Monster: Grimsong

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Grimsong
This gray-skinned, desiccated corpse still wears courtly clothes and a flamboyant hat with a plume, while its mouth are held open in a wordless scream.

CR 5; XP 1,200
NE Medium Undead
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +11
Aura song of doom (60 ft.)

Defense
AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +4 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 59 (7d8+28); fast healing 5
Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +8
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4; Immune deafness, undead traits
Weakness vulnerable to sonic

Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 claws +9 (1d6+4)
Special Attacks infectious melody, piercing note

Statistics
Str 18, Dex 18, Con —, Int 15, Wis 13, Cha 17
Base Atk +5; CMB +9; CMD 23
Feats Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Toughness
Skills Acrobatics +11, Intimidate +13, Knowledge (arcana) +12, Knowledge (religion) +12, Perception +11, Perform (sing) +18; Racial Modifiers +8 Perform (sing)
Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Common

Ecology
Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, choir (3–12)
Treasure standard

Infectious Melody (Su) When a grimsong is destroyed, its final wailing infects all living beings within 60 feet who hear it, passing the grimsong curse onto them. Infected sapient creatures capable of singing are seemingly perfectly fine most of the time, though when they sing, they always issue the damned, wordless song of the grimsongs instead of whatever composition they attempted to sing. When they die, they rise as grimsongs themselves 1d4 hours after death, unless their corpses are destroyed or kept within consecrated or hallowed area. Non-sapient beings that are capable of producing sounds occasionally issue howls or wails in weak attempt to sing and when they die they spread the infectious melody with their last breath, but don't animate as grimsongs themselves. Creatures incapable of issuing sounds are still infected but they won't reanimate or pass the infection unless somehow given ability to sing, howl or otherwise produce sound in controlled manner. This is a curse effect that can be removed with break enchantment, dispel evil, or remove curse  (DC 10 + the HD of the grimsong that infected them).

Piercing Note (Su) Once every 1d4 rounds, a grimsong can focus its song into a destructive beam, dealing 6d6 sonic damage within 60 feet line, or half on a successful Will saving throw (DC 16). Creatures that fail their saving throw are staggered for one round. Piercing note is blocked by silence effects but acts on them as dispel magic with caster level equal to grimsong's HD. Any creature reduced to 0 hit points that survives is affected by the grimsong's infectious melody. The saving throw DC of this sonic effect is Charisma-based.

Song Of Doom (Su) A grimsong is constantly wailing a wordless song that twists and erodes morale and emotional guidance. All penalties bestowed by fear, despair, morale, and other emotion effects are doubled. Any morale bonuses, and other bonuses bestowed by emotion or sonic effects become penalties.

Vulnerable To Sonic (Su) A grimsong suffers +50% damage from sonic effects.


The first grimsong was a highly talented bard whose last and greatest creation was a melody so grim, so tragic, it captured essence of despair, voiding hope and light. The melody took over, turning the unfortunate artist into a mere shell for it, a vessel to spread it among entities capable of repeating it, until it would be sung by all the voices in the world heralding the end of time.

Grimsongs are haunted beings, constantly humming the dreaded song and seeking more and more vessels for it. Despite their cunning, they have little concern for their well-being, for they know their destruction will spread the grimsong as well as their continued existence.