Monstrous Physique — Weeping Angels

I’m a fan of Doctor Who and I feel that there are plenty of monsters that would serve well as Pathfinder creatures. While some, like the Daleks or the Cybermen may be more iconic to fans of the show, I feel that there are other monsters that are more suited for challenges for PCs. Maybe once Starfinder rolls out, I’ll look into statting up those more well-known but kind of tech-oriented creatures. Instead, today I’m looking at another creature which is quite popular to fans of the modern show: the weeping angels. Make sure that while you’re looking at them with me that you don’t blink. Blink and you’re dead. With that, let’s keep our eyes on the weeping angels!

This statue depicts a winged woman in a tattered chiton. She holds her hands to her face, blocking all view of her face.
WEEPING ANGEL CR 6
XP 1,200
CE Medium monstrous humanoid (earth)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +7
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +6 natural)
hp 73 (9d10+18)
Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +6
DR 10/magic
OFFENSE
Speed 60 ft., fly 20 ft
Melee 2 claws +13 (1d6+4/19–20), bite +13 (1d4+4/19–20)
Special Attacks quantum lock, sneak attack 2d6
STATISTICS
Str 19, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 7
Base Atk +9; CMB +13; CMD 26
Feats Hover, Improved Critical (bite, claw), Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Fly)
Skills Fly +18, Perception +7, Stealth +10 (+16 in stony areas); Racial Modifiers +2 Stealth (+6 in stony environs)
Languages Common (cannot speak)
SQ freeze, petrified form
ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3–12)
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Image Transformation (Ex) Any image of a weeping angel, such as a painting or a reflection, eventually creates a new weeping angel. This process requires 1 uninterrupted hour and if the image of the angel is damaged or disturbed in any way, the process must begin again. Once the process is complete, a new weeping angel is created with half of its average hit points (typically 36 hit points). A particular image can only create a new weeping angel once.
Petrified Form (Ex) A creature within 30 feet intentionally looking at a weeping angel causes it to petrify into a statue. Intentionally looking at an angel requires a move action. A petrified weeping angel is unable to act but is not helpless. While petrified, the weeping angel gains DR 10/epic and fast healing 5.
Quantum Lock (Ex) A creature reduced to 0 or fewer hit points by a weeping angel’s attacks must succeed on a DC 16 Fortitude save or be launched backwards in time, where their untapped potential energy feeds the weeping angel. This grants 1d10+5 temporary hit points to the weeping angel. A creature thrown backwards in time cannot return to their time without the use of artifact magic or the like of miracle or wish. The save DC is Constitution-based.
The weeping angels are an ancient species of creatures that feed on time energy. They do so by sending their victims far in to the past where the victims live out the rest of their lives. Having done so, the angels are able to feed off of the potential energy of their victims. They can go many years without feeding, but doing so causes an angel’s appearance to wither away, appearing cracked and fragile. Upon feeding, an angel is able to restore itself to its more complete form. The angels tend to hide as statues, frozen by the gaze of any that look upon them. This tactic allows them to hide in plain sight for long periods of time and attack when the time is right.

In Your Game

The Angels Have the Museum
The PCs are tasked with guarding an exhibit with a number of portraits of weeping angels. The PCs must survive the night, watching the portraits to prevent the creation of new angels while also contending with a break-in.

Guardian Angels
The PCs move through an abandoned cemetery during their journeys. Little do they know that the various statues and visages between the graves are that of weeping angels.

Village Vanguard
A pack of weeping angels haunts a local village. The PCs are tasked with setting a trap to capture the angels while avoiding becoming trapped in time themselves.

Monstrous Origins

The weeping angels first appeared in Blink, an episode from the third series of Doctor Who. In this episode, we meet the weeping angels. The angels are very quick and quite deadly, but are unable to act if anyone looks at them. Instead, they are frozen like the statues they resemble, but looking away at all, even blinking, allows them to move again. This is difficult to replicate, so I decided to force PCs to use up their move actions to keep the angels at bay. With enough angels, though, there are not enough PCs to stop all of them, which devious GMs can use to their advantage. Sending PCs back in time is a tricky thing, so I decided to tweak that ability a bit and only have it happen when a creature is downed.

That’s it for this week! Please let me know if you would like to see more Doctor Who monsters or monsters from other shows. If you end up bringing the weeping angels into your game, or you have any request for a future Monstrous Physique, please drop me a line at KnowDirection@hotmail.com

Luis Loza

Luis Loza is a developer at Paizo, working on the Pathfinder Lost Omens line and formerly on Campaign Setting and Player Companion lines. He's done freelance for Paizo Inc, Legendary Games, Rogue Genius Games, and more third-party publishers. His hobbies include gaming both tabletop and video, making jokes, obsessing over time travel, taking naps with Nova his cat, and walks with his wife. He is eternally plagued with a hunger for tacos. Consider checking his material on his Patreon at patreon.com/luisloza

2 Comments

  1. Caroline Salembier

    I think those are the scariest monsters in Dr Who. Good job. 🙂

  2. John Murphy

    My wife has promised to play with my Daughter and I for Father’s Day. She is Whovian and I think I just figured out what to sub one of the monsters out with! Thanks!