Jason Andresen (order #1578489) - Jump page for Jubei

Sepulchral Lurker
Large Undead
Hit Dice: 8d12+3 (55 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), burrow 10 ft.
Armor Class: 22 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +12 natural),
touch 10, flat-footed 21
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+13
Attack: Claw +8 melee (1d6+5)
Full Attack: 2 claws +8 melee (1d6+5) and
bite +3 melee (1d8+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, create spawn, frightful
presence, improved grab, rend 2d6+7
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/–, darkvision 60 ft.,
undead traits
Sepulchral lurkers were created to guard tombs,
temples, and other places of import found in the
Bloodstone Marches. Most sepulchral lurkers are
linked to a particular place, although my guide
Quimut has told me that some of these creatures roam the
Bloodstone Marches freely.
Sepulchral lurkers are frightening creatures, the mere sight
of one is enough to shake most men’s resolve. They are hunchbacked
beasts standing 8 to 9 feet tall with clawed and powerful
arms. Their skin (where there is any) is a dull
reddish color, and their bones are dark ochre
red. Where their monstrous hearts should
be beats a humanoid heart pulsing with
powerful necromantic magic.
Sepulchral lurkers are found
where treasure, sand, and skeletons
meet, and such was the case when
a group of adventurers and I
ran into one in the remains of
a ruined tomb. Quimut warned
against our entering, but hungry
for the knowledge we were
seeking, we pressed
him to go forward.
After winding our
way into the ruin,
we came to a place
where the sandstone
floors gave way to the mingled sight of ancient sand and
scattered skeletons. Quimut said he would go no further. I
152
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +7
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 13, Con —,
Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 14
Skills: Hide +0*, Listen +12,
Move Silently +12, Spot +12
Feats: Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Hide) B ,
Toughness
Environment: Any desert and underground
Organization: Solitary (plus 2–20 skeletons of various
types under its control)
Challenge Rating: 9
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 9–16 HD (Large); 17–32 HD
(Huge); 33–50 (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: —
agreed, but two of our comrades, Gable Hornt and Figan
Blaiy, wished to press on. After a heated discussion, the two
decided to press forward while the rest of us set up camp a
little farther back in the ruins.
We watched them start across the sand occasionally stopping
to pick up something from the ground. When they had
crossed about halfway, the sands and skeletons shook to life. A
sepulchral lurker and half a dozen skeletons suddenly erupted
from the ground around them, barring their way back to us.
I started towards our doomed comrades,
but Quimut took out his
war-fan and barred my way.
The fight (if you can
call two men fleeing for
their lives such) lasted
less than a minute, and
within seconds of death,
the flesh of the two bodies
dissolved away, leaving
behind two perfectly
polished skeletons. Its work
finished, the sepulchral lurker
and its skeletal cohorts
(including our lost
comrades) burrowed
their way into the
sand where they await
the next set of adventurous
souls to come along. I only hope that those who do will heed
the warning I left on the tomb’s archway.
Jason Andresen (order #1578489) 9