Penanggalen (Human Witch 5)

A pale face framed by glossy black hair hangs in the air, trailing viscera from the ragged stump of its neck like a grisly tail.

[This content was created for the Pathfinder rules by Paizo Publishing LLC and is part of the Pathfinder RPG product line.]

The hideous penanggalen is one of the most horrific vampiric monstrosities. By day, a penanggalen appears to be a normal humanoid, but at night or when provoked, the creature’s head
rips free from the rest of her body, coils of viscera and entrails dangling from her throat as she launches into the air, seeking blood to sate her unholy thirst.

Unlike most undead, the penanggalen is more akin to the lich in that she willfully abandons both her mortality and morality to become a hideous undead monster. While penanggalens
are traditionally female spellcasters, any creature capable of performing the vile ritual of transformation can become one. Similar to a lich, a creature works toward becoming a penanggalen. More than one such transformation ritual
exists, but all require heinous acts that symbolize the casting aside of kindness, benevolence, and any semblance of feelings other than cruelty. Many of these rituals call for the repeated consumption of blood, bile, tears, and other fluids drawn from captured and tortured innocents.

Penanggalen CR 5

XP 1,600   Human penanggalen witch 5 NE Medium undead (augmented humanoid) Init +4; Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +16

DEFENSE

AC 21, touch 15, flat-footed 16 (+4 Dexterity, +1 dodge, +6 natural)  hp 35 (5d6+15); fast healing 5 Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +7 Defensive Abilities Channel Resistance +4; DR 5/silver and slashing; Immune undead traits; Resist cold 10, fire 10 Weaknesses light sensitivity, penanggalen weaknesses

OFFENSE

Speed fly 60 ft.(good)   Melee bite +6 (1d6+4 plus disease), slam +6 (1d4+4 plus grab and wither) Special Attacks blood drain (1d4 Constitution), create spawn, disease (Filth fever, DC 15), hexes (cackle, evil eye, misfortune) Witch Spells Prepared (CL 5th; concentration +8)   3rd—stinking cloud (DC 16)   2nd—glitterdust (DC 15), hold person (DC 16), see invisibility   1st—charm person (DC 15), command (DC 15), mage armor, obscuring mist 0 (at will)—bleed (DC 13), dancing lights, detect magic, read magic, touch of fatigue (DC 13)

STATISTICS

Strength 18, Dexterity 18, Constitution -, Intelligence 17, Wisdom 16, Charisma 16   Base Atk +2; CMB +6 (+10 grapple); CMD 21 Feats Dodge, Eschew Materials, Spell Focus (enchantment) Skills Bluff +11, Fly +16, Knowledge (arcana) +19, Knowledge (nature) +7, Perception +16, Sense Motive +14, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +17, Use Magic Device +11; Racial Modifiers +8 Bluff, +8 Fly, +8 Knowledge (arcana), +8 Perception, +8 Sense Motive, +8 Stealth Languages Common, Draconic, Gnoll, Infernal SQ separate, witch’s familiar (centipede)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Hexes A penanggalen witch can use one of her hexes at will on any creature within 30 feet. Using a hex is a standard action (unless otherwise noted) that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Save DCs are Intelligence-based. Cackle Hex (Su) As a move action, the penanggalen may cackle. Any creature within 30 feet that is under the effects of the penanggalen’s evil eye or misfortune hex has the duration of that hex extended by 1 round. Evil Eye Hex (Su)   This hex causes the target creature to take a -2 penalty on one of the following (penanggalen’s choice): AC, ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, or skill checks. This effect lasts for 6 rounds, or only 1 round if the target succeeds at a DC 15 Will save. This is a mind-affecting effect.   Misfortune Hex (Su) This hex causes a creature to suffer grave misfortune for 1 round. Whenever the target makes an ability check, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check during this time, it must roll twice and take the worse result. A DC 15 Will save negates this effect. A creature may only be targeted by this hex once per day.

ECOLOGY

Environment any   Organization solitary Treasure NPC gear

A penanggalen keeps a vat of vinegar in her lair. When returning from a night of feeding, a penanggalen’s organs are swollen with blood. In order to fit back into her body, the penanggalen must soak for 1 hour in this vat of vinegar. Once reduced, a penanggalen slides back into her body. If a penanggalen is slain away from her body, the body rapidly deteriorates into foul-smelling grit.

The penanggalen presented above was a witch in life.

Section 15: Copyright Notice – Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3  Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3, © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Jesse Benner, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Michael Kenway, Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, Chris Sims, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, and Russ Taylor, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.