Tainted Minion

A tainted minion is a mortal who has been transformed into a horrifi c undead servant of evil.

SAMPLE TAINTED MINION

The warrior before you swings a spiked chain through the air in intricate patterns. In the shadows beneath his helm, specks of green light glow where his eyes should be.

This example uses a 5th-level human fighter as the base creature.

Tainted Minion, 5th-Level Human Fighter Medium Undead (Augmented Humanoid) Hit Dice: 5d12 (32 hp) Initiative: 2 Speed: 30 ft. AC: 20 (2 Dex, 4 natural, 4 masterwork chain shirt), touch 12, fl at-footed 18 Base Attack/Grapple: 5/10 Attack: Claw 10 melee (1d45) or +1 spiked chain 12 melee (2d410) or masterwork shortbow 8 ranged (1d6/×3) Full Attack: 2 claws 10/10 melee (1d45) or +1 spiked chain 12 melee (2d410) or masterwork shortbow 8 ranged (1d6/×3) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. (spiked chain up to 10 ft.) Special Attacks: Fear aura Special Qualities: Change shape, damage reduction 10/ magic, darkvision 60 ft., fast healing 3, undead traits Saves: Fort 4, Ref 3, Will 3 Abilities: Str 20, Dex 15, Con — , Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 12 Skills: Climb 9, Listen 6, Spot 6 Feats: Blind-Fight, Combat Refl exes, Exotic Weapon Profi ciency (spiked chain), Power Attack, Weapon Focus (spiked chain), Weapon Specialization (spiked chain) Environment: Any Organization: Solitary or gang (2–5) Challenge Rating: 6 Treasure: Double standard Alignment: Always evil (any) Advancement: By character class Level Adjustment: —

Combat

This tainted minion’s claw attacks are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. This tainted minion uses its Power Attack feat intelligently, calling it into play once it is certain that it has a good chance to hit its chosen target(s). The Will save against this tainted minion’s fear aura has a

DC of 13. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Possessions: +1 spiked chain, masterwork chain shirt, potion of haste.

Tainted minion

CREATING A TAINTED MINION

“Tainted minion” is an acquired template that can be added to any humanoid or monstrous humanoid creature with at least mild levels of both corruption and depravity (referred to hereafter as the base creature). It is most often applied to a creature that dies because its corruption score exceeds the maximum for severe corruption for a creature with its Constitution score; see Table 4–1: Taint Thresholds and page 63. A tainted minion uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to undead (augmented humanoid or monstrous humanoid). Do not recalculate base attack bonus, saves, or skill points. Size is unchanged.

Hit Dice: Increase all current and future Hit Dice to d12s.

Armor Class: A tainted minion’s natural armor bonus improves by 4, as chitinous plates form on and within the creature’s fl esh.

Attack: A tainted minion retains all the attacks of the base creature and also grows inch-long claws that it can use as a natural weapon. If the base creature can use weapons, the tainted minion retains this ability. A creature with natural weapons retains those natural weapons. A tainted minion fi ghting without weapons uses either its claw attack or its primary natural weapon (if it has one). A tainted minion armed with a weapon uses its claw or weapon, as it desires.

Full Attack: A tainted minion fi ghting without weapons can make two claw attacks as a full attack action, or it can

Illus. by S. Prescott