Ghoul, Bonepowder

Bonepowder Ghoul CR 15

XP 51,200
NE Small undead
Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +22

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 11 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 size)
hp 178 (17d8+102)
Fort +11, Ref +12, Will +12
Defensive Abilities amorphous, channel resistance +4; Immune undead traits

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +18 (1d6 plus 1d3 Str and paralysis)
Special Attacks coalesce, gravedust (DC 24), whirlwind
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 17th; concentration +23)

At will—chill touch (DC 17), deeper darkness, dispel magic, ray of enfeeblement (DC 17)
3/day—blindness/deafness (DC 18), empowered enervation
1/day—energy drain

STATISTICS

Str 10, Dex 20, Con —, Int 19, Wis 15, Cha 22
Base Atk +12; CMB +16; CMD 27
Feats Agile Maneuvers, Dodge, Empower Spell-Like Ability (enervation), Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Spring Attack, Stealthy, Weapon Finesse
Skills Bluff +16, Climb, +15, Diplomacy +13, Disguise +15, Escape Artist +18, Fly +19, Intimidate +19, Knowledge (arcana) +20, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +19, Knowledge (history) +15, Knowledge (religion) +20, Perception +22, Spellcraft +14, Stealth +30; Racial Modifiers +8 Escape Artist, +4 Stealth
Languages Common, Darakhul, Draconic, Dwarven, Undercommon
SQ dusty form, hide in plain sight

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Coalesce (Su)

A bonepowder ghoul can temporarily assume a humanoid form by draining 5 or more Strength from a victim or with a successful enervation attack. This form is Small and semi-transparent but roughly the shape of a normal ghoul. It never lasts for more than 10 minutes/5 ability points drained. In this form, the ghoul can speak normally and manipulate objects.

Disease (Su)

Darakhul Fever: Bite—injury; save Fortitude DC 24; onset 1 day; effect damage 1d6 Con and 1d3 Dex; cure 2 consecutive saves.

A creature that dies while infected with darakhul fever infected by a bonepowder ghoul or an afflicted creature killed by a bonepowder ghoul rises as a darakhul immediately, gaining the darakhul template.

Dusty Form (Su)

In its natural form, it is difficult to damage a bonepowder ghoul. Damage from any physical attacks is reduced by 50%.

Gravedust (Ex)

A bonepowder ghoul can project a 40-ft. cone of grave dust once every 3 rounds as a standard action. All creatures within the area must make an immediate DC 24 Fortitude check or take 1d6 Strength damage (which the bonepowder ghoul adds to its own Strength as temporary points) and make an immediate DC 24 Fortitude save (Cha-based) or be infected with darakhul fever.

Paralysis (Ex)

Those hit by a bonepowder ghoul’s natural weapons must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 24) or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds. Even elves and undead are affected by this paralysis.

Whirlwind (Ex)

A bonepowder ghoul can generate a whirlwind of bones and teeth 1/day. This attack affects all creatures within a 20-ft. cube, and it inflicts 2d12 damage and drains 1d6 Strength. (They do not add to their own Strength with this attack.)

ABOUT

Environment underground
Organization solitary
Treasure none

Distilled to nothing but dry, whispering sand and a full set of teeth, the bonepowder ghoul still hungers for flesh and blood. Its dusty mass is perfected corruption, entirely animated by foul energy. The bonepowder ghoul is small and unassuming, a pile of dust and bone fragments that resemble a destroyed mummy or the remnants of a vampire burned by sunlight. Unlike those undead, ghouls can achieve this powdery form through long starvation. The process invariably takes decades, which is why so few bonepowder ghouls exist—few ghouls can show such self-restraint. Even among ghouls, using hunger as a form of torture is considered offensive to the ways of the Imperium. Which isn’t to say that it never happens. A bonepowder ghoul may rise from the remnants of a starved prisoner or a ghoul trapped in a sealed-off cavern, leaving behind most of its remnant flesh and becoming animated almost purely by hunger, hatred, and the wisdom of long centuries in which to plot the destruction of its enemies.

Bonepowder ghouls are almost always creatures of pure evil, seeking only to devour, corrupt, and destroy all living things. The only creatures they treat with some affinity are ghouls of various kinds. Even in that case, their attitude is often mocking, hateful, or condescending. They have some measure of respect for darakhul.

Bonepowder ghouls speak Common and Undercommon, but their voices are very faint. Just to hear one speaking normally requires a DC 20 Perception check. Undead gain a +8 competence bonus to this check.