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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardBone Prophet

The speakers for the dead known as bone prophets hold an esteemed place as voices for their decapitated god. Burial rites, necromantic rituals, and the delivery of cryptic utterances supposedly whispered to them by Ydersius all fall under the dominion of these priests.

Recall Knowledge - Humanoid (Society): DC 24
Unspecific Lore: DC 22
Specific Lore: DC 19

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Bone ProphetCreature 8

Medium Humanoid Serpentfolk 
Source Monster Core pg. 305
Perception +7; darkvision, scent (imprecise) 30 feet
Languages Aklo, Common, Necril, Sakvroth; telepathy 100 feet
Skills Arcana +7, Deception +10, Intimidation +8, Occultism +9, Religion +11, Society +7, Stealth +5
Str +3, Dex +3, Con +2, Int +5, Wis +5, Cha +6
Items +1 striking staff, religious symbol of Ydersius, invisibility potion
AC 19; Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +11 (+4 status vs. mental); +1 status to all saves vs. magic
HP 115; Resistances poison 10
Thin of Blood Zyss serpentfolk recover slowly from injuries. When they take physical damage from a critical hit, they gain 2d4 persistent bleed damage. They take a –2 circumstance penalty to flat checks to recover from persistent damage and saving throws against afflictions.
Speed 25 feet
Melee [one-action] staff +10 [+5/+0] (magical, two-hand d8), Damage 2d4+9 bludgeoningMelee [one-action] fangs +9 [+4/-1] (finesse), Damage 2d6+9 piercing plus serpentfolk venomDivine Spontaneous Spells DC 20, attack +12; 4th fly, harm, read omens, talking corpse (3 slots); 3rd bind undead, blindness, chilling darkness, vampiric feast (4 slots); 2nd blood vendetta, darkness, resist energy, see the unseen (4 slots); 1st bane, command, fear, ventriloquism (4 slots); Cantrips (4th) detect magic, guidance, light, read aura, void warp
Occult Innate Spells DC 20; 6th dominate; 5th illusory scene, suggestion; 3rd illusory disguise (at will); 2nd blur (self only; at will); 1st ventriloquism (at will)
Rituals DC 20; 2nd create undead
Raise Serpent [three-actions] (divine) Frequency once per day; Effect The bone prophet animates corpses of snakes, serpentfolk, or similar serpentine creatures within a 30-foot emanation. Any flesh on the bodies sloughs off, and they rise as skeletons. The bone prophet can raise one Large creature as a skeletal giant or up to three Medium creatures as skeletal champion; the equipment and attacks might be different depending on the corpses' possessions. These skeletons have the minion trait and are under the bone prophet's control; the bone prophet can give all these minions the same command with a single action that has the concentrate trait. Any skeletal minions that still remain after 10 minutes crumble to dust.Serpentfolk Venom (poison) Saving Throw DC 18 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 6 rounds; Stage 1 1d4 poison damage and enfeebled 1 (1 round); Stage 2 2d4 poison damage and enfeebled 1 (1 round)

All Monsters in "Serpentfolk"

NameLevel
Aapoph Granitescale6
Aapoph Serpentfolk3
Bone Prophet8
Coil Spy4
Serpentfolk Granitescale6
Venom Caller7
Zyss Serpentfolk2

Serpentfolk

Source Monster Core pg. 302
Before their ancient clash with humanity devastated their civilization, serpentfolk were masters of a sprawling underground empire. Their power was shattered and their god Ydersius decapitated (although not quite slain). The cunning, intelligence, and magical abilities of serpentfolk have diminished from their ancient heights, and most are born without these boons. This is partially the result of cruel genetic meddling among serpentfolk—though the ruling class, zyss, are born with an innate spellcasting ability, their blood runs thin, making them susceptible to wounds. Seen as the failures of the serpentfolk's experiments are the aapophs, who are strong but prone to mutation and lack innate spellcasting.

Today, the central realm of the Darklands retains the old name of the serpentfolk empire that once dominated this region—Sekamina. This name is also the source of the serpentfolk's Aklo title, sekmin, which they are often called in ancient texts. Serpentfolk dominion had declined before ghouls, gugs, umbral gnomes, and other forces. Yet their recent ventures have brought them back to a stronger place in the Darklands. Many serpentfolk sleeping in torpor in secluded vaults have awakened.

Zyss serpentfolk tend toward megalomania, with dreams of returning to their place of dominance. Many of their plans hinge on resurrecting Ydersius, their decapitated god. His headless body still thrashes about, mindless, in the Darklands, waiting to be reunited with his lost skull. Serpentfolk numbers are so small that reclaiming their dominance seems a distant dream, especially since their reproduction is slow. Though a parent can birth a dozen young at once, the gestation period lasts up to a decade, and the likelihood that even one will be zyss is low. There's no telling whether a child will be zyss or aapoph, regardless of parentage. A coveted zyss child is just as likely to arise from aapoph parents as from two zyss, and every serpentfolk colony has someone in charge of sorting the young, identifying the earliest signs of magic in them.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Above the Surface

A small number of serpentfolk settlements dot Golarion's surface, most of them in humid, remote jungles, far-flung islands, or at the mouths of caverns. It's rare for such a settlement to number more than a few dozen serpentfolk. They rely primarily on aapophs to build their power bases, to defend them, and to perform essentially all the practical functions of their society. This includes providing food, crafting goods, and tending to the zyss's every need.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Serpentfolk Magic

Some serpentfolk might have entirely different innate spells. These alternative spells are typically illusions, mental spells, or divinatory magic. Examples, listed by their minimum rank, include: 6th mislead, zealous conviction; 5th mind probe; 4th honeyed words; 3rd dream message, enthrall, mind reading; 2nd invisibility (self only); 1st mindlink, phantom pain. Aapoph serpentfolk lack innate spells.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Zyss Strife

A serpentfolk conclave with just a few zyss is functional, but one with a large number becomes fractious. Cults and societies form, all pursuing their own passions and politics, with scheming and backstabbing running rampant. A powerful priest may be able to bring other zyss to heel, but many zyss question why a priest should be in charge if their god is dead. Thriving on decadence, zyss crave receiving expensive gifts, gorging themselves on massive meals, and pursing arts such as music, poetry, or sculpture.