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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardFaithless Ecclesiarch

Faithless ecclesiarchs were powerful religious leaders in life—archpriests, hierarchs, oracles, and divine servitors personally blessed by their deities. They are adept at corrupting the pious and inspiring their fellow herexens, often becoming leaders among their kind. This faithless ecclesiarch once worshipped Nethys, god of magic.

Recall Knowledge - Undead (Religion): DC 24
Unspecific Lore: DC 22
Specific Lore: DC 19

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Changes from being Elite are marked in red below.
NOTE: The +2 damage bonus to non-strike offensive abilities (+4 if the ability is limited, such as spells) is NOT factored in.

Elite Faithless EcclesiarchCreature 7

Legacy Content

Uncommon NE Medium Undead 
Source Book of the Dead pg. 112
Perception +18; darkvision
Languages Common, Necril
Skills Athletics +13, Deception +16, Intimidation +16, Nethys Lore +16, Religion +16, Stealth +15
Str +3, Dex +3, Con +2, Int +2, Wis +4, Cha +4
Items +1 staff, defiled religious symbol of Nethys
AC 23; Fort +14, Ref +15, Will +18
HP 113 (negative healing); Immunities death effects, disease, paralyzed, poison, unconscious
Final Blasphemy (divine, necromancy, negative) When the herexen is destroyed, it explodes in a wave of negative energy with the effects of a 3rd-level, 3-action harm spell (DC 26). The herexen is destroyed, so it doesn't gain any Hit Points from this use of harm, and it doesn't need to have any harm spells remaining to use this ability.Inspire the Faithless (aura, divine, necromancy) 30 feet. Other herexens are bolstered by the presence of a faithless ecclesiarch. Whenever a herexen in the aura casts a harm spell, that harm spell is heightened by 1 level (to a maximum of 3rd).
Speed 25 feet
Melee [one-action] staff +16 [+11/+6] (magical, two-hand d8), Damage 1d4+2+5 bludgeoning plus heretic's smiteDivine Prepared Spells DC 26, attack +18 (+4 dmg); 3rd harm (×5), levitate, magic missile; 2nd darkness, dispel magic, resist energy; 1st fear, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement; Cantrips (3rd) chill touch, daze, detect magic, read aura, shield
Cleric Domain Spells DC 26, 1 Focus Point (+4 dmg); 3rd cry of destruction
Heretic's Smite (divine, necromancy) While wielding the favored weapon of its former deity (such as a staff for an ex-Nethys herexen), the herexen's Strikes deal an additional 2d6 evil damage against creatures that can cast divine spells. This damages divine spellcasters who follow the herexen's former faith regardless of their alignment.Siphon Faith [reaction] (divine, necromancy) Trigger A creature fails a saving throw against a spell cast by the faithless ecclesiarch; Effect The faithless ecclesiarch siphons the triggering creature's spiritual energy to fuel their own magic. The triggering creature is stupefied 1 for 1 round, and the faithless ecclesiarch regains 1 Focus Point.

All Monsters in "Herexen"

NameLevel
Faithless Ecclesiarch6
Fallen Champion8
Herexen2

Herexen

Source Book of the Dead pg. 112
A herexen is an undead heretic, driven by hate to destroy the deity they once served. Herexens choose their faith willingly in life, rising to become respected religious figures within their church. Shortly before or during their death, they lose faith in their chosen deity so completely they become a full heretic, blaspheming, committing atrocities, and cursing their god. These anathemic acts bind their soul to their flesh, causing them to rise as cursed beings. To a herexen, faith is the ultimate lie.

Although the circumstances that drive a pious worshipper to break with their faith are varied, herexens are unified in purpose. Herexens spend their existence fighting their former god in every manner they can, destroying iconography and temples, slaying worshippers, banding together with other herexens who oppose the same deity, conscripting lesser undead, and hiring living proxies to wreak havoc or spread misinformation. A particularly motivated herexen may even plot to kill or unseat the deity they once revered. Curiously, herexens maintain a corrupted form of their divine powers after death, wielding the weapons and magic of their past faith to tear it down.

Building Herexens

The herexen presented in the stat block below was originally a cleric of Pharasma, but there are as many kinds of herexens as there are deities. To create a herexen of a different deity, do the following.
  • Swap out the herexen's weapon for the deity's favored weapon. If the weapon is simple, increase the damage die by one step; if it's two-handed, decrease the herexen's attack bonus with that weapon by 2.
  • Swap out the herexen's domain spell for a 1st-level focus spell from a domain associated with that deity.
  • Swap the defiled religious symbol for the correct deity. For example, an ex-Sarenite herexen carries a scimitar and a defiled religious symbol of Sarenrae, and can cast fire ray (attack +12) as a focus spell.

Greater Herexens

More powerful clerics, or herexens that have existed over long spans of time, might become a more powerful variant known as a greater herexen. An 8th-level creature, it casts harm as a 4th-level spell, it gains a second Focus Point and a 4th-level domain spell in addition to its 1st-level domain spell, and the bonus damage from heretic's smite increases to 2d6.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Herexens vs. Deathless

Herexens and deathless acolytes often arise from the same event, the difference being whether the mortal kept or renounced their faith upon death. Herexens and deathless acolytes of the same deity are far more likely to fight than work together, but a herexen might find allies among foes of the deity the herexen renounced.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Religious Freedom

Herexens can worship any deity and should be modified based upon their ex-faith by swapping out their favored weapon and religious symbol for those associated with their deific foe.

Additionally, replace the herexen's domain spell (or spells) for focus spells of equal level from a domain associated with that deity.