Monday, February 29, 2016

Monster Monday: Valraven, the Soul-Eating Raven Wolf

Today's Monster Monday is the valraven, a half-wolf/half-raven beast from Danish mythology that stalks charnel grounds and eats souls, because it turns out that Scandinavians have always been pretty metal.


In Bestiary 5 there is a monster called a vilderavn which is based on one variant of this mythical creature.  The vilderavn is a shapeshifting fey raven knight, but one of the forms it can take (only briefly mentioned) is that of a raven/wolf hybrid.  Honestly, I was more interested in that raven/wolf creature than I was in the fey raven knight, so I had to stat it up.  My valraven is a CR 6 monster, meaning it will likely be of more use to the GM than the CR 16 vilderavn.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2016 Jonah Bomgaars.


Valraven       CR 6
XP 2,400
NE Large magical beast
Init +7; Senses deathwatch, low-light vision, scent, see in darkness, true seeing; Perception +14
Aura bleeding aura (DC 17), frightful presence (30 ft. DC 17; shaken 1d4 rounds)
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+7 natural, +3 Dex, -1 size)
hp 76 (8d10+32)
Fort +10, Ref +9, Will +7
Immune death effects, disease
Defensive Abilities negative energy affinity
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)
Melee bite +12 (1d8+4 plus 1d6 bleed/18-20), 2 claws +11 (1d6+4)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks devour soul
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th)
   constant – deathwatch, freedom of movement, speak with animals (wolves and ravens only), true seeing
   at will – cause fear (DC 14), doom (DC 14), putrefy food and drink, suggestion (DC 16)
   1/day – summon (level 4, 1d3 murders of crows, 100%)
STATISTICS
Str 19, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 16, Wis 16, Cha 17
Base Atk +8; CMB +13; CMD 26
Feats Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Climb +11, Fly +18, Heal +7, Intimidate +11, Perception +14, Stealth +14
Languages common, infernal; speak with animals (wolves and ravens)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Bleeding Aura (Su)
The DC for all bleed effects and checks to stabilize dying creatures increases to DC 17 within 30 ft. of the valraven.  Any creatures with -1 or fewer hit points that have previously stabilized resume bleeding if they start their turn within the valraven’s bleeding aura.  This is a death effect.  The save DC is Charisma based. 
Devour Soul (Su)
As a full-round action or as part of a coup de grace, a valraven can rip out the heart of an adjacent dead or dying creature and devour its soul.  When it does so, the valraven heals a number of hit points equal to the total hit dice of the target creature.  Creatures whose souls have been so devoured cannot be raised except through limited wish, wish, miracle, or true resurrection, and then only after the valraven that devoured their soul has been slain. 
Negative Energy Affinity (Ex)
This creature is alive, but is healed by negative energy and harmed by positive energy as if it were an undead creature. 
ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary
Treasure none


The maleficent valraven is a horrifying creature driven by an insatiable hunger for the flesh of the dead.  It appears as a mighty black wolf with the head and wings of a raven.  Valravens seek out large concentrations of the freshly deceased, as may be found on battlegrounds or plague-struck cities.  All those whose hearts are consumed by the valraven have their souls bound it the beast, condemned to a bleak oblivion for so long as the creature lives.  According to legend, a valraven that eats the heart of a king or great chieftain will become a terrible black knight known as a vilderavn.  

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My patrons on Patreon got to see the valraven in January.  Patrons who pledge just $5 per month get to see a new monster every monday!  If my patreon pledges reach $15 per month, I'll be posting a new monster every Monday on this site for all to see, but patrons will still see them at least one month in advance.  So if you like what I do and want to see more, consider pledging a monthly donation!

-your vilde d20 despot

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