Empusa

Medium fiend (shapechanger), chaotic evil

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Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 127 (15d8 + 60)
Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
14 (+2)	17 (+3)	18 (+4)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	20 (+5)

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Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +5, Cha +8
Skills Deception +11, Insight +5, Perception +5, Persuasion +8, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances cold, fire, necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Abyssal, Common, Infernal, telepathy 60 ft.
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +4

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Shapechanger.

It can use its action to polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid it has seen, or back into its true form. Its statistics remain the same in each form, except one leg is always bronze and the other a bestial hoof, concealed only by illusion.

Fiendish Glamour.

Humanoids that start their turn within 30 feet of the Empusa must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until the start of their next turn. On a success, the creature is immune to this effect for 24 hours.

Innate Spellcasting.

The Empusa’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

• At will: disguise self, minor illusion, charm person
• 3/day each: mirror image, suggestion, fear
• 2/day each: greater invisibility, fireball (appearing as a burst of hellfire)
• 1/day: dominate person

Life Drain (Recharge 5–6).

The Empusa touches or grapples a creature, forcing it to make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 27 (6d8) necrotic damage, and the Empusa regains hit points equal to half the damage dealt. A creature reduced to 0 hit points by this effect dies and rises as a wight loyal to the Empusa after 1d4 hours.

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Actions

Multiattack. It makes two attacks: one with its claw and one with its bronze hoof, or two with its claws.

• Claw (Empusa Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.
• Bronze Hoof (Empusa Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
• Hellfire Kiss (Recharge 6). The Empusa kisses a creature charmed by it. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or take 36 (8d8) fire and necrotic damage, or half as much damage on a successful save.

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Reactions

Illusory Flicker. When the Empusa is targeted by an attack it can see, it imposes disadvantage on the attack roll as its form flickers between reality and illusion.

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Legendary Actions

The Empusa can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Empusa regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Move. It moves up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Glamour Glance. One creature the Empusa can see within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until the end of its next turn.
• Drain Touch (Costs 2 Actions). The Empusa makes one Life Drain attack.

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Combat Tactics

An Empusa begins encounters with fear or fireball to scatter foes, then uses greater invisibility to isolate prey. It charms and dominates weaker-willed opponents, turning them against their allies while it drains vitality from the vulnerable. In danger, the Empusa shields itself with mirror image and uses Illusory Flicker to avoid damage, retreating into darkness to strike again when its enemies are weakened. It feeds not only on blood, but also on terror, savoring the panic of those who realize too late what walks beside them.

Empusa

This beautiful woman has red antennae, gossamer insectile wings, a wasp’s legs, and a serpentine whip.

Empusa CR 13

XP 25,600
CN Medium outsider (chaotic, extraplanar, shapechanger)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +21

DEFENSE

AC 28, touch 18, flat-footed 20 (+8 Dex, +10 natural)
hp 174 (12d10+108); fast healing 5
Fort +17, Ref +16, Will +10
DR 10/lawful; Immune disease, electricity, poison; SR 24

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)
Melee lash +22/+17/+12 (1d6+5/×2 plus poison)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with lash)
Special Attacks lash, sneak attack +3d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 13th; concentration +19)

Constant—tongues
At will—invisibility, major image (DC 20), modify memory (DC 20), suggestion (DC 19)
3/day—charm monster (DC 20), phantasmal vengeance (DC 20), teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of gear only)
1/day—mislead (DC 22), true seeing

STATISTICS

Str 17, Dex 26, Con 29, Int 18, Wis 22, Cha 23
Base Atk +12; CMB +20; CMD 33
Feats Agile Maneuvers, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Deceitful, Improved Feint, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +23, Bluff +25, Disguise +25, Fly +27, Knowledge (planes) +13, Knowledge (religion) +10, Perception +21, Ride +23, Sense Motive +21, Sleight of Hand +23, Stealth +23
Languages Common, Elven; tongues
SQ change shape (elf, alter self)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Lash (Su)

As a move action, an empusa can manifest a whip-like weapon that appears to be a coiling serpent—once manifested, the lash exists as long as the empusa carries it. A lash vanishes if it is disarmed or the empusa drops it or is slain. An empusa’s lash has a reach of 10 feet and deals 1d6 points of slashing damage on a hit. In addition, a creature damaged by the lash is affected by its toxic venom.

Lash Venom: Lash—injury; save Fort DC 25; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Wis damage plus confused for 1 round; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Phantasmal Vengeance (Sp)

This spell-like ability functions as phantasmal killer, save that the image it creates is of a creature or person who the viewer has wronged in their past (or of the empusa herself if there are no other appropriate options). If the target of a phantasmal vengeance fails his Fortitude save, the empusa can opt to have the victim become paralyzed for 1 hour rather than die from fear.

ECOLOGY

Environment any (Elysium)
Organization solitary, pair, or vengeance (3–6)
Treasure standard

Empusas are handmaidens and elite agents of the gods.

Effortlessly passing for elves, empusas move secretly through society, manipulating mortals and influencing events to achieve their missions of vengeance.

An empusa stands 6 feet tall and weighs 120 pounds.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Planar Adventures © 2018, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Robert Brookes, John Compton, Paris Crenshaw, Eleanor Ferron, Thurston Hillman, James Jacobs, Isabelle Lee, Lyz Liddell, Ron Lundeen, Joe Pasini, Lacy Pellazar, Jessica Price, Mark Seifter, F. Wesley Schneider, Todd Stewart, James L. Sutter, and Linda Zayas-Palmer.