(Illustration by Chris McFann)

Dusting the dirt and maggots from its skin, the corpse rises from the grave, longing for the sweet kiss of a soul mate.

Strigoi are undead creatures who return to this mortal coil to fulfill their greatest regret. They appear exactly as they did when they were interred, and as long as their death wasn’t messy, can often be mistaken for being alive from a distance. Seeing one up close is a different story altogether, for the stench of 7 days in the ground, the dirt under their finger nails (from clawing to the surface), and the parasitic infestation of the body are certain to give them away…

Strigoi (CR 10)

XP 9,600
Male human vampire variant fighter 8
CE Medium undead (augmented humanoid)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +17

DEFENSE
AC 23, touch 17, flat-footed 18 (+2 deflection, +4 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural)
HP 91 (8d10+32); fast healing 5
Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +18
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4; DR 10/magic and fire; Immune undead traits; Resist cold 10,  electricity 10
Weaknesses vampire weaknesses

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee slam +10 (1d4+4 plus energy drain)
Special Attacks children of the night, creates spawn, dominate (DC 21), psi-like abilities, psychic drain (2 Int, DC 22)
Psi-Like Abilities (Manifester level 8th)
At Will—animal affinity, attraction (DC 17), conceal thoughts (DC 17)
3/day—feat leech (DC 18), psionic suggestion (three targets, DC 18), recall agony (DC 18)
1/day—share pain (DC 18)

STATISTICS
Str 19, Dex 18, Con —, Int 22, Wis 12, Cha 16
Base Atk +8/+3; CMB +12, CMD 30
Feats Alertness, Chaotic Mind, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Greater Grapple, Hostile Mind, Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved Unarmed Strike, Iron Will, Lunge, Mobility, Persuasive, Power Attack, Toughness
Skills Bluff +17, Climb +12, Knowledge (psionics) +12, Handle Animal +14, Perception +19, Sense Motive +19, Stealth +17, Survival +12; Racial Modifiers +8 Bluff, +8 Perception, +8 Sense Motive, +8 Stealth
Languages Common (if the strigoi successfully drains Intelligence, it automatically gains any languages the victim knows)
SQ change shape (barn owls, rats, cats, dogs, bees; polymorph)

ECOLOGY
Environment any land
Organization solitary
Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Astral Form (Su) Once per day, a strigoi can take the astral form of one of its preferred animals (dog, cat, or owl). While in this form, it seeks out the sleeping in order to feed.

Change Self (Su) A strigoi can use change shape to assume the form of a barn owl, dog, cat, rat, or swarm of bees.

Children of the Night (Su) Once per day, a strigoi can call forth 1d6+1 bee swarms, 1d6+1 rat swarms, 1d6+1 dogs, or 2d6 owls as a standard action. These creatures arrive in 2d6 rounds and serve the strigoi for 1 hour.

Create Spawn (Su) After feeding on the brain of a victim, the strigoi regurgitates into the victim’s mouth and buries the victim, digging it up 3 days later. The new strigoi is under the command of its creator and remains enslaved until its master’s destruction. A strigoi may have no more than one enslaved spawn. This spawn is considered the spouse it could never find in life.

Dominate (Su) While draining the psychic energy out of a humanoid opponent, the strigoi can also attempt to dominate it. The target must succeed on a Will save (DC 22) or become enthralled and motionless while the strigoi continues to extract energy. This ability has a range of 10 ft.

Strigoi’s Kiss (Su) On a successful grapple, the strigoi begins to drain psychic energy as a free action from the victim, sucking energy through the victim’s nose and mouth. The victim suffers 2 Intelligence drain/round. (If the victim is psychic, he or she instead loses 1d4 power points, increasing the strigoi’s power points by an equal number. Once all power points have been drained, the Strigoi begins to drain Intelligence.) As long as the strigoi is feeding, the victim is paralyzed. Each round, the victim is entitled to a new Will save (DC 21) to break the bond. Once the victim reaches 0 Intelligence, its brain dies, and it falls into a coma.

Typical Characteristics

Strigoi seek nourishment not from blood but from psychic energy. They smell psychic energy like a standard vampire smells blood. The more intelligent a creature, the more that strigoi are attracted to it. In combat, strigoi attempt to grapple victims to prevent escape. Once grappled, a strigoi open its mouth and breathes deeply, inhaling its victim’s essence.

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