View source for Soulphage Vulture (3.5e Monster)

{{Author
|author_name=the bluez in the dungeon
|date_created=26/04/2022
|status=Complete
}}

== Soulphage Vulture ==

{{Stat Block 2
|summary=A terrible undead vulture which feeds on souls
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|name=Soulphage Vulture |cr=4
|al=NE |size=Medium |type=[[SRD:Undead|Undead]] |subtypes=[[Living Dead (3.5e Subtype)|Living Dead]]
|space=5 ft. |reach=5 ft.
|str=14 |dex=15 |con=15 |int=6 |wis=16 |cha=13
|init=+2 |listen=+5 |spot=+7 |sens=Darkvision 60 ft. (18 meters), Low-light Vision
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|ac=17 |acmods=+2 Dex, +2 Natural Armor, +3 Deflection |touch=15 |flat=15 |othac=
|hp=46 |hd=5d12+2 |othhp=
|fort=+3 |ref=+3 |will=+7 |othsave=
|immune=death effects, disease, energy drain, exhaustion, fatigue, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning |resist= |sr= |pr= |weak=
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|spd=10 ft. (3 meters) |burrow= |climb= |fly=40 ft-12 meters (average) |swim= |othspd=
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|bab=+2 |grp=+4
|atkop=
|melee1=beak+4 (1d8+2, piercing) |melee2=2 talons-1 (1d4+1, slashing) |melee3= |melee4=
|ranged1=soul regurgitation+4 (1d8 x soul HD, 30 ft-9 meters) |ranged2= |range3= |ranged4=
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|aura=
|sa=Aura of Decay, Devour Soul, Soul Regurgitation
|sq=Deathwatch, Soulless
|feats=[[Aura of Decay (3.5e Feat)|Aura of Decay]], [[SRD:Flyby Attack|Flyby Attack]]
|lang=[[Expanded Languages (3.5e Other)|Necril]]
|skills=Hide +5, Intimidate +7, Listen +5, Move Silently +6, Spot +7 (+17 if using Deathwatch)
|hdadv=6-8 (Medium), 9-11 (Large), 12 (Huge)
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|san1=Aura of Decay (Su) |sad1=Everything within 10 ft. (3 meters) of a soulphage vulture seems to wither and rot. This is merely a subtle appearance, and has no effect on creatures, but the surroundings appear unhealthy and unclean. Animals do not naturally approach a soulphage vulture unless pushed or desperate. As a free action it can cause non-magical plants and food to die and rot over the course of 1 round of exposure to its aura. A soulphage vulture can also afflict creatures, preventing them from stabilizing or curing bleeding while in the aura. Even when not rotting objects, the visible unnatural presence can never be fully suppressed.
|san2=Deathwatch (Ex) |sad2=Soulphage vultures are under a constant extraordinary ''[[SRD:Deathwatch|deathwatch]]'' effect, with range limited only by their actual vision.  In addition they can identify a creature's exact HD and hp totals as a swift action out to 60 ft. When using this ability they have a +10 racial bonus to [[Spot]] checks.
|san3=Devour Soul (Ex) |sad3=As a standard action touch attack, the soulphage vultures can consume the soul of a creature which has perished within 10 minutes, storing it within themselves. They automatically do this as a free action with no touch attack if they are the one who slew the creature. A devoured soul remains with the soulphage vulture's body and the creature cannot be revived by anything short of ''[[SRD:True Resurrection|true resurrection]]'', ''[[SRD:Miracle|miracle]]'', ''[[SRD:Wish|wish]]'', or a ''[[SRD:Limited Wish|limited wish]]'' to release the soul followed by any valid revival attempt. Soulphage vultures may store souls in their body up to their HD or the HD of the creature of the absorbed soul, whichever is lower. Soulphage vultures eventually digest their souls, rendering recovery nearly impossible short of ''[[SRD:Miracle|miracle]]'' or ''[[SRD:Wish|wish]]'' to restore the soul itself. When they have devoured a soul, soulphage vultures may decide to consume a soul immediately (free action) to heal themselves by 1d6 per HD of the consumed soul. Excessive healing transforms into temporary hit points that last one minute per Wisdom modifier (these temporary hit points don't stack together).
|san4=Spirit Plumage (Ex) |sad4=Soulphages vultures imbue their feathers with the strength of souls, adding their Wisdom modifier to their AC as a deflection bonus. This effect extends to their natural weapons, which are capable of hitting incorporeal and ethereal creatures with no miss chance, and count as magical.
|san5=Soul Regurgitation (Su) |sad5=As a standard action, a soulphage vulture may eject one stored soul from its body as a ranged touch attack with 30 ft. (9 meters) of range that deals 1d8 of damage to the target per each HD the soul has. They may eject more souls with the same action up to the HD limit. The ejected soul, or souls, is then freed. Soulphage vultures usually have 1d6-3 (minimum 1) souls already stored within themselves. This attack doesn't suffer from the miss chance associated with incorporeal and ethereal creatures.
|san6=Soulless (Ex) |sad6=Soulphage vultures have no souls themselves, and thus are immune to any effect which would transfer their soul elsewhere or possess the soulphage vulture (even through ''[[SRD:Magic Jar|magic jar]]'').
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}}
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===Strategies and Tactics===

Soulphage vultures fly using their ''deathwatch'' ability and vision to locate corpses, dying creatures and any violent event about to occur or occurring. After that, they fly in circle above the scene, either analyzing the situation or waiting for someone to die. When they feel sure, they descend and approach the dead or dying creatures. They then feed on their souls or finish them first. They prefer to avoid direct conflict, but may decide to attack wounded opponents or those that block them from reaching their target, especially if particurally hungry. If forced to fight they try to maintain the distance, either regurgitating souls or using their flyby attack technique, while trying to isolate their targets or to bring them away from the corpses. If they see a dying enemy, they try to swiftly kill it to absorb its soul immediately. If satisified or overwhelmed, they usually retreat flying.
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===Ecology===

'''Environment:'''

Soulphage vultures live in any open environment where creatures die often, mainly deserted places (both hot and cold) and mountains, or mystical locations where death usually occurs.

'''Typical Physical Characteristics:'''

They resemble vultures, with feathers going from brown to grey to black, their heads naked and white, with skull-like markings, and black feet with metallic-looking talons. Their heads are covered by a misty hood-like aura. They also have a collar of ethereal, light blue plumes, which are present even on the edge of their wings and tail. These plumes release a faint mist when the creature is healthy and well fed.

'''Alignment:'''

Always neutral evil.

===Lore===

Their origin is currently uncertain, but scholars believe them to be natural vultures corrupted by necromantic energy, gathered by eating undead meat. Some clerics and religious figures believe them to be avatar or messengers of gods of death, whether they believe this to be for the better or not. They feed on the soulforce of the dying or those that are just dead. Where the souls they absorb go is debated: some think they utterly consume them while others say that only a fraction of the spirit is devoured and the soul is allowed to go to their afterlife. Some cultures consider them to be psychopomp animals, needed for the spirits to travel to the land of the dead.

===Society===

They live solitary lives for the most part, but their search for souls makes them often come together, usually resulting in temporary alliances. Some of these unions may last longer, if their participants are willing. They can speak but they aren't very talkative.
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===Typical Treasure===

They don't usually bring anything along, though adventurers may follow them to find dead bodies to loot.
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===Creatures As Characters===

===Creatures With Class Levels===-->
===Advanced Creatures===

'''[[Soulphage Vulture (3.5e Monster)/Soulphage Vulture Reaper|Soulphage Vulture Reaper]]'''

'''[[Soulphage Vulture (3.5e Monster)/Soulphage Vulture Psychopomp|Soulphage Vulture Psychopomp]]'''

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{{3.5e Monsters Breadcrumb}}
[[Category:3.5e]]
[[Category:User]]
[[Category:Monster]]
[[Subtype::Living Dead]]
{{Navboxes}}
Author	the bluez in the dungeon +
Challenge Rating	4 +
Identifier	3.5e Monster +
Name	Soulphage Vulture +
Rating	Unrated +
Size	Medium +
Subtype	Living Dead + and Living Dead +
Summary	A terrible undead vulture which feeds on souls +
Title	Soulphage Vulture +
Type	Undead +