Joyful Thing

This sluglike humanoid has neither arms nor legs and is covered in spiked, rusted chains. Its lolling tongue drips with thick saliva.

Joyful Thing CR 6

XP 2,400
LE Medium outsider (native)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 19 (-2 Dex, +8 natural, +3 profane)

hp 68 (8d10+24)
Fort +11, Ref +5, Will +9
Immune fear, pain effects; SR 17

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft.
Melee spiked chain +11/+6 (2d4+3 plus grab)
Special Attacks taste fear
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th; concentration +11)

Constantlevitate, mage hand
At willbane (DC 14), cause fear (DC 14), command (DC 14), darkness
3/daybestow curse (DC 16), crushing despair (DC 17), hold person (DC 15), mirror image
1/dayaugury, summon (level 3, 1 augur kyton 35%)

STATISTICS

Str 10, Dex 6, Con 15, Int 16, Wis 11, Cha 17
Base Atk +8; CMB +8 (+10 grapple); CMD 19 (21 vs. grapple, can’t be tripped)
Feats Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Toughness
Skills Diplomacy +14, Intimidate +14, Knowledge (local) +11, Knowledge (nobility) +11, Knowledge (planes) +14, Knowledge (religion) +14, Perception +11, Sense Motive +11, Spellcraft +14
Languages Common, Shadowtongue, +1 additional
SQ blessing of pain, exploit pain, umbral embrace

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Blessing of Pain (Su)

A Joyful Thing gains a profane bonus equal to its Charisma bonus to AC, on all saving throws, and on attack and damage rolls. A Joyful Thing whose alignment shifts away from lawful evil for any reason loses these bonuses.

Exploit Pain (Su)

A Joyful Thing gains a +1 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls against any target under the effects of an emotion, fear, or pain effect.

Taste Fear (Su)

As a standard action, a Joyful Thing can attempt to pin a grappled target by wrapping its elongated tongue around the creature’s head. While the target is so pinned, the Joyful Thing can read its thoughts as if it were under the effect of detect thoughts.

Umbral Embrace (Su)

A Joyful Thing is always treated as if it qualified for its Improved Grapple feat, even though most Joyful Things do not have the normal requisite Dexterity score or the Improved Unarmed Strike feat.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, or coven (3-8)
Treasure standard

The most dedicated sometimes undergo a brutal ritual in which their limbs are amputated and their nonvital organs are removed. This imbues the so-called Joyful Things with powers drawn from the Plane of Shadow but also makes them embodiments of pain, sacrifice, and the eternal torment that awaits in the afterlife. These exemplars of glorious suffering hold positions of influence, and any temple that hosts one or more Joyful Things is considered blessed by the gods of darkness.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Nidal, Land of Shadows © 2018, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Liane Merciel, with Lyz Liddell, Ron Lundeen, and Mark Moreland.

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