Amber and Iron - Margaret Weis [133]
If a child strikes a Beloved in anger, its true nature as an ambulatory corpse is revealed, and it will be consumed in an unnatural fire that will not harm anyone but the failed servant of the dark god. Innocence destroys the Beloved, though innocence is in turn destroyed. Children who witness such a terrible sight will very likely be traumatized for life unless the healing powers of other gods can intervene.
FUTURE
The Beloved spread from one town to the next, taking the young and the beautiful, those eager to please or easily swayed by false promises. No one knows how many Beloved are in existence, but it is likely every city has several inside its walls. Though the secrets of their detection and destruction have been revealed, it may be too late to prevent them from fulfilling whatever terrible purpose the god of death has in store.
Beloved of Chemosh
Having given their souls to the Lord of Bones, the Beloved present a convincing mockery of life. Their purpose is to bring more souls to their dark god.
The Beloved appear to most exactly as they did in life and retain much of their original personalities—though people who know them well might notice odd behavior. The Beloved breathe, eat, drink, and otherwise give all indications they are still alive. Someone who gets close and looks deep within a Beloved’s eyes might see the truth. Its eyes are flat and empty—devoid of either life or hope. Those with the talent to see living auras or with the power to see and communicate with incorporeal spirits (such as kender nightstalkers) immediately notice something is wrong with the Beloved, for they all lack a living soul.
Beloved speak any languages they knew in life.
Sample Beloved of Chemosh: Cam, Former Vallenwood Guard
Once a Vallenwood Guard, those warriors who protect the stairs leading to the raised walkways in the tree-town of Solace, Cam was seduced into the ranks of the Beloved with promises of pleasure and eternal youth. Still attractive and charming, the Beloved is now consumed with bringing more victims to Chemosh and the woman he has never met, yet he knows her amber eyes and will recognize her commanding voice: Mina.
Cam: Male human fighter 2; CR 5; Medium undead (augmented humanoid); HD 2d12; hp 16; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 15 (touch 11, flat-footed 14); Atk +6 (1d6+4 short sword) or +6 (1d3+4 unarmed strike); SA Mina’s kiss; SQ Beloved of Chemosh weaknesses, fast healing 5, immunity to magic, turn immunity, undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +2; Str 19, Dex 12 Con –, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 17.
Skills and Feats: Climb +6, Diplomacy +6*, Intimidate +7, Jump +5, Swim +4; Charming, Improved Initiative, Improved Unarmed Strike.
Possessions: Chain shirt, short sword.
Creating a Beloved of Chemosh
“Beloved of Chemosh” is an acquired template that can be added to any humanoid creature (referred to hereafter as the base creature).
A Beloved of Chemosh uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to undead. (augmented humanoid). Do not recalculate base attack bonus, saves, or skill points. Size is unchanged.
Hit Dice: Increase all current and future Hit Dice to d12s.
Speed: Same as the base creature. If the base creature has a swim or fly speed, the Beloved of Chemosh retains the ability to swim or fly.
Special Attacks: A Beloved of Chemosh retains all the special attacks of the base creature and gains those described below.
Mina’s Kiss (Su): A Beloved of Chemosh has the ability to create more of its kind but may do so only with those willing to swear their souls to Chemosh and allow the Beloved to place a kiss on their bare skin directly above the heart. Mina’s Kiss requires a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity. No saving throw is allowed. Victims appear