#raw nerve

Here's a new conversion from me! The Book of the Dead contains some pretty interesting critters, but this one was particularly fun and appealing to me. I tried to convert it as faithfully as possible, while at the same time trying to inject some of my own ideas into it. Not sure how well that turned out... but I still hope you will like it! Enjoy!

RAW NERVE

Image (c) Paizo Publishing. Accessed at theARchives of Nethys here

RAW NERVE

A disembodied brain floats eerily towards you, with a network of nerves trailing behind it, crackling with electricity and morbidly parodying a humanoid form.

RAW NERVE CR 8

XP 4’800

NE Medium Undead

Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., thoughtsense; Perception +18

DEFENSE

AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural)

hp 90 (12d8+36)

Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +11

Damage Reduction 10 / slashing; Immune electricity, undead traits

Weakness vulnerable to sonic

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., float

Melee 2 nerve lashes +12 (1d8+1 plus 1d6 electricity and involuntary reaction) or 2 nerve strokes +12 contact (2d6 electricity and involuntary reaction)

Special Attacks accelerating inquest, involuntary reaction, synaptic overload

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 19, Con -, Int 20, Wis 16, Cha 15

Base Atk +8; CMB +9; CMD 23

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Lunge, Piranha Strike, Toughness, Weapon Finesse

Skills Climb +16, Heal +15, Intimidate +17, Knowledge (any one) +20, Knowledge (religion) +20, Perception +18, Sense Motive +18, Spellcraft +20, Stealth +19

Languages Common, Necril (cannot speak); telepathy 100 ft.

Special Qualities float

ECOLOGY

Environment any underground

Organization solitary or pair

Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Accelerating Inquest (Su) As a swift action once per round, a raw nerve can mentally probe a single creature within 100 feet. The creature must make a Will saving throw (DC 21). On a failure, its superficial thoughts are revealed to the raw nerve, which gains a +2 circumstance bonus to its AC and its attack rolls against that particular creature for the duration of 1 round. A creature immune to or warded against mind-reading (for example, with spells such as enshroud thoughts or thought shield) is immune to this ability. The save DC is Intelligence-based.

Float (Ex) A raw nerve floats a few inches off the ground. It ignores difficult terrain.

Involuntary Reaction (Su) A creature that takes electricity damage from a raw nerve must make a Fortitude save (DC 18) or become staggered with muscle spasms and unable to make attacks of opportunity for 1d4 rounds. Multiple failed saving throws prolong the duration of this effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Synaptic Overload (Su) Once every 1d4+1 rounds, a raw nerve may release a burst of mental energy in a 30-foot cone, dealing 4d8 damage to each creature in the cone. Each target may halve the damage taken with a successful Will saving throw (DC 18), but if the saving throw is failed by 5 or more, the creature is also stunned for 1 round in addition to taking damage. A creature immune to or warded against mind-reading gains a +4 circumstance bonus on this saving throw and cannot be stunned by this ability. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Thoughtsense (Su) A raw nerve is constantly under the effects of athoughtsense spell. This ability cannot be dispelled.

A raw nerve is a peculiar kind of undead that is sometimes birthed when a humanoid creature is killed by electricity and subsequently exposed to a large amount of negative energy. Usually, this means that the victim is killed by a powerful electricity-based spell or by a freak lightning, but in some technologically advanced regions, a raw nerve may also result out of an electrocuting accident – though such cases are exceedingly rare. In any event, a combination of electricity and negative energy takes possession of the victim’s nerve system and cause sit to wrench free of the body, creating a furious, tormented undead horror.

A raw nerve is irretrievably insane. Although these creatures possess superhuman intelligence, their psychic senses are overstimulated by the mere presence of sapient creatures. While a raw nerve does not go out of its way to hunt and kill the living, it perceives other living creatures’ thoughts as a chaotic jumble that causes it pain and discomfort, and it seeks to regain its peace and quiet by destroying the source of its torment. Once a raw nerve has destroyed all living beings in its proximities, it resumes its quiescence, sitting in midair in a meditating pose, but any similar disturbance will rile it up and turn it murderous once again. Constructs and other undead do not irritate a raw nerve in the same way – only living creatures trigger a raw nerve’s rage.

A raw nerve stands between 5 and 6 feet tall, but weighs very little compared to similarly sized creatures. Though it can communicate via telepathy, it rarely chooses to do so, making most attempts at diplomacy pointless.

ENHANCED RAW NERVE

A more powerful version of a raw nerve can be created when a creature is struck multiple times by lightning in a short period of time before dying. Raw nerves “born” in this way seem to appear and disappear at random intervals, like a flash of lightning during a storm. An enhanced raw nerve has the advanced simple template and the following special ability in addition to the ones standard to a raw nerve.

Rorschach “Raw Nerve”

• Protestant (1993)

Filmmaker: Let’s interview the producers...

Filmmaker: Yep, that's good footage of Eli Roth on set. Now for Boaz Yakin. 

Filmmaker: Ok, maybe a bit too close to Boaz, but still good. Scott Spiegel? 

Filmmaker: 

For most of my life, I saw my job as just making good choices. I was the decider, tasked with making the best selection from the options life presented. I could play with this friend or that one, go to this college or that one, take this job offer or the other one.

Even my problems I dealt with this way. If someone was annoying me, I’d choose to avoid them. If something was bugging me, I’d choose to stop thinking about it. I mostly kept my eyes on what was in front of me.