and mobile attack. The first of these was the result of balancing spells in the build. The original had more uses of the 3/day spells, but with this being overpowered for CR 5 I decided to find a spell of higher level to add as the suggested 1/day spell. A magical song attracting victims into the woods sounded like a good choice and a different way to play an encounter with these birds. Mobile attack seemed like a better way to utilize the poison, potentially applying multiple doses at a time and making it harder and harder to overcome. Initially this would compound with hideous laughter to cause cackling lasting through unconsciousness and into eventual death. This was for flavor and hasn't been added to the stat block but will probably be mentioned in the full description.
Next we have the grinning husk, my sick idea of an undead monstrosity created by these creatures which certainly derives inspiration from the Joker's laughing toxin. The intent for these is simple, and only mechanic balancing occurred in the rebuild. Basically, this is a slightly more powerful zombie with an unending grin, hungering for emotion and hating those who laugh. They follow the blather birds in packs and attack their victims. Throughout out it all they laugh and laugh, unable to stop.
In combat these monster are meant to be fought together, perhaps even leading into or involving a chase when the PCs are outnumbered. Although there are a few ways in which to play out an encounter with them, the way I described before is how they sit in my world. In fact, there is a whole forest full of them. Tactically hideous laughter is meant to be used to debilitate dangerous foes (ranged attackers). The claw attacks compound to cause people to lose their wits and all grasp on reality. The grinning husks make for a independent, but synergistic foe. With a lower CR these melee combatants can come in larger groups. Their cackle is based on flavor and narrative, but it provides the birds with more opportunities to add poison to the veins of the PCs. All in all, these are not meant as a recurring monster, but as a unique encounter. It should be memorable for a session or a specific location, perhaps both. Honestly, what more could you want?
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