Ka Mummy

The garments worn by this mummified creature are of the finest quality. The pungent aroma of spices masks the smell of decay it surely bears.

Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.

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A Ka Mummy is akin to a mummy, although it always arises from the remains of a noble, king, or pharoah. It perseveres in undeath to guard its tomb, attacking only when the treasures it guards are threatened.

Ka Mummies are not necessarily evil, and those who were kind or just rulers retain an affinity for members of their own race, nation, or culture. Visitors who make no attempt to pilfer a ka’s treasures may be rewarded with the ka’s great knowledge, although an offering to show reverence increases the likelihood of the ka’s reward. Such an offering can range from something as simple as food to more elaborate treasures. The ka will generally answer only yes-or-no questions that draw upon its extensive knowledge of history and its realm.

Since nobles are most often buried alone, Ka Mummies are generally a solitary encounter. Occasionally, a group of nobles may be buried together to discourage tomb raiders, and kas found in such circumstances generally cooperate with one another.

Most Ka Mummies are 5 to 6 feet tall and weigh about 120 pounds. They are indistinguishable from normal mummies, except they often are garbed in the fineries of nobility.

Kas speak speak Common, Infernal, Draconic and regional tongues.

Ka Mummy
Medium undead
Hit Dice	17d12 (110 hp)
Initiative	+2
Speed	30 ft. (6 squares)
AC	23 (+2 Dexterity, +11 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 21
Base Attack/Grapple	+8/+17
Attack	Slam +17 melee (1d6+13/19-20 plus mummy rot)
Full Attack	Slam +17 melee (1d6+13/19-20 plus mummy rot)
Space/Reach	5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	Despair, ka’s curse
Special Qualities	Damage reduction 5/–, Darkvision 60 ft., immunity to electricity, resistance to fire 10, +4 turn resistance, undead traits, vulnerability to fire
Saves	Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +12
Abilities	Strength 28, Dexterity 14, Constitution -, Intelligence 16, Wisdom 15, Charisma 19
Skills	Concentration +20, Diplomacy +8, Knowledge (history) +23, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +23, Listen +22, Search +23, Sense Motive +22, Spot +22, Survival +2 (+4 following tracks)
Feats	Ability Focus (ka’s curse), Cleave, Combat Expertise, Improved Critical (slam), Improved Trip, Power Attack
Environment	Any
Organization	Solitary or court (2–12)
Challenge Rating	15
Treasure	Double standard
Alignment	Usually lawful neutral
Advancement	17–34 HD (Medium); 35–51 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment	–

COMBAT

A Ka Mummy is confident in battle, pummeling foes with their curse-imposing slams. If the battle begins to turn against it, a Ka Mummy may use its Phase door ability to make hit-and-run attacks, or may fragment its spirit to attack with multiple stone golems.

Carve Symbol (Sp): As a full-round action, a Ka Mummy may carve a special symbol on a surface. This functions as a symbol of fear, symbol of pain, or symbol of persuasion spell (ka’s choice at time of carving). Caster level 17th. Save DCs are 14 + spell level.

Despair (Su): At the mere sight of a Ka Mummy, the viewer must succeed on a DC 22 Will save or be paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the save is successful, that creature cannot be affected again by the same ka’s despair ability for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Fragment Spirit (Su): A Ka Mummy may fragment its spirit to inhabit stone statues within its tomb. These statues function as stone golems. While inhabiting a statue, the Ka Mummy loses all its special attacks and special qualities but gains all the special abilities of the stone golems. If a ka is reduced to 0 hit points in its normal form, it can live on in these statues eternally unless they too are destroyed.

A ka may inhabit two Golem Stones. For each 2 additional Hit Dice, it may inhabit an additional stone golem. Thus, a 21 HD Ka Mummy can fragment its spirit to inhabit 4 Golem Stones.

Ka’s Curse (Su): With a successful slam attack, a ka imparts a powerful curse. The victim must succeed on a DC 24 Will save or suffer a random effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

To eliminate a ka’s curse, the curse must be broken with break enchantment or remove curse (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for either spell).

Curse Effects (1d8)

1. Ill Luck: The victim takes a -2 luck penalty to all ability checks, skill checks, saving throws, and attack rolls.
2. Withering Touch: The ka chooses to wither either the arms or the legs of the victim. Withered legs force a subject to fall prone while at the same time reducing the subject’s land speed to 5 feet. Withered arms make it impossible for the subject to use objects or cast spells with somatic components.
3. Disfigurement: The victim is horribly scarred and suffers a -4 competence penalty on all Charisma-based skill checks.
4. Mutation: The victim’s limbs take on characteristics of a different type of limb (for example, an elbow transforms into a knee, an so forth), imposing a -4 competence penalty on all Dexterity-based skill checks.
5. Death Wish: The victim inexplicably moves into attacks, suffering a -2 profane penalty to AC.
6. Dimwittedness: The victim’s mind becomes incredibly slow and foggy, so the victim sufers a -4 insight penalty on all Intelligence checks and Intelligence-based skill checks.
7. Plagued by Vermin: The victim is constantly assaulted by tiny, biting and stinging insects. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells requires a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills that involve patience and Concentration requires a DC 20 Concentration check. Additionally, creatures of the vermin type gain a +2 bonus on skill checks against the victim, and always attempt to attack the victim before any others in an encounter.
8. Shrinking: The victim is instantly reduced (as the reduce person spell).

Spell-Like Abilities: At will–phase door;

3/day–greater command (DC 19).

Caster level 17th. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #198 (1993).