Bone Viziers
   Medium-Size Undead

Bone Viziers appear to be normal skeletons at a distance. On closer inspection, a hazy, blue-white form can be discerned within the chest cavity and skull of the bone vizier. Bone viziers are usually garbed in heavy robes, embroidered with icons of Maragh'ghoul and other mystic patterns.

Bone viziers are created by binding the souls of faithful into ritually prepared skeletons. Sometimes referred to as the Voices of Maragh'ghoul, bone viziers are intelligent and cunning. The bone viziers are also granted spells and spell-like powers by the Goddess Maragh'goul.

Bone viziers are employed as special servants and guardians within the Temples of Maragh'ghoul, especially important ones. Bone viziers are often considered willful by priests of Maragh'ghoul, as they are capable of independent thought and decision-making, although bone viziers will often obey the instructions of priests of Maragh'ghoul. Occasionally, the bone viziers will spontaneously speak with the voice of Maragh'ghoul on matters of importance to the Goddess, though they have not done so in recent history.

Combat

Cold Immunity (Ex)

Bone viziers are immune to cold and cold-based attacks.

Damage Resistance (Ex)

Bone Viziers have no internals organs and are difficult to harm with piercing or slashing attacks. Bone viziers take half-damage from slashing and piercing attacks.

Turn Resistance (Ex)

Bone viziers have +4 turn resistance (see page 10 of the Monster Manual) due to the enchantments used to animate them. This turn resistance does not apply to attempts to command them by priests of Maragh'ghoul.

Hallowed Status (Ex)

Bone viziers are positively affected by hallow or consecrate spells cast by worshippers of Maragh'ghoul and are adversely affected by desecrate or unhallow spells cast by other priests.

Darkvision

Bone viziers have darkvision to 60 feet.

Bless (Sp)

A bone vizier may cast bless upon followers of Maragh'ghoul as a standard action. A bone vizier may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + its Charisma bonus. A bone vizier normally chooses when to bestow its blessing upon worshippers, but it may be compelled by a priest of Maragh'ghoul by a successful rebuke undead attempt.

Augury (Sp)

Once per day, a bone vizier can be compelled by a priest of Maragh'ghoul to render an augury (as the spell as if cast by a 3rd-level caster). The priest must use their rebuke undead ability on the bone vizier, and if the result indicates a successful rebuke or command, the bone vizier will respond with the augury. If the rebuke fails, the bone vizier ignores the priest and will not respond to augury requests from the priest for one day.

Speak with Dead (Sp)

Once per week, a bone vizier may by compelled to speak with dead (as the spell as if cast by a 3rd-level caster) by a priest of Maragh'ghoul. The priest must make a rebuke undead attempt against the bone vizier, and if the result indicates a command result, the bone vizier will speak with the voice of the dead for the duration of the effect. Each time a bone vizier uses its speak with dead ability, it permanently sacrifices 1 Hit Die. When the bone vizier reaches 0 Hit Dice, it disintegrates and its spirit returns to the afterworld.

Commune (Sp)

A bone vizier may once be compelled to perform a commune by a priest of Maragh'ghoul. The priest must use his rebuke undead ability upon the bone vizier, and if a successful command result is achieved (the bone vizier receives a +4 holy bonus to resist this attempt), the spirit of the bone vizier returns to the afterworld and Maragh'ghoul will speak through the bone vizier. Only Maragh'ghoul can be reached though a bone vizier's commune ability. When the communing is over, the bone vizier disintegrates.

Spells

Bone viziers cast spells as if they were 3rd-level sorcerers, although they receive no bonus spells for high attributes. Bone viziers may select their spells from either the sorcerer/wizard lists, or from the cleric list. Bone viziers with more than 3 HD add one level of sorcerer casting ability for each additional Hit Die. Bone viziers do not receive any other level-related benefits from these casting levels, nor do bone viziers gain any domain spells. Their casting level is equal to their Hit Dice.

Undead

Bone viziers are immune to mind-influencing effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and disease. Bone viziers are not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, energy drain, or death from massive damage.