Darnoc

This entity appears as a translucent humanoid whose face is twisted in an evil scowl. Its eyes burn with a hellish red glow.

Darnoc (CR 6)

Medium Undead (Incorporeal)
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Initiative: +6
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet; Perception +12
Aura: frightful presence (30 feet)

Speed: 30 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +4 natural In ghost form AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 deflection)
Hit Points: 52 (8d8+16)
Saving Throws: Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +7
Channel Resistance +2, ghost form
Immunity: undead traits

Offense

Melee: slam +7 (1d6+1 plus curse of the grave)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: create spawn, symbol of discord

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
12 (+1)	14 (+2)	-	12 (+1)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)

Base Attack Bonus: +6
CMB +7
CMD 19

Feats: Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Persuasive

Skills: Bluff +13, Diplomacy +10, Intimidate +14, Perception +12, Sense Motive +11, Stealth +12

Languages: Common

Special Abilities

Create Spawn (Su)

Any humanoid slain by a darnoc becomes a darnoc in 1d4 rounds. Spawn are under the command of the darnoc that created them and remain enslaved until its death. They do not possess any of the abilities they had in life.

Curse of the Grave (Su)

Any damage dealt by a darnoc's slam attack does not heal naturally and resists all magical healing (potions, cure spells, and so on). Before the damage can be healed, the curse must first be broken with a break enchantment or remove curse spell (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for either spell).

Ghost Form (Su)

As a standard action, a darnoc can become incorporeal for up to 10 minutes each day. While incorporeal, the darnoc has AC 14 (+2 Dex, +2 deflection) and can use its slam attack as an incorporeal touch against corporeal targets dealing 1d6+1 points of negative energy damage as well as curse of the grave.

Symbol of Discord (Su)

Once per day as a standard action, a darnoc can scribe a symbol in the air. All creatures with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher within 60 feet who see the symbol must succeed on a DC 16 Will save or immediately fall into loud bickering and arguing. Meaningful communication is impossible. If the affected creatures have different alignments, there is a 50% chance that they attack each other. Bickering lasts 5d4 rounds. Fighting begins 1d4 rounds into the bickering and lasts 2d4 rounds. Once triggered, the symbol lasts 2 hours. This is a mind-affecting effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Ecology

Environment: Any
Organization: solitary or gang (2-4)
Treasure: standard


The darnoc is a corrupting evil presence whose very touch sucks the life from an opponent bit by painful bit. The darnoc are said to be the restless spirits of oppressive, cruel, and power hungry individuals cursed forever to a life of monotony and toil, forbidden by the gods to taste the spoils of the afterlife they so desperately craved in life.

Often seen in the clothes and guise it wore in life, a darnoc often walks the same halls and repeats the same actions of its insipid existence over and over again. Due to their great greed, a darnoc may be found within its treasury endlessly counting its coins, or within a graveyard noting the headstones of its vanquished foes with cruel mirth.

When distracted from its reverie of its remembered past life, the creature flies into an inconsolable rage, often lashing out without warning or provocation at the first individual who attempts to speak to it.

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.