Ghoul Stirge

This human-sized creature looks like a cross between a large bat and a giant mosquito. Its wings are leathery and gray and its skin is drawn tight across its bones. The creature has eight pincer-like legs and a long needle-like snout. Its eyes glow pale blue.

Ghoul Stirge (CR 3)

Medium Undead
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Initiative: +3
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Scent; Perception +11

Speed: 20 feet, Fly 50 feet (average)
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 15, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +2 natural)
Hit Points: 22 (4d8+4)
Saving Throws: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +6
Immunity: undead traits

Offense

Melee: bite +6 (1d6 plus Paralysis)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: Blood Drain (1d4 Constitution), Paralysis (1d4+1 rounds, DC 13)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
10 (+0)	17 (+3)	-	6 (-2)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)

Base Attack Bonus: +3
CMB +3
CMD 16 (28 vs. Trip)

Feats: Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Finesse

Skills: Fly +7, Perception +11, Stealth +10

Languages: Common (cannot speak)

Special Abilities

NONE

Ecology

Environment: Any
Organization: solitary, gang (2-4), or flock (5-8)
Treasure: none


A ghoul-stirge resembles a large stirge with rotting flesh and broken wings. The origin of the ghoul-stirge has been lost, but it is believed to be the result of a failed magical experiment conducted in ages past by a group of evil and (thought to be) insane necromancers.

Though they can generally be encountered anywhere, ghoul-stirges seem to favor desolate places such as ruins and caverns or dungeons deep underground. Being undead they do not have to eat, but seem to draw sustenance from the blood of enemies (much like a vampire). A ghoul-stirge is about 5 feet long with a wingspan almost twice its length. Ghoul-stirges seem to understand Common, but apparently cannot (or choose not to) speak it.

A ghoul-stirge attacks by swooping down on its opponent and attempting to paralyze it with its bite attack. Opponents that resist its paralysis are attacked again, while paralyzed opponents are drained of their blood at the first opportunity. (A ghoul-stirge won't ignore other foes to drain the blood from a paralyzed enemy.)

Credit The Ghoulstirge originally appeared in the First Edition module L1 The Secret of Bone Hill (© TSR/Wizards of the Coast, 1981) and is used by permission.

Copyright Notice Authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Lenard Lakofka.