Vargouilles

Vargouilles are evil, extraplanar outsiders.

An outsider is at least partially composed of the essence (but not necessarily the material) of some plane other than the Material Plane. Some creatures start out as some other type and become outsiders when the attain a higher (or lower) state of spiritual existence.

Outsiders have darkvision.

Unlike most living creatures, an outsider does not have a dual nature - its soul and body form one unit. When an outsider is slain, no soul is set loose. Spells that restore souls to their bodies, such as raise dead, reincarnate, and resurrection, don't work on an outsider. It takes a different magical effect, such as limited wish, wish, miracle, or true resurrection to restore it to life. An outsider native to the Material Plane can be raised, reincarnated, or resurrected just as other living creatures can be.

Outsiders breathe, but do not need to eat or sleep (although they can do so if they wish). Outsiders native to the Material Plane breathe, eat, and sleep.

Vargouilles are outsiders native to the evil aligned outer planes. Evil outsiders are also called fiends. Most vargouilles also have evil alignments; however, if their alignments change, still any effect that depends on alignment affects a vargouille as if that vargouille has an evil alignment, no matter what its alignment actually is. A vargouille overcomes damage reduction as if its natural weapons and any weapon it wields are evil aligned.

Extraplanar creatures are any creatures when they are on a plane other than their native plane. A creature that travels the planes can gain or lose this quality as it goes from plane to plane. Creatures not considered as extraplanar are natives of the Material Plane, and they become extraplanar when they leave the Material Plane. No creature is considered extraplanar when it is on a transitive plane, such as the Astral Plane, the Ethereal Plane, or the Plane of Shadow.

A vargouille is larger than a human head, typically between 12 and 20 inches high with a 15- to 35-inch wingspan. Vargouilles are not natives of the Material Plane but can often be found there nevertheless, occupying graveyards, ancient battlefields, or anywhere one can find remnants of death and decay. These hideous monsters come from the fiendish outer planes, where they flop and flap through strange and haunted skies in constant search of new souls to torment. In these nightmare realms, vargouilles play roles similar to that of a raven or vulture, although they augment these roles with a malevolent delight in causing pain and anguish no scavenger bird could ever hope to match.

A vargouille can poison those it attacks with its bite. Poisons can be removed through neutralize poison and similar effects.

Vargouilles attack by swooping in on their opponents, shrieking them into paralysis, and then biting them with rows of razor-sharp teeth. When multiple vargouilles take on a common cause and fight as allies, they overwhelm their victim with bites and shrieks, tearing it to shreds.

Instead of biting, a vargouille can open its distended mouth to shriek. Those near (except other vargouilles) who hear the shriek and can clearly see the creature may be paralyzed for a while or until the monster attacks them, goes out of range, or leaves their sight. A creature that resists a vargouille's shriek cannot be affected by the same vargouille's shriek for a day.

A vargouille's low power and hideous method of reproduction make for a dangerous combination. Vargouilles are relatively easy to summon to the Material Plane, and once here, they can swiftly reproduce, creating more and more of their hideous kind from those who fall victim to their kiss. Vaargouilles created on the Material Plane in this manner are still extraplanar creatures, and as such can be banished with the right magic.

A vargouille can kiss a helpless target. A kissed opponent may begin a terrible transformation that changes the creature into a vargouille within a day (and often much sooner). First, over a period of hours, all the victim's hair falls out. Within hours thereafter, the ears grow into leathery wings, tentacles sprout on the chin and scalp, and the teeth become long, pointed fangs. During the next hours, the victim's intellect and personality are drained. The transformation is complete hours thereafter, when the victim's head breaks free of the body (which promptly dies) and becomes a vargouille. This transformation's progress is paused by sunlight or any light spell of 3rd level or higher, but stopping the transformation requires remove disease or a similar effect. The transformation is a disease effect.

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