A good sword and sorcery tales include a certain element of brooding horror. The monsters encountered by the protagonists are often unique or exist in isolation. Many
monsters are simply giant or prehistoric versions of natural animals such as snakes, apes, and bats.  Whenever a monster or unusual animal is encountered, it is treated as having the Frightful Presence extraordinary ability.


Frightful Presence (Ex): This special quality makes a creature’s very presence unsettling to foes. It takes effect automatically when the creature performs some sort of dramatic action (such as charging, attacking, or snarling). Opponents within 30 feet who witness the action may become shaken for 1 minute (10 rounds). This ability affects only opponents with fewer Hit Dice or levels than the creature has.

An affected opponent can resist the effect with a successful Will save (DC 10 + ½ frightful creature’s racial HD + frightful creature’s Cha modifier).

If multiple creatures of the same type appear simultaneously in the same encounter, opponents only have to make a single saving throw against the fear effect. An opponent that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to the frightful presence of monsters of the same type for 24 hours. For example, if the PCs are attacked by a pack of five ghouls, each player character makes a single saving throw. Those who make the save do not need to save again if more ghouls are encountered within 24 hours.