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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardCaligni Slayer

Caligni slayers possess greater occult talents than others of their kind. In most other calignis, the power bartered from the long-lost demigods known as the Forsaken merely burns within. But in caligni slayers, this power is a deep and terrible hunger. Slayers embrace their evil impulses as a result, and they seek to feed on others with their soul harvest ability to keep this supernatural hunger sated. Slayers denied the opportunity to feed descend into paranoia and, eventually, murderous rage.

Delayed feeding improves but never fully restores their composure and patience. Perhaps the greatest manifestation of a slayer's hunger appears at the moment of their death. Upon its last breath, a slayer collapses into itself in a violent, lightless implosion, rather than the blinding eruption of other calignis' deaths, consuming the body itself in a final attempt at satiation.

Slayers view themselves as the cleverest and most gifted of the calignis. They seethe with ill-concealed envy at the position of power caligni stalkers occupy, ever scheming to displace them and claim that power for their own. For their part, stalkers tolerate these machinations as an acceptable price for the talents slayers contribute to an enclave. If necessary, any slayer who grows too ambitious can become a brave sacrifice in battle, for the good of the enclave. In physical stature, slayers fall between the willowy caligni dancers and the diminutive creepers. Stalkers tower above most slayers—yet another source of slayers' envy and resentment.

Recall Knowledge - Humanoid (Society): DC 20
Unspecific Lore: DC 18
Specific Lore: DC 15

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Caligni SlayerCreature 3

Legacy Content

Uncommon CE Small Caligni Humanoid 
Source Bestiary 2 pg. 46 2.0
Perception +8; greater darkvision
Languages Caligni, Undercommon
Skills Acrobatics +9, Arcana +10, Athletics +7, Occultism +10, Stealth +10
Str +1, Dex +4, Con +1, Int +2, Wis +0, Cha +2
Light Blindness
Items black smear poison (2 doses; see below), kukri
AC 19; Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +6
HP 45 (death implosion)
Death Implosion (sonic) When the caligni slayer dies, their body implodes violently into nothingness, dealing 3d10 sonic damage to creatures in a 10-foot burst. Each creature in the area must attempt a DC 20 Fortitude save. The slayer's gear and treasure are unaffected by the implosion and are left in a pile where they died. Critical Success The creature is unaffected. Success The creature takes half damage. Failure The creature takes full damage and is deafened for 1 minute. Critical Failure The creature takes double damage and is deafened for 24 hours.
Speed 25 feet
Melee [one-action] kukri +11 [+7/+3] (agile, finesse, trip), Damage 1d6+3 slashing plus black smear poisonOccult Innate Spells DC 20, attack +12; 2nd darkness (at will), death knell, phantom pain, spectral hand; Cantrips (2nd) chill touch, daze, detect magic, shield
Black Smear Poison (poison) Saving Throw DC 16 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 6 rounds; Stage 1 1d6 poison damage and enfeebled 1 (1 round); Stage 2 As stage 1; Stage 3 1d6 poison damage and enfeebled 2 (1 round). See here for full details on this alchemical poison.Call to Blood [two-actions] (enchantment, mental, occult) Each caligni within 30 feet gains a +2 status bonus to attack rolls against flat-footed creatures. This bonus lasts for 1 minute.Soul Harvest (necromancy) The caligni slayer deals an additional 2d6 negative damage to flat-footed creatures.

Sidebar - Treasure and Rewards Caligni Slayer Trinkets

Slayers obsess over magical trinkets, coveting them above all else. They often have a consumable or permanent item of use in combat, such as a scroll, wand, or talisman. Unfortunately, their incessant tinkering and fiddling often leaves their treasures broken or depleted.

All Monsters in "Caligni"

NameLevel
Caligni Assassin8
Caligni Caller6
Caligni Creeper2
Caligni Dancer1
Caligni Slayer3
Caligni Stalker4
Caligni Vanguard5

Caligni

Source Bestiary pg. 50
Calignis lurk in subterranean cities, creeping to the surface to steal, stalk, or make mischief. Each caligni serves in a specific role and grows into a specific form as determined by supernatural traditions and influences in caligni society. Regardless of their size or role, all calignis are gaunt, with pale flesh and white eyes. Some surface dwellers call the caligni “dark folk,” a term they dislike because it doesn’t reflect either their appearance or character, only their environment.

Each individual in caligni society serves a specific role. At times, certain roles so rarely find suitable candidates that a community might only see a few individuals fill them in an entire generation.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Caligni Faiths

Some calignis have abandoned their traditional faith in favor of more active deities; evil individuals favor Norgorber or Zon-Kuthon, while the less malevolent might follow Nocticula or Pharasma. Perhaps unexpectedly, Desna also has a small caligni following, particularly among those who frequently travel.

Sidebar - Treasure and Rewards Caligni Treasure

Many calignis hide shiny baubles and trinkets beneath their dark rags, keeping them out of sight of their greedy kin. They also keep several doses of black smear poison on hand to incapacitate foes.

Sidebar - Additional Lore The Caligni Legacy

The calignis are descendants of humans who, millennia ago, fled underground to escape a devastating cataclysm and begged malevolent, shadowy demigods known only as the Forsaken for salvation. The Forsaken warped the refugees into tough survivors, but at a price: every caligni that dies combusts in a burst of energy that provides a scrap of soul energy to the Forsaken. The greatest irony of the caligni's bargain is that the Forsaken themselves mysteriously vanished long ago and no longer answer pleas or prayers. Today, caligni still burst into light upon death, but their soul energy no longer feeds a mysterious pantheon of shadowy divinities.