Ushabti

Ushabti are funerary statues placed within the tombs and necropolis of important individuals to act as guardians for their mortal remains.

(Open Game Content from e-Minions:Cunning Cunning Creatures , Copyright 2001, Bastion Press, Inc.)

The Lore of the Gods
Book 3 – The Egyptian Gods

Lead Designers Steven Creech and Kevin Ruesch Lead Editor Steven Schend Creative Director Jim Butler Art Director Todd Morasch Artwork Aaron D. Siddal

They may vary in size, from small figurines that act as amulets to ward off evil, to man-sized statues of slaves and warriors. The largest are taller than a human and carved from single blocks of stone. Such ushabti are found only in the tombs of extremely wealthy or powerful individuals, and are often fashioned to resemble protective gods and celestial beings.

All are highly decorative, and are eagerly sought by collectors. Smaller onesi are carved from precious wood and inlaid with ivory, small gemstones, and gold leaf. Larger ushabti are fashioned from marble or  granite. One half of the value of an ushabti’s treasure takes the form of the ushabti itself; the rest consists of jewelry, scrolls, and the daily items that the dead are though to require in the afterlife.

Although minor ushabti bear merely symbolic protection or at best a simple enchantment against thieves, the ushabti of important personages are sometimes empowered by high priests or good-aligned gods to protect the tomb in a more active manner. These are made to animate with positive energy, and act to safeguard the tomb from robbers, defilers, and unholy creatures.

Ushabti
Small construct
Hit Dice	2d10 (11 hp)
Initiative	+0
Speed	30 ft.
AC	15 (+1 Size, +4 Natural)
Attacks	2 Slams +3 melee
Damage	Slam 1d4+1
Face/Reach	5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	Curse, Moan
Special Qualities	Damage Reduction 8/-
Saves	Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +1
Abilities	Strength 12, Dexterity 11, Constitution -, Intelligence -, Wisdom 12, Charisma 12
Climate/Terrain	Any underground
Organization	Solitary, pair or set (2-5)
Challenge Rating	2
Treasure	Double standard (see text)
Alignment	Always neutral
Advancement	3-6 HD (Medium-size), 7-12 HD (Large)

Combat

Ushabti physically attack those who do dare to enter their tombs, punching twice per round with their stone fists. In addition to physical attacks, they make liberal use of their powerful moan and curse attacks. Its moan attack remains in constant effect while its active; the curse attack is used once each round. Ushabti attack fearlessly until destroyed. Opponents who use physically damaging attacks against an ushabti find that its value to collectors is greatly reduced or nullified.

Moan (Su): When it enters into combat, the it emits a low, melancholy moan. Those who can hear this dirge are wracked with guilt for disturbing the rest of the dead, and suffer a -1 penalty to initiative and attack rolls throughout the combat. A Will save (DC 12) negates this effect. This is a sonic, mind-influencing effect.

Curse (Sp): Once per round, an ushabti may attempt to curse a character who has invaded its resting place. If the character fails his Will save (DC 15) he suffers a permanent penalty to all saving throws of -1 for each Hit Die of the ushabti. This curse is far-reaching, and affects all of the character’s family members (though with only half the potency rounded downward).

Those cursed who escape with the treasure of an ushabti’s protected tomb continue to hear it moaning in the back of their minds and cannot escape the guilt of their theft. A remove curse and an Atonement spell cast by a priest of a death god, or when all items removed from the tomb are returned along with a penance worth 10% of the value of the missing treasure are the only ways to remove this curse. The remove curse and Atonement spells are only effective if cast upon the original defilers of the tomb. Cursed family members subject to these spells discover that the curse is nullified only for a day’s time, after which it returns in full force.

construct: Immune to mind-influencing effects, poison, disease, and similar effects. Not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, energy drain, or death from massive damage.

Construction

Creation requires a laboratory, sanctum, or workshop in which to construct and enchant the ushabti. Which may be carved from wood or from stone, and a Craft (woodcarving; DC 15), or Craft (stonemasonry; DC 15) is required to form the body. The material cost of constructing an ushabti is 250 gp/HD, one-half of which is embodied in the ushabti itself, and the rest in ritual materials and vestments. The creator can Craft the body of the ushabti herself, or employ another to do so.

Caster Level: 14th ; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, animate objects, bane, bestow curse, geas/quest, ghost sound, Make whole, and permanency.

Market Price: 12,800 gp. Cost to Create: 2,400 gp (does not include cost of body) and 1,700 XP.