Striga

The humanity leaves the face of what looked like a normal person. Skin and eyes dry out and turn grey, and its mouth fills with a blue glow hungry for life essence.

Striga CR 5

XP 1,600

NE Medium monstrous humanoid (shapechanger)

Init +5; Senses blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +10

Aura nondetection,

 

Defense

AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 18 (+4 deflection, +1 Dex, +4 natural)

hp 76 (9d10+27)

Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +6

DR 15/cold iron

 

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee bite +11 (1d6+1 plus grab)

Special Attacks lecherous form

 

Statistics

Str 12, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 19

Base Atk +9; CMB +10 (+14 grapple); CMD 25

Feats Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Bluff), Stealthy, Toughness, Weapon Focus (bite)

Skills Bluff +14, Diplomacy +11, Disguise +22, Escape Artist +3, Knowledge (history) +7, Knowledge (local) +9, Perception +10, Sense Motive +7, Stealth +17

Languages common, elven, halfling

 

Ecology

Environment Any

Organization solitary, hunt (1–2 plus 1–4 dogs)

Treasure NPC gear

 

Special Abilities

Aura of Nondetection (Su): A striga is constantly under the effect of nondetection.

Lecherous Form (Su): Strigas assume a haunting visage when feeding on lifeforce. A striga in lecherous form loses its deflection bonus to AC, gains a +4 bonus to its bite attack, and drains 1d6 Con while grappling. A striga in lecherous form gains 1 temporary hp per point of Con it drains from a target, or 1 hp/HD (typically 9) per point of Con it drains from a young target. Temporary hp gained from draining Con in lecherous form not in excess of a strigas maximum hp total become normal hp after an hour rest. Assuming lecherous form is a move action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

 

Unlike most shapeshifters, strigas are naturally in a state of disguise. At rest and without effort they resemble a typical human whose face and gender they have no control over. Years do not age strigas, however, and they move every ten to fifteen years to avoid suspicion. When a striga feeds, it must assume its lecherous form to tap its victim’s lifeforce. Doing so leaves it vulnerable, however, so hungry striga take to the shadows and wait for lone victims. Striga who cannot escape combat assume lecherous form to survive wounds they suffer while draining the lifeforce of their enemies. Particularly resourceful strigas raise hunting dogs to distract attackers when they must feed off a group.

Strigas feel no emotion and find the concept baffling. They only learn the emotional tendencies of their surroundings to blend in. Most strigas concoct a number of stories to justify remaining unmarried and without family. A striga only needs a few stories which it rotates between every time it moves on. By the third or fourth move, its older aliases are mostly forgotten and can be used again. Strigas avoid long lived races, particularly elves, for although theirs is a succulent lifeforce, strigas do not wish to be identified. Unlike dopplegangers, they cannot assume a new face when they assume a new identity. Being recognized can ruin a hunting ground for centuries.