Blackdyrge’s Templates

Credits Elder Fiend

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Armored Apparition The Campaign Construc-
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Author: Aeryn Rudel

SkeletonKey Games 1 Credits
 Blackdyrge’s Templates
Armored Apparition Elder Fiend

same as base creature otherwise)

It is somim difficult to abandon the traings of the past en one mak the transition from
life to unlife. People, lac, and personal possions all hold a strong and familiar bond to those
of us o have shrued off the mortal coil. However, some simply cannot l go of their worldly
past, and cling to the shreds of a life long since moldering and dayed. I find this most common
with undead that have not chosen their current form, but have had it thrust upon them through
some terrible and lhal calamity.

I have found that incorporeal spirits, such as ghosts, sper, and wraiths, often as not, bind
themselv to a certain location; typically the exact spot of their demise. But I have observed
another, l-common type of aarition ich is bound not to a lace, but to the traings
and accouterments of war. The shad, ich I have dubbed “armored aaritions,” have the
ability to inhabit and animate a suit of magical armor, usually a personal possion from their
living days. This animation grants the aarition a host of intriguing powers, not the least of
ich is the ability to manipulate corporeal objes such as weapons and shields. In addition,
through my observations, I have witned the armored aaritions making full use of the
life draining energy attacks common to incorporeal undead, transmitting the fell energi
through the armor they inhabit, or even through enchanted weapons wielded with the same
skill they possed in life.

I have included dailed information on two exampl of the armored aarition, a common
spere, and an incredibly powerful wraith.

- Blackdyrge

Author: Aeryn Rudel

Illustrator: Edward Bourelle 2 Template

Armored Apparition
Some incorporeal undead, especially those that were
powerful warriors in life, have a special connection to
the tools of warfare, namely armor and weapons. These
“armored apparitions” can possess and inhabit a suit of
armor, wearing it like a metal skin, and gaining a number
of potent abilities as a result.
“Armored apparition” is an inherited template that can
be added to any incorporeal undead (referred to hereafter
as the base creature).
Size and Type: Size and type are unchanged.
Armor Class: The armored apparition gains an armor bonus
to its armor class based on the type of armor it inhabits.
Attack: An armored apparition retains all the attacks
of the base creature and also gains a slam attack when
possessing a suit of armor. An armored apparition armed
with a weapon uses its slam or a weapon, as it desires.
Damage: Armored apparitions have slam attacks. Use
the appropriate damage value from the table below
according to the armored apparition’s size.
Slam
Size Damage
Medium 1d6
Large 1d8
Huge 2d6
Gargantuan 3d6
Colossal 4d6
Special Attacks: An armored apparition retains all
the special attacks of the base creature and gains the
following special attacks.
Death Kiss (Su): The armored apparition has a special
connection to certain types of corporeal items, namely
armor and weapons, which allows it to transmit the effects
of any incorporeal touch attack it may have (such as a
wraith’s Constitution drain) through the armor it inhabits
via its slam attack or any magical weapon (enhancement
bonus of at least +1) it wields.
Animate Object (Sp): An armored apparition can use
animate object as a spell-like ability three times per day
with a caster level equal to its Hit Dice.
Author: Aeryn Rudel
SkeletonKey Games
Blackdyrge’s Templates
Elder Fiend
Special Qualities: An armored apparition retains all
the special qualities of the base creature and gains the
following special qualities.
Possess Armor (Su): The defining feature of the armored
apparition is its ability to possess and animate a suit
of magical full plate or half plate. The armor to be
animated must have a magical enhancement of at least
+1, and must be designed for a creature of the armored
apparition’s size. When animating a suit of armor, the
armored apparition gains a Strength score equal to its
Charisma score, allowing it to manipulate corporeal
objects. In addition, it gains an armor bonus equal to
the armor bonus granted by the armor it inhabits. An
armored apparition does not lose its deflection bonus to
AC when inhabiting armor, but must abide the armor’s
maximum Dexterity rating and any associated armor
check penalty. Possessing a suit of armor also grants and
armored apparition a hardness score of 10, making it
very difficult to damage.
Possessing a suit of armor causes the armored apparition
to take on some degree of corporeality, and it loses most of
the benefits of incorporeality. While armored, the armored
apparition is vulnerable to non-magical attacks, loses the
ability to negate damage from a corporeal source, and may
not pass through solid objects. It cannot use its incorporeal
touch attack, although it can still transmit the effects of such
an attack through a slam or weapon attack (see above). In
addition, the armored apparition loses the ability to fly, but
retains its full land movement rate. If the base incorporeal
undead does not have a land speed, it gains a land speed
equal to half its fly speed or 30 ft., whichever is greater.
Possessing a suit of armor is a full round action for
the armored apparition, as is vacating it.
Martial Proficiency (Ex): An armored apparition is
proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and with
all types of armor and shields.
Abilities: When inhabiting a suit of armor the
armored apparition gains a Strength score equal to
its Charisma score.
Feats: An armored apparition gains Weapon Focus as a
bonus feat.
Treasure: Armored apparitions have double standard
treasure for their CR. However, all of this treasure must
be their personal armor and weapons.
Alignment: Same as base creature
Challenge Rating: +2 (when inhabiting a suit of armor,
3 Template

Armored Spectre
Armored Spectre CR 9
CE Medium Undead (incorporeal)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +14, Spot +14
Aura unnatural aura (30 ft.)
Languages Common, Elven, Orc
AC 26, touch 13, flatfooted 25
(+1 Dex, +10 armor, +3 shield, +2 deflection)
hp 45 (7 HD); hardness 10
Immune undead traits
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +7
Weakness sunlight powerlessness
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee +1 longsword +7 (1d8+3 plus energy
drain/19-20) or
Melee slam +5 (1d6+3 plus energy drain)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +3; Grapple +5
Atk Options death kiss
Special Actions energy drain, create spawn,
possess armor
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 7th)
3/day—animate object
Abilities Str 15, Dex 16, Con —, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 15
SQ +2 turn resistance, undead traits
Feats Alertness, Blindfight, Improved Initiative,
Weapon Focus (greatsword)B
Skills Hide +8*, Intimidate +12, Knowledge
(religion) +12, Listen +14, Search +12, Spot +14,
Survival +2 (+4 following tracks)
*Includes a –5 armor check penalty
Possessions +1 longsword, +2 full plate,
+1 heavy steel shield
Create Spawn (Su): Any humanoid slain by an
armored spectre becomes a spectre in 1d4
rounds. Spawn are under the command of the
armored spectre that created them and remain
enslaved until its death. They do not possess
any of the abilities they had in life.
Death Kiss (Ex): While inhabiting a suit of armor,
an armored spectre can transmit its energy
drain attack through its slam or its longsword.
Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by an
armored spectre’s incorporeal touch attack
gain two negative levels. The DC is 15 for
the Fortitude save to remove a negative level.
For each such negative level bestowed, the
armored spectre gains 5 temporary hit points.
Author: Aeryn Rudel
SkeletonKey Games
Blackdyrge’s Templates
Elder Fiend
Possess Armor (Su): An armored spectre can
possess and animate a suit of magical full plate
or half plate. The armor to be animated must
have a magical enhancement of at least +1,
and must be designed for a creature of the
armored spectre’s size. When animating a suit
of armor, the armored spectre gains a Strength
score equal to its Charisma score, allowing it to
manipulate corporeal objects. In addition, it
gains an armor bonus equal to the armor
bonus granted by the armor it inhabits. An
armored spectre does not lose its deflection
bonus to AC when inhabiting armor, but must
abide by the armor’s maximum Dexterity rating
and is subject to any associated armor check
penalty. Possessing a suit of armor also grants
and armored spectre a hardness score of 10,
making it very difficult to damage.
Possessing a suit of armor causes the
armored spectre to take on some degree of
corporeality, and it loses most of the benefits
of incorporeality. While armored, the armored
spectre is vulnerable to non-magical attacks,
loses the ability to negate damage from a
corporeal source, and may not pass through
solid objects. It cannot use its incorporeal
touch attack, although it can still transmit the
effects of such an attack through a slam or
weapon attack (see above). In addition, the
armored spectre loses the ability to fly, but
retains its full land movement rate.
Possessing a suit of armor is a full round action
for the armored spectre, as is vacating it.
Sunlight Powerlessness (Ex): Armored
spectres are powerless in natural sunlight
(not merely a daylight spell) and flee from it.
An armored spectre caught in sunlight cannot
attack and can take only a single move or
attack action in a round.
Unnatural Aura (Su): Animals, whether wild
or domesticated, can sense the unnatural
presence of an armored spectre at a distance
of 30 feet. They do not willingly approach
nearer than that and panic if forced to do so;
they remain panicked as long as they are
within that range.
4 Monster

Armored Spectre
A warrior clad in ancient, baroque armor stands before
you. He grips a naked longsword in one gauntleted fist,
and carries a shield bearing a coat of arms you do not
recognize. You notice an unnatural chill in the air as the
warrior turns towards you and lifts the visor of his ornate
helm. Fear courses through your blood at the sight, for
beneath the steel helm there is nothing but empty air.
Armored spectres can typically be found at or near the
sites of epic battles. Their connection to the arms and
armor they bore in life grants them more freedom to
move about, but they are still tied to the location of their
death, and will not stray more than a few miles from it.
Like common spectres, armored spectres despise the
living, and will attack living creatures on sight.
Author: Aeryn Rudel
Illustrator: Hunter McFalls
Blackdyrge’s Templates
Elder Fiend
COMBAT
An armored spectre will charge into battle with its
longsword, relying on its high Armor Class and
hardness to keep it from harm. It will focus its attacks
on any obvious divine spellcasters, fearing to be
turned or commanded. If the battle turns against the
armored spectre, it will attempt to vacate its armor,
becoming incorporeal, and escape through the ground
or into the air.
TREASURE
An armored spectre has roughly double
the standard treasure for its CR (9,000
gp). However, this entire amount is
tied up in the armored spectre’s
weapon, armor, and shield.
5 Monster

Armored Dread Wraith
Armored Dread Wraith CR 13
CE Large Undead (incorporeal)
Init +13; Senses darkvision 60 ft., lifesense 60 ft.;
Listen +25, Spot +25
Aura unnatural aura (30 ft.)
Languages Common, Dwarven, Elven, Orc
AC 35, touch 20, flatfooted 32
(-1 size, +3 Dex, +11 armor, +5 shield,
+7 deflection)
hp 104 (16 HD), hardness 10
Immune undead traits
Fort +5, Ref +14, Will +14
Weakness daylight powerlessness
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares); Dodge, Mobility
Melee +2 flail +17/+12 (2d6+9 plus Constitution
drain) or
Melee slam +14 (1d8+10 plus Constitution drain)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +8; Grapple +19
Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack, Spring Attack,
death kiss
Special Actions Constitution drain, create spawn,
possess armor
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 16th)
3/day—animate object
Abilities Str 24, Dex 28, Con —, Int 17, Wis 18, Cha 24
SQ +2 turn resistance, undead traits
Feats AlertnessB, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat
Reflexes, Dodge, Improved InitiativeB, Power
Attack, Spring Attack, Weapon Focus (flail)B
Skills Diplomacy +9, Hide +21*, Intimidate +26,
Knowledge (religion) +22, Listen +25, Search
+22, Sense Motive +23, Spot +25, Survival +4
(+6 following tracks)
*Includes a –3 armor check penalty
Possessions +2 flail, +3 mithral full plate,
+3 heavy steel shield
Constitution Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by
an armored dread wraith’s flail or slam attack
must succeed on a DC 25 Fortitude save or
take 1d8 points of Constitution drain. On each
such successful attack, the armored dread
wraith gains 5 temporary hit points.
Create Spawn (Su): Any humanoid slain by an
armored dread wraith becomes a wraith in 1d4
rounds. Its body remains intact and inanimate,
but its spirit is torn free from its corpse and
transformed. Spawn are under the command
of the wraith that created them and remain
Author: Aeryn Rudel
SkeletonKey Games
Blackdyrge’s Templates
Elder Fiend
enslaved until its death. They do not possess
any of the abilities they had in life.
Daylight Powerlessness (Ex): Armored dread
wraiths are utterly powerless in natural sunlight
(not merely a daylight spell) and flee from it.
Death Kiss (Ex): While inhabiting a suit of
armor, an armored dread wraith can transmit
its Constitution drain attack through its slam
or its flail.
Lifesense (Su): An armored dread wraith notices
and locates living creatures within 60 feet, just
as if it possessed the blindsight ability. It also
senses the strength of their life force automatically,
as if it had cast deathwatch.
Possess Armor (Su): An armored dread wraith
can possess and animate a suit of magical full
plate or half plate. The armor to be animated
must have a magical enhancement of at least
+1, and must be designed for a creature of
the armored dread wraith’s size. When
animating a suit of armor, the armored dread
wraith gains a Strength score equal to its
Charisma score, allowing it to manipulate
corporeal objects. In addition, it gains an
armor bonus equal to the armor bonus
granted by the armor it inhabits. An armored
dread wraith does not lose its deflection
bonus to AC when inhabiting armor, but must
abide by the armor’s maximum Dexterity
rating and any associated armor check
penalty. Possessing a suit of armor also
grants and armored dread wraith a hardness
score of 10, making it very difficult to damage.
Possessing a suit of armor causes the
armored dread wraith to take on some
degree of corporeality, and it loses most of
the benefits of incorporeality. While armored,
the armored dread wraith is vulnerable to
non-magical attacks, loses the ability to
negate damage from a corporeal source, and
may not pass through solid objects. It cannot
use its incorporeal touch attack, although it
can still transmit the effects of such an
attack through a slam or weapon attack (see
above). In addition, the armored dread wraith
loses the ability to fly, but retains its full land
movement rate.
Possessing a suit of armor is a full round action
for the armored dread wraith, as is vacating it.
6 Monster
 Blackdyrge’s Templates
Armored Dread Wraith Elder Fiend

Unnatural Aura (Su): Animals, whether wild TREASURE

or domesticated, can sense the unnatural
presence of an armored dread wraith at a
distance of 30 feet. They do not willingly
approach nearer than that and panic if forced
to do so; they remain panicked as long as
they are within that range.
An armored dread wraith has roughly double the
standard treasure for its CR (26,000 gp). However, this
entire amount is tied up in the armored wraith’s weapon,
armor, and shield.

This ogre-sized humanoid is armed with a massive

flail and is clad from head to toe in gleaming full
plate. Its visorless helm contains only darkness
and two flickering pinpoints of crimson light.
The air seems to darken and twist as it moves
towards you, and it looses an unearthly
shriek as it raises its weapon to attack.

Powerful servants of darkness, armored

dread wraiths are often in the employ of even
more powerful creatures, such as liches or
occasionally fiends. Since they are not bound
to the location of their mortal demise, armored
dread wraiths can be encountered anywhere,
furthering the cause of evil or performing some
dire errand for their master.

COMBAT

Armored dread wraiths are truly terrifying

combatants. Their skill at arms coupled with
the life-draining ability common to wraiths can
easily destroy even the most battle-hardened
warrior in a matter of seconds. Fearless, even
when faced with powerful servants of good, an
armored dread wraith will quickly enter melee
to bring its life-draining ability to bear upon its
foes. It will make good use of the Spring Attack
feat, charging in to land a single blow upon an
opponent, and then whirling away to confront
another enemy. This tactic allows the armored
dread wraith to spread its life-draining power
among a large number of foes, weakening
them all in a short matter of time.

Armored dread wraiths will rarely flee a battle,

and will usually fight until destroyed or turned.

Author: Aeryn Rudel

Illustrator: Hunter McFalls 7 Monster

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Blackdyrge’s Templates: Armored Apparition Copyright 2007 Aeryn
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8 OGL