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Book of Eldritch Might II: Songs and Souls of Power Preview

The Unholy Riven

By Monte Cook
Illustrated by Stephen Shepherd

The unholy riven is a particularly deadly foe for arcanists, although an interesting challenge for the whole party. This Open Game Content* is an excerpt from Chapter Eight: Monsters in the new Book of Eldritch Might II: Songs and Souls of Power. (Now updated to v. 3.5, from The Complete Book of Eldritch Might—Ed.)

Medium Monstrous Humanoid
Hit Dice: 12d8 + 48 (102 hp)
Initiative: +1 (Dex)
Speed: 30 feet (6 squares)
AC: 31 (+1 Dex, +20 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 30
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+17
Attack: Slam +17 melee (1d8 + 7)
Full Attack: Slam +17/+12/+7 melee (1d8 + 7)
Space/Reach: 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: Drain spells, energy drain, destroy magic item, greater dispel magic
Special Qualities: Immunity to magic, cold, poison, detect magic, see invisibility
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +11, Will +8
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 13, Con 18, Int 19, Wis 11, Cha 17
Skills: Climb +20, Hide +26‡, Listen +17, Search +19, Spellcraft +19, Spot +17
Feats: Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack

Environment: Any land and underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 13
Treasure: Standard coins, standard goods, no items
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 13-18 HD (Medium); 18-24 (Large)
Level Adjustments: --

The unholy riven were once good-aligned humanoid arcane spellcasters—usually humans, elves, or half-elves. At some point in their otherwise respectable and virtuous lives, they committed a particularly atrocious, heinous act. This sudden change of alignment is always connected to the use of magic, either through casting an evil spell or using a spell to commit the act.

The sudden flux of evil arcane energy infuses the arcanist, transforming the character into an ebony-skinned creature covered in arcane symbols and runes. It now appears to be a being of black magic given form: incarnate evil power embodied as the ultimate expression of null-magic and life-draining negativity.

The unholy riven feeds on arcane power. It lurks in the shadows, hunting mages of all types. It seeks to drain the spells and eventually the life from an arcanist. Thoroughly evil and entirely corrupt, the unholy riven kills with glee and revels in misery. The very name strikes fear into the hearts of even the most powerful arcane spellcasters.

Combat
The unholy riven's favored mode of combat is to spring attack from an ambush in the dark. Obviously it focuses its attacks against arcanists, to the point where it ignores nonspellcasters altogether. When it must face nonspellcasters, it uses its ability to destroy magic items and drain levels to weaken them, hoping they will simply flee. If they do not, it slaughters them—gaining enjoyment but no sustenance.

Drain Spells (Su): With a touch attack (or as a part of its slam attack), the unholy riven can drain spells (or spell slots) from an arcane spellcaster. Each touch drains 2d6 levels of prepared spells or unused spell slots, starting with the highest-level spells and working down. For example, say an unholy riven touches a sorcerer with a 4th-level spell slot, a 3rd-level slot, two 2nd-level slots, and five 1st-level slots left unused. The creature rolls an 8. It drains the 4th- and 3rd-level slots, as well as one 1st-level slot.

Each drained spell level gives the unholy riven 1d6 temporary hit points, and every five drained spell levels grants it a +1 enhancement bonus to attacks and damage and a +1 deflection bonus to AC.

Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures touched or slammed by an unholy riven receive one negative level. A Fortitude save (DC 19) is required to remove the negative level.

Destroy Magic Item (Su): If the unholy riven touches a magic item (automatic for an unattended item, a touch attack against a held item), the item must make a caster level check (1d20 + the item's caster level) with a DC of 19. Failure results in the item's disintegration.

Magic Immunity (Su): No spell, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability can affect the unholy riven, including even an antimagic field. Spells cast with the unholy riven as its target (as opposed to with it simply in the area) give the creature power just as if it had drained them.

Other Immunities (Ex): The unholy riven is immune to poison and cold.

Detect Magic (Sp): The unholy riven can use detect magic at will, as a free action.

See Invisible (Sp): The unholy riven can use see invisible at will, as a free action.

Greater Dispel Magic (Sp): The unholy riven can use greater dispel magic at will, as a standard action.

‡ Skills: An unholy riven's ebony skin and shadowy nature help it hide, conferring a +10 racial bonus to Hide checks.

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* "d20 System" and the "d20 System" logo are Trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast and are used according to the terms of the d20 System License version 1.0. A copy of this License can be found at Wizards' d20 home page. This content, as part of Book of Eldritch Might II: Songs and Souls of Power, is produced under version 1.0, 1.0a, and/or draft versions of the Open Game License, the d20 System Trademark Logo Guide, and System Reference Document by permission of Wizards of the Coast. Designation of Product Identity: The following items are hereby designated as Product Identity in accordance with Section 1(e) of the Open Game License, version 1.0a: Any and all Malhavoc Press logos and identifying marks and trade dress, including all Malhavoc Press product names, page design, and the unholy riven illustration. The unholy riven article (stats, description, and Combat section) is considered Open Game Content.