| Crimson Knight Medium Undead Hit Dice: 5d12 (32 hp) Initiative: -1 (Dex) Speed: 20 ft. AC: 18 (-1 Dex, +2 natural, +5 chain mail, +2 large shield) Attacks: Spike +7 melee Damage: Spike 1d3+5 and 1d4 temporary Constitution Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft. /5 ft. Special Attacks: Blood drain, blood spray Special Qualities: Undead, seek Saves: Fort +1, Ref + 2, Will +6 Abilities: Str 20, Dex 8, Con -, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 14 Skills: Climb +10, Hide +1, Intimidate +7, Spot +7, Listen +7, Move Silently +0 Feats: Power Attack, Lightning Reflexes Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground Organization: Solitary, troupe (2-12) Challenge Rating: 3 Treasure: Standard Alignment: Always neutral evil Advancement: 6-10 HD (Medium-size) Crimson knights are undead creatures created through forgotten necromancies to protect the temples of evil gods or to wreak vengeance on the enemies of those religions. Crimson knights resemble an emaciated zombie. Their eyes glow with a weak red light, flaring to brilliance when it has recently fed on blood. One of its arms (typically the right) ends in sharp two-foot spike of bone. With this hollow implement it drains the life out of its victim only to unleash a burning spray from it moments later. Crimson knights can only moan weakly but understand Common. Combat Crimson knights use their incredible strength to thrust their spikes deep into their foes, and then drain them of blood, further weakening them. Once they have drained some of a foe�s blood they then spray both the victim and his allies with unholy boiling blood. Blood Drain (Ex): A crimson knight draws a victim�s blood through its spike, dealing 1d4 temporary Constitution with each hit. Blood Spray (Su): As a standard action, a crimson knight who has inflicted Constitution damage can release spray of unholy boiling blood. This duplicates the effects of burning hands spell as cast by a 5th level sorcerer except that half of the damage is due to negative energy. (5d4 damage; Reflex DC 13) Seek (Su): Crimson knights can Locate Creature as a 10th level sorcerer continuously. Undead: Immune to mind-influencing effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and disease. Not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, energy drain, or death from massive damage. Creation Not much is known about the creation of crimson knights but it is suspected that it involves a variant ritual form of animate dead. They are usually created from the remains of fallen warriors (paladins are especially favored). GM�s Commentary: The crimson knight is one the most successful monsters I have created to date. I believe this is because of the prejudice PCs have against blood suckers (specifically those that suck their [PC�s] blood) combined with the insult of being attacked with one�s own blood. The constitution damage is enough to cause even powerful PCs to worry. Personally I like the crimson knight because of its effectiveness in creating tension without a high CR. Additionally I�ve had to deal with a lot of large weapon wielding warriors with absurdly boosted strengths and its nice to have a relatively weak monster that cannot be cleaved through. |