Maphistal
A stinking aura of death and decay lingers in the air around this feral-looking humanoid. Two great horns protrude upward from its oval head. Huge leathery, bat-like wings sprout from its shoulders, and its lower torso sports two massive legs that end in soot-colored hooves. Short, coarse black hair covers its entire body, except its face and clawed hands.
Maphistal (CR 21)
Large Outsider (Chaotic, Demon, Evil, Extraplanar)Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Initiative: +11
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet; Perception +42
Aura: unholy aura (DC 26)
Speed: 40 feet, Fly 80 feet (good)
Space: 10 feet
Defense
Armor Class: 39, touch 24, flat-footed 32 (+7 Dex, +15 natural, -1 size, +8 profane)Hit Points: 330 (20d10+220)
Saving Throws: Fort +25, Ref +13, Will +21
Damage Reduction: 20/cold iron and good
Immunity: electricity, poison
Energy Resistance: acid 10, cold 10, fire 10
Spell Resistance: 32
Offense
Melee: +3 unholy crushing heavy mace +35/+30/+25/+20 (2d6+16 plus bone knit) or 2 claws +32 (1d6+13), bite +32 (1d8+13 plus disease)Reach: 10 feet
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 20th):
- Constant- Unholy Aura (DC 26)
- At Will- Animate Dead, Blasphemy (DC 25), Create Undead, Detect Magic, Detect Good, Desecrate, Dispel Magic, Greater, Teleport, Greater (self plus 50 pounds of objects only), Power Word Stun, Suggestion (DC 21), Telekinesis (DC 23), Tongues (self only), Unhallow, Unholy Blight (DC 22)
- 3/day- Create Greater Undead
- 1/day- Circle Of Death (DC 24), Fire Storm (DC 26), summon (level 9, 4d10 dretches, 1d4 hezrous, 1 nalfeshnee, 1 glabrezu, 1 marilith, or 1 balor 100%), summon undead (level 9, 3d10 zombies or skeletons, 2d6 ghouls, 2d4 ghasts, 1d6 wraiths, 1d6 wights, or 1d4 spectres 100%)
Statistics
| Str | Dex | Con | Int | Wis | Cha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 (+13) | 25 (+7) | 33 (+11) | 25 (+7) | 25 (+7) | 26 (+8) |
CMB +34
CMD 59
Feats: Alertness, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Deceitful, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Powerful Maneuvers, Iron Will
Skills: Bluff +35, Diplomacy +31, Disguise +32, Fly +32, Intimidate +31, Knowledge (arcana) +27, Knowledge (nobility) +27, Knowledge (planes) +30, Perception +42, Sense Motive +34, Spellcraft +30, Stealth +26, Use Magical Device +31
- Racial Modifiers: +8 Perception
Special Abilities
Bone Knit (Su)
Each time a living creature is hit by a weapon wielded by Maphistal, it must succeed on a DC 25 Fortitude save or take 1d4 points of Dexterity damage as its bones fuse together. Creatures without bones or skeletal structures (such as oozes and plants) are immune to this effect.Disease (Ex)
Demon Fever: Bite-injury; save Fort DC 31; onset 1day, frequency 1 day, effect 1d6 Con damage and target must make a second Fort save or 1 point of the damage is Con drain instead, cure 2 consecutive saves.Vox
: Maphistal's unique weapon is a +3 unholy crushing heavy mace. The crushing special quality crushes the skulls of those it strikes. Upon a successful critical hit, the weapon crushes the opponent's skull (if it has one) instantly killing the target. Some creatures, such as many aberrations and all oozes, have no skulls, others, such as golems and incorporeal undead, are not affected by the crushing special quality. Most other creatures, however, die when their skull is crushed.Ecology
Environment: AnyOrganization: solitary or troupe (Maphistal plus 2-16 skeletons and zombies and 1-4 wights or 1-4 spectres and 1-8 wraiths)
Treasure: double standard
Maphistal is a lieutenant in the employ of Orcus, Demon Prince of the Undead. He makes his home on a stinking, smoldering Abyssal plane where he commands his troops from his great castle, Maalstege (The Keep of Bones-so called because it is believed to be constructed from the skeletal remains of those slain by Maphistal). He is loyal to no one but Orcus. He does not trust Sonechard, the General of Orcus's undead legions, and seeks to discredit him at any opportunity, though he does not do this openly for fear of rebellion by his troops or punishment by Orcus. His machinations against Sonechard are primarily through his agents and spies in Sonechard's camps.
Maphistal stands 9 feet tall and weighs 700 pounds. Maphistal is rarely, if ever, encountered alone, and usually has a retinue of undead with him. When he enters combat, he usually opens with his spell-like abilities, immediately using his circle of death ability to affect as many targets as possible. In melee, he batters an opponent with his mace. An opponent whose skull is destroyed (and who is therefore slain) or an opponent brought to Dexterity 0 (and not rescued by his comrades) is carried back to the Keep of Bones where it is transformed into an undead creature or becomes part of the Keep itself.
Credit Maphistal first appeared in the Necromancer Games module R3 Rappan Athuk 3: The Lower Levels (©2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.). Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.
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