U is for Undead

I talk about my love of undead all the time on this blog. They're just cool. This month alone I've posted stats for undead creatures here, here, and here.  One undead creature that I always thought was cool, but never used was the Spawn of Kyuss. Kyuss is the worm god. His spawn are undead abominations that are filled with necromantic worms. These worms infect living creatures and turn them into spawn. Paizo had a really cool adventure path based around them, The Age of Worms.

If you're wondering why I don't use them it is because I don't typically like save or die effects. I know I'm writing old school stuff, but I've just never been a fan.

Krast, Mage of Kyuss

The half-undead wizard known as Krast wasn't always a loathsome creature. His early days were spent adventuring. His life was changed when he and his party encountered a forgotten shrine to the Worm God. Only he and the party's warrior, Castellen, survived the encounter. While Castellen retired from adventuring and tried to put the encounter behind him, Krast became obsessed with the curious green worms and their affects on the living. Through research from various forbidden tomes he has begun the long and arduous process of becoming a Worm the Walks.

Krast, Mage of Kyuss
Armor Class: 7
Hit Dice: 10
HP: 40
Move: 90' (30')
Attacks: Staff or Necrotic Ray
Damage: As Staff (plus special) or 1-4 (ranged)
Save As: Magic-User 10
Morale: 10
Alignment: Chaotic

Krast casts spells as a 10th level Magic-User. He usually has the following spells memorized: Magic Missile (X2), Sleep, Web, Detect Invisibility, Phantasmal Force, Necrotic Bolt (X3, treat as lightning bolt, but damage is negative energy instead of electricity), Dimension Door, Polymorph Other, Wall of Ice, Animate Dead, Cloudkill

While technically living, Krast has many traits similiar to undead. He is immune to sleep, charm, and hold spells. He cannot be turned.

Any living creature hit by Krast's vile staff must make a Saving Throw vs Death Ray/Poison or die and become a Spawn of Kyuss.