Tsukumogami, Biwa bokuboku

Source Demiurge113 Orginally posted on Probing the Membrane of Science

Hobbling forth with a cane is a robed man with the head of a biwa. The neck of the instrument is held aloft like a crest, and the instrument’s body bears a pained expression.

There are a number of tsukumogami that are created from neglected, abandoned or rejected musical instruments, but of them, the most well known is the biwa-bokuboku. Rather than hide in deserted buildings as many tsukumogami do, most biwa-bokuboku take to the streets, playing on street corners and begging for money and alms. Although they can see perfectly well, the painted visages of biwa-bokuboku resemble the shut eyes of blind men, a ruse that the tsukumogami are happy to perpetuate.

Biwa-bokuboku value material wealth much more than most other tsukumogami, and if they cannot earn it, they will gladly steal it. A few biwa-bokuboku even operate as crime lords, using
their powers of both mundane and magical persuasion to recruit gangs of thieves and thugs. Other types of tsukumogami can often be found in the company of a biwa-bokuboku, dancing merrily to even its saddest melodies.

Biwa-bokuboku CR 4

XP 1,200 CN Medium construct (tsikumogami)

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+1 Dodge, +1 Dexterity, +3 natural) hp 50 (4d10+28) Fort +1; Ref +2; Will +1 DR 10/bludgeoning; Resist sonic 10 Defensive Abilities soul-powered Weakness haunted

Offense

Speed 20 ft. Melee 2 slams +6 (1d4+2) or club +6 (1d6+2) Special Attacks melancholy song Spell-like Abilities CL 4th, concentration +7 (+11 casting defensively)   At will—ghost sound (DC 13), ventriloquism   3/day—sculpt sound, sleep (DC 14)   1/day—charm monster (DC 17), sound burst (DC 15)

STATISTICS

Strength 15, Dexterity 13, Constitution —, Intelligence 16, Wisdom 11, Charisma 16 Base Atk +4; CMB +6; CMD 18 Feats Combat Casting, Dodge Skills Bluff +7, Knowledge (history) +7, Knowledge (local) +7, Perception +4, Perform (string) +7 Languages Common, Elven, Halfling

ECOLOGY

Environment urban Organization solitary or band (2-8) Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Melancholy Song (Su) As a standard action, a biwa-bokuboku can create a mournful tune. Living creatures within 30 feet of a playing biwa-bokuboku must succeed a DC 14 Will save or be slowed for 5 rounds, as per the spell. Creatures with the tsukumogami subtype are affected as per the spell haste with a duration of 5 rounds. A biwa-bokuboku can use this ability three times per day. The save DC is Charisma based.