Drowned Maiden

Surrounded by eerie silence, the frail woman whose visage was that of inconsolable sorrow only moments before, now glowers in rage. Her luxurious hair snaking through the water towards its victim.

Drowned Maiden CR 7

XP 3,200
NE Medium undead (aquatic)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +14

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+3 Dex, +5 natural)
hp 95 (10d8+50)
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +10
Defensive Abilities undead traits

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft.
Melee 2 claws +10 (1d4+2), hair +11 (2d4+2 plus grab)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (20 ft. with hair)
Special Attacks constrict (2d4+2), kiss, pull (hair, 10 ft.), tresses
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th)

At willdisguise self (DC 16), silence (DC 17)

STATISTICS

Str 15, Dex 16, Con —, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 20
Base Atk +7; CMB +9; CMD 22
Feats Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Stealth), Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (hair)
Skills Bluff +15, Disguise +14, Intimidate +9, Knowledge (History) +3, Perception +14, Sense Motive +5, Stealth +18, Swim +13; Racial Modifiers +8 Swim
Languages Common

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Kiss (Ex)

If a drowned maiden successfully pins an opponent up to Large size that her tresses have successfully grappled, she can embrace it to deadly effect. On each round that the drowned maiden embraces a creature in this manner, she kisses it. Victims kissed by a drowned maiden take 1d4 Strength drain (Fort DC 20; Cha-based).

Tresses (Ex)

At will, a drowned maiden can cause her hair to extend or retract with great speed. Her hair is prehensile and capable of making attacks as a primary attack (break DC 25; AC 17, touch 15; 10 hp; DR 15/slashing). On a successful attack, the tresses grab a target, which the maiden then pulls into her embrace. Her hair can only grapple one target at a time, and during that time, the hair cannot attack another target. A drowned maiden does not gain the grappled condition while using her hair in this manner.

ECOLOGY

Environment any aquatic
Organization solitary
Treasure incidental

Drowned maidens are piteous but terrifying undead created when a woman meets her end in water due to a doomed romance, whether from a quiet suicide over unrequited love or the violent hands of a philandering partner. Either way, the drowned maiden awakens from death enraged and desiring vengeance on all those who might have the life that she remembers; only to anguish over her doomed existence while eradicating another soul. The maiden lurks in the silent depths where she died—usually long-deserted docks, bridges, or coastal cliffs. She is forever waiting to pull the living to the same watery grave in which she is now condemned.

A drowned maiden uses her disguise self to appear as in life. Surrounding herself in silence, she beckons victims from afar as if in distress or in danger of drowning. When within range, the maiden uses her hair to pull her victim close enough to kiss it. Victims suffering the drain of their strength must continue to succeed on Swim checks or sink below the water’s surface and begin drowning. The victim’s final vision is the drowned maiden’s tearful lament over the loss of life. If forced to defend herself, the maiden physically attacks, but she is loath to otherwise engage in combat. Desperate individuals are said to be able to bargain with drowned maidens, and it is rumored they will agree to release pleading victims who promise to return to their lair with the person who caused the maiden’s passing. Doing so releases the maiden from her curse of undeath although the fate of her beloved is another story.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Midgard Bestiary for Pathfinder RPG, (c) 2012 Open Design LLC; Author: Adam Daigle with Chris Harris, Michael Kortes, James MacKenzie, Rob Manning, Ben McFarland, Carlos Ovalle, Jan Rodewald, Adam Roy, Christina Stiles, James Thomas, and Mike Welham.

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