Vanguard Celestial

On the upper planes, vanguard celestials appear as elf-like beings with glowing, opal-sheened skin and shining eyes. Elsewhere they take other shapes at will. The sexes are equal in size and strength, and powerful telepathy lets them speak any language.

A vanguard celestial never fights in its true shape, changing form at the first sign of danger. It gains the new form's attacks and spell-like powers but keeps its own hit points, THAC0, Intelligence and other scores. As an old bronze dragon it would claw twice for 1d8, bite for 2d6+2, and could also kick, snatch, tail slap and buffet with its wings, plus use the dragon's breath and spell-like powers, yet it would keep its own 8 Hit Dice, not 18. In human form it uses blunt weapons like maces and slings and has the spells of a 7th-level cleric with Wisdom 18.

Rarely it becomes a magical object someone carries, such as a lamp, sword, necklace, vase or vial. The bearer gains the item's powers, may turn undead as a 7th-level priest, and can cast at will any 1st-level priest spell of any sphere. Evil beings never benefit; touching the item costs them 1d12 damage, no save. Neutrals benefit only while serving the celestial's aims.

Vanguard celestials can become ethereal at will, are hit only by +1 or better weapons, and in any form make saving throws as a 14th-level priest. Level drain, death spells, disintegrate and Positive Energy Plane energy do not affect them. Besides the common celestial powers they use clairaudience, clairvoyance, ESP and hold person at a level equal to their Hit Dice.

Vanguard celestials are the elite front line of the celestial armies, alongside the einheriar. Companies of up to 100 usually fight in human form, becoming pegasi, dragons or other great beasts in special cases, and they will die before yielding. Many go alone to the Prime Material Plane to help mortals against evil, sent by celestial stewards or, for mortals of rare courage and importance, by a power. Outside the upper planes they are 60% likely to be human-shaped, 30% another creature, and 10% an object such as a magic sword or amulet.

Stern, serious and unyielding, vanguard celestials are wholly devoted to the pursuit of right.