Pursuing immortality has long been a dream of Alchemists. The elixir of eternal life has proven to be a most tempting prize, leading to many squandering years of life and enormous sums in vain attempts to produce such an elixir. The Alchemists of Yi Fa are notorious for this, poisoning themselves with countless failed attempts at eternal life.
And while many Alchemists pursue immortality through the Philosopher's Stone, others find the pursuit of such a lofty ideal impractical or unnecessary. They will have plenty of time to discover how to turn lead into gold after they become immortal.
Yet despite their many failures at attaining immortality, that's not to say they have discovered nothing. No, those foreign Sages did discover a method of obtaining eternal life. It's just that the cost was too awful to bear...
Jiangshi are Undead, so resemble the people they were while alive, but with milky-white eyes, corpse pale complexions and the subtle whiff of decay. Despite their degraded state however they still take pride in their appearance, wearing fine clothes, brushing or oiling what hair they have left and often wearing floral perfumes to distract from their decrepit state. Some of them do choose to revel in their debased state, but just as many try to conceal it. Becoming Undead is only a bump in the road on the path of their true destiny, after all.
Undead: Undead do not feel pain or get tired. They are immune to poison and disease. They do not need to eat, sleep or breathe. Any spell that says "Undead" in its title or description is talking about something like this.
Sunlight Vulnerability: Sunlight Vulnerability: Undead take 1d6 radiant damage for every round they spend in sunlight.
Qi Drain: By touching a creature, the Jiangshi can cause it to take 1d6 CON damage. This also causes the Jiangshi to regain 2 HP per point of CON drained. If this attack reduces a creature to 0 CON, the creature dies. CON lost to this ability occurs at a rate of 1 point per day.
Stiffening Flesh: Jiangshi's bodies drain of qi, causing them to suffer from rigor mortis. To compensate for this, they must regularly drain qi. The longer a Jiangshi goes without draining qi, the stiffer their movements get until they can only hop along with arms extended out rigidly.
To customize a Jiangshi, roll on the tables below:
How was it created?
1d4
1- It was raised through dark sorcery. The Jiangshi was raised by another and bound as a servant. There is a scroll attached somewhere on it's body. If the scroll is destroyed, the Jiangshi will no longer be compelled to obey the one who raised it.
2- It was a Spirit that refused to rest, still inhabiting it's dead body. The Jiangshi was born of obsession and wishes to continue it's mad quest it had while still alive. If it sees some sign of it's obsession, it must succeed on a morale check or immediately move to investigate it.
3- It is a corpse possessed by an Evil Spirit. All Jiangshi are evil, but most are at least focused. This one lashes out at any who are nearby or bother it for petty reasons. This Jiangshi also counts as an Outsider for the purposes of spells and vulnerabilities. For example, it could be exorcised and banished from the physical plane, leaving behind an empty corpse.
4- It was created by a dark sorcerer, who became one in order to live forever. The sorcerer had some scheme before he passed and he wasn't going to let something as petty as death stand in his way. The sorcerer created an anchor for himself when he chose to become a Jiangshi. This anchor is some sort of physical object that he must keep near him, or perhaps he cannot go too far from it? As long as that anchor remains, he cannot truly die, his body instead reconstituting itself in his grave. But if it were to be destroyed, he would immediately perish.
How powerful is it?
If created to be a slave, it has 1 Dark Power. It has 1 Curse of the Wretched placed upon it, for it's unnatural existence.
If born of obsession and by a soul refusing to rest, it possesses 1d3 Dark Powers. It suffers from 2 Curses of the Wretched.
If possessed by an Evil Spirit, it has 1d3+1 Dark Powers. It suffers from 1d3 Curses of the Wretched.
If it was a mortal who chose this, it has 1d4+1 Dark Powers. It suffers from 1d3+1 Curses of the Wretched.
Dark Powers:
1d8
1- Levitation. As a free action on it's turn, the Jiangshi can levitate into the air and hover. It can do this as much as it wants. It's speed while levitating is double it's ordinary speed.
2- Raise those killed by Qi Drain as Undead under your control. Those drained of their Qi are raised by the Jiangshi as 1 HD Undead which obey the Jiangshi perfectly.
3- Mesmerize People. By meeting the eyes of a creature, the Jiangshi can force that creature to save. On a failed save, the creature falls into a hypnotized state and will become very vulnerable to suggestion. They will not do anything against their moral code, but are much easier to convince. If attacked, damaged, shaken or slapped, they can easily snap out of this state.
4- Shapeshift. The Jiangshi can change shape, taking the form of any Small or Medium creature. However, regardless of what form it takes, it's stats and abilities remain the same.
5- Walk through walls. The Jiangshi can, as an action, become immaterial. While in this state, it can pass through purely physical objects as if they weren't there. It could pass through a stone wall, but not a person, as a person has a spiritual aspect.
6- Summon Beasts. 1/Day, the Jiangshi can summon 1dX [1= A Swarm of insects; 2= A Mischief (Swarm) of rats; 3= A Tiger; 4= A Bask of crocodiles (1d4+1).]
7- Paralyzing Venom. The Jiangshi can, as an action, spit paralyzing venom. A creature must save or be hit by this venom. When affected by this venom, a creature can only take one action on his turn- which includes moving. So if he moves and tries to do anything else, he takes 1d6 DEX damage. If this reduces his DEX to 0, he is totally paralyzed for one hour. Once used, this ability takes 1d4 rounds to recharge. If you have a shield or a face-covering helmet, you have advantage on your save.
8- Turn invisible. The Jiangshi can turn invisible as a free action on it's turn. It remains invisible until it does something strenuous, uses one of it's Dark Powers or attacks. Cats and dogs can still detect them while invisible.
Curse of the Wretched:
1d8
1- It is terrified of their own reflection. If presented with it's own reflection, the Jiangshi must make a morale check. On a failed check, it becomes frightened and must either flee or try to destroy the image (whatever is easier). If invisible, a Jiangshi can also be seen in a mirror.
2- It is repelled by elements of the Peach Tree (wood, leaves, branches, blossoms). If presented with an item freshly taken from a peach tree, with the exception of wood, the Jiangshi must make a morale check or become frightened and flee. Weapons made of peach tree wood also do +1 damage per die to a Jiangshi.
3- Roosters and their calls. When it hears a rooster's call, the Jiangshi must make a morale check or flee. This is because it fears the sunlight and since roosters usually crow at dawn, it will flee back to it's hiding place.
4- Dry rice. If dry rice is scattered at it's feet, the Jiangshi must make a morale save. On a failed save, it will try to drain the miniscule amount of Qi in each uncooked grain of rice. This will distract it temporarily, though it will still notice obvious attacks or traps while this is happening.
5- Jujube Seeds. If driven into the flesh of a Jiangshi, Jujube seeds suck out excess Qi, leaving it frail and weak, as if it had not drained Qi in days.
6- Vinegar. Vinegar is revolting to Jiangshi- if faced with it, the Jiangshi must make a morale check or leave the area, until they can no longer smell it.
7- Donkey Hooves. Jiangshi cannot affect those with strong wills, so anyone carrying a donkey hoof or an amulet of donkey bones will have advantage on any save against their powers.
8- Blood of a Black Dog. This applies to dogs with black fur and
Black Dogs. If the former is splashed onto a Jiangshi, the blood of a black-furred dog will prevent the Jiangshi from turning invisible. If the blood of a Black Dog is splashed onto a Jiangshi, it burns it as holy water (2d6 damage) and will prevent it from using any of it's Dark Powers for 1d4 rounds.
Treasure of the Jiangshi:
1d6
1- Alchemical Research Supplies. Books, vials, beakers and expensive glassware, plus a stockpile of rare ingredients to mix into
potions or to combine to create new
polymaterials.
2- Books and Arcane Tomes for the
summoning and
binding of Demons and evil spirits.
3- A big pile of gold, silver, coins or other valuables. The Jiangshi may be using this treasure to fund it's research, or it may be guarding these valuable materials for some other reason.
4- A stockpile of potions. The Jiangshi has 1d10 minor (weaker) potions and 1d4 major (stronger) potions.
5- Books and scrolls relating to Necromancy and the manipulation of Undead. Also includes 1d20 corpses, preserved against decay using some method, magical or otherwise.
6- Failed Immortality Potions. Many Jiangshi still pursue immortality, as they find their current state to be pathetic and painful. Roll on the table below to see how their latest batch of potions turned out. Regardless of the result rolled below, you find 1d6+1 of the following type of Elixir below.
Failed Elixirs of Immortality:
1d6
1- It's black and bubbling and looks utterly toxic. If you drink it, take 3d6 CON damage. If this reduces you to 0 CON, you die in agony and your corpse dissolves from the inside out. If thrown into someone's face, it works as a flask of acid.
2- It smells of cherry blossoms and sunlight and looks like a frothy pink drink. If you drink it, you will be poisoned, taking 1 CON damage for 2d6+2 days. If this reduces you to 0 CON, you die. This elixir's effect can be canceled by using an anti-poison remedy.
3- It's clear and crackling with mana. It tastes like bitterly cold spring water. When consumed, it floods the drinker's mana channels with energy, instantly restoring all their FS and giving them +2d6 FS as temporary HP for 1 hour. Additionally, if the drinker has the ability to cast spells, he must save or cast the first spell he has prepared. If using a free-form system, he auto-casts a spell relating to the first idea he has.
4- It's bright green and smells like sap. If drank, it will "heal" all your wounds by filling in the gap with bark, restoring you to full HP and decreasing your DEX by -1d4. Each day from this point it reduces your DEX by 1. If this DEX damage reduces you to 0, you become a living and conscious, but entirely immobile tree. You also can't talk to anyone, as you don't have lips or a mouth anymore.
5- It's bright red and smells like blood and damp earth. If drank, it restores 1d20+2 HP/FS. If you have any lost appendages, they have a 50% of regenerating as extra muscular replacements that are covered in red scales.
6- It's the color of silver, but more viscous. Smells metallic and tastes awful. It's actually just lightly enchanted mercury. If consumed, you take 2d6 poison damage, save for half.
Plot Hooks:
1d8
1- A Jiangshi has recruited a group of bandits to help him perfect his immortality elixir by kidnapping people to act as test subjects for this latest experiments. He has promised them immortality in exchange for their service. Whether or not they believe him, they still fear his power and will obey him.
2- A Jiangshi has joined forces with a criminal syndicate to help them with heists, in exchange for them stealing rare and valuable ingredients he needs for his alchemical research.
3- An evil sorcerer or Alchemist has raised a corpse as a Jiangshi, binding the soul of the deceased as his slave. He is using the Jiangshi to assist him in his current evil scheme, grave-robbing and studying the effects of dark magic on the dead. The party is hired to investigate the thefts and find out what is going on.
4- A group of grave-robbers have recently switched from robbing the dead to selling fresh corpses stolen from graves and hopsices to the local Wizarding College, who has need of such things for surely not awful reasons. However, they have recently found the supply of fresh corpses to be much diminished (see above). They decide instead to kill that group of weirdos who just rolled into town and sell their bodies instead. One is a Wizard, that'll surely get them extra.
5- As above, except the grave-robbers do not think they can kill the players, so they try to get the party to investigate the graveyard thefts so they can go back to robbing graves in peace.
6- In one of the less reputable districts of the city, a rash of strange mutations and magical maladies is occurring. The party is hired to investigate this and find out who is responsible. The priests suspect cultists- in reality, it is a Jiangshi, trying out some large scale experimentation to see what his latest concoction has on people.
7- The party are in a city under siege. The enemy Warlord is tired to waiting so he hires a Jiangshi to break into the city and poison the city's water supply so this interminable siege can finally come to an end. Unfortunately, the party find out about the Jiangshi before it can get to the water. They must stop it, before it's too late!
8- The local alchemist recently disappeared and the party are hired to find him. The last known clue was that he was apparently going to confront some huckster selling "elixirs of healing" in one of the city slums. The party's patron suspects criminal activity or perhaps the Alchemist is being held for ransom. Both of these are horribly wrong.
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