Imhotep, the Cursed Mummy

Medium undead, neutral evil

Armor Class 20 (natural armor)

Hit Points 220 (20d8 + 120)

Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
22 (+6)	16 (+3)	22 (+6)	18 (+4)	16 (+3)	18 (+4)

Skills Arcana +8, History +8, Religion +8, Perception +7, Stealth +6

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons

Damage Immunities necrotic, poison

Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 17

Languages English, Egyptian, Ancient Egyptian

Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)

Despair Aura. Imhotep exudes an aura of despair that unnerves those who come near him. Any creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of Imhotep and can see him must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to Imhotep’s Despair Aura for the next 24 hours. This aura reflects the anguish and suffering he endured in life.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Imhotep fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead, his indomitable willpower resisting even the most potent of effects.

Mummy Rot. Imhotep’s touch carries a deadly curse known as Mummy Rot. If he hits a creature with an unarmed strike, the creature must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with Mummy Rot. The cursed target can’t regain hit points, and its hit point maximum decreases by 10 (3d6) for every 24 hours that elapse. If the curse reduces the target’s hit point maximum to 0, the target dies, and its body turns to dust. The curse lasts until removed by the remove curse spell or other potent magic.

Spellcasting. Imhotep is a 10th-level spellcaster, drawing power from his unholy connection to the arcane. His spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). He has the following spells prepared from the cleric spell list:

• Cantrips (at will): guidance, resistance, thaumaturgy
• 1st level (4 slots): command, inflict wounds, sanctuary, shield of faith
• 2nd level (3 slots): hold person, silence, spiritual weapon
• 3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, bestow curse, dispel magic
• 4th level (3 slots): blight, death ward
• 5th level (2 slots): contagion, insect plague

Actions

Multiattack. Imhotep can make two slam attacks, using his unearthly strength to pummel his foes.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with Mummy Rot.

Despair Gaze (Recharge 5-6). Imhotep’s gaze can fill his foes with overwhelming despair. He targets one creature he can see within 60 feet of him. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a target’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to Imhotep’s Despair Gaze for the next 24 hours.

Legendary Actions

Imhotep can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Imhotep regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

• Move. Imhotep can move up to half his speed, his tattered wrappings billowing as he advances.
• Attack. Imhotep makes one slam attack, his ancient power infusing each strike.
• Despair Gaze (Costs 2 Actions). Imhotep uses his Despair Gaze, his malevolent eyes filling his opponents with dread.

Legendary Lair Actions

Imhotep’s presence in his lair is a source of dread and corruption. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Imhotep can take a lair action to cause one of the following effects; he can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

• Imhotep’s Despair Aura extends by 30 feet for 1 minute.
• Imhotep calls forth a swarm of scarab beetles that fills a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on a point he can see within 120 feet of him. The swarm spreads around corners and remains for 1 minute, heavily obscuring the area. A creature that starts its turn in the swarm takes 22 (4d10) piercing damage. A creature that ends its turn in the swarm must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with Mummy Rot.
• Imhotep targets one creature he can see within 120 feet of him. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Imhotep

A wrinkled old man stands before you. He looks almost too old to be alive. He introduces himself as Ares-Day and tells you that he has just found the entrance to a tomb, likely filled with treasure. He shows you the way and you feel compulsed to go with him.

Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.

On this Thread

Suddenly this creature looks like a withered and desiccated corpse, with features hidden beneath centuries-old funeral wrappings. It leaps to its feet with surprising agility, and unhinges its jaw to an impossible length.

Imhotep was once a high priest of Osiris in the North Kingdom in Egypt. He fell in love with the pharoah’s mistress, Anck-su-namun, and was caught making love to her. Anck-su-namun then killed the pharoah, before killing herself. Desperate to revive her, Imhotep read from the forbidden Book of the Dead.

Unfortunately, he was interrupted and captured, and Anck-su-namun fell dead once more. For his blasphemy, Imhotep was horribly cursed to live forever and sentenced to guard that which he had stolen for all eternity, the Scroll of Thoth.. He was then trapped in a sarcophogas and cast into a pit of detritus where he lay for centuries until a group of tomb raiders accidentally freed him.

Imhotep stands 6 1/2 feet tall and weigh about 180 pounds.

Imhotep speaks Common and any languages he has stolen with his thief of flesh ability. He also speaks any ancient dialects of the desert region in which he is found.

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Imhotep
Medium undead
Hit Dice	20d12+100 (230 hp)
Initiative	+6
Speed	30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class	35 (+2 Dexterity, +10 natural, +5 deflection, +8 bracers of armor +8), touch 17, flat-footed 33
Base Attack/Grapple	+10/+22
Attack	Slam +18 melee (1d8+12/19-20)
Full Attack	2 slams +18 melee (1d8+12/19-20)
Space/Reach	5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	Despair, mummy rot, rebuke undead 8/day (+7, 2d6+25, 20th), spell-like abilities, summon mummies, swarm breath, thief of flesh, Fear Aura, Domination
Special Qualities	Aversion to cats, damage reduction 10/-, Darkvision 60 ft., fast healing 10, resistance to fire 20, Spell Resistance 30, +4 turn resistance, undead traits, unholy grace, unholy toughness, vulnerability to fire
Saves	Fort +11, Ref +15, Will +22
Abilities	Strength 26, Dexterity 15, Constitution -, Intelligence 20, Wisdom 20, Charisma 20
Skills	Bluff +28, Concentration +23, Diplomacy +9, Disguise +28 (+30 acting), Intimidate +16, Knowledge (arcana) +25, Knowledge (history) +25, Knowledge (religion) +25, Listen +28, Move Silently +25, Sense Motive +28
Feats	Improved Critical (slam), Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (slam), Improved Unarmed Strike, lightning reflexes, Power Attack
Environment	Warm deserts
Organization	Solitary
Challenge Rating	22
Treasure	Standard plus possessions noted below
Alignment	Always neutral evil
Advancement	By character class
Level Adjustment	–

Combat

Imhotep generally opens a battle by either summoning reinforcements (with his swarm breath or summon mummies abilities) or using his spell-like abilities. He then attempts to steal the most desirable body parts from his opponents. If things turn against him, he uses his swarm form to escape.

• Despair (Su): At the mere sight of Imhotep, the viewer must succeed on a DC 25 Will save or be paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. Whether or not the save is successful, that creature cannot be affected again by Imhotep’s despair ability for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.
• Fear Aura (Su): Imhotep is shrouded in a dreadful aura of death and evil. Creatures of less than 5 HD in a 60-foot radius that look at him must succeed at a Will save or be affected as though by fear at caster level equal to his own.
• Domination (Su): Imhotep can crush an opponent’s will just by looking into their eyes. This is similar to a gaze attack, except that Imhotep must take a standard action, and those merely looking at him are not affected. Anyone he targets must succeed a Will save or instantly fall under his influence as though dominate person had been cast by a 12th-level sorcerer. This ability has a range of 30 feet.
• Mummy rot (Su): Supernatural disease – slam, Fortitude DC 25, incubation period 1 minute; damage 1d6 Constitution and 1d6 Charisma. The save DC is Charisma-based.
  • Unlike normal diseases, mummy rot continues until the victim reaches Constitution 0 (and dies) or is cured as described below.
  • Mummy rot is a powerful curse, not a natural disease. A character attempting to cast any conjuration (healing) spell on a creature afflicted with mummy rot must succeed on a DC 20 caster level check, or the spell has no effect on the afflicted character.
  • To eliminate mummy rot, the curse must first be broken with break enchantment or remove curse (requiring a DC 20 caster level check for either spell), after which a caster level check is no longer necessary to cast healing spells on the victim, and the mummy rot can be magically cured as any normal disease.
  • An afflicted creature who dies of mummy rot shrivels away into sand and dust that blow away into nothing at the first wind.

• Rebuke undead (Su): Imhotep can rebuke or command undead as a 20th-level cleric.
• Spell-Like Abilities:

• At will–gust of wind (DC 17), knock;
• 3/day–control water (DC 21), control winds (DC 20), wall of sand;
• 1/day–animate objects, control weather.

Caster level 20th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Swarm Breath (Su): Once every 1d4 rounds, Imhotep can unhinge his jaws and spew forth dangerous swarms of insects. He can use this breath weapon to create six swarms of flies (all of which must be created so that each swarm is adjacent to at least one other swarm, and at least one square must be adjacent to Imhotep). He may create these swarms so that they share the area of other creatures. The insects attack any creatures occupying the squares, and can pursue creatures that flee. If Imhotep so chooses, he may instead create a single swarm of scarab beetles with his breath weapon. Imhotep can create as many fly swarms as he wishes in a day, but may only create one scarab beetle swarm per day. Swarms created by his breath persist for 1 hour before dying.

Fly Swarm: hp 9; Treat as a spider swarm, with the following exceptions: Spd 10 ft. (2 squares), Fly 40 ft. (perfect); no poison or tremorsense; Skills Listen +4, Spot +4.

Scarab Beetle Swarm: hp 127;

Thief of Flesh (Su): Imhotep can steal the flesh or other body parts from a grappled creature and incororate it into his own form. The victim must succeed on a 25 Fortitude save or lose the body part of Imhotep’s choice. The save DC is Charisma-based. The effects on the victim depend and the benefits imparted on Imhotep depend upon the parts stolen, as follows.

Eyes: The victim is permanently blinded, its eyeballs removed from its sockets. Imhotep gains the visual abilities (Darkvision, Low-Light
Vision) of the victim, if better than his own.

Tongue: The victim is permanently muted, its tongue removed from its mouth. The victim cannot use verbal communication, spells or abilities requiring verbal components, or any other ability requiring speech. Imhotep gains the languages of the victim.

Skin: Imhotep steals portions of the victim’s skin, absorbing it directly into himself, dealing 1d4 points of Charisma damage. Imhotep gains a +2 bonus on Disguise checks per 3 points of Charisma damage dealt, up to a maximum of +10 (which gives him a complete set of skin).

With the exception of skin, Imhotep cannot steal the same body part if he already possesses it. When first encountered, Imhotep usually lacks the above parts.

Summon Mummies (Sp): Once per day, Imhotep can automatically summon 3d4 pygmy mummies, 1d4 mummies, or 1d2 mummy lords.
This ability is the equivalent of a 9th-level spell.

Aversion to Cats (Ex): According to the ancients, cats are the guardians at the gates of the underworld. Imhotep must stay at least 30 feet from any cat or other feline creature, alive or dead; if already within 30 feet, he moves away. If Imhotep is unable to move away, or is attacked by cats or other feline creatures, he is overcome with revulsion. This revulsion reduces Imhotep’s Dexterity score by 4 points until the he is no longer within 30 feet of a cat or other feline creature. This ability is otherwise similar to antipathy as the spell (caster level 20th).

• Swarm Form (Su): Imhotep is able to turn into a swarm of flies, beetles, or sand. See the swarm-shifter template in Libris Mortis for more details.
• Unholy Grace (Su): Imhotep adds his Charisma modifier as a bonus on all his saving throws and as a deflection bonus to his Armor Class. (The statistics block already reflects these bonuses).
• Unholy Toughness (Ex): Imhotep gains a bonus to his hit points equal to his Charisma modifier x his Hit Dice.

Possessions:

Bracers of armor +8, major ring of energy resistance (fire).

Scroll or Thoth (SU): Imhotep is bound to the Scroll of Thoth. This is both a blessing and a curse to him. The scroll is kept in the Box of Amon-Ra, and Imhotep is inactive until the box is disturbed and the scroll taken. If this happens, Imhotep’s soul is brought back to his mummified body and he animates 5 minutes later. After he rises, he makes his way to the scroll and must kill the opener(s) of the box. After he successfully kills all defilers of the box, he is free and may carry out his own will. Imhotep cannot be killed as long as the scroll remains, even if brought to 0 hp. The only way to kill him is to destroy the scroll. Since Imhotep always carries the scroll on him, this can be difficult. The scroll allows Imhotep to create living mummies 3/day. In order to create a living mummy, Imhotep must kill a living victim and mutter incantations from the scroll, taking 10 minutes to complete.

Familiar: Imhotep has a cat familiar, its name is unknown.

Using Imhotep in a Real-World Egyptian Setting

The version of Imhotep presented above is designed to fit in with a standard D&D campaign and keep him on par with other creatures of his CR. If you are playing in a setting more like real-world Egypt (such as in D20 Modern), make the following changes:

• -Imhotep speaks Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Hebrew, Ancient Greek, Hittite, Nubian, and Assyrian.
• -Eliminate the bracers of armor from his possessions, reducing his Armor Class to 27.
• -Imhotep does not gain the victim’s languages when using his thief of flesh ability to steal its tongue.
• -You may want to apply the aversion to cats special quality to other undead in such a campaign.