All Monsters in "Velstrac"

Name	Level
Augur	1
Augur	1
Velstrac Conductor	9
Ephialtes	16
Eremite	20
Evangelist	6
Evangelist	6
Interlocutor	12
Interlocutor	12
Kophos	17
Ostiarius	5
Precentor	16
Sacristan	10
Vincuvicar	18

Velstrac

Source Monster Core 2 pg. 344
The shadow-dwelling fiends known as velstracs all share a horrifying preoccupation with the search for ultimate sensation through self-mutilation. Velstracs transcend their stoic detachment only when inflicting pain and terror upon their victims, practicing new forms of torture, or turning their agonizing practices back on themselves. They consider themselves enlightened beings, transcending such limitations as morality or mortal taboos, but their victims know them as emotionless tormentors who inflict sadistic suffering. These fiends claim to seek perfection in thought, form, and action, although they don’t recognize any refinement that doesn’t require the painful excision of the flesh or spirit.

Velstracs manifest from the souls of the most extreme masochistic or sadistic mortals who are judged and sent on to the Netherworld. They take on forms that suit their vile predilections, ranging from the low-ranking augurs to the maestros of suffering and mutilation, the eremites. The process of transformation warps the soul step by step, with other velstracs conveying their new members through untold chambers of pain among the dark reaches of the Netherworld.

Check With Players

Velstracs are creatures of pain and mutilation. Encounters with velstracs often delve into the realm of body horror, which could be overly disturbing to some players, leading to unintentional effects on your game and your friends. Before introducing velstracs into your game, talk with your players to learn about any particular phobias or limits to determine what content you bring to the table, and consider that on your own behalf as well. Some specific elements to be aware of are velstrac themes around cutting flesh and drawing blood, especially the eremite’s abilities to remove the flesh of others and graft it to themself.

Despicable Origins

Velstracs originated with the first debased thoughts of mortals, which divine beings found so deplorable that they locked all velstracs away in Hell. It wasn’t long, however, before the newly formed beings escaped their infernal prison to the Netherworld.

Other Velstracs

There are as many different velstracs as there are ways to inflict pain. Other velstracs range in power from the relatively weak lampadariuses to the powerful phylacators.

The Shadow Forge

Many velstracs outsource the forging of their chains to unique velstracs known as almoners. These six-armed, legless humanoids toil endlessly at a great burning foundry called the Shadow Forge. Almoners operate under mysterious strictures and are just as likely to turn a velstrac away emptyhanded as not.

Velstrac Divinities

The most powerful velstracs are unique divinities known collectively as velstrac demagogues—powerful creatures worshipped by those mortals who seek to experience agonizing new revelations and gain power by enhancing the body through pain.

Velstracs on Golarion

Velstracs are most often encountered in the shadowy realm of Nidal, where the state worship of Zon-Kuthon is rigidly enforced. Indeed, many velstracs are created from the souls of Joyful Things, devotees of Zon-Kuthon who have had their limbs amputated to focus their minds on the veneration of pain, sacrifice, and torment.