Cranium Preserver
CREATURE 10Cranium preservers serve necromancers as walking laboratories for undead. A typical cranium preserver has a metallic and spider-like body, which holds aloft a large central glass vat surrounded by a dozen or more smaller, head-sized glass vats. Each vat is filled with a special embalming fluid that can preserve the minds of slain enemies.
The cranium preserver knows one version of the Create Undead ritual for every four heads it has preserved (a typical cranium preserver has 12 preserved heads). The cranium preserver can use its heads to make separate rolls as both the primary and secondary casters of the ritual.
The cranium preserver ejects one of its preserved-head jars at a point within 100 feet. The jar explodes, and all creatures in a 10-foot burst must attempt a DC 28 Will save.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature takes 2d8 mental damage and 2d8 void damage.
Failure The creature takes 4d8 mental damage and 4d8 void damage. The discharged mental anguish released from the preserved head causes the creature to become Confused for 1 round.
Critical Failure The creature takes 8d8 mental and 8d8 void damage. The discharged mental anguish released from the preserved head causes the creature to become confused for 2 rounds.
Whenever the cranium preserver ends a Stride, the movement causes necrotic embalming fluid and preserved body parts to slosh about and spill from its central vat. Each creature adjacent to the cranium preserver when it finishes its Stride must attempt a DC 26 Will save.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature takes 1d8 mental damage and 1d8 void damage.
Failure The creature takes 2d8 mental damage and 2d8 void damage.
Critical Failure The creature takes 4d8 mental and 4d8 void damage. If the creature is alive, the preserved body parts sense the presence of a living creature and cling to it, causing the creature to become Clumsy 2 for 1 round.