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

Excruciator
Medium Undead
HD: 11d12 (71 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), fly 40 ft. (average)
AC: 19 (+3 Dex, +4 natural, +2 deflection),
touch 15, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+10
Attack: Torturous implement +10 melee (1d8+5)
or claw +10 melee (1d6+5)
Full Attack: Torturous implement +10 melee
(1d8+5); or claw +10 melee (1d6+5)
and bite +5 melee (1d4+2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, lingering torment,
painwrack
Special Qualities: +2 turn resistance, damage reduction
10/magic, darkvision 60 ft., replenishing
sadism, semi-incorporeal form, undead traits
I
encountered this creature while at an Orgoth fortress
archeological dig. Several exquisite examples of weapons
and armor had been unearthed in tunnels near
Ceryl when the professor leading the excavation suddenly
disappeared, followed by several diggers. Whispers began;
the place was cursed.
Soon enough, well-coordinated thralls beset the dig. They
knew where guards were posted and avoided them. One witness
claimed they were dragging people away alive. I rallied the
guards and ventured into the deeper chambers. After several
battles with the thralls, we encountered a gruesome scene—an
old Orgoth torture chamber lovingly maintained
and clearly having seen recent use.
The missing professor and workers
were strapped to various devices that
dripped fresh blood.
I heard a depraved giggle and
spied a dark form floating next
to the professor. This shadowy
creature was draped in black rags,
its face a strange metal mask with cruel
steel teeth. Dangling from its rags were a variety
of devices designed to cause suffering, and clasped in one
clawed hand was such a device. The fiend set upon the professor,
and we all felt an explosion of pain. Most of the guards
huddled into fetal balls—weapons forgotten—as the attending
thralls stepped forward.
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +11
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 16, Con —,
Int 15, Wis 15, Cha 15
Skills: Bluff +12, Diplomacy +11, Heal +12,
Hide +11, Intimidate +17, Knowledge
(anatomy) +13, Profession (torturer) +18,
Sense Motive +16
Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (torture implements),
Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes,
Skill Focus (Profession [torturer]) B
Environment: Any underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 9
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 12–33 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: —
Somehow I was able to fight off the pain. Dashing past the
thralls and attacking the wraith, I knocked it away from the professor.
This allowed my companions to gather their wits.. Before
we could finish it, the creature escaped through a small tunnel. I
know not if it perished or continues its dark practice elsewhere.
Most excruciators are centuries old and plan accordingly,
finding permanent lairs where they have a ready supply of victims.
They feed upon pain and can regenerate wounds by causing
suffering. Excruciators can last indefinitely without a victim
but become ravenous when deprived of victims for longer than
a year and sometimes slump into protracted periods of inactivity.
Their strongest desire is to pry out each
victim’s deepest secrets, which
they note in meticulous journals
written in archaic Orgoth
or other forgotten tongues.
Excruciators commonly know
dozens of different languages and
seem to have an innate knack for
learning them.
Combat
The excruciator is an
intelligent, self-willed undead
capable of long-term planning. It uses lesser undead for defense
and flees if overwhelmed, attacking again when circumstances are
favorable. It prefers taking single victims alive and will employ
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Jason Andresen (order #1578489) 9