Ghoul, Athasian



Climate / Terrain: Any Underground / Cemetaries
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Pack
Activity Cycle: Nocturnal
Diet: Carnivore
Intelligence: Average (8-10)
Treasure: Incidental
Alignment: Any Evil
Number Appearing: 1-10
Armor Class: 5
Move: 12
Hit Dice: 5
ThAC0: 16
Number of Attacks: 3
Damage per Attack: 1d4 / 1d4 / 1d6 or by weapon +1
Special Attacks: Disease
Special Defenses: Infravision, Ultravision, Surprise
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: M (5' Tall)
Morale: Average (8-10)
XP Value:



Athasian Ghouls are the remnants of Nagash's human followers. They were invited to partake in the Feast of the Dead. As a result, they degenerated into sub-human creatures that subsist on the flesh of the fallen. Ghouls are cannibalistic carrion eaters, subsisting on a diet of humanoids.
They have spread throughout Athas in the centuries following the "death" of Nagash. Currently they can be found in, or more correctly under, most of the major cities. They can also be found hiding in various ruins near cities, towns, and villages.

Combat

Ghouls usually fight unarmed. They attack with both claws and a powerful bite. Rarely, a leader or one of his chosen ghouls will arm themselves with a weapon of some kind. They are able to attack only once a round with a weapon,but add 1 to the damage due to their strength.
Ghouls carry various diseases due to their lifestyle. Any one attacked by a ghoul has a percentage chance equal to the total amount of damage done per round of contracting a disease. The exact effects of the disease is up to the DM as they can carry just about anything.
Ghouls have infravison to 120 feet and Ultravision t0 30 feet. They are also adept at being stealthy and will surprise on a 3 or less on a d6. Also, due to their keen sense of smell, they are surprised only on a 1 on a 1d8.

Habitat / Society

Ghouls were once human. They are the survivors of the various tribes that surrounded Nagash's lair. They took to worshipping Nagash to prevent their tribes from being wiped out, and they made a point of sacrificing youthful couples to mitigate his wrath. In time, Nagash decided to use their worship to create an army of loyal followers, more precisely living followers. He taught them the Feast of the Dead, a ritual involving a cannibalistic feast. In time they degenerated into a race of ghoul-like creatures.
These days ghouls live in packs dominated by the strongest members. They live underground, coming out only at night to feed.
They live on the corpses of humans, elves, dwarves, muls and halflings. They are able to survive on a small amount of flesh, needing only about a pound a day. This allows them to survive on the remains of the long dead for months, rarely killing to feast. This allows them to remain relatively safe from discovery. Any who disover them invariably become their next victims.
They still practice the Feast of the Dead, though only once a year. Approximately a month before the Feast, they will start collecting victims. While some of these people will become food, the rest are going to partake in the feast. This allows them to increase their numbers, as no other method of reproduction exists for them. The weak of the pack will also be eaten by the feasters to strengthen the race as a whole. This is the only time ghouls will attack one another. While they have no qualms about eating their fallen, they will not attack them in any other situation. All disputes are settled in non-lethal combat and shows of force.

Ecology

Ghouls only reproduce through the Feast of the Dead. They are therefore in decline in cities where their existance is known to the rulers.
Why the Feast now results in an almost immediate change is unknown. In the past it would take months or years for the change to take place. Currently it takes about a month for the complete change to occur. And the changes start immediately.
Athasian Ghouls arenot undead, but they have no place in a natural ecology.



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