Wraith-King

Each wraith-king was once a mighty mortal so afraid of the grave that he bargained with an evil god for eternal life. The god kept the letter of the deal and nothing else. The flesh has faded entirely, leaving an empty suit of armor that still walks, with only a pair of hateful red eyes smoldering inside the helm.

It fights as it did in life, wearing plate armor +3 and wielding a sword +4 of any type. Its scores are exceptional (Strength 18/00, Dexterity 18, Constitution 17, Intelligence 17, Wisdom 15, and Charisma 17 that counts only with undead), and these and its gear are already reflected in its statistics.

Its stare is the real threat. Each round it can lock eyes with one victim in clear view within 30 feet, who must save vs. death ray or lose a life level. Anyone drained of every level rises as a full-strength wraith under its command. Any being of lower level than the wraith-king must also save vs. spell or flee in panic.

As often as once per round, endlessly, it can create a permanent illusion or a programmed illusion, and once a day it can cast mass charm, all at 15th level.

Only +2 or better weapons wound it, and even those deal half damage. It is unaffected by charm, sleep, enfeeblement and polymorph, nor by insanity, death magic, electricity or cold. Tougher than a lich, it is turned by a priest of 9th-13th level only on a 19 or better, and by one of 14th level or higher on a 16 or better. Its power flows straight from a god, so raise dead does nothing to it.

Betrayed by its patron, the wraith-king seethes with endless anger and hunts the living to swell its undead following, even when its treasure needs no guarding. Tempting and tricking mortals with illusions is its chief pleasure. Yet it is cautious: it treasures its bitter unlife and retreats from a losing fight. In its tomb it commands 4-24 wraiths; elsewhere it often rides a nightmare.

Use these monsters sparingly. Because an evil deity created each one, a good or neutral god may aid a priest who opposes it, perhaps with a special item that guards the priest or the whole party against some of its powers. Hunting down a single wraith-king, with visions, divine communion and a quest for an undead-slaying relic, can fill an entire campaign.