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Umbral Shepherd

This mass of shadow possesses a horrific demon face. Several writhing tentacles sprout from its grublike body.

Umbral Shepherd CR 5

XP 1,600
LE Medium outsider (incorporeal)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +10

DEFENSE

AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 deflection, +2 Dex)
hp 39 (6d10+6)
Fort +3, Ref +9, Will +8
Defensive Abilities incorporeal
Weaknesses light sensitivity, planebound

OFFENSE

Speed 0 ft., fly 30 ft. (perfect)
Melee touch +8 (shadow touch or possession)

STATISTICS

Str –, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 13, Cha 15
Base Atk +6; CMB +8; CMD 20 (can't be tripped)
Feats Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes
Skills Bluff +10, Disguise +11, Fly +14, Intimidate +11, Knowledge (planes) +11, Knowledge (religion) +11, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +11
Languages Common, Infernal, Shadowtongue

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Planebound (Ex)

An umbral shepherd is inherently tied to the Plane of Shadow, and can't survive for long on any other plane without a host body. Each round that an umbral shepherd is on another plane without a host body, it takes 1d6 points of damage.

Possession (Su)

An umbral shepherd can possess a host body as if using magic jar, save that if its host body is killed while possessed, the shepherd dies as well. An umbral shepherd can attempt a possession anytime it succeeds at a touch attack, even while already in a host body. If the touched creature fails a DC 15 Will save, it becomes possessed. Possession by an umbral shepherd takes a toll on its host body, which takes 1 point of Constitution drain every month it is so possessed. Abandoning a host body requires the umbral shepherd to either take a standard action (to appear in a square adjacent to the host) or make a successful possession attempt on a new host. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Shadow Touch (Su)

An umbral shepherd that succeeds at a touch attack can attempt to dissolve a portion of the victim's flesh into shadow, which then dissipates, dealing 1d4 points of Constitution damage. Victims that succeed at a DC 15 Fortitude save take half damage. The umbral shepherd can use this ability even while possessing a host body. The save DC is Charisma-based.


ECOLOGY

Environment any (Plane of Shadow)
Organization solitary, pair, or choir (3–12)
Treasure none

Umbral shepherds are parasitic entities which relish the chance to infest host bodies to further the work of their dark master. Those infested by such creatures are identifiable primarily by their pure-black eyes and fervor, as well as the slow decay of their bodies. Umbral shepherds also serve as specialized torturers, with their ability to create bloodless cavities and tunnels through a prisoner's body with a touch of their horrible, burrowing tentacles.

In their natural state, umbral shepherds are shaped like limbless, demon-faced humans made of coherent shadow, and are capable of spawning any number of tentacles of varying sizes. Some religious scholars believe that the first may have been attempts by evil clerics to change themselves into something closer to the shepherds, yet this remains the unsubstantiated speculation of outsiders.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea Bestiary © 2012, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Jim Groves, James Jacobs, Rob McCreary, Erik Mona, Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, Russ Taylor, and Greg A. Vaughan.