This creature is a wan, spectral humanoid over fifteen tall with extremely long, twig-like fingers.
Birch Spirit CR 7
Birch spirit illustration copyright © 1981. Used without permission.
Always NE Large undead (incorporeal)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +13, Spot +13
Languages Common, Elven, Sylvan
AC 19, touch 19, flat-footed 15
(-1 size, +4 Dex, +6 deflection)
hp 52 (8 HD); fast healing 5
Miss Chance 50% (from corporeal sources)
Immune incorporeal traits, undead traits
Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +8
Weaknesses tree dependent, vulnerability to electricity
Spd 20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee 2 incorporeal touches +7 (1d8)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Base Atk +4; Grp –
Atk Options Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes; heartclutch
Abilities Str, Dex 18, Con, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 22
Feats Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative
Skills Hide +11, Intimidate +17, Knowledge (nature) +15, Listen +13, Spot +13, Survival +13 (+15 above ground)
Advancement 9–24 HD (Large)
Fast Healing (Ex) A birch spirit heals 5 points of damage each round so long as it has at least 1 hit point. If reduced to 0 hit points in combat, it automatically moves toward its tree at top speed. Any additional damage dealt to a birch spirit has no effect. Once at rest in its tree, a birch spirit is helpless. It regains 1 hit point after 1 hour, then is no longer helpless and resumes healing at the rate of 5 hit points per round.
Heartclutch (Su) A birch spirit that hits with both incorporeal touch attacks clutches the opponent’s heart, doing 1d4 points of Strength damage, 1d4 points of Dexterity damage, and 1d4 points of Constitution damage. The opponent must also make a DC 20 Fortitude save or immediately fall unconscious for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based.
A creature killed by this ability cannot be raised or resurrected, but can be restored to life with a limited wish, miracle, or wish spell.
Tree Dependent (Su) Each spirit is mystically bound to a single birch tree and must never stray more than 300 yards from it. Any who do are destroyed within 1 hour. Destroying the tree instantly destroys the birch spirit.
A birch spirit’s tree does not radiate magic and typically has AC 4, hardness 5, and 150 hp. The tree is immune to both cold and fire effects and shares the birch spirit’s vulnerability to electricity.
Vulnerability to Electricity (Ex) Electricity effects from a corporeal source still have a 50% miss chance, but if successful a birch spirit takes 150% normal damage from electricity effects, regardless of whether a saving throw is allowed or if the save is a success or failure.
A birch spirit is the undead soul of a murdered fey. Much like a dryad, each spirit is mystically linked with one particular birch tree.
Birch Spirit Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (religion) can learn more about birch spirits. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.
| DC | Result |
|---|---|
| 17 | This creature is a birch spirit, an incorporeal undead with a mystical connection to a bitch tree. |
| 22 | A birch spirit that clutches the beating heart of its victim can sap physical vitality from the unfortunate. |
| 27 | Birch spirits are particularly vulnerable to electricity. |
| 32 | Birch spirits swiftly heal damage done to them, and when brought to the brink of destruction they flee to the safety of their trees. |
Strategy and Tactics
A birch spirit will usually hide inside its tree until living creatures approach within 40 feet, when it will emerge to attack. In melee a birch spirit focuses exclusively on one opponent, attempting to use its heartclutch ability. A birch spirit will generally attack relentlessly until reduced to 0 hit points, when it is forced to return to its tree.
Sample Encounters
Birch spirits are normally encountered either alone, in pairs, or in small stands of three to four.
Solitary (EL 7): A single birch spirit—once a dryad stabbed to death by a spurned lover—lurks in the rushes near the site of her murder.
Pair (EL 9): Two hateful birch spirits, formerly nymph rivals who are condemned to spend eternity together, now haunt the opposite banks of a small stream.
Stand (EL 10–11): What had once been an idyllic grove of dryads is now a burnt-out ruin, inhabited only by three to four malevolent birch spirits.
Ecology
As undead creatures, birch spirits have no natural ecology. Most birch spirits encountered seem to be formed from female fey creatures.
Environment: Birch spirits are found any forest where fey creatures might be found.
Typical Physical Characteristics: Birch spirits stand approximately fifteen feet tall and appear to be thin, ghostly humanoid figures with gnarled limbs and exceptionally long, twig-like fingers. They often sport long shocks of dark, frazzled hair.
Society
A birch spirit detests all living sentient creatures, which it blames for its death.
Typical Treasure
Birch spirits have standard treasure for their Challenge Rating, about 3,400 gp. Such treasures are usually buried underneath the roots of their birch tree.
Standard Treasure: 2,070 cp, 652 sp, 123 gp, 30 pp, 1 rhodochrosite (11 gp), 1 deep blue spinel (500 gp), potion of delay poison, wand of acid arrow (21 charges).