Cold Rider

APPEARANCE

Jagged, twisting antlers of dark blue ice crown the helm of this ice-armored humanoid figure.

Cold Rider CR 8

XP 4,800
CE Medium fey (cold)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +18

DEFENSE

AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18 (+8 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 97 (13d6+52); fast healing 5
Fort +8, Ref +11, Will +10
Defensive Abilities implements of ice; Immune cold; SR 19
Weaknesses vulnerable to fire and sonic, susceptible to shatter

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.; icewalking
Melee +2 icy burst glaive +12/+7 (1d10+6/x3 plus 1d6 cold) or gore +9 (2d6+3 plus 1d6 cold)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th; concentration +13)

• Constant—pass without trace
• At will—chill metal (DC 15), deep slumber (DC 16), ghost sound (DC 13), obscuring mist, phantom steed, ray of frost
• 1/day—freedom of movement, ice storm

STATISTICS

Str 17, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 17
Base Atk +6; CMB +9; CMD 22
Feats Improved Initiative, Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack, Skill Focus (Ride), Spirited Charge, Trample, Weapon Focus (glaive)
Skills Acrobatics +19, Handle Animal +16, Intimidate +16, Knowledge (nature) +18, Perception +18, Ride +22, Sense Motive +18, Stealth +19
Languages Common, Elven, Sylvan

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Icewalking (Ex)

A cold rider and any creature it rides can move across icy surfaces without penalty and do not need to make Acrobatics checks to run or charge on ice. They may climb icy surfaces as if under the effects of the spider climb spell.

Implements of Ice (Su)

A cold rider wears full plate armor and wields a +2 icy burst glaive made of magical ice as hard as steel. Its armor has no armor check penalty. When a cold rider dies, its armor and glaive melt into water in 1d6 rounds.

Susceptible to Shatter (Ex)

A shatter spell deals 3d6 points of damage to a cold rider (no save) and reduces its armor bonus by 2 for 1 minute. Shatter spells automatically overcome a cold rider’s spell resistance.

ABOUT

Environment any cold
Organization solitary, pair, or cavalry (3-12)
Treasure standard

Cold riders are terrifying armored majesties, clad in sable cloaks of frost, a pair of almost ridiculously large crystal-blue antlers cresting their dread helms of ice and steel. They stand anywhere from 7 to 9 feet tall and their antlers easily add another 2 feet. They weigh anywhere from 200 to 300 pounds. Their icy armor is as much a part of them as their rotting stags’ hearts and though the ice-steel garb appears unwieldy, scuffing and scraping as they move, it does not hinder them in the least. Their eyes and the frosty vapors rising from their powerful frames are their most fearsome features. The paired mini-whirlwinds of effervescent frost swirling in their visors can chill the hearts of most stalwarts with a frigid glance, and the vapor-fog floating from them often takes the shape of their former fair features, screaming in silent agony and twisting into malformed wisps in the rising wind. They often ride on massive stags, long-haired goats, or fey beasts as they stalk their prey.