The Huecuva

CREATING A HUECUVA
“Huecuva” is an acquired template that
can be added to any humanoid (hereafter
referred to
as the base creature)
with at least
one level in the
cleric, druid, paladin,
or monk class. The creature’s
type changes to undead. Unlike lichdom,
which preserves the intellect and
powers of the base creature, the transformation
to a huecuva exacts a terrible
toll on the victim’s mind, reducing
its Intelligence to barely
sentient levels. The huecuva
uses all the base creature’s statistics
and special abilities except as noted here.
Hit Dice: Increase to d12.
AC: The base creature’s natural armor increases by +4.
Huecuvas often wear the armor they wore in life—especially
armor intended for ceremonial purposes.
Attacks and Damage: A huecuva retains all the attacks
of the base creature and also gains a slam attack if the base
creature does not have one. If the base creature does not
have a slam attack, use the appropriate value based on the
huecuva’s size (see the table below) but only humanoids
are eligible. A base creature with natural attacks uses the
value from the table below or the base creature’s damage,
whichever is greater.
Size Damage
Fine 1
Diminutive 1d2
Tiny 1d3
Small 1d4
Medium-size 1d6
Large 1d8
Huge 2d6
Gargantuan 2d8
Colossal 4d6
Special Attacks: A huecuva retains all the special
attacks of the base creature. In addition, huecuvas expose
any victims hit with a natural attack to a deadly disease
known as huecuva blight.
Huecuva Blight (Su): Victims hit by a huecuva’s slam
attack must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 14) or fall
prey to the disease called huecuva blight. The incubation
period is 1 day; at the end of that time, the disease deals
1d2 points of Strength and Constitution damage. An
infected victim must make a saving throw each day thereafter
or take another 1d2 points of Strength and Constitution
damage. The effects of huecuva blight
are cumulative each day until the victim
reaches 0 Constitution (and dies), makes
two consecutive successful
saves, or receives magical
treatment (such as a remove
disease spell).
Special Qualities:
Huecuvas retain all
the special qualities of
the base creature and
gain the following additional
qualities.
Turn Resistance
(Ex): A huecuva is
treated as an undead
with 2
more Hit Dice
than it actually has for
the purposes of turn, rebuke, command,
or bolster attempts.
Damage Reduction (Ex): A huecuva has damage
reduction 15/silver.
Divine Conversion: A cleric who becomes a huecuva
loses access to the domains he had in life and replaces
them with the Death and Evil domains. A cleric who previously
was able to turn undead loses that ability and
gains the ability to rebuke or command undead, like
other evil clerics.
A paladin who becomes a huecuva gains special abilities
much like a fallen paladin who becomes a blackguard. See
the information on fallen paladin blackguard abilities in
the DUNGEONMASTER’s Guide to determine the huecuva’s special
abilities.
Abilities: Change from the base creature as follows: Str
+2, Int –6, Wis +2, Cha +2. As undead creatures, huecuvas
have no Constitution score.
Feats: Huecuvas gain Toughness as a bonus feat.
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground.
Organization: Solitary or gang (2–12).
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +2.
Treasure: Standard.
Alignment: Always evil (any).
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