Soul Demon (3.5e Creature)
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| Size/Type: | Medium Outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar) |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice: | 14d8+140 (203 hp) |
| Initiative: | +11 |
| Speed: | fly 60 ft. (perfect) |
| Armor Class: | 30, touch 28, flat-footed 19 |
| Base Attack/Grapple: | +14/+16 |
| Attack: | 2 claws +25 (1d6+2 plus inflame soul), bite +20 (1d8+1 plus inflame soul), eldritch blast +25 touch (7d6) |
| Full Attack: | 2 claws +25 (1d6+2 plus inflame soul) and bite +20 (1d8+1 plus inflame soul) |
| Space/Reach: | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Orcus's Ire +30 melee (2d8+7 plus stun; 18-20/x4) |
| Special Qualities: | DR 10/good and bludgeoning, immune to death, disease, energy drain, mind-affecting, paralysis, poison, sleep, stunning, partial incorporeality, rebuke divinity, resistance to cold, electricity, fire 10, SR 22 |
| Saves: | Fort +19, Ref +20, Will +15 |
| Abilities: | Str 14, Dex 32, Con 30, Int 17, Wis 22, Cha 25 |
| Skills: | Escape Artist +28, Hide +28, Knowledge (arcana) +20, Knowledge (religion) +20, Knowledge (the planes) +20, Listen +23, Move Silently +28, Search +20, Sense Motive +23, Spot +23, Tumble +28 |
| Feats: | Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Finesse |
| Environment: | Infinite Layers of the Abyss |
| Organization: | Solitary, pair, or haunt (3-8) |
| Challenge Rating: | 14 |
| Treasure: | none |
| Alignment: | Chaotic Evil |
| Advancement: | 15-24 HD (Medium), 25-42 HD (Large) |
| Level Adjustment: | n/a |
This terrifying creature has a skull-like head that seems to be made of glass. Hellish red flame burns inside its skull, and its fanged jaws are agape in a howl. Its humanoid body is skeletally thin and partially transparent, and its long legs and arms end in spindly talons.
Soul demons are formed when the animating life force within a powerful undead creature capable of casting divine magic (typically vampire clerics or divine liches) is stripped from the rotting flesh and infused with raw chaos harvested from Thanatos, the Abyssal realm of Orcus, Prince of Undeath. Rare upon the Material Plane, soul demons bridge the gap between demonic life and Abyssal undeath.
A few rare texts point to a similar being known in ancient times as the "dead man," a villain that sometimes appears in folk tales retold in portions of the western Flanaess (particularly in rural Geoff). These tales tell of a buried man who becomes a vampire, only to be destroyed by vampire slayers and a high priest of Boccob.
With a DC 40 Knowledge (religion or the planes) check, or possibly consultation with knowledgeable sages in the nearby city of Greyhawk, a character remembers hearing of a collection of unusual tales and articles on the Realms Infernal said to be in the keeping of the Mage's Guild. These texts indicate that the legendary soul demons were thought to be created by Orcus to defy the various priesthoods aligned against him. The insinuative information contained in these texts suggests that Orcus originally wished to create a powerful demonic-undead amalgam, resistant to the spells, miracles, and innate clerical holy powers of his hated enemies.
Most believe soul demons to be little more than myths. If the PCs can provide proof of these creatures' existence to any church or scholarly organization with an interest in the lower planes, they may well be able to secure a reward of 20,000 gp or more!
Combat[edit]
Eldritch Blast (Sp) A soul demon can channel a ray of energy into an eldritch blast as if it were a warlock of level equal to its Hit Dice. An eldritch blast is a 60- foot-long ray that resolves as a ranged touch attack and inflicts 7d6 damage on a hit. This blast is the equivalent of a 7th-level spell, and can be resisted with spell resistance (the soul demon's effective caster level equals its Hit Dice). The damage inflicted by an eldritch blast bypasses all forms of energy resistance and damage reduction, but deals only half damage to objects.
Inflame Soul (Su) Whenever a soul demon damages a good creature with its claws or bite, it discharges a fragment of its foul spiritual force as a blast of black flame. This inflicts an additional 2d6 points of damage from negative energy. Additionally, the creature struck must make a DC 24 Will save or be confused (as the spell) for 2d6 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Orcus's Ire (Su) Once every 1d4 rounds as a free action, a soul demon may draw upon Orcus's ire. When it does so, the soul demon's skull-like head turns a blood red color and sprouts large curved horns, granting it an additional melee attack for that round. This attack is made at the demon's highest attack bonus, and it receives a +5 profane bonus on this attack roll as well. If it hits, it inflicts 2d8 + its Charisma modifier points of damage, threatening a critical hit on 18-20 and inflicting x4 damage on a successful critical hit. In addition, anyone hit by Orcus's ire is stunned for 1 round.
Partial Incorporeality (Su) A soul demon's body fades in and out of solid state; only its head and its talons are continuously solid. Any weapon or ray that strikes a soul demon has a 50% chance to actually miss the creature as a result. Unlike the case with truly incorporeal creatures, area effect spells and effects do not suffer this miss chance. A soul demon cannot pass through solid objects. It receives its Charisma modifier as a bonus to its armor class.
Vulnerable to Silver (Ex) A soul demon takes +1d6 points of damage when it is struck by a silver weapon.
Vulnerable to Turning (Ex) A soul demon can be turned or rebuked as if it were an undead creature with turn resistance +4.
Source Dungeon Magazine 139
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