AkaruzugThis stony guardian has been sculpted in the shape of a grim, horned angel, and a crucified corpse has been affixed to its chest.Akaruzug CR 15Source Curse of the Crimson Throne (PFRPG) pg. 466, Pathfinder #12: Crown of Fangs pg. 82
XP 51,200
LE Large construct
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +24
Aura unhallow (40 ft.)DefenseAC 30, touch 16, flat-footed 27 (+4 deflection, +3 Dex, +14 natural, –1 size)
hp 220 (20d10+110)
Fort +8, Ref +11, Will +10
Defensive Abilities soul shield; DR 15/bludgeoning and good; Immune construct traitsOffenseSpeed fly 40 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 claws +27 (2d6+8/19–20), gore +27 (2d8+8/19–20), 2 wings +22 (1d8+4)
Space 10 ft., Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks soul steel
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 20th; concentration +24)
Constant—unhallow
1/day—soul slaveStatisticsStr 26, Dex 17, Con —, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 19
Base Atk +20; CMB +29; CMD 46
Feats Ability Focus (soul steal), Blinding Critical, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (claws), Improved Critical (gore), Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack
Skills Fly +32, Knowledge (religion) +22, Perception +24, Sense Motive +24
Languages Infernal
SQ soul engineEcologyEnvironment any ruins
Organization solitary
Treasure incidentalSpecial AbilitiesSoul Engine (Su) An akaruzug draws the energy it requires to function from a living creature crucified upon its frame. An active akaruzug (or another creature working with an inactive akaruzug) can spend 1 minute to bind a helpless or willing creature to the construct. Once the victim is restrained, the akaruzug can attempt to draw the creature’s soul into it once per round as a free action— the victim can resist with a successful DC 24 Will save. On a failure, the victim dies and the akaruzug becomes active. If the body crucified upon an active akaruzug is removed, the soul within the construct is freed and the akaruzug deactivates after 1d4 rounds. An akaruzug’s victim cannot be resurrected while its soul is trapped within the construct, but destroying an akaruzug releases a trapped soul. While an akaruzug is active, attacks and effects directed specifically at the victim crucified to the akaruzug treat the attack or effect as if it targeted the akaruzug instead. However, a creature can attempt to remove a crucified body from the construct, but doing so first requires the creature to successfully pin the akaruzug. Once this occurs, the creature can attempt a combat maneuver check to wrench the body free. On a success, the corpse is removed and the akaruzug deactivates in 1d4 rounds. A deactivated akaruzug can take no action other than to attempt to draw in the soul of a creature crucified on its body to reactivate itself. It does not have an Intelligence score while deactivated, nor does it gain the benefit of any of its feats or skill ranks. It can’t fly or move at all, and loses all benefits of its soul shield defensive ability. It retains its lawful evil alignment while deactivated. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Soul Shield (Ex) As long as an akaruzug is active, it gains bonus hit points equal to its Charisma modifier × its Hit Dice (80 hit points for a typical akaruzug), and gains a deflection bonus equal to its Charisma modifier to its Armor Class (+4 for a typical akaruzug).
Soul Slave (Sp) Using a trapped soul, an akaruzug can manifest a ghostly representation of its victim to attack its enemies. A soul slave appears as the akaruzug’s victim did in life and wields a weapon favored by that individual, but otherwise functions as per spiritual ally cast by a 20thlevel caster (and, as such, has an attack of +24/+19/+14/+9 and deals 1d10+5 points of force damage on a hit).
Soul Steal (Su) An akaruzug can draw additional soul energy into itself. Once every 1d4 rounds, the construct can unleash a blast of soul essence that seeks to flense the life force of any living creature within a 20-foot burst. Any living creature in this area must succeed at a DC 24 Fortitude save or gain 1d4 negative levels. A victim can remove those negative levels 24 hours later with a successful DC 24 Fortitude save. Each time an akaruzug successfully uses this ability, it regains a number of hit points equal to 5 times the number of creatures successfully affected by soul steal (regardless of how many negative levels any one creature suffers). The save DC is Charisma-based.
Unhallow (Sp) An akaruzug emanates a 40-foot aura of unholy energy, as per unhallow. The construct’s creator determines what, if any, additional spell effects are tied to the akaruzug’s unhallow aura at the time of its creation. The construct benefits from any spell effects tied to its unhallow aura. Common choices are darkness, detect good, freedom of movement, and invisibility purge. If this effect is dispelled and the akaruzug uses the spell-like ability to reactivate the effect, it also reactivates the associated spell effect (if any) set by its creator.DescriptionAkaruzugs are blasphemous constructs coveted by those who revel in the torment of their victims. Crafted in the appearance of grim, towering angels and creatures of warped beauty, these creations stand in mockery of light, life, and all that is good. By their very existence— powered by souls trapped in torment—they spread death and despair.
Most akaruzugs are 15 feet tall or larger, and weigh upward of 3 tons, depending on the materials used in their creation.EcologyTo create an akaruzug, a powerful warrior is entombed alive within a massive sculpture of lead, granite, or iron. As the statue’s shape is refined and empowered—a process involving the efforts of a skilled artisan and a magic-user adept at channeling diabolical powers—the warrior inside slowly expires, her weakening screams and futile struggles resounding through the sculpture. The statue is then bathed in hellfire, a process that reduces the body inside into a substance similar to packed ash. These remains and the magic woven over the construct prevent the escape of the lingering soul within. At this point, the akaruzug’s “soul engine” is complete, but the construct still requires further spirit energy to become fully active. A second infusion of stolen life force activates the akaruzug, causing it to rise into the air and spread its profane aura.
With their ominous shapes, their unsettling abilities, and the corpse displayed upon their breasts, akaruzugs are often used as terrifying messengers, blasphemous retaliations against those who would stand against the constructs’ creator. When the Taldan knight Arstlan besieged the tower of Vodcross— the home of the cruel wizard Cheseive, Poison Lady of Ganholm—he was not heard from for weeks. He reemerged crucified upon the breast of a serpentwinged akaruzug bearing his face. The thing laid waste to Ganholm, and hovered soundlessly above the ruins for 13 years before finally being felled by the adventurers known as the Order of Vermilion.Habitat and SocietyEven though they have intellects, akaruzugs have no society of their own. They are used to spread the dark works of devils and further diabolical agendas. Due to the cruelty required to create an akaruzug, becoming the master of one of these fiendish creations is in itself a damning act. As the plans for creating these creatures are well documented in the libraries of Hell, conniving devils often assure that these formulas fall into the hands of cruel, ambitious, and desperate spellcasters in answer to their vile wishes.ConstructionAn akaruzug is created from a 15-foot-tall hollow statue of a fallen angel. More than 6,000 pounds of stone and iron are used in its creation, along with rare infernal admixtures and agents costing at least 15,000 gp.
Akaruzug CL 15th; Price 160,000 gp
Construction Requirements Craft Construct, enervation, magic jar, unhallow, willing or helpless humanoid sacrifice, creator must be caster level 15th; Skill Craft (armor) or Craft (sculpture) DC 24; Cost 87,500 gp
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