Heart ThiefDozens of antlers crown this slender biped’s masked head. Its wicked claws clutch a bloodstained sack.Heart Thief CR 9Source Seers of the Drowned City pg. 57
XP 6,400
CE Large outsider (chaotic, evil, native)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +19DefenseAC 24, touch 12, flat-footed 21 (+3 Dex, +12 natural, –1 size)
hp 115 (12d10+48)
Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +12
DR 10/silver; Immune disease, fire, poison, fear; Resist acid 10, cold 10; SR 20OffenseSpeed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee 2 claws +17 (1d8+6/19–20 plus grab), gore +17 (2d6+6)
Space 10 ft., Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks disemboweling critical, harvest heart, rend (2 claws, 2d6+6)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9th; concentration +14)
Constant—pass without trace, speak with animals
At will—atavism (DC 19), dominate animal (DC 18), transport via plants (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only)
3/day—air walk, snare, spike stones (DC 19), summon nature’s ally VII (animals only)
1/day—summon (level 3, 1 baykok 35%)StatisticsStr 23, Dex 16, Con 19, Int 17, Wis 18, Cha 20
Base Atk +12; CMB +19; CMD 32
Feats Blind-Fight, Combat Casting, Improved Critical (claws), Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Vital Strike
Skills Bluff +20, Climb +14, Craft (trap) +18, Handle Animal +20, Knowledge (nature) +18, Perception +19, Sense Motive +19, Spellcraft +18, Stealth +14, Survival +19
Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Common, Druidic, Sylvan; speak with animalsEcologyEnvironment any forest
Organization solitary, pair, or hunt (3-5)
Treasure standardSpecial AbilitiesDisemboweling Critical (Ex) When a heart thief confirms a critical hit with a claw, the target must succeed at a DC 22 Fortitude save or take 1d4 points of Constitution damage as its organs are savaged (this ability damage counts as precision damage). The save DC is Strength-based.
Harvest Heart (Ex) Once a heart thief has pinned a Medium or smaller living creature, it can attempt to rip the creature’s still-beating heart from its chest. This attempt is made as part of the grapple check to maintain an existing pin, and if successful, it deals 4d6+12 points of damage to the target and affects the target with the heart thief’s disemboweling critical. If this damage kills the creature, as a free action, the heart thief harvests the extracted heart and places it in the bloodstained sack it carries, gaining the benefit of a heal spell (CL 9th) in the process. The save DC is Strength-based.DescriptionOriginally created by Curchanus as both shepherds and stewards for his many animals, these creatures were corrupted by Lamashtu when she slew their god. Their true name and purpose abandoned, they have existed from that point on as heart thieves, tormenters of the deep forest who enjoy slaughtering any who dare wander their woods.
A heart thief follows its prey from afar, harassing its targets for days or even weeks at a time. Only once its quarry is exhausted from unprovoked animal attacks and waylaid by snares and traps will a heart thief make itself known, attacking with a company of feral beasts. Lone hunters slain by a heart thief often rise as baykoks after enduring painful torments.
Those who manage to flee are fortunate indeed, for those who remain are subjected to the heart thief ’s curious and horrific practice of harvesting organs from sentient creatures. What heart thieves do with these macabre collections remains a mystery, but it’s agreed that they are not used for consumption, for the most prolific heart thieves carry multiple sacks, each stuffed to bursting with rotting hearts.
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