Gaki, Shinen

Shinen-gaki CR 3

XP 800
CE Medium undead (fire, gaki, shapechanger)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +9

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 39 (6d8+12); fast healing 2
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +6
DR 5/good; Immune fire, undead traits
Weaknesses light blindness, vulnerability to cold

OFFENSE

Speed 0 ft., fly 20 ft. (hover)
Melee tendril +7 (1d6 slashing plus burn)
Special Attacks burn (1d6, DC 14), burning path (3/day)

STATISTICS

Str 10, Dex 17, Con -, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 12
Base Atk +4; CMB +4; CMD 17
Feats Improved Initiative, Toughness, Weapon Finesse
Skills Fly +20, Intimidate +10, Stealth +12, Perception +10
Languages understands Common but cannot speak
SQ change shape (Small fire elemental; elemental shape I)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Burning Path (Ex)

The shinen-gaki can move up to its speed, leaving behind a trail of fire in its path. Any creature entering this path or beginning their turn in it is affected by the shinen-gaki’s burn. The trail lasts 1d4 rounds before burning itself out. A shinen-gaki cannot use this ability in sunlight.

Change Shape (Ex)

A shinen-gaki can transform into a Small ball of flame with a fly speed of 40 ft. In this form, its tendril deals no slashing damage. This otherwise functions as elemental shape I.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary or gang (2 – 4)
Treasure incidental

This shambling corpse has blackened and cracked skin over its withered flesh. Its eyes gape emptily weeping smoke.

Spirits of cowardly or treacherous soldiers who abandoned their posts or betrayed their allies, shinen-gaki are most active at night.

They resemble burning skeletons, writhing in anger and terror at the same time, but their feet never quite touch the ground as they float on a draft of smoke. Sunlight causes their fires to grow dim and ashen, and they typically hide themselves during daylight hours. By night, they can transform into hovering balls of flame, often yellow, white, red, or even blue. These burning lights may mislead or attract the attention of the unwary, but close inspection reveals a handful of black spots floating at the center of their fiery mass, like eyespots or even an anguished skull-like mask.

A shinen-gaki uses its burning path ability to constrain and dismay possible victims, then moves in quickly for the kill. If outmatched, it will transform into a ball of fire and attempt to escape.