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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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Deathless Acolyte

Source Book of the Dead pg. 88
Deathless acolytes are an oddity among undead, neither willingly transformed nor, strictly speaking, transformed against their will. The creation of a deathless acolyte is an act of direct intervention by a deity, typically as a double-edged reward and curse granted to a faithful priest who failed in completing a divine mandate due to circumstances beyond their control.

Deathless Deities

Urgathoa isn't the only deity who has deathless acolytes. Other deities of death and war have their own deathless servitors. Included below are adjustments that can be quickly applied to the above stat blocks to modify them for other deities. Make the following adjustments and see the sample deity entry below.

Alignment match the acolyte's deity

Aura replace the acolyte's aura with an alternate one (see below) if it's more appropriate

Chastise Heretic and Denounce Heretic apply to anyone who doesn't follow the acolyte's deity

Spells replace goblin pox and false life with spells from the acolyte's deity's spells

Domain Spells use the domain spells from one of the deity's domains

Weapon replace the scythe with the deity's favored weapon

Example Deity: Gorum (CN)

The mortality rate among priests of Gorum is exceptionally robust, as are the ranks of his deathless acolytes.

Aura field of bloodshed

Domain Spells athletic rush, enduring might (hierophant only)

Spells replace goblin pox with true strike and false life with enlarge

Weapon greatsword (1d12 slashing, versatile P)

Alternate Aura

Field of Bloodshed (abjuration, aura, divine) 20 feet (hierophant 40). All creatures within the aura gain a +2 status bonus to damage with weapon Strikes. Creatures within the aura who attempt to Cast a Spell that doesn't deal damage must succeed at a DC 5 flat check or the spell fails, and the slot or Focus Point is wasted.

Members

Deathless Acolyte of Urgathoa (Creature 3), Deathless Hierophant of Urgathoa (Creature 7)

Sidebar - Additional Lore Eternal Servitude

Most priests and clerics don't aspire to become a deathless acolyte. Undergoing the transformation in the first place is usually an indicator the acolyte failed to achieve an important task set by their deity in life. Being forced to complete in undeath what one failed to achieve potentially means missing one's eternal reward to devote their existence to an undefined and potentially indefinite period of servitude.

Sidebar - Geb She-Who-Feasts

There are some among the deathless who I must watch carefully. Urgathoa's priests are hedonistic and boringly predictable, but on at least two occasions, I have encountered the rumored handiwork of one of her deathless hierophants: a being called She-Who-Feasts. I have yet to unravel the creature's purpose, but she seems drawn to flash points of great political strife, working behind the scenes to foment discord before fading back into the margins of history.