Joyful ThingThis sluglike humanoid has neither arms nor legs and is covered in spiked, rusted chains. Its lolling tongue drips with thick saliva.Joyful Thing CR 6Source Nidal, Land of Shadows pg. 57
XP 2,400
LE Medium outsider (native)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +11DefenseAC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 19 (-2 Dex, +8 natural, +3 profane)
hp 68 (8d10+24)
Fort +11, Ref +5, Will +9
Immune fear, pain effects; SR 17OffenseSpeed 10 ft.
Melee spiked chain +11/+6 (2d4+3 plus grab)
Special Attacks taste fear
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th; concentration +11)
Constant—levitate, mage hand
At will—bane (DC 14), cause fear (DC 14), command (DC 14), darkness
3/day—bestow curse (DC 16), crushing despair (DC 17), hold person (DC 15), mirror image 1/day—augury, summon (level 3, 1 augur kyton 35%)StatisticsStr 10, Dex 6, Con 15, Int 16, Wis 11, Cha 17
Base Atk +8; CMB +8 (+10 grapple); CMD 19 (21 vs. grapple, can't be tripped)
Feats Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Toughness
Skills Diplomacy +14, Intimidate +14, Knowledge (local) +11, Knowledge (nobility) +11, Knowledge (planes) +14, Knowledge (religion) +14, Perception +11, Sense Motive +11, Spellcraft +14
Languages Common, Hallit, Shadowtongue
SQ blessing of pain, exploid pain, umbral embraceEcologyEnvironment any
Organization solitary, pair, or coven (3-8)
Treasure standardSpecial AbilitiesBlessing of Pain (Su) In exchange for its sacrifice to Zon-Kuthon, a Joyful Thing gains a profane bonus equal to its Charisma bonus to AC, on all saving throws, and on attack and damage rolls. A Joyful Thing whose alignment shifts away from lawful evil for any reason loses these bonuses.
Exploit Pain (Su) A Joyful Thing gains a +1 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls against any target under the effects of an emotion, fear, or pain effect.
Taste Fear (Su) As a standard action, a Joyful Thing can attempt to pin a grappled target by wrapping its elongated tongue around the creature’s head. While the target is so pinned, the Joyful Thing can read its thoughts as if it were under the effect of detect thoughts.
Umbral Embrace (Su) A Joyful Thing is always treated as if it qualified for its Improved Grapple feat, even though most Joyful Things do not have the normal requisite Dexterity score or the Improved Unarmed Strike feat.DescriptionThe most dedicated of Zon-Kuthon’s faithful sometimes undergo a brutal ritual in which their limbs are amputated and their nonvital organs are removed. This imbues the so-called Joyful Things with powers drawn from the Plane of Shadow but also makes them embodiments of pain, sacrifice, and the eternal torment that awaits Kuthites in the afterlife. These exemplars of the Midnight Lord’s glorious suffering hold positions of influence among other Kuthites, and any temple that hosts one or more Joyful Things is considered blessed by the god of darkness.
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