General Rules: Monsters - Unholy Riven

Unholy Riven (from the Book of Eldritch Might III)
Medium Monstrous Humanoid

Hit Dice: 12d8+48 (102 hit points)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 feet
Armor Class: 32 (+1 Dexterity, +1 dodge, +20 natural); touch 12, flat-footed 30
BAB/Grapple: +12/+17

Attack: Slam +17 melee (1d8+7, bludgeoning, 20 x2)

Full Attack: Slam +17/+12/+7 melee (1d8+7, bludgeoning, 20 x2)

Space/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: Drain spells, energy drain, destroy magic items, greater dispelling
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 feet, detect magic, immunities, magic immunity, see invisibility
Saves: Fortitude +10, Reflex +11, Will +8
Abilities: Str 20, Int 19, Wis 11, Dex 13, Con 18, Cha 17
Skills: Climb +15, Hide +21, Listen +12, Search +15, Spellcraft +13, Spot +12
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Power Attack, Skill Augmentation (Listen and Spot), Spring Attack
Environment: Any land or underground

Organization: Solitary

Challenge Rating: 13
Treasure: Standard coins, standard goods, no items
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 13 - 18 Hit Dice (Medium); 18 - 24 Hit Dice (Large)
Level Adjustment: -

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

The sudden influx 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 force 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 non-spellcasters altogether. When it must face non-spellcasters, 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.

Destroy Magic Items (Su): if the unholy riven touches a magic item (automatic for unattended items, 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.

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

Drain Spells (Su): With a touch attack (or as 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 or unused spell slots and working down. 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 attack and damage rolls and a +1 deflection bonus to Armor Class.

Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures touched or slammed by an unholy riven suffer one negative level. The Fortitude save required to remove the negative level has a DC of 19.

Greater Dispelling (Sp): The unholy riven can use greater dispelling at will, as a standard action.

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

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 the target (as opposed to with it simply in the area) give the creature power as if it had drained them.

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

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

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