Manasaputra, ManuA toned, regal human radiates a shifting aura of many colors and
murmuring voices that seem strangely familiar.Manu CR 12Source Bestiary 5 pg. 163
XP 19,200
LG Medium outsider (extraplanar, good, lawful, manasaputra)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +25
Aura unity (30 ft.)DefenseAC 27, touch 27, flat-footed 22 (+3 deflection, +4 Dex, +1 dodge,
+9 soul armor)
hp 161 (17d10+68)
Fort +9, Ref +14, Will +15; +2 vs. enchantment
Immune calling, disease, poison; Resist adaptive 10; SR 23OffenseSpeed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Melee 4 slams +18 (1d10+1)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 12th; concentration +17; Wis-based)
At will—greater teleport (self only), plane shift (self only)
Psychic Magic (CL 12th; concentration +17; Wis-based)
25 PE—analyze aura (3 PE), aversion (2 PE, DC 17),
enshroud thoughts (2 PE), mind thrust VI (6 PE, DC 21),
psychic asylum (5 PE), psychic crush I (5 PE, DC 20),
quintessence (1 PE)StatisticsStr 13, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 14, Wis 20, Cha 17
Base Atk +17; CMB +18; CMD 45
Feats Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring
Attack, Whirlwind Attack, Wind Stance
Skills Acrobatics +18, Diplomacy +23, Fly +12,
Intimidate +17, Knowledge (any one) +20,
Knowledge (history, local, planes) +20, Perception
+25, Sense Motive +22
Languages Celestial, Common; telepathy 100 ft.
SQ aura of unity, creature bond, formless, no breath,
positive energy affinity, subjective appearanceEcologyEnvironment any (Material Plane or Positive Energy Plane)
Organization solitary or round (2–8)
Treasure standardSpecial AbilitiesAura of Unity (Su) All allies that belong to the manu’s
creature bond work toward a unified goal while
within 30 feet of the manu. As an immediate action,
the manu can attempt an attack roll, saving throw,
or skill check to replace the roll just made by an ally
benefitting from the manu’s aura of unity.
Creature Bond (Ex) Each manu is associated with a
single race or kind of creature, such as humans or
basilisks (not humanoids or magical beasts); this bond never
changes. The manu is treated as both a manasaputra and as
the race, creature type, and subtypes of its bonded creature
for the purposes of effects that target a specific race or kind
of creature.DescriptionManus aspire to elevate members of a specific race or type
of creature to enlightenment, adopting them collectively
as special charges. Typically, this race or type of creature
is chosen from those to whom the manu belonged during
its most meaningful mortal incarnation, but this is not
always the case.
While most manus focus on a people’s enlightenment
across a single Material Plane world, some ambitious
manus follow their charges from world to world,
continuing to elevate and guide them as they propagate
among the stars. Manus are largely solitary, though they
sometimes gather into tight-knit groups called
rounds that coordinate efforts to guide their
chosen peoples.Creatures in "Manasaputra" CategorySource Bestiary 5 pg. 162
For most creatures, the path to self-perfection ends as all mortal pursuits do: in death. For a few, however, the path to self-perfection ends with fiery rebirth in the heart of the Positive Energy Plane, where the souls of those not yet born fuse with the potential of those who’ve learned from lifetimes of reincarnation to form wholly new entities—the manasaputras. These outsiders continue their path to perfection by striving to achieve oneness with the universe, further evolving and discovering new cosmic truths, as well as guiding mortals on their paths to similar ends.
Manasaputras are benevolent and compassionate entities that follow strict practices of contemplation, introspection, and meditation. Others often view their directness and disciplined nature as inflexible, yet in truth, manasaputras are accepting when presented with new ideas and challenges—adapting to accommodate these changes can simply take hundreds or thousands of years as the manasaputras gradually evaluate and reevaluate the slightest adjustment to their personal beliefs or ideals. The patience of manasaputras is legendary, and can make action seem like inaction from a mortal’s perspective of time.
Manasaputras belong to a complex hierarchy. While immortal beings known as kumaras ostensibly lead them, each manasaputra operates as an individual, free to pursue its own contemplation of the multiverse and its inhabitants. More powerful manasaputras mentor younger and less experienced ones, particularly when their paths to perfection align. These relationships are master and apprentice structures similar to the Material Plane’s monastic hierarchies. Lesser manasaputras have deep respect and reverence for the elders of their kind and the phenomenal—often godlike—power they wield.
When not contemplating reality in isolation at the heart of the Positive Energy Plane, manasaputras can be found drifting through the Astral Plane in search of wisdom, or drawn to the Material Plane when ignorance and chaos work hand in hand with cruelty and evil. Manasaputras do not often intervene in destructive events, preferring to instead aid mortals and teach them necessary skills that they can use to confront these challenges. Greater threats of a more cosmic nature can draw the direct intervention of dozens of manasaputras, especially when these threats concern the destruction of knowledge or foment disorder in the universe. To this end, manasaputras can sometimes be found working alongside aeons and inevitables on morally compatible agendas. Manasaputras respect the precious balance aeons bring to the planes, as well as inevitables’ unfaltering dedication to their assigned tasks. They are distant toward most good-aligned outsiders, unable to fully share the passions of agathions and azatas, and put off by the zeal of angels and archons. They share a special kinship with devas, who often also oversee mortal affairs. Among outsiders, their greatest rivals are the sahkils of the Ethereal Plane, who attempt to hold back mortal development and are thus sworn enemies of all manasaputras.
Manasaputras seldom interact with wicked mortal creatures of the Material Plane. Their charge is to nurture the spiritual development of those who walk the path of enlightenment, and thus have little concern for mortal creatures outside that path, except as obstacles their students must overcome.
While usually described as humanoid in form, most manasaputras are wholly incorporeal entities forged of the raw Cosmic Fire from the heart of the Positive Energy Plane. When a manasaputra chooses to become corporeal, it usually adopts a resplendent, idealized humanoid form, often with striking features such as a third eye, multiple arms, or other compelling physical characteristics that clearly set it apart from mortals.
Occult lore suggests the enormous wisdom of the eldest manasaputras derives from their mortal existence during a previous incarnation of the multiverse itself. Certainly the manasaputras themselves favor doctrines of cycles such as reincarnation. Some mortal followers believe that manasaputras from the previous multiversal cycle were the first to inhabit the soulless husks that would ultimately become mortals, but as usual the manasaputras themselves favor riddles over straight answers on the matter.
The Seven Kumaras, the most powerful of all manasaputras, exist at the heart of all creation, each exemplifying a facet of the multiverse. These enigmatic entities rarely leave the Cosmic Fire of the Positive Energy Plane, communing with this source of all life in the multiverse and witnessing events across all creation through psychic rapport with a consciousness they (and the like-minded aeons) refer to as the Logos.
The Seven KumarasSeven glory-clad kumaras lead the manasaputras on their spiritual journeys. Each occasionally acts as a personal messenger or spirit guide for mortals with profound psychic gifts or particularly promising souls. While spellings often differ depending on the esoteric source consulted, their number is thought to include the following. - Ameuritati, the First Immortal
- Ashavashitra, the Righteous Truth
- Asoshu Mana, the True Purpose
- Auramiti, the Holy Devotion
- Hourvetat, the Circle of Ages
- Ksathras, the Dominion
- Sraosha, the Cleansing Wings
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