LE

45

35

TRUE

10

7

38

Velstrac The search for ultimate sensation through self-mutilation is the horrifying preoccupation of the shadow-dwelling fiends known as velstracs. They transcend their stoic detachment only when inflicting pain and terror upon their victims, practicing new forms of torture, or when turning their agonizing practices back on themselves. Velstracs consider themselves enlightened beings, transcending such limitations as morality or mortal taboos, but their victims know them as emotionless tormentors who inflict sadistic suffering. These fiends claim to seek perfection in thought, form, and action, although they don’t recognize any refinement that doesn’t require the painful excision of the flesh or spirit. Velstracs manifest from the souls of the most extreme masochistic or sadistic mortals who are judged and sent on to the Shadow Plane. They take on forms that suit their vile predilections, ranging from the low-ranking augurs to the maestros of suffering and mutilation called eremites. The process of transformation warps the soul step by step, with other velstracs conveying their new members through untold chambers of pain among the dark reaches of the Shadow Plane. A Mortal Name Some mortals refer to velstracs as “kytons,” a misattribution that the velstracs tolerate with cold amusement. The term “kyton” denotes a master or virtuoso among their kind, and these fiends enjoy being labeled as masters of their horrid paths of perfection through agony. Velstrac Divinities The most powerful velstracs are unique divinities known collectively as velstrac demagogues—powerful creatures worshipped by those mortals who seek to experience agonizing new revelations and gain power by enhancing the body through pain. Despicable Origins Velstracs originated with the first debased thoughts of mortals, which divine beings found so deplorable that they locked all velstracs away in Hell. It wasn’t long, however, before the newly formed beings escaped their infernal prison to the Shadow Plane. The Shadow Forge Many velstracs outsource the forging of their chains to unique velstracs known as almoners. These six-armed, legless humanoids toil endlessly at a great burning foundry called the Shadow Forge. Almoners operate under mysterious strictures, and are just as likely to turn a velstrac away empty-handed as not. Velstracs on Golarion Velstracs are most often encountered in the shadowy realm of Nidal, where the state worship of Zon-Kuthon is rigidly enforced. Indeed, many velstracs are created from the souls of Joyful Things, devotees of Zon-Kuthon who have had their limbs amputated to focus their minds on the veneration of pain, sacrifice, and torment. Other Velstracs There are as many different velstracs as there are ways to inflict pain. Other velstracs range in power from the relatively weak lampadariuses to the powerful phylacators. Eremite Eremites roam the planes to seek out ideal portions of other creatures, such as a hero’s sword-arm or an angel’s pinions. Eremites capture these specimens to clinically test their true limits, then harvest specimens and add them to their own bodies. An eremite might attach tongues to their hand as extra fingers or a fist to the back of their neck in a horrid “improvement.” Eremites average 7 feet tall and weigh approximately 200 pounds.

6

36

375

regeneration 25 (deactivated by good or silver)

cold, fear, nonlethal

6

40

Common, Infernal, Shadowtongue, telepathy 100 feet

20

36

Creature

34

34

37

+1 status to all saves vs. magic

32

34

greater darkvision, painsight, true seeing

Medium

30

fly 50 feet

42

36

9

Fiend, Velstrac

good 20, silver 20

6