Demon, Shikome

This evil creature appears as a woman dressed in a long exquisite tunic, wearing a beautiful mask and with a regal hairstyle. She silently pulls two sickles from her headdress, poetry in motion, ready for the fight. Then her mask shatters and you know terror.

Monster Encyclopaedia II: The Dark Bestiary
Author J. C. Alvarez
Series Monster Encyclopaedia
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2005

Shikome are female warrior demons from the near underworld; they frequently visit the mortal plane to torment mortals and feed on their souls. A shikome’s favorite guise is that of a sophisticated noblewoman, with a splendid headdress and delicate facemask. When this mask is removed, however, the Shikome reveals its true form: that of an armored, supernaturally ugly hag or ogress, with the strength and fierceness of a hundred human warriors.

Shikome speak Abyssal, Common, Giant, Goblin and Orc.

Shikome
Medium outsider (Chaotic, Evil, Extraplanar)
Hit Dice	3d8+6 (22 hp)
Initiative	+5
Speed	30 ft. (6 squares)
AC	21 (+1 Dexterity, +4 natural, +6 splint mail), touch 11, flat-footed 20
Base Attack/Grapple	+3/+9
Attack	masterwork sickle +10 melee (1d6+6/18-20) or masterwork falchion +10 melee (2d4+9/18-20) or claw +9 melee (1d4+6)
Full Attack	2 masterwork sickles +8 melee (1d6+6/18-20) or masterwork falchion +10 melee (2d4+9/18-20) or 2 claws +9 melee (1d4+6)
Space/Reach	5 ft. /5 ft.
Special Attacks	Battle fury, mask of beauty, shocking appearance, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities	Damage reduction 5/cold iron or magic, Darkvision 60 ft., electrical and poison immunity, resistance to acid 10, cold 10 and fire 10
Saves	Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +3
Abilities	Strength 22, Dexterity 13, Constitution 16, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 11, Charisma 16
Skills	Bluff +9, Concentration +9, Disguise +9*, Intimidate +15, Escape Artist +1, Listen +6, Spot +6
Feats	Improved Initiative, Power AttackB, Two-Weapon Fighting
Environment	Chaotic evil planes
Organisation	Solitary, troop (2-12), company (6-36) or battalion (20-120 plus 1-3 mariliths)
Challenge Rating	4
Treasure	Standard
Alignment	Always chaotic evil
Advancement	4-6 HD (Medium), 7-9 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment	+3

Combat

Shikome have two distinct combat strategies; when in their stylish warrior woman guise, they use finesse and charm, preferring to ensnare mortals with their Enchantment abilities and then strike, quickly and gracefully, by surprise. When in their true forms, Shikome are veritable dreadnoughts, sweeping through enemy ranks with powerful and devastating strokes. Shikome prefer to kill their victims using their claws, but frequently use weapons for the sake of efficiency. They prefer those weapons with higher critical ranges (such as kukri and falchions).

Both a shikome’s natural attacks and weapons count as chaotic and evil for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.

Rage (Ex): Once per day, a shikome can enter a rage as per the barbarian’s Rage class ability.

Mask of Beauty (Su): A shikome’s mask is a magical wondrous item, however it does not work for anyone but a shikome. While a shikome is wearing this mask, it remains under a Disguise Self effect, which makes the shikome’s ogre-like body appear as that of a slender, beautiful maiden and its crude battle armour as a sophisticated and ornate dress. Any living, intelligent creature meeting the eyes of a shikome while it is wearing its mask of beauty must succeed at a Will save (DC 14, Charisma based) or become stunned for one round. By spending a standard action gazing at a currently affected target, a shikome can extend the duration of this stun effect by one additional round. To remove a shikome’s mask of beauty requires a successful Grapple check. The mask of beauty has a Hardness of 10 and 10 hit points. It has no power unless worn by a Shikome, but it can be sold for 5,000 gold pieces.

Shocking Appearance (Ex): Any creature looking upon a shikome that is not wearing its mask of beauty must succeed at a Will save (DC 14, Charisma based) or become shaken for 2d6 rounds. This is a fear-inducing, mind-affecting effect. A creature that successfully makes this save cannot be affected by the same shikome’s Shocking Appearance ability for the next 24 hours. A Shikome can remove its own mask of beauty by spending a standard action.

Spell-Like Abilities: At will – bull’s strength, cause fear (DC 14), Charm Person (DC 14), enthral (DC 15), magic weapon. Caster level 3rd. Save DCs are Charisma based.

Skills: A shikome gains a +4 racial bonus on Intimidate checks. *A Shikome gains a +8 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear as a beautiful warrior.