Dread Sayona Creature (CR +3)[3pp]

Dread sayona covet youth above all else. Stories of their origins claim that the first was a vain human who grew old and whose lover left for a younger paramour; the spurned human gained revenge by bathing in the blood of the faithless lover’s children, then committed suicide. Cursed by the gods for such a vile act, dread sayona now wander the world crying tears of blood and preying on beautiful young creatures-slaying them, stealing their beauty, and transforming them into ghastly undead fiends to forever share the dread sayona’s fate. After absorbing the blood of youth through their skin they either appear as they did in the spring of their youth and beauty or they appear as revolting, ancient withered corpses. They are often called “weeping vampires” though they absorb blood rather than consume it.

Dread sayona” is an acquired template that can be added to any creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or greater (referred to hereafter as the base creature).

A dread sayona uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

CR: +3

Alignment: Changes to chaotic evil.

Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to undead with the appropriate augmented subtype. Do not recalculate HD, base attack bonuses, saves, or skill points. Size is unchanged.

Senses: A dread sayona gains lifesense 120 ft., darkvision 120 ft., and the scent special ability.

Armor Class: Natural armor improves by +10.

Defensive Abilities: channel resistance +6, fast healing 5 (if the dread sayona’s CR is 6 or higher increase to 10, if 12 or higher increase to 20, see living form); DR 5/good and silver (if the dread sayona’s CR is 6 or higher increase to DR 10/good and silver, if 12 or higher increase to 15/good and silver); Immune acid, cold, electricity, sonic, undead traits.

Special Abilities: A dread sayona creature retains all the special abilities of the base creature, plus the special abilities as described below:

Absorb Blood (Su)

A dread sayona adjacent to a bleeding creature automatically accelerates the bleeding, dealing 2 points of Con damage to that creature once per round at the start of its turn, the blood flows in a stream to the dread sayona as it absorbs the blood through its skin.

Accursed Gaze (Su)

Blood curse (see below), 30 feet, Will DC 10 +1/2 the dread sayona’s HD + her Cha modifier negates. This is a necromantic curse effect.

Bleed (Ex)

A dread sayona’s melee attacks inflict the bleed condition equal to its Str modifier (minimum 1).

Blood Drain (Su)

A dread sayona can consume blood from any creature it touches once per round by making a successful touch attack. This deals 1d6 points of Constitution damage. The dread sayona heals 5 hit points or gains 5 temporary hit points for 1 hour (up to a maximum number of temporary hit points equal to its full normal hit points) each round it drains blood.

Command Ghouls (Su)

As a free action, a dread sayona can automatically command all normal and dread ghouls within 30 feet (as the command undead spell). Ghouls never attack a dread sayona unless compelled.

Create Spawn (Su)

When a dread sayona kills a creature with its absorb blood or blood drain ability, the victim rises 24 hours later as a dread ghoul with the blood drain ability. A protection from evil or gentle repose spell cast on the corpse prevents this.

Dreaded Aura (Su)

A revealed dread sayona radiates a 60-ft. aura of fear; those in the area of effect must attempt a Will save DC (10 +1/2 the dread sayona’s HD + her Cha modifier). Failure means that the victim cowers in fear for 1d4+1 rounds. A successful save renders the target shaken for 1 round. This is a mind-affecting fear effect.

Living Form (Su)

As an immediate action, a dread sayona can transform into a young, beautiful person for 12 hours. It can only use this ability if it has absorbed or drained blood in the past hour. In this form, the dread sayona has the aura of a living creature instead of an undead (for the purpose of detect undead, true seeing and similar effects), its fast healing doubles, positive energy attacks (such as channel energy) deal no damage to it and instead heal it. However it cannot use its fear or gaze attack in this form. Exposure to holy water negates this form for 12 hours.

Paralysis (Su)

A dread sayonya’s melee and touch attacks paralyze their victims unless they succeed at a successful Fortitude save (DC 10 +1/2 the dread sayona’s HD + her Cha modifier).

Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +8 (+4 to attack and damage, +4 to Climb and Swim skill checks, +4 to Strength and CMB checks, +4 to CMD), Dex +6 ( +3 to ranged attack rolls; AC and touch AC, initiative checks, and Reflex saves; +3 to Acrobatics, Disable Device, Escape Artist, Fly, Ride, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth checks; add +3 to any of the base creature’s Dexterity-based DCs), +6 Cha (+3 to Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Perform, and Use Magic Device checks; +3 to attempts to influence others, and Channel Energy DCs, +3 to any of the base creature’s Charisma-based DCs). Being undead, a dread sayona has no Constitution score.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathways Bestiary (c) 2017, Rite Publishing LLC.; Author: Steven D. Russell.

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