23,048
edits
Changes
→Combat
Vodnicis are not interested in direct combat. Instead they are opportunists and scavengers, picking up the bodies of the dead and using them to interact with others socially, tricking them out of their funds, their hopes, and their souls. Thus most encounters are of a skill challenge variety, with moth vodnicis retreating if encountering real danger.
'''Deadly Game {{Su}}:''' The vodnici is a master of trickery, using games to steal souls. A vodnici (usually wearing the corpse of another, see Puppet Corpse) can challenge a target to a game with the reward for winning being the opponent's soul, usually in exchange of some favor. If the target agrees to the terms of the game the deadly game begins, and the vodnici proves to be abnormally lucky in its challenge. It rolls twice and takes the higher result in any opposed checks required, and has a minimum +8 (before ability modifiers) to any skill checks required for the purpose of games. It is compelled to follow through with the terms of the game should it fail. If it succeeds, it steals the target soul leaving the target in a lifeless coma which will eventually perish on its own. It also falls under a ''[[SRD:Sanctuary|sanctuary]]'' effect (DC 20) for 1 hour afterward as a counter to angry allies who may not agree to the terms of the game. The vodnici is not above cheating to win games if it can get away with it, but if it is caught it risks forfeiting the game, and vice versa.
'''Devour Soul {{Ex}}:''' As a standard action touch attack, the maita can consume the soul of a creature which has perished within 1 minute, 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 creature with a devoured soul cannot be revived by anything short of true resurrection, miracle, wish, or a limited wish to release the soul followed by any valid revival attempt. Unlike most maita, the death of the vodnici does not release the souls (see Soul Cup) except for the soul of whoever it is puppeting. Neither does the vodnici digest souls, instead hoarding them for all eternity in cups or its gullet.
