Fantasy Monster: Reverend Bastard

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Reverend Bastard

A withered cadaver in opulent priestly robes sits on a hovering throne.

CR 14; XP 38,400

LE Medium Undead

Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +28

Aura unholy aura (20 ft.)

Defense
AC 29, touch 19, flat-footed 29 (+5 armor, +4 deflection, +5 insight, +5 natural)
hp 210 (20d8+120)
Fort +15; Ref +15; Will +23

Defensive Qualities channel resistance +4, unholy providence; DR 10/good; Immune undead traits; SR 25 against good spells and good spellcasters

Offense
Speed fly 20 ft. (perfect)

Special Attacks channel negative energy 10d6 (DC 27), spiritual weapon (+20/+15/+10, 1d8+5 force, 19–20/×2 or ×3)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 20th, concentration +25)

Constant—spiritual weapon (60 ft. range), unholy aura

Statistics
Str 10, Dex 10, Con —, Int 15, Wis 21, Cha 21
Base Atk +15; CMB +15; CMD 39 (can't be tripped)

Feats Channel Surge, Command Undead, Defensive Combat Training, Improved Channel, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Persuasive, Selective Channeling, Selfish Channel, Toughness

Skills Fly +31, Diplomacy +29, Intimidation +32, Knowledge (religion) +25, Perception +28, Spellcraft +25

SQ ecclesiastic council

Ecology
Environment urban, ruins
Organization solitary, pair, or conclave (3–12)
Treasure standard

Channel Negative Energy (Su) A reverend bastard's heart is a conduit for negative energy, allowing him to channel negative energy at will as 20th level cleric. Channel Surge permits the reverend bastard to use it as a full-round action and increase its effect by 50%, and when he uses negative energy to heal himself and only himself (either because there are no other Undead in range, or he excluded all of them with Selective Channeling). Both of those increases can stack for +100% healing.

Ecclesiastic Council (Su) A reverend bastard can use Aid Another action to provide advice to a divine caster serving the same power, deity, religion, or pantheon, granting +1 bonus to caster level of the next divine spell the recipient starts to cast before the start of the reverend bastard's turn. The reverend bastard needs to keep taking Aid Another action until the spell casting is finished. Bonus granted by multiple reverend bastards stacks. Additionally, reverend bastards can grant stacking +1 bonus to skill checks made as a part of performing occult rituals, though because of their corrupted state, they can't perform occult rituals themselves.

Unholy Providence (Su) A reverend bastard gains insight bonus to AC, Reflex saving throws, and initiative equal to his Wisdom bonus.

Reverend bastards in life held positions that tied spiritual and temporal power—they were bishops, abbots, influential royal clerics, king-priests, and theocrats of all sorts, and all of them succumbed to corruption, abusing their position, and their blessings for personal gain, vainglorious projects, and questionable goals.

Now, their wretched shells haunt the places of power they once held so tightly, often monuments to their very success, hubris, and corruption. Some manage to retain that power, usually covertly, but a rare few managed to keep their position openly, despite their death being publicly know.