The Elders of Nysste are a venerable - and slightly terrifying - order of Druid-Monks, sworn to preserve the ancient forest of Nysste (a stretch of primordial woodlands in the foothills of the High Esvels, north of the Kingdom of Helvaszoria). Their numbers, however, have long been insufficient to the task of defending the forest: few possess the level of commitment and love of the wilds to spend their lives in service to such an august - but inimical - land.
After various unsuccessful attempts to boost their numbers - through alliance with local Fey and one disastrous invitation to human settlers - the Elders chose to create the Straw Men, constructs imbued with intelligence and magical abilities to provide the first line of defense for the forest. The Straw Men are possessed of unbreakable loyalty to the Elders, and with their powers and spells and unswerving dedication to their task, have become an indispensable element of the order.
Straw Men, as their name suggests, are 7' humanoid figures crafted out of tightly bundled straw. They appear closely akin to Scarecrows, but instead of ragged clothing, they wear light robes and hoods of deep forest green, and in the shadow of their hoods, two points of pale verdigris burn steadily in place of eyes. They can not speak, only emitting a menacing hiss - as of a chill wind in dry grass - when casting spells.
Despite this air of peril, Straw Men are not particularly aggressive, preferring to operate unseen, using their Druidical powers and Illusionist spells to confuse and misdirect interlopers in the forest. They will not kill unless forced to do so, favouring instead a stunning attack that renders their opponents vulnerable to capture (whereupon they are delivered bound and helpless, to face the judgment of the Elders).
The Straw Men have a particularly feared ability to lay false trails, leading trespassers back out of the forest, or, in more serious cases, into a blind draw, where warriors of the order await. These trails exist only in the minds of those following them, and, should they fail in a Saving Throw against spells, the afflicted will refuse to accept any argument or evidence that seeks to persuade them of the false trail, for a period of 1-6 hours.
Straw Men, when they make recourse to violence, are capable of stunning a foe with their powerful bash, and they are particularly likely to use this attack - or their entangle spell - against foes wielding swords, axes, or fire. They are, however, more likely to withdraw if they can, using their false trail ability to confuse their foes.
The stat blocks below are for Blood & Treasure and Fantastic Heroes & Witchery
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