Joshua Redbeard
Crypt-Cursed 5th-Level Human Rogue
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Size/Type | Medium Undead |
| Hit Dice | 5d12 (32 hp) |
| Initiative | +2 |
| Speed | 30 ft. (6 squares) |
| Armor Class | 15 (+2 Dex, +2 armor, +1 shield), touch 12, flat-footed 13 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +2/+4 |
| Attack | +1 hook +3 melee (1d3+3); or dagger +4 ranged |
| Full Attack | +1 hook +3 melee (1d3+3) and claw +2 melee (1d4+1); or dagger +4 ranged (1d4+2/19–20) |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Sneak attack +3d6 |
| Special Qualities | Trapfinding, evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, unshakable curse, cloaked form, detect cursed treasure, damage reduction 10/magic, undead traits |
| Saves | Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +4 |
| Abilities | Str 14, Dex 15, Con ―, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 11. |
| Skills | Appraise +4, Bluff +3, Climb +10, Disable Device +7, Intimidate +8, Hide +8, Jump +7, Move Silently +7, Open Lock +, Profession (pirate) +8, Search +6, Tumble +12, Use Rope +6 |
| Feats | Acrobatic, Two-Weapon Defense, Two-Weapon Fighting |
| Challenge Rating | 6 |
| Alignment | Neutral evil |
Description
This mangy-looking man is wearing the worn garb of a poor sailor, with multiple patches sewn into the fabric. He has a scraggly red beard and a balding head with the remaining hair tied back in a tail. One of his hands has been replaced by a wicked-looking polished hook.
Joshua became crypt-cursed while robbing the ruins of an ancient temple on a remote tropical island. Since then he has been completely obsessed with returning the treasure and restoring himself to normal. He has dwelled on the island for nearly fifty years, and none of his living relatives are aware of his where-abouts.
Combat
Joshua is missing his right arm, but wears a superbly-crafted silvered hook attached to the stump, which he wields as a tool and weapon. He favors fighting with two weapons, using both the hook and his natural claw attack. A crypt-cursed's natural weapons are treated as magical weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Possessions: +1 hook (spiked gauntlet), masterwork leather armor, 4 daggers, +1 cloak of resistance, potions (cure moderate wounds, levitate, invisibility), silk rope, masterwork thieves' tools, 150gp.
Creating a Crypt-Cursed
"Crypt-cursed" is an acquired template that can be added to corporeal creature (other than an undead) that has a skeletal system (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
A crypt-cursed uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to undead. It retains any subtype modifiers except alignment subtypes (such as good) and subtypes that indicate kind (such as goblinoid or reptilian). Size is unchanged.
Hit Dice: Increase all Hit Dice to d12s.
Armor Class: Natural armor improves by +2 (this stacks with any natural armor bonus the creature has).
Speed: Winged crypt-cursed can't use their wings to fly. If the base creature flew magically, so can the crypt-cursed. Crypt-cursed have their swim speed reduced by half.
Base Attack Bonus: A crypt-cursed base attack bonus is equal to ½ its Hit Dice.
Attacks: A crypt-cursed retains all natural weapons, manufactured weapon attacks, and weapon proficiencies of the base creature. A crypt-cursed also gains claw attacks.
Damage: Natural and manufactured weapons deal damage normally. A claw attack deals damage depending on the crypt-cursed's size. (Use the base creature's claw damage if it is better.)
| Size | Claw Damage |
|---|---|
| Fine | ― |
| Diminutive | 1 |
| Tiny | 1d2 |
| Small | 1d3 |
| Medium | 1d4 |
| Large | 1d6 |
| Huge | 2d4 |
| Gargantuan | 2d6 |
| Colossal | 2d8 |
Special Attacks: A crypt-cursed retains all special attacks of the base creature, except for those of type Extraordinary that require life and flesh. These are poison, breath weapon, ink cloud, quills, slime coating, stench, spores, and swallowing whole.
Special Qualities: A crypt-cursed retains all the special qualities of the base creature, except for those of type Extraordinary that require life and flesh. These are adhesive, ink cloud, slippery, fast healing, regeneration, and any that involve eating, sleeping, or breathing. A crypt-cursed gains the special qualities described below.
Unshakable Curse (Su): A crypt-curse can only have its curse lifted, and this template removed, by returning all of the cursed treasure from whence it was stolen. This must be followed by a special ritual requiring the blood of a living family member. Once this ritual is completed the template is removed and the creature is restored to life in its original type. Any experience, levels, and skills gained while a crypt-cursed creature is retained.
Cloaked Form (Su): The crypt-cursed retains the outward appearance of their form prior to the curse. This is a powerful glamer that affects all senses, and behaves as a veil spell that can not be disbelieved. However, the true form of the crypt-cursed can always be seen in the light of the moon, or with a true seeing spell or ability.
Detect Cursed Treasure (Su): A crypt-cursed has the ability to detect the general direction of any piece of the stolen treasure that resulted in their curse, if it is within one mile of their current location. They gain a +4 bonus to any Search or Spot checks that would result in recovery of some of this treasure.
Damage Reduction (Su): The crypt cursed's body is tough, giving the creature damage reduction 10/magic (if HD 11 or less) or 15/magic (if HD 12 or more). It's natural weapons are treated as magical weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Abilities: A crypt cursed Charisma's decreases by -2, and it has no Constitution score.
Environment: Any, usually the same as the base creature.
Challenge Rating: Same as base creature +1. (minimum 2).
Alignment: Always neutral evil.
Level Adjustment: +2. A crypt cursed can only gain experience while attempting to recover the cursed treasure.