Mythic Jiang-Shi (CR +varies)

Creating a Mythic Jiang-Shi

“Mythic jiang-shi” is an aquired template that can be added to any creature with the jiang-shi template (hereafter referred to as the base template). A mythic jiang-shi uses the base jiang-shi’s stats and abilities except as noted here.

Mythic Subtype: A mythic jiang-shi gains the mythic subtype, with a rank equal to half the CR of the base vampire. A mythic jiang-shi gains additional abilities depending on the base jiangshi’s CR instead of the mythic abilities it would get for having a rank. The mythic jiang-shi gains all other benefits of having the mythic subtype: ability score bonuses, bonus hit points, mythic feats, mythic power, natural armor bonus, and spell resistance increase (if any).

CR: Adjust the base jiang-shi’s CR according to its mythic rank (this template doesn’t increase the base jiang-shi’s CR other than from the mythic rank). Note that a mythic jiangshi’s abilities on the table below depend on the base jiangshi’s CR, not the final CR of the mythic jiang-shi.

Tiers: A jiang-shi with mythic tiers that becomes a mythic jiang-shi loses its tiers (and all abilities from those tiers) and gains abilities from the mythic jiang-shi template, according to the base jiang-shi’s CR.

Overcome Weakness: A mythic jiang-shi can overcome or ignore its jiang-shi weaknesses as follows: mirrors (2nd rank), handbells (4th rank), cooked rice (6th rank). At the 8th mythic rank, the mythic jiangshi’s DR can no longer be overcome by a weapon crafted of peach tree wood, unless that weapon is under the effects of a mythic greater magic weapon, or bless weapon or cast by a creature with at least 1 mythic tier or rank. At 10th mythic rank, scattering the dust (or mixing it with rice and holy water) of a mythic jiang-shi reduced to 0 hit points no longer destroys it permanently, but instead causes the jiangshi to take 24 hours to reform. In order to destroy the mythic jiang-shi, its dust must be blessed and scattered over running water.

Tearing Claws: At 2nd rank, a mythic jiang-shi’s claws inflict 1d6 bleed on a successful hit. A mythic jiang-shi that uses its drain chi ability on a bleeding opponent adds its mythic rank to the ability’s DC, drawing the victim’s chi from its open wounds as well as its breath.

Channel Resistance: At 3rd rank, the mythic jiang-shi’s channel resistance increases to +8. At 6th rank, it increases to +12. At 9th rank, it increases to +16.

Improved Chi Drain: At 5th rank, a mythic jiang-shi’s drain chi ability inflicts 2 negative levels, and if the target has a ki pool, then the mythic jiang-shi drains 2 ki points from the victim if it fails its saving throw. The mythic jiang-shi may add these points to its own ki pool if it has one (up to its maximum total ki). Otherwise, the mythic jiang-shi gains a +2 racial bonus to saving throws for a number of rounds equal to its mythic rank. Further ki drain does not increase the bonus, but does increase the duration of the bonus.

Leaping: At 5th rank, a mythic jiang-shi is always considered to have a running start when making Acrobatics checks to jump. It also receives a +20 bonus to Acrobatics checks made to jump.

Flight: At 7th rank, a mythic jiang-shi gains a fly speed of 30 feet at perfect maneuverability. If the mythic jiang-shi already has a fly speed, increase its fly speed by 30 feet and increase its maneuverability to perfect.

Greater Chi Drain: At 7th rank, a mythic jiang-shi’s drain chi ability stuns the target for 1d4 rounds on a failed save.

Create Spawn: At 8th rank, creature with 5 or more Hit Dice killed by a mythic jiang-shi’s drain chi ability rises from death as a jiang-shi in 1d4 days. This jiang-shi is under the command of the mythic jiang-shi that created it, and remains enslaved until its master’s destruction. A mythic jiang-shi may have enslaved spawn totaling no more than twice its own Hit Dice; any spawn it creates that would exceed this limit become free-willed undead. A mythic jiang-shi may free an enslaved spawn in order to enslave a new spawn, but once freed, a jiang-shi cannot be enslaved again.

Mass Chi Drain: At 10th rank, by expending 2 uses of mythic power, a mythic jiang-shi can drain chi from all creatures within 30 feet. Each creature must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 the mythic jiang-shi’s Hit Dice + the mythic jiangshi’s Cha modifier) or be affected by the mythic jiang-shi’s drain chi ability. The mythic jiang-shi gains all the normal benefits of all chi (and ki) drained in this manner.

Jiang-shis (often known as “hopping vampires”) are undead humanoid creatures that feed on the exhaled life energy of the living. A jiang-shi’s appearance is based on the state of the creature’s corpse at the time of its reanimation. Regardless of the state of decay, jiang-shis wear the clothing or armor they were buried in. Sometimes this is common clothing but for some it may be generations out of style. Additionally, each has a short parchment scroll talisman affixed to its brow by rice glue; intended in some cases to protect the body from restless spirits, in others to cause them to rise, and others where fear of them rampaging the talisman is meant to weaken or restrain them. A jiang-shi rises from the grave when an excess of necrotic yin energy builds up where the coffin is buried (or sometimes as a result of a curse), and all three parts of its soul being bound into its body at the time of death and are instead forced to fester and putrefy within. At some point during the body’s decomposition, the thing rises in its grotesque form and seeks living creatures to feed upon, though they do not create spawn the way Western vampires do.

Mythic Jiang-Shi Abilities

Base Jiang-Shi’s CR	Mythic Rank	Mythic Abilities
4–5	2nd	Overcome weakness (mirrors), tearing claws
6–7	3rd	Channel resistance +8
8–9	4th	Overcome weakness (handbells)
10–11	5th	Improved chi drain, leaping
12–13	6th	Channel resistance +12, overcome weakness (rice)
14–15	7th	Flight, greater chi drain
16–17	8th	Create spawn, overcome weakness (peach tree wood)
18–19	9th	Channel resistance +16, mass chi drain
20+	10th	Overcome weakness (destruction)