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The bloodseeker -- an undead hound which will find its target anywhere in the world...
This has an amusing genesis. This very cool thread on ENWorld features a great way to present monsters, and one of them happened to be one of mine -- the Bloodseeker! I do not own the copyright on this monster, which means I cannot use any of my original text. However, ideas cannot be copyrighted, nor can names, so here is a recreation of the beast using all-new words, for D&D 4e. The bloodseeker is created by a ritual which requires blood or flesh of the target, no matter how old it might be. A freshly-killed Dire Wolf is also required. Once the ritual is completed, the bloodseeker will leave, and pursue its target relentlessly and endlessly. Only one bloodseeker can be assigned to a target in a given year. When the bloodseeker nears its target, the target will begin to experience hideous nightmares. (A DC 20 Nature or Arcana check, if the nightmares are described, will reveal that a bloodseeker is close by!) The bloodseeker innately attracts "normal" wolves to its side. It will usually be accompanied by 4 dire wolves, which will obey its every whim. This encounter is worth 1350 XP. Bloodseeker
Level 8 Skirmisher (Leader)
Medium shadow magical beast (Undead)
XP 350
Initiative 9
Senses Perception +8; Darkvision
HP 75; Bloodied 37
AC 22; Fortitude 20, Reflex 20, Will 20
Immune Poison Saving Throws
Speed 6
Action Points 0
Bite (standard; at-will) ✦ Necrotic
Attack +14 vs AC; 2d6+5. This is a basic attack.
Howl (standard; recharge 6) ✦ Fear
Close Burst 3; Attack +11 vs. Will, 3d10+5; in addition, if the Bloodseeker's target is hit, the target is Immobilized; save ends.
Combat Advantage ✦ Necrotic
If the Bloodseeker has combat advantage, any attack does an additional 5 ongoing necrotic damage; save ends. The bloodseeker's target saves at -2.
Commanding Mien (minor; at-will)
The Bloodseeker may slide any allied wolf up to 2 squares.
Nightmares ✦ Psychic
If the Bloodseeker is within a week's travel of its target, the target will be plagued with hideous dreams. This is an Attack +11 vs. Will. If the target fails, it will wake with 1 less Healing Surge for each consecutive day of failure -- 1 less on the first day, 2 less on the second day, and so on.
Alignment Unaligned
Skills Stealth, Nature
Str 20 (9) Dex 15 (6) Wis 18 (8)
Con 17 (7) Int 8 (3) Cha 14 (6)
Tactics: The bloodseeker will attempt to kill its target; that is its only goal and purpose. It will use Stealth to get close to its target, then howl, hoping to render the target immobile. If it fails, it will use its wolf allies to grant itself combat advantage as much as possible. It will never howl unless its target is within range. Lore: A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check: DC 15:The bloodseeker is an undead creature created by a dark ritual. DC 20: The bloodseeker and its pack will focus completely on the target, ignoring all other opportunities unless there is no way to engage the target. DC 25:A bloodseeker can only be sent after a target once per year.
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