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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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Hellshadow

When a group of diabolists or worshippers of an archdevil come to an ignominious end, their souls can sometimes be caught between life and death, unable or unwilling to pass on to the afterlife due to the humiliation of their untimely deaths. When enough closely-associated worshippers whose souls aren't already claimed in existing contracts meet such a fate, the spiritual “weight” of this shame can cause them to merge into a conglomeration of infernally-infused spirits—a hellshadow.

Hellshadows look like a bank of fire and smoke, yet the flames themselves are made of distorted bodies and faces. Although made of multiple souls, a hellshadow is a singular creature with one mind and typically one goal: to defeat as many enemies of their faith as they can in order to repay the shame of their humiliating deaths.

Recall Knowledge - Fiend (Religion): DC 36
Recall Knowledge - Undead (Religion): DC 36
Unspecific Lore: DC 34
Specific Lore: DC 31

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

HellshadowCreature 13

Rare Large Fiend Incorporeal Undead Unholy 
Source Pathfinder #204: Stage Fright pg. 86
Perception +24; darkvision
Languages Common, Diabolic
Skills Acrobatics +25, Intimidation +27, Stealth +25
Str -5, Dex +6, Con +5, Int +4, Wis +5, Cha +8
AC 33; Fort +23, Ref +25, Will +22
HP 175 (void healing); Immunities death effects, disease, fire, paralyzed, poison, precision, unconscious; Resistances all 10 (except force, ghost touch, or vitality; double resistance against non-magical); Weaknesses holy 10
Brimstone Cloak (aura, divine, fire, sanctified) 10 feet. The hellshadow constantly exudes a cloud of smoke that scorches flesh but leaves other materials unharmed. Living creatures who start their turn in this aura take 2d6 fire damage (DC 30 basic Reflex). On a critical failure, the creature is also sickened 1.
Speed fly 40 feet
Melee [one-action] brimstone tendrils +27 [+23/+19] (agile, finesse, fire, reach 15 feet, sanctified), Damage 3d8+6 fire plus 2d6 void and clinging smokeDivine Innate Spells DC 33, attack +25; 7th divine decree, shadow blast (fire or spirit only); 6th crisis of faith, divine immolation; Cantrips (7th) divine lance, void warp
Clinging Smoke (divine) A creature that takes damage from the hellshadow's brimstone tendrils Strike has coils of the creature's smoke solidify around their body, impeding movement. The creature must attempt a DC 33 Reflex save.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The smoke solidifies as it coils around their limbs, imposing a –5-foot status penalty to all Speeds until the end of the creature's next turn.
Failure As success, except –10 feet to speed and the creature is also clumsy 1 until the end of their next turn.
Critical Failure As failure, except the creature is also slowed 1 until the end of their next turn.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Why Only Hell?

The nature of diabolic worship and the strict rules involved are a big part of the psychology of humiliation that causes devil worshippers to become hellshadows. This same mix of conditions is rarer among other fiendish cults, who are more likely to become more common undead after such a death. Non-diabolic– themed hellshadows are all but unknown as a result.