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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardVanth

Protecting the Boneyard are the stern and resolute guardians of the dead known as vanths, psychopomps who resemble skeletons with raven-like wings and a mask resembling a vulture's skull. Vanths carry black scythes to fight against those who would disturb the natural progression of souls, and they consider any visitor to the Boneyard a potential troublemaker. When the psychopomp armies go to war, vanths serve as front-line soldiers. They rarely speak and even more rarely show any emotion other than a grim adherence to duty.

Recall Knowledge - Monitor (Religion): DC 23
Unspecific Lore: DC 21
Specific Lore: DC 18

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 VanthCreature 8

Legacy Content

N Medium Monitor Psychopomp 
Source Bestiary 2 pg. 210 2.0
Perception +17; darkvision, lifesense 60 feet
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Infernal, Requian
Skills Acrobatics +19, Athletics +19, Boneyard Lore +17, Intimidation +17, Occultism +15, Religion +15, Stealth +19
Str +6, Dex +4, Con +2, Int +2, Wis +4, Cha +2
Items +1 scythe
AC 29; Fort +17, Ref +15, Will +19; +1 status to all saves vs. magic
HP 125; Immunities death effects, disease; Resistances negative 10, poison 10
Frightful Presence (aura, emotion, fear, mental) 20 feet, DC 24Attack of Opportunity [reaction]
Speed 25 feet, fly 40 feet
Melee [one-action] scythe +20 [+15/+10] (deadly d10, magical, trip), Damage 1d10+2+8 slashing plus spirit touchMelee [one-action] jaws +19 [+15/+11] (agile), Damage 1d6+2+8 slashing plus spirit touchDivine Innate Spells DC 24 (+4 dmg); 5th dimension door; 4th dimension door (at will); 3rd locate (×3), searing light (×3); 2nd invisibility (at will; self only)
Infuse Weapon (divine, evocation) A vanth's scythe is its symbol of office and gains a measure of its personal power. This scythe becomes a +1 scythe and is treated as if it were adamantine while the vanth wields it. A vanth whose scythe is taken or destroyed can infuse a new one with an hour of work.Spirit Touch An vanth's Strikes affect incorporeal creatures with the effects of a ghost touch property rune and deal 2d6 negative damage to living creatures and 2d6 positive damage to undead.Vanth's Curse [two-actions] (curse, divine, enchantment, misfortune) Frequency three times per day; Effect The vanth bestows a curse on a creature by touching it with its scythe. The creature must attempt a DC 27 Will save.
Critical Success The target is unaffected and is temporarily immune to Vanth's Curse for 24 hours.
Success The target feels a momentary shudder of doom and is stupefied 1 for 1 minute by the distracting sensation.
Failure The target becomes morose and glum as it accepts its own inevitable fate. For 1 hour, the target is stupefied 2. Each time the target gains the dying condition, the stupefied condition value increases by 1, to a maximum value of stupefied 4.
Critical Failure As failure, but the effect is permanent.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Vanth Scythes

Vanths' favored weapon is the scythe, a choice that even further adds to their fearsome appearance and can lead to unfortunate associations with the Grim Reaper or Urgathoa among more superstitious mortals. Vanths find such comparisons to be ignorant at best or insulting at worst. Some vanths infuse their scythes with different qualities, such as cold iron or silver, depending on the nature of their most common enemies.

All Monsters in "Psychopomp"

NameLevel
Algea11
Catrina5
Eseneth17
Esobok3
Joseung Saja14
Morrigna15
Nosoi1
Shoki9
Vanth7
Vanth Warrior14
Yamaraj20

Psychopomp

Source Bestiary pg. 270
Psychopomps are guardians and shepherds of the dead native to the Boneyard, the vast plane of graves where mortal souls are judged and sent on to their eternal rewards or damnations. Psychopomps ensure that the dead come to terms with their transition from mortality and are properly sorted into the appropriate afterlife. They also protect souls from being preyed upon by supernatural predators. Nearly all psychopomps wear masks, especially when they’re likely to be interacting with mortals, although the types of masks they wear are as varied as the psychopomps themselves. The courts of the Boneyard preside in Requian, a somber yet melodic language spoken slowly with various tonal shifts.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Other Pyschopomps

Nosois and morrignas are far from the only of their kind. Many others, like the skeletal vanths or the draconic yamarajes, also aid in the stewardship of the dead.

Sidebar - Locations Psychopomp Courts

Psychopomps rarely oppose celestials or fiends. In fact, they frequently host such creatures in the Boneyard, particularly in the sprawling psychopomp courts where these outsiders petition for one soul or another to be remanded to their jurisdiction. Complicated cases are judged by yamarajes, while the thorniest or most politically delicate are handed by Pharasma herself.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Psychopomp Foes

Psychopomps' greatest enemies are creatures that devour or steal souls, such as astradaemons and night hags. Their other opponents include necromancers, proteans, and those who have unnaturally extended their lifespan, such as liches.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Psychopomp Traitors

Some psychopomps view their task of sorting souls as ultimately hollow and meaningless, since the multiverse itself must one day end. Eons ago, these rebels shirked their duties and fled to the empty corners of the planes, becoming a new type of evil creature called a sahkil. Sahkils feed on mortal fears, particularly fears of death, and enjoy tormenting those who must die. Psychopomps generally leave these malcontents alone, except when sahkils interfere with the proper flow of souls.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Psychopomps Divinities

The most powerful of the psychopomps are unique demigods known collectively as “ushers,” each of whom has its own cult. These psychopomp divinities include Atropos, the Last Sister; Barzahk, the Passage; Ceyanan, the Shepherd; Dammar, the Denied; Imot, the Symbol of Doom; Mother Vulture, the Flesheater; Mrtyu, Death's Consort; Narakas, the Cleansing Sentence; the Pale Horse; Phlegyas, Consoler of Atheists; Saloc, Minder of Immortals; Teshallas, the Primordial Poison; and Vale, the Court of the Ancestors.