Vampire Bruxa

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Vampire Bruxa (CR 14)

Vampires are one of the great nations of Undeath. Vampires are Emptied Undead, meaning they have been cored out of life. Unlike most of the Emptied, they do not noticeably decay, although during battle their disgusting nature is amply evident in the mess they leave behind. Vampires are the greatest representatives of the Corrupting Undead, those undead who seek the preservation and continuation of life, so that they may corrupt it into ever more Undeath. As a result, the motivations of Vampires are more complex than the Destroying Undead or the Eaters.

Vampires like people. They like the trappings of civilization, they like the happy whirl of social life, they enjoy the company of others, both undead and living alike. Vampires want to make more Vampires, it is an erotic part of their existence that they would be greatly diminished by losing.

Vampires get along well with most other Undead, even though relations often involve the Vampires using their domination abilities or simply persuading the other Undead to be patient. It is not unusual for Vampires to be encountered with powerful Skeletons, Wights, Death Knights, Liches, and other mighty Undead, even including the Lost Ones, who make terrifying allies indeed.

On top of this, Vampires are unique among Undeath in that they create living allies, their Vampiric Thralls. The existence of Vampiric Thralls makes finding a Vampire nest immeasurably more difficult, because Vampire Thralls are alive. Thralls are mortals who admire and envy the Vampires for their abilities, and whom the Vampires have fed their blood to. Vampire Blood can create new Vampires, or, in lesser doses, a living human becomes addicted to it, as if it were strong drink, or some horrifyingly strong opiate.

Vampire thralls are the first rank of Vampire culture, the eternally obedient and awfully empowered servants whom the Vampires use to interact with the daytime world. But to a Vampire, the faithful Thralls are just servants and fighters, meat to be sacrificed and used up as required. No, most Vampires are far more occupied with the byzantine machinations of Vampiric Society, a dark carousel of midnight parties and dalliances in dark corners, plots and plans and schemes all woven together into a fascinating skein complex enough to keep even an immortal monster entertained.

Vampire Bruxa's are usually vampires who have reached a few centuries of age. (It is also possible for mighty Sires and Dams to create Bruxa's directly.) Most vampires descend into the degeneration of the Nosferatu state, but those who survive a couple of dozen decades are usually 'encouraged' by their Elders to have a little more self-respect and care for their appearance.

As a result, after some time in the darkness, most vampires seek out magical ways to improve their appearance and re-enter the full whirl of the Dark Dance. Such vampires are the Bruxa's, and they throw themselves into their renewed social existence with enthusiasm, leaving their connections to the living world to molder away as the darkling years dash by.

Bruxa's are the most classically 'vampiric' in appearance, as they revel fully in their dire state of being. They prey upon Life with dedication, and participate in schemes and intrigues with great enthusiasm and considerable skill.

General

CR 14 Hit Dice 20

XP 38,400

NE, Medium, Undead

Init +6; Senses Standard Darkvision, Perception +21

Defense

AC 36, touch 21, flat-footed 32 (+9 armor, +4 dex, +6 natural, +7 deflection)

hp 315

Fort +15, Ref +15, Will +19

Aura -

SR -

Special Defenses -

Immunities:

• all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms)
• disease, poison, ability damage, ability drain, energy drain
• death effects, necromancy effects, sleep effects
• nonlethal damage
• paralysis, stunning, fatigue, exhaustion
• any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless)

Weaknesses:

• Healed by negative energy.
• Vampires take 10 points of non-resistable energy damage any time they end their turn in a square subject to daylight. This applies once per round in combat, or ten times per minute outside of combat. This weakness does NOT increase or decrease the damage a vampire takes from specific undead-damaging effects and attacks

Offense

Speed 50 ft. , Fly 50 ft

Space / Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.

Single Melee Vampire's Bite +23 (2d8+17/x2) + Bleed 14

Full Melee Bite +23 (2d8+17/x2) + Bleed 14, 2x Elegant Claws +23 (2d6+6/x2)

Ranged None, but see Mesmerizing Gaze and Swarm of Bats

Special Attacks Mesmerizing Gaze, Swarm of Bats, Vampires Hiss

Action Points 0

Statistics

Str 23, Dex 20, Con -, Int 17, Wis 19, Cha 21

Base Atk +14; CMB +23; CMD 31

Feats <pick one or two thematically relevant feats; avoid complicated ones.>

Skills <choose only if relevant, values around 1.5 x creature’s CR>

Languages <copy from source>

Special Abilities

<special abilities should have a save DC 22>

<special attack damage (standard action): 7d6+1>

<special attack damage (aoe’s, swift actions or inflicting status effects): 3d6+3>

<ability name>

<ability description>

<ability name>

<ability description>

Treasure

sell value of approximately 13,750 gp

Combat Tactics

<describe typical actions taken during combat here>