I hope you enjoy the ghastig, and I'll see you next week with another monster. Thanks for reading!
*Not a guarantee
This creature looks
like a shrunken zombie to which someone applied equally decayed wings. Despite
the state of its wings, it is capable of holding itself aloft.
Ghastig CR
5
XP 1,600
NE Tiny undead
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception
+11
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 16,
flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +2 natural, +2 size)
hp 52 (7d8+21)
Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +7
Defensive Abilities
channel resistance +4; DR 5/cold
iron; Immune undead traits; SR 16
OFFENSE
Speed 15 ft., fly
40 ft. (average)
Melee bite +11
(1d3–4
plus disease and paralysis), 2 claws +11 (1d2–4 plus disease and paralysis)
Space 2½ ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks
captivating glance, charisma drain, disease, fey bane, paralysis (1d6+1 rounds,
DC 16)
Spell-Like Abilities
(CL 7th; concentration +10)
3/day—charm person (DC 14), color spray (DC 14)
1/day—confusion (DC 17), crushing despair (DC 17)
STATISTICS
Str 2, Dex 19, Con —, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 17
Base Atk +5; CMB +7; CMD 13
Feats Deceitful,
Lightning Reflexes, Taunt[APG], Weapon Finesse
Skills Bluff +12,
Disguise +15, Fly +15, Perception +11, Sense Motive +11, Stealth +20
Languages Aklo,
Common, Sylvan
SQ change shape (pixie
or sprite, fey form III[UW])
ECOLOGY
Environment any
(near concentrations of fey creatures)
Organization
solitary, pair, or dance macabre (3–8)
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Captivating Glance
(Su) The target of a ghastig’s captivating glance must succeed at a DC 16 Will
save or become captivated. A creature that successfully saves is not subject to
the same ghastig’s ability for 24 hours. A victim under the effects of this
ability moves toward the ghastig using the most direct means available. If the
path leads the victim through a dangerous area, it receives a second saving
throw to end the effect before moving into the danger. A captivated creature
can take no action other than to defend itself. It offers no resistance to the
ghastig’s attacks. This is a mind-affecting gaze effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Charisma Drain (Su)
As a standard action, a ghastig can touch an immobile creature or one affected
by its captivating glance and deal 1d4 points of Charisma drain to the target
if it fails a DC 16 Will save. The ghastig gains 5 temporary hit points when it
successfully uses this ability. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Disease (Su) Ghoul Fever: Bite or claw—injury; save Fort DC 16; onset 1 day; frequency
1/day; effect 1d4 Con and 1d4 Dex
damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Charisma-based. A humanoid who
dies of ghoul fever rises as a ghoul at the next midnight (a fey creature that
dies of ghoul fever rises as a ghastig). The new undead creature retains none
of the abilities it possessed in life. The creature is not under the control of
any other creature.
Fey Bane (Su) A
ghastig gains a +2 racial bonus to its attack and damage rolls against fey
creatures. It also deals an extra 2d6 points of damage to fey creatures.
Ghastigs result from fey creatures that die as a result of
treachery, usually directed by other fey. They return from the dead with
vengeance in their shriveled hearts and seek to destroy those who wronged them.
Along the way, of course, they find other prey to entertain them. Their preferred
strategy is to use their guise as a pixie or sprite to give the initial
impression of a relatively harmless opponent, and then they use their
captivating glance ability to compel a victim to their side. If they have a
choice of victims, they choose the toughest looking creature. They either use
their newly captivated victims to protect them from the victims’ allies or as a
food source. While their choice of victims in this case usually leaves
something to be desired, ghastigs figure they will eventually drain the joy and
beauty from every creature they encounter.
Ghastigs never work with humanoid undead, and they barely
tolerate working with each other for an extended period. However, evil fey who
make convincing promises of reversing the ghastigs’ condition gain the
temporary alliance of the undead fey, at least until the ghastigs figure out
the ruse or grow impatient with their “benefactors.”
Ghastigs are a mere 2 feet tall and their desiccated bodies
weigh only 15 pounds.
