Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls

Almost every neophyte adventurer encounters

ghouls. They experience the terror of their first
paralysis, unable to act as the slavering undead
beast battles their comrades. They experience the
relief of feeling their muscles twitch into action
once more, before the ghouls can feast on their
flesh. Then they experience the ennui of reaching
fourth level and still being occasionally bothered
by these now-redundant sword fodder.
Ghouls get a harsh deal in d20 Fantasy. While A Henchman Production for Clockwork Golem Workshop
mindless undead such as skeletons and zombies Written by Adam Windsor
can still be credible threats to mid-level parties Edited by Peter M. Ball
and vampires, liches and other sentient undead are
figures of enormous power, the ghoul languishes
at the bottom of the undead food chain. While they
are a serious danger to low-level adventurers, their
threat rapidly diminishes once the mid-levels are
reached.
Rise of the Ghouls gives you new feats, abilities
and ghoulish variants, all designed to give these Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition
overlooked and under-appreciated undead a Core Books, published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
chance to shine. With a ghoul template to give
more diversity to the ghoulish ranks, a host of Dungeons & Dragons and Wizards of the Coast are
ghoulish feats, the power of ancient hunger magic trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. in the United States
and other countries and are used with permission.
and the exotic abilities of five new ghoul variants,
Rise of the Ghouls has all the tools you need to 'd20 System' and the 'd20 System' logo are trademarks of
help your high-level player characters remember Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and are used according to the
why ghouls where so frightening back when they terms of the d20 System License version 6.0. A copy of this
were just starting out. License can be found at www.wizards.com/d20.

Design Assumptions
The material presented here reflects the following assumptions about ghouls:
• Ghouls are archetypal undead, well established in both folk lore and d20 gaming.
• Ghouls should cause fear and despair. They are grave-despoiling cannibals, as horrific in
their nature and behavior as any lich or vampire.
• As horrific monsters and archetypal undead, ghouls deserve much more flexibility and
opportunity for use in d20 fantasy campaigns.
• The standard d20 fantasy rules are structured in such a way that ghouls quickly cease to be
a credible threat to adventurers, whereas zombies, skeletons, vampires and liches can be
encountered at a variety of different levels.

Ghoulish Secrets: Ghoul Template
One of the ghoul's greatest weaknesses in the core
d20 rules is that it essentially comes in only one
variety: a two hit dice medium-sized undead with
a weak paralysis attack. Even its advancement
options are limited - it can gain one extra hit die,
but that's all.
The rules here convert ghouls into a template
that can be applied to a base creature, much like a
zombie or vampire. This makes it possible to have
ghoulish fire giants, ghoulish dragons, or even
something as simple as a ghoulish halfling, all of
which are impossible under the core rules.
Ghouls are emaciated, gray-skinned creatures
with sharp fingernails and teeth. They are often
spattered with scraps of rotting meat and dried
blood. Most ghouls lose any hair they had in life.
A living creature which becomes a ghoul also
loses its original personality, which is subsumed
into an unending hunger for raw, red meat, torn
fresh from the bodies of its victims.
Although they retain their intelligence and are
capable of subtlety and even advanced tactics in
their pursuit of pray, the ghoul's entire focus and
purpose is to feed. They are to all intents and
purposes a different, and usually far more bestial,
creature.
Exactly why ghouls are driven to eat the flesh
of living creatures is the subject of considerable
debate in academic circles. Adventurers, for some
reason, do not seem to share this curiosity. As
undead creatures, ghouls do not need to eat, a fact
born out by their ability to survive hundreds of
years in sealed tombs without any new sources of
food. Sages have posited that the desire for flesh
is a side-effect of ghoul fever, but this has not
been proven.
Sample Ghoulish Creature
This decaying corpse has flesh pulled tight across
its ropey frame. It crouches in the shadows, its
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
spindly arms ending in sharp talons and its eyes
glowing like coals in the darkness.
Ghoulish Choker
Small Undead
Hit Dice: 4d12 (26 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 10 ft.
Armor Class: 18 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +5 natural),
touch 13, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+6
Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d4+4 plus paralysis)
plus 2 tentacles +5 melee (1d3+2 plus
paralysis)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, constrict 1d3+2,
ghoul fever, paralysis
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., +2 turn
resistance, undead traits
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +6
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 18, Con -, Int 6, Wis 17,
Cha 9
Skills: Climb +12, Hide +15, Move Silently +11
Feats: Multiattack, ghastly touch
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary, gang (2–4), or pack (7–
12).
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: 5–7 HD (Small); 8–13 HD
(Medium)
Level Adjustment: —
A ghoulish choker is an undead predator that
hungers for the flesh of the living. Merging the
stealth of the choker with the paralytic touch of
the ghoul, it is a dangerous hunter that can hold
entire communities in a grip of paralytic fear.
 Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
Combat base creature’s statistics and special abilities
Like its living counterpart, the ghoulish choker except as noted here.
will often perch near ceilings or the upper boughs Hit Dice: Drop any Hit Dice from class levels
of trees in order to ambush its opponents. It tries (to a minimum of 1), add one to the number of Hit
to surprise opponents whenever possible. Dice left, and raise them to d12s.
Constrict (Ex): A ghoulish choker deals Speed: If the base creature can fly, its
1d3+2 points of damage with a successful grapple maneuverability rating drops to average. If it is
check against a Large or smaller creature. currently worse than average, it does not change.
Because it seizes its victim by the neck, a creature Armor Class: Natural armor bonus increases
in the choker’s grasp cannot speak or cast spells by a number based on the ghoul's size:
with verbal components.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a Tiny or smaller +0
ghoulish choker must hit a Large or smaller Small +1
opponent with a tentacle attack. It can then Medium +2
attempt to start a grapple as a free action without Large +3
provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the Huge +4
grapple check, it establishes a hold and can Gargantuan +7
constrict. Ghoulish chokers receive a +4 racial Colossal +11
bonus on grapple checks, which is already
included in the statistics block. Base Attack: A ghoul has a base attack bonus
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease—bite, Fortitude equal to 1/2 its Hit Dice.
DC 12, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con Attacks: A ghoul retains all the natural
and 1d3 Dex. An afflicted creature of an weapons of the base creature. A ghoul gains a bite
appropriate type which dies of ghoul fever rises as attack as a primary attack if it does not already
a ghoul at the next midnight. It is not under the have one. All existing natural weapons are treated
control of any other ghouls, but it hungers for the as secondary attacks. If it has no other natural
flesh of the living and behaves like a normal weapons, it also gains two claw attacks as
ghoul in all respects. secondary attacks. A ghoul loses all manufactured
Paralysis (Ex): Those hit by a ghoulish weapon attacks and all manufactured weapon
choker’s bite or tentacle attacks must succeed on a proficiencies.
Fortitude save (DC 13) or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 Damage: Natural weapons deal damage
rounds. normally. A bite or claw attack deals damage
Skills: A ghoulish choker has a +8 racial bonus depending on the ghoul's size (Use the base
on Climb checks and can always choose to take creature's damage if it's better).
10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened.
Size Bite Claw
Creating A Ghoul Fine 1 1
'Ghoul' is an acquired template that can be added Diminutive 1d2 1
to any corporeal aberration, dragon, fey, giant, Tiny 1d3 1
humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid or Small 1d4 1d2
outsider. Medium 1d6 1d3
Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to Large 1d8 1d4
undead. It retains any subtypes except alignment Huge 2d6 1d6
subtypes and subtypes that indicate kind. It does Gargantuan 2d8 1d8
not gain the augmented subtype. It uses all the Colossal 4d6 2d6

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Special Attacks: A ghoul retains all of the
base creature’s extraordinary special attacks. A
ghoul gains the following special attacks:
Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease—bite, Fortitude DC
10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma ability modifier,
incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Dex.
An afflicted creature of an appropriate type
which dies of ghoul fever rises as a ghoul at the
next midnight. It is not under the control of any
other ghouls, but it hungers for the flesh of the
living and behaves like a normal ghoul in all
respects.
Paralysis (Ex): Those hit by a natural weapons
must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 hit
dice + Charisma ability modifier) or be paralyzed
for 1d4+1 rounds. Elves have immunity to this
paralysis.
Special Qualities: A ghoul retains any
extraordinary special qualities of the original
creature. A ghoul gains +2 turn resistance.
Saves: Base save bonuses are Fort +1/3 HD,
Ref +1/3 HD, and Will +1/2 HD + 2.
Abilities: A ghoul's Strength, Intelligence and
Charisma increase by +2, its Dexterity and
Wisdom increase by +4, and it has no Constitution
score.
Skills: A ghoul loses all existing skills. It gains
the normal number of skill points for an undead
creature of its hit dice and Intelligence. A ghoul's
class skills are Balance, Climb, Hide, Jump, Move
Silently, and Spot.
A ghoul retains all the base creature's racial
modifiers to skills.
Feats: A ghoul loses all existing feats, but
gains new feats based on their modified number
of hit dice. Most ghouls take Multiattack as their
first feat.
Environment: Any.
Organization: Solitary, gang (2–4), or pack
(7–12).
Challenge Rating: HD 1 or less, as base
creature +1/2; HD 2 or more, as base creature +1.
Treasure: None.
Alignment: Always chaotic evil.
Advancement: As base creature, but
maximum Hit Dice increased by one. No
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
advancement is possible if the base creature
ordinarily advances by character class.
Level Adjustment: —.
Lacedon
Ghouls of this type are aquatic creatures, and are
often found in sunken ruins or shipwrecks. Some
packs of lacedons prey on shipping, clambering
up the sides of vessels to kill and eat all living
creatures aboard.
Lacedons look very similar to their land-bound
cousins, except that they often have a blue or
green tinge to their skin, and usually retain some
or all of any hair they had in life.
Creating A Lacedon
'Lacedon' is an acquired template that can be
added to any creature which already possesses a
ghoul template. It uses all the base ghoul's
statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: The ghoul gains the aquatic
subtype.
Speed: The ghoul gains a swim speed equal to
its normal land speed.
Special Attacks: A lacedon's Fever special attack
(whether ghoul fever, bloat fever or some other
variety) always creates other lacedons, rather than
normal ghouls.
Ghast
Ghasts are a stronger and more powerful form of
ghoul, known for being more cunning than their
lesser kin. In appearance and behavior they differ
little from their more common cousins, but ghasts
can be easily told apart from normal ghouls by the
foul stench that surrounds them, putrid enough to
cause sickness and distress in living creatures that
approach too close.
Unlike other forms of ghouls, which were
initially created by magic but can perpetuate
themselves through the disease they carry, the
only known way for ghasts to be created is
through spells such as create ghouls or create
undead. Some sages believe that particularly
ancient ghouls might ultimately evolve into
ghasts, or that prolonged exposure to a powerful

source of negative energy might also effect the
transformation, but such claims are disputed and
unproven.
Creating A Ghast
'Ghast' is an acquired template that can be added
to any creature that any creature which already
possesses a ghoul template. It uses all the base
ghoul's statistics and special abilities except as
noted here.
Hit Dice: Gain two additional hit dice.
Armor Class: Natural armor bonus increases
by +2.
Special Attacks: A ghast retains all of the base
ghoul's special attacks. Elves are not immune to a
ghast's paralysis attack, if it has one. A ghast also
gains the following special attack:
Stench (Ex): The stink of death and corruption
surrounding these creatures is overwhelming.
Living creatures within 10 feet must succeed on a
Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 the ghast's hit dice +
the ghast's Charisma ability modifier) or be
sickened for 1d6+4 minutes. A creature that
successfully saves cannot be affected again by the
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
same ghast’s stench for 24 hours. A delay poison
or neutralize poison spell removes the effect from
a sickened creature. Creatures with immunity to
poison are unaffected, and creatures resistant to
poison receive their normal bonus on their saving
throws.
Abilities: A ghast's Strength and Charisma
increase by +4, and its Dexterity increases by +2.
These modifiers are in addition to those already
applied for the original ghoul template.
Feats: A ghast gains Improved Natural Attack
with all its natural weapons as bonus feats. They
may also gain an extra feat from their additional
hit dice. Many Ghasts choose Toughness for this
feat.
Organization: Same as the base ghoul, but
there are rarely more than 2-4 ghasts in a group.
The remainder of any larger grouping will be
ghouls, rather than ghasts.
Challenge Rating: As base ghoul +2.
Level Adjustment: +6 (base creature is high
ghoul) or — (all other forms of ghoul)

Ghoulish Secrets: Feats
Although most ghouls focus on delivering as
many of their paralyzing attacks as accurately as
possible, these creatures have been known to
develop other abilities and tactics. This is
particularly true of creatures were created from
creatures other than humans, or those that possess
one of the variant ghoul templates introduced on
page 12.
Wherever a feat in this section lists simply
'Ghoul' as a pre-requisite, this includes ghasts,
lacedons and all of the five variants presented in
this volume, as well as the standard ghoul
template.
Breath of Death
You can exhale a cloud of diseased air.
Pre-requisites: Ghoul fever special attack,
Maw of the Dead
Effects: Once per day you can exhale a cloud
of diseased gases from inside your body. This
cloud fills a 15-foot cone. All living creatures
within the cloud must immediately make a
Fortitude save against ghoul fever, exactly as if
you had just bitten them.
Special: This feat can be taken multiple times.
Each time it is taken, you can use this ability one
extra time per day. However, each time you use
this ability you must wait 1d4 rounds before you
are able to use it again.
Eater of the Dead
You can replenish your strength from the corpses
of your enemies.
Prerequisites: must be a corporeal Undead
creature
Benefit: If you spend ten minutes consuming
the flesh of a corpse that has been dead less than
one week, you heal 1 hit point. The maximum
number of hit points that can be regained from a
corpse depends on its size:
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
Fine or Diminutive 0
Tiny 1
Small 2
Medium 4
Large 8
Huge 16
Gargantuan 32
Colossal 64
Each creature that spends ten minutes eating
from the corpse reduces the corpse's limit by one,
irrespective of whether or not the creature has this
feat. For example, if a pack of four ghouls all
spent ten minutes eating a human corpse, that
corpse would provide no further benefit to a
creature with this feat.
Feast Magic
Your magic becomes more potent if you have
recently feasted on a fresh kill.
Pre-requisites: High Ghoul, Spellcaster level
3rd
Effects: Your spells gain a +1 bonus to the
saving throw DC if you have inflicted at least 10
points of bite damage to living creatures within
the minute immediately prior to casting the spell.
This damage does not all have to have been
inflicted on the same creature.
Special: This DC bonus stacks with those from
similar effects, such as the Spell Focus feat.
Feasting Ritual
You can gorge yourself to power your spells.
Pre-requisites: High Ghoul, Spellcaster level
5th, Feast Magic
Effects: Whenever a spell calls for a material
component, you may consume flesh as a
substitute. For every point of bite damage you
have inflicted on a living creature within the
minute immediately prior to casting a spell, you

may reduce the cost of materials required by 10
gp. If a material component has no listed cost, 1
point of bite damage suffices to replace it.
Special: Points of bite damage used to
substitute for material components are 'used up'.
They cannot be used again for the effects of this
feat, or for the effects of the Feast Magic feat.
Feast Ritual can reduce the material cost to zero,
but not below zero.
Feeding Frenzy
As soon as you taste flesh, you are driven by an
insatiable need for more.
Pre-requisites: Ghoul, Base Attack Bonus +2
Effects: Any time you successfully bite an
opponent in combat, you gain a +1 profane bonus
to attack and damage rolls until the end of your
next turn.
If you make multiple successful bite attacks,
the bonus and duration overlap, they do not stack.
Foot Rake
If you get a solid grip on an opponent you can
leap up and rake them with the talons on your
feet.
Pre-requisites: Two claw attacks per round,
Jump 5 ranks
Effects: In any round in which you make two
successful claw attacks, you may immediately
make one further claw attack at the same attack
bonus for the same damage.
Ghastly Touch
Your paralyzing touch is more potent than
normal.
Pre-requisites: Ghoul, Paralysis special attack
Effects: You gain a +1 bonus on the save DC
of your paralysis attack. Additionally, elves are
susceptible to your paralysis.
Gnaw
When you get a taste of blood you don't let go.
Pre-requisites: Bite attack, Base Attack Bonus
+3
Effects: When you make a successful bite
attack you may immediately make a grapple
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
check as a free action without provoking an attack
of opportunity. If you succeed, you fasten your
teeth into your opponent and automatically do
your bite attack damage on your action each
round (no attack roll required) until your opponent
breaks free of the grapple, one of you dies, or you
choose to let go.
Maw of the Dead
Your festering breath and rotted teeth carry a
particularly virulent disease.
Pre-requisites: Ghoul fever special attack.
Effects: Your ghoul fever special attack has an
incubation period of one round, not one day.
Prolonged Paralysis
The effects of your paralysis linger for longer than
usual.
Pre-requisites: Ghoul, Paralysis special attack,
Ghastly Touch
Effects: A creature which succumbs to your
paralysis special attack is paralyzed for an
additional 1d4 rounds.
Soul Eater
You feed on your opponents' souls, as well as
their bodies.
Pre-requisites: Ghoul, Base Attack Bonus +5,
Eater of the Dead
Effect: When making a bite attack, you can
choose to either paralyze your opponent or inflict
one negative level on a successful attack. The
save DC to remove the negative level is equal to
10 + 1/2 your hit dice + your Charisma ability
modifier. For each negative level bestowed, you
gain 5 temporary hit points.
Special: A creature slain by negative energy
from this ability rises as a ghoul zombie at the
next midnight. The ghoul zombie is under your
control, but you can control only 2 HD worth of
ghoul zombies creatures per hit die you possess. If
you exceed this number, the newly created ghoul
zombie falls under your control, and any excess
ghoul zombies you previously controlled become
uncontrolled. (You choose which creatures are
released.).
 Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls

Ghoulish Secrets: Magic

Ghouls are not widely known for their interest in Ghoul Domain Spells
religion or the arcane arts. Most of them care for 1 Elfskin
little except their next meal. However there are 2 Ghoul Touch
some ghouls who recall enough of their previous 3 Contagion*
existence to ponder what power watches over 4 Hold Monster
them now. More than one demon lord has been 5 Create Ghouls
pleased to claim the allegiance of these ghoulish 6 Ghoulish Gorging
philosophers, sometimes claiming dominion for 7 Ravening Curse
the flimsiest of reasons. At least one has done so
8 Plague*
using the excuse that the creatures that
9 Hold Monster, Mass
traditionally worshipped them had a phonemically
* When cast as a Ghoul domain spell, these
similar name. The closest thing ghouls have to a
spells inflict Ghoul Fever, rather than any of the
deity is the Marrow-Eater.
normal options. Ghoul Fever uses the same DC
The Marrow-Eater has no physical form. It is
and damage as Filth Fever, but any creature who
the burning hunger that fills every ghoul, driving
dies from it becomes a standard ghoul.
them to kill, and gorge, and kill again. In
worshipping the Marrow-Eater, the ghouls
worship the thing that drives and controls their Create Ghouls
every action. Necromancy [Evil]
The Marrow-Eater's domains are Evil, Ghouls, Level: Clr 6, Ghoul 5, Sor/Wiz 6
and Strength. Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 hour
Ghoul Domain Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Granted Power: You may use a paralyzing Target: One corpse
touch once per day. Your paralyzing touch is a Duration: Instantaneous
supernatural ability. You must succeed on a melee Saving Throw: None
touch attack against a living creature (using the Spell Resistance: No
rules for touch spells). When you touch, the target
must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 your This evil spell allows you to create ghouls of
cleric level + your Wisdom modifier) or be all kinds. The type or types of ghouls you can
paralyzed for a number of rounds equal to your create is based on your caster level, as shown on
cleric class level. the table below.

Caster Level Type of Ghoul Created

Ghoul Templates and 11th or lower Ghoul
Create Undead 12th Ghoulhond
This spell can still be used with the variant 13th Bloated Ghoul or Graveweed
ghoul rules presented here. The only varieties 14th Ghoul Zombie
of ghoul that can be created by create undead 15th High Ghoul
are the standard ghoul (at 11th level or lower)
or a standard ghoul which also has the ghast Any of these creatures may be created with the
template added (at 12th level or higher). lacedon template, if you wish, as long as you
possess the necessary material components.
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You may create a less powerful type of ghoul
than your level would allow if you choose. If you
create a form of ghoul with a caster level
requirement at least two levels lower than your
actual caster level, you may add the ghast
template to that ghoul. Created ghouls are not
automatically under the control of their animator.
If you are capable of commanding undead, you
may attempt to command the undead creature as it
forms.
Regardless of the type of ghoul you create with
this spell, you can’t create more HD of ghouls
than twice your caster level with a single casting.
Material Component: A clay pot filled with
grave dirt and a bowl of raw meat. The spell must
be cast on a body that has been dead no more than
24 hours. To create creatures without the lacedon
template, you must place a black onyx gem worth
at least 50 gp per HD of the undead to be created
into the mouth each corpse. If you want to create
lacedons, you must instead use black pearls worth
60 gp per HD of the undead to be created. The
magic of the spell turns either type of gem into
worthless shells.
Elfskin
Necromancy
Level: Ghoul 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Area: You and up to one ally per three caster
levels
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes
Creatures affected by this spell are treated as
elves for the purposes of resisting ghouls'
paralyzing attacks.
Elfskin does not protect against any other form
of paralysis, nor against the paralyzing attacks of
ghouls with the Ghastly Touch feat.
Material Component: A one-inch square of
dried elf skin.
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
Feast of Knowledge
Necromancy [Evil]
Level: Clr 4, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Personal
Area: You
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You consume the brain of another creature and
temporarily gain the ability to access some of that
creature's skills and abilities.
For every three caster levels you possess, you
may choose one feat or one Intelligence, Wisdom
or Charisma-based skill possessed by the creature
whose brain you have consumed. For the duration
of the spell's effects, you gain the following
bonus:
For each skill you chose, you are treated as
having the same number of ranks in the skill as
the creature whose brain you consumed, up to a
maximum number of ranks equal to 3 + your
caster level.
For each feat you chose, you are treated as if
you have that feat. You can only choose feats for
which you meet the pre-requisites. However, you
can use skill ranks and other feats gained through
feast of knowledge in order to meet these pre-
requisites. For example, if a 9th level caster used
this spell with the brain of a creature who had the
trample feat, the caster could use his first two
choices to gain the creature's ride skill and
mounted combat feat, in order to take the trample
feat.
Material Component: The brain of a creature
that has been dead less than 24 hours, which you
consume as part of the spell.

Feast of Magic
Necromancy [Evil]
Level: Clr 5, Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Personal
Area: You
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You consume the brain of another creature and
temporarily gain the ability to access some of that
creature's magical insight.
For every three caster levels you possess, you
may choose one prepared but unused spell, or one
unused use of a spell-like ability, the deceased
creature possessed. This spell or spell-like ability
is added to your allotment of spells for the day.
The level of the spell or spell-like ability may
not exceed one-third of your caster level when
casting this spell. You cast these stolen spells at
the same caster level as you cast feast of magic.
Any stolen spells that have not been cast when
feast of magic expires are lost.
Material Component: The brain of a creature
that has been dead less than 24 hours, which you
consume as part of the spell.
Feast of Might
Necromancy [Evil]
Level: Clr 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Personal
Area: You
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You consume the heart of another creature and
temporarily gain the ability to access some of that
creature's physical prowess.
You gain a +2 profane bonus to your Strength
and Dexterity, as well as 1d8 plus 1 per caster
level (maximum +15) temporary hit points. The
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
number of temporary hit points granted cannot
exceed the maximum number of hit points the
dead creature possessed before it was slain.
Material Component: The heart of a creature
that has been dead less than 24 hours, which you
consume as part of the spell.
Ghoulish Gorging
Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Ghoul 6
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Feast for one creature/level
Duration: 1 hour plus 12 hours; see text
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You bring forth a great mound of raw and
bloody meat. Any creature consuming a share of
the feast gains 1d8 temporary hit points +1 point
caster level (maximum +20), as well as a +1
profane bonus on attack rolls and Will saves and
immunity to fear effects for 12 hours.
Any living creature partaking of the feast also
gains immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis,
stunning, disease, and death effects, and also is
not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage,
ability drain, or energy drain. Finally, they are
immune to damage to their physical ability scores
(Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution), as well as
to fatigue and exhaustion effects. All these effects
last twelve hours.
An undead creatures partaking of the feast
gains a +4 profane bonus to turn resistance, and a
+2 profane bonus to Strength and Dexterity.
These effects also last 12 hours.
A creature that does not consume raw meat as
a part of its normal diet must make a Fortitude
check (DC 10) in order to partake of the feast. The
food takes 1 hour to consume, and the beneficial
effects do not set in until this hour is over.
If the feast is interrupted for any reason, the
spell is ruined and all effects of the spell are
negated.
 Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
Plague Ravening Curse
Necromancy [Evil] Enchantment (Evil)
Level: Clr 9, Ghoul 8, Sor/Wiz 9 Level: Ghoul 7, Sor/Wiz 8
Components: V, S Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 minute Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level) Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area: All living creatures in a 30-ft. radius burst Area: All creatures in a 15-ft. radius burst
Duration: Instantaneous Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes Spell Resistance: Yes

Select a disease from the table below. All The targets of this spell are overcome with an
living creatures in the target area contract this insatiable hunger for raw and bloody meat. They
disease, which strikes immediately (no incubation immediately attack the nearest living creature not
period). The DC noted is for the subsequent saves affected by this spell. Once their target creature is
(use plague's normal save DC for the initial killed, they tear and gnaw at the corpse for one
saving throw). minute, before seeking out another victim.
An affected creature that cannot locate a target
Disease DC Damage makes a full move in a randomly chosen direction
Blinding sickness 16 1d4 Str1 each round, seeking prey.
Cackle fever 16 1d6 Wis Creatures affected by this spell gain the
Filth fever 12 1d3 Dex & 1d3 Con benefits and penalties of berserk rage, identical to
Mindfire 12 1d4 Int that of a 1st level barbarian, except that the effects
Red ache 15 1d6 Str last for the entire duration of the spell and they are
Shakes 13 1d8 Dex not fatigued when the spell ends.
Slimy doom 14 1d4 Con Arcane Material Component: A tooth from a
1 Each time a victim takes 2 or more points of ghoul and a vial of unholy water.
Strength damage from blinding sickness, he or
she must make another Fortitude save (using the
disease’s save DC) or be permanently blinded.

Page 11

Ghoulish Secrets: Variants
Although it is the most well known, the standard
ghoul is not the only form of ravenous, flesh-
eating undead that has been encountered by
adventurers. Many adventurers have encountered
a variety of powerful and dangerous relatives of
the standard ghoul, with some even managing to
return home with tales of their encounter. This
section provides details for five variant forms of
ghoul with which to challenge your player
characters.
These variant ghoul templates share many
features that are the same as the standard ghoul
template, so some information is repeated several
times in this section. We chose to provide each
template in full so that all information needed to
apply the template is in one place.
Bloated Ghoul
Although the reason why ghouls are driven to
consume the flesh of the living is not known, what
has been confirmed is that in most cases, the meat
is broken down by the negative energy in the
ghoul's body. This is the reason most ghouls are
emaciated despite constantly gorging themselves
on flesh.
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
In bloated ghouls, this process of breaking
down the consumed flesh does not occur. Instead,
the flesh these creatures consume simply rots and
decays in the ghouls stomach. Bloated ghouls gain
their name from the way that the build-up of
rotting flesh and the resulting gases that are
generated cause their bodies to grow grossly
obese. Stretched like a balloon to contain the meat
they consume, the skin of a bloated ghoul is often
all-but translucent, revealing the grisly contents of
the creature's stomach.
When a bloated ghoul is injured in combat,
lumps of meat can sometimes fall through the
wounds. Bloated ghouls have been known to stop
and consume these fallen morsels in the middle of
the battle.
Other than their massively distended stomachs,
bloated ghouls appear similar to their more
common ghoulish kin, with gray skin, no hair, and
reddish-colored eyes.
The origin of these foul creatures is
unconfirmed, though one legend holds that they
were created when a ravening curse which was
placed on a community of elves and somehow
made permanent.
Creating A Bloated Ghoul
'Bloated Ghoul' is an acquired template that can
be added to any corporeal aberration, dragon, fey,
giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous
humanoid or outsider.
Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to
undead. It retains any subtypes except alignment
subtypes and subtypes that indicate kind. It does
not gain the augmented subtype. It uses all the
base creature’s statistics and special abilities
except as noted here.
Hit Dice: Drop any Hit Dice from class levels
(to a minimum of 1), add three to the number of
Hit Dice left, and raise them to d12s.
 Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
Speed: If the base creature can fly, its A bloated ghoul gains the following special
maneuverability rating drops to clumsy. attacks:
The bloated ghoul's speed (in all forms of Bloat Fever (Su): Disease—bite, Fortitude DC
movement) is reduced by 10 feet, to a minimum 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma ability modifier,
speed of 5 feet. incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3 Con and 1d3
Armor Class: Natural armor bonus increases Dex.
by a number based on the bloated ghoul's size: An afflicted creature of an appropriate type
which dies of bloat fever rises as a bloated ghoul
Tiny or smaller +2 at the next midnight. It is not under the control of
Small +3 any other creature, but it hungers for the flesh of
Medium +4 the living and behaves like a normal bloated ghoul
Large +5 in all respects.
Huge +6 Slow (Su): Those hit by a bloated ghoul’s bite
Gargantuan +9 or claw attack must succeed on a Fortitude save
Colossal +13 (DC 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma ability modifier)
or be slowed for 2d4+1 rounds. Elves have no
Base Attack: A bloated ghoul has a base special resistance to this effect.
attack bonus equal to 1/2 its Hit Dice. Damage Reduction (Ex): A bloated ghoul has
Attacks: A bloated ghoul retains all the natural damage reduction 5/slashing.
weapons of the base creature. A bloated ghoul Rotbloat (Ex): Bloated ghouls are filled with
gains a bite attack as a primary attack if it does vile and noxious gasses caused by the meat rotting
not already have one. All existing natural inside them. Any time a bloated ghoul suffers
weapons are treated as secondary attacks. If it has damage from a piercing or slashing weapon, any
no other natural weapons, it also gains two claw creature adjacent to it must make a Fortitude save
attacks as secondary attacks. A bloated ghoul (DC 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma ability modifier)
loses all manufactured weapon attacks and or be nauseated for one round as these gasses
manufactured weapon proficiencies. burst free in a noxious wave.
Damage: Natural weapons deal damage Special Qualities: A bloated ghoul retains any
normally. A bite or claw attack deals damage extraordinary special qualities of the original
depending on the bloated ghoul's size. (Use the creature. A bloated ghoul gains +2 turn resistance
base creature's damage if it's better.) and the following special quality:
Massive (Ex): A bloated ghoul is unusually big
Size Bite Claw and heavy for its size. It gains a +2 racial bonus
on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed
Fine 1 1
and overrun.
Diminutive 1d2 1
Saves: Base save bonuses are Fort +1/3 HD,
Tiny 1d3 1
Ref +1/3 HD, and Will +1/2 HD + 2.
Small 1d4 1d2
Abilities: A bloated ghoul's Strength,
Medium 1d6 1d3
Charisma and Wisdom increase by +4, its
Large 1d8 1d4 Dexterity decreases by 4 (to a minimum value of
Huge 2d6 1d6 1), and it has no Constitution score.
Gargantuan 2d8 1d8 Skills: A bloated ghoul loses all existing skills.
Colossal 4d6 2d6 It gains the normal number of skill points for an
undead creature of its hit dice and Intelligence. A
Special Attacks: A bloated ghoul retains all of bloated ghoul's class skills are Climb, Hide,
the base creature’s extraordinary special attacks. Intimidate, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot.

Page 13

A bloated ghoul retains all the base creature's
racial modifiers to skills.
Feats: A bloated ghoul loses all existing feats,
but gains new feats based on their modified
number of hit dice. Most bloated ghouls take
Multiattack and Eater of the Dead.
Environment: Any.
Organization: Solitary, gang (2–4), or pack
(7–12).
Challenge Rating: HD 1 or less, as base
creature +1; HD 2 or more, as base creature +2.
Treasure: None.
Alignment: Always chaotic evil.
Advancement: As base creature, but
maximum Hit Dice increased by three. No
advancement is possible if the base creature
ordinarily advances by character class.
Level Adjustment: —.
Ghoul Zombie
Sages argue whether the ghoul zombie is more
accurately catalogued as a ghoul, or as a zombie.
Such fine distinctions are of little import to those
that have to face these creatures.
Ghoul zombies are mindless, slow-moving
beasts, much like ordinary zombies. They also
appear similar to those creatures, with rotting
flesh, white, filmy eyes, and a lurching manner of
movement.
On the other hand, ghoul zombies actively seek
out and attack living creatures, unless under the
control of a master who orders them not to do so.
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
This behavior is entirely instinctual and does not
seem to be sparked by any conscious intelligence.
Like ghouls, ghoul zombies feed on the creatures
they kill, and can pass on their condition to those
they bite.
Perhaps the most alarming thing about ghoul
zombies is their resilience to most forms of
damage. Apart from acid and fire, which
permanently sear the creature's flesh, only good-
aligned weapons can harm these creatures, by
breaking down the foul magic that sustains them.
Creating A Ghoul Zombie
'Ghoul Zombie' is an acquired template that can
be added to any corporeal creature (other than an
undead) that has a skeletal system (referred to
hereafter as the base creature).
Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to
undead. It retains any subtypes except alignment
subtypes and subtypes that indicate kind. It does
not gain the augmented subtype. It uses all the
base creature’s statistics and special abilities
except as noted here.
Hit Dice: Drop any Hit Dice from class levels
(to a minimum of 1), double the number of Hit
Dice left, and raise them to d12s.
Speed: If the base creature can fly, its
maneuverability rating drops to clumsy.
Armor Class: Natural armor bonus increases
by a number based on the ghoul zombie’s size:
Tiny or smaller +0
Small +1
Medium +2
Large +3
Huge +4
Gargantuan +7
Colossal +11
Base Attack: A ghoul zombie has a base
attack bonus equal to 1/2 its Hit Dice.
Attacks: A ghoul zombie retains all the natural
weapons, manufactured weapon attacks, and
weapon proficiencies of the base creature. A
ghoul zombie gains a bite attack as a primary
attack if it does not already have one. All existing

weapons (natural or otherwise) are treated as
secondary attacks.
Damage: Natural and manufactured weapons
deal damage normally. A bite attack deals damage
depending on the ghoul zombie’s size. (Use the
base creature’s bite damage if it’s better.)
Fine 1 Feats: A ghoul zombie loses all feats of the
Diminutive 1d2
Tiny 1d3
Small 1d4
Medium 1d6
Large 1d8
Huge 2d6
Gargantuan 2d8
Colossal 4d6
Special Attacks: A ghoul zombie retains none
of the base creature’s special attacks. A ghoul
zombie gains the following special attack:
Ghoul Zombie Fever (Su): Disease—bite,
Fortitude DC 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma ability
modifier, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3
Con and 1d3 Dex.
An afflicted creature of an appropriate type
which dies of ghoul zombie fever rises as a ghoul
zombie at the next midnight. It is not under the
control of any other creature, but it hungers for
the flesh of the living and behaves like a normal
ghoul zombie in all respects.
Special Qualities: A ghoul zombie loses most
special qualities of the base creature. It retains any
extraordinary special qualities that improve its
melee or ranged attacks. A ghoul zombie gains the
following special qualities.
Single Actions Only (Ex): Ghoul zombies have
poor reflexes and can perform only a single move
action or attack action each round. A zombie can
move up to its speed and attack in the same round,
but only if it attempts a charge.
Damage Reduction (Ex): A ghoul zombie has
damage reduction 5/slashing.
Regeneration 5 (Su): Ghoul Zombies take
normal damage from fire, acid and good-aligned
weapons.
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
Saves: Base save bonuses are Fort +1/3 HD,
Ref +1/3 HD, and Will +1/2 HD + 2.
Abilities: A ghoul zombie’s Strength increases
by +2, its Dexterity decreases by 2, it has no
Constitution or Intelligence score, its Wisdom
changes to 10, and its Charisma changes to 1.
Skills: A ghoul zombie has no skills.
base creature and gains Toughness. Ghoul
zombies also gain Gnaw as a bonus feat.
Challenge Rating: Depends on Hit Dice, as
follows:
Hit Dice Challenge Rating
½ 1
1-2 2
4-6 3
8–10 4
12–14 6
+2 +3/4*
* round to nearest whole number
Treasure: None.
Alignment: Always neutral evil.
Advancement: As base creature, but double
Hit Dice (maximum 20), or — if the base creature
advances by character class.
Level Adjustment: —.
Ghoulhound
While ghoul fever can kill wounded animals that
escape a ghoul attack, it does not cause them to
rise as ghouls themselves. For the high ghoul
Oleamder Renn, such a situation was
unacceptable. A powerful druid in life, Renn
deeply felt the loss of his animal companion,
which had fled after his transformation. He began
a series of magical experiments, attempting to
alter the disease so that it could be communicated
to and between animals.
Renn's experiments took many years, but were
ultimately a success. He created a new strain of
ghoul fever that could infect animals of all kinds.
As he had conducted his experiments on a pack of
dogs, he named the resulting creations
 Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
'ghoulhounds', a sobriquet that has stuck even now
that many different animals have been infected. Size Bite Claw
Ghoulhounds appear like emaciated, red-eyed Fine 1d2 1
versions of the base animals. If the animal had fur Diminutive 1d3 1
in life, only patches will remain, revealing large Tiny 1d4 1d2
areas of gray skin. They have become quite Small 1d6 1d3
popular amongst high ghouls, who make use of Medium 1d8 1d4
them as a human hunter would use living hounds. Large 2d6 1d6
Huge 2d8 1d8
Creating A Ghoulhound Gargantuan 4d6 2d6
'Ghoulhound' is an acquired template that can be Colossal 6d6 2d8
added to any animal.
Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to Special Attacks: A ghoulhound retains all of
undead. It retains any subtypes except alignment the base creature’s extraordinary special attacks.
subtypes and subtypes that indicate kind. It does A ghoulhound gains the following special attacks:
not gain the augmented subtype. It uses all the Ghoulhound Fever (Su): Disease—bite,
base creature’s statistics and special abilities Fortitude DC 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma ability
except as noted here. modifier, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3
Hit Dice: Change to d12s. Con and 1d3 Dex.
Speed: If the base creature can fly, its An afflicted animal which dies of ghoulhound
maneuverability rating drops to average. If it is fever rises as a ghoulhound at the next midnight.
currently worse than average, it does not change. It is not under the control of any other creature,
Armor Class: Natural armor bonus increases but it hungers for the flesh of the living and
by a number based on the ghoulhound's size: behaves like a normal ghoulhound in all respects.
Paralysis (Ex): Those hit by a ghoulhound’s
Tiny or smaller +0 natural weapons must succeed on a Fortitude save
Small +1 (DC 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma ability modifier)
Medium +2 or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds. Elves have
Large +3 immunity to this paralysis.
Huge +4 Special Qualities: A ghoulhound retains any
Gargantuan +7 extraordinary special qualities of the original
Colossal +11 creature. A ghoulhound also gains the following
special qualities:
Base Attack: A ghoulhound has a base attack • +2 turn resistance
bonus equal to 1/2 its Hit Dice. • Scent
Attacks: A ghoulhound retains all the natural Saves: Base save bonuses are Fort +1/3 HD,
weapons of the base creature. A ghoulhound gains Ref +1/3 HD, and Will +1/2 HD + 2.
a bite attack as a primary attack if it does not Abilities: A ghoulhound's Strength and
already have one. All existing natural weapons are increases by +6, its Dexterity and Wisdom
treated as secondary attacks. If it has no other increase by +2, and it has no Constitution score.
natural weapons, it also gains two claw attacks as Skills: A ghoulhound loses all existing skills. It
secondary attacks. gains the normal number of skill points for an
Damage: Natural weapons deal damage undead creature of its hit dice and Intelligence. A
normally. A bite or claw attack deals damage ghoulhound's class skills are Hide, Jump, Move
depending on the ghoulhound's size. (Use the base Silently, Spot and Survival.
creature's damage if it's better.)

Page 16

A ghoulhound retains all the base creature's
racial modifiers to skills.
Feats: A ghoulhound loses all existing feats,
but gains new feats based on their hit dice. Most
ghoulhounds take Multiattack as their first feat.
Ghoulhounds gain Track as a bonus feat.
Environment: Any.
Organization: Solitary, pack (2–8), or herd
(9–24).
Challenge Rating: HD 1 or less, as base
creature +1/2; HD 2 or more, as base creature +1.
Treasure: None.
Alignment: Always neutral evil.
Advancement: As base creature.
Level Adjustment: —.
Graveweed
Unlike ghoulhounds, which were the result of
deliberate magical experimentation, graveweeds
appear to have originated by accident. When a
large number of ghouls are killed in the same
location, and left to rot, some of the negative
energy in their bodies apparently seep into earth,
where it can infect nearby plants.
A graveweed appears like a sickly version of
the living plant, with scaly gray mold growing on
its leaves, branches or stalk. Creatures examining
the graveweed closely might notice a grayish,
vine-like growth coiled near its base.
Occasionally, a large gray bulb will grow on
the side of the creature, near the ground. This is a
seedling for a new graveweed. The adult
graveweed either plants this seedling itself and
then moves to a new location or, more commonly,
sends one or two of its controlled zombies to plant
the seedling elsewhere.
Of limited intelligence and mobility, a
graveweed's objectives are usually simple: keep
itself fed and healthy, protect itself from harm,
and create new graveweeds. It attacks any living
creature that strays within reach of its slam attack
or its zombies.
High ghouls sometimes use patches of
graveweed as protection for their lairs. Other
forms of ghouls generally do not appreciate the
rivalry for food, and steer clear.
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
Creating A Graveweed
'Graveweed' is an acquired template that can be
added to any corporeal plant.
Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to
undead. It retains any subtypes except alignment
subtypes and subtypes that indicate kind. It does
not gain the augmented subtype. It uses all the
base creature’s statistics and special abilities
except as noted here.
Hit Dice: Drop any Hit Dice from class levels
(to a minimum of 1), and raise them to d12s.
Speed: If the base creature can fly, its
maneuverability rating drops to average. If it is
currently worse than average, it does not change.
If the base creature has no movement, the
graveweed gains the ability to lift itself out of the
ground and drag itself along with its roots. It has a
base speed of 5 feet, in this case.
Otherwise, the graveweed has the same
movement speeds as the base creature.
Armor Class: Natural armor bonus increases
by a number based on the ghoulweed's size:
Tiny or smaller +0
Small +1
Medium +2
Large +3
Huge +4
Gargantuan +7
Colossal +11
Base Attack: A graveweed has a base attack
bonus equal to 1/2 its Hit Dice.
Attacks: A graveweed retains all the natural
weapons of the base creature. A graveweed also
gains a slam attack as a primary attack if it does
not already have one. This slam attack comes
from a thick, whip-like vine with a heavy, bulbous
tip. All existing natural weapons are treated as
secondary attacks. A graveweed loses all
manufactured weapon attacks and manufactured
weapon proficiencies.
Damage: Natural weapons deal damage
normally. A slam attack deals damage and has
reach depending on the graveweed's size. (Use the
base creature's damage or reach if it's better.)
 Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
Size Damage Reach Abilities: A graveweed's Strength increases by
Fine 1 0 ft. +6. Its Dexterity and Intelligence scores increase
Diminutive 1d2 0 ft. to 6 if they were currently lower (the graveweed
Tiny 1d3 5 ft. gains these ability scores even if it did not
Small 1d4 10 ft. previously possess them). A graveweed has no
Medium 1d6 10 ft. Constitution score.
Large 1d8 15 ft. Skills: A graveweed loses all existing skills. It
Huge 2d6 20 ft. gains the normal number of skill points for an
Gargantuan 2d8 25 ft. undead creature of its hit dice and Intelligence. A
Colossal 4d6 30 ft. graveweed's class skills are Climb, Hide, Listen,
Move Silently, and Spot.
Special Attacks: A graveweed retains all of A graveweed retains all racial modifiers to
the base creature’s extraordinary special attacks. skills.
A graveweed gains the following special qualities: Feats: A graveweed loses all existing feats, but
Blood Drain (Ex): A graveweed can extrude a gains new feats based on its hit dice. Most
hollow root that allows it to drain blood from any graveweeds take Corpse Hide as their first feat.
helpless living creature within reach of its slam Environment: Any.
attack. The graveweed can drain only one creature Organization: Solitary, patch (2–4), or thicket
per round. The target suffers 1d4 points of (7–12).
Constitution damage per round of blood drain. Challenge Rating: HD 1 or less, as base
Create Spawn (Su): Any creature slain by a creature +1/2; HD 2 or more, as base creature +1.
graveweed's Blood Drain rises as a zombie 24 Treasure: None.
hours later. This zombie is under the control of Alignment: Always neutral evil.
the graveweed, which generally uses its zombies Advancement: As base creature, but
to protect it from enemies and to drag dead bodies maximum Hit Dice increased by one, or — if the
close enough for it to feed. base creature advances by character class.
A graveweed can control a maximum of 4 hit Level Adjustment: —.
dice of zombies per hit die it possesses. If it
exceeds this number, all the newly created High Ghoul
creatures fall under its control, and any excess Standard ghouls lose the personality and
undead from previous uses of this ability become memories they held in life, with any remnants of
uncontrolled. (The graveweed chooses which their mortal life subsumed by the unending
creatures are released.) hunger. In the last century, a new breed of ghouls
A graveweed can choose not to create new has begun to emerge.
spawn if it wishes. Whether these creatures are the result of
Paralysis (Ex): Those hit by a graveweed's magical experimentation, random happenstance,
natural weapons must succeed on a Fortitude save or have merely kept themselves hidden in distant
(DC 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma ability modifier) realms until now is not known. What is known is
or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds. Elves have that these High Ghouls, as they call themselves,
immunity to this paralysis. retain the memories and abilities they possessed in
Special Qualities: A graveweed retains any life. Their personalities do change (unless of
extraordinary special qualities of the original course they were already a vicious, flesh-eating
creature, except mindless. A graveweed gains +2 monster prior to their transformation into a high
turn resistance. ghoul), as high ghouls are uniformly callous
Saves: Base save bonuses are Fort +1/3 HD, killers who revel in the fear and horror generated
Ref +1/3 HD, and Will +1/2 HD + 2. by their depredations and foul appetites. This
change is not always immediately apparent, as
Page 18

many high ghouls retain a lot of the traits they had
in life. A high ghoul who was a noble, for
instance, still savors fine wine and genteel
conversation, and can be a suitably charming host
when need be.
High ghouls look similar to normal ghouls,
though their skin tends to be more white than gray
and they often retain their hair. They usually dress
far better than their lesser cousins, often stealing
the belongings of their victims, and may carry
weapons or armor if they were skilled with such
in life.
Creating A High Ghoul
'High Ghoul' is an acquired template that can be
added to any corporeal aberration, dragon, fey,
giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous
humanoid or outsider that advances by character
class.
Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to
undead. It retains any subtypes except alignment
subtypes and subtypes that indicate kind. It does
Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
not gain the augmented subtype. It uses all the
base creature’s statistics and special abilities
except as noted here.
Hit Dice: Retain all hit dice from racial and
class levels and raise them to d12s.
Speed: If the base creature can fly, its
maneuverability rating drops to average. If it is
currently worse than average, it does not change.
Armor Class: Natural armor bonus increases
by a number based on the high ghoul's size:
Tiny or smaller +0
Small +1
Medium +2
Large +3
Huge +4
Gargantuan +7
Colossal +11
Base Attack: A high ghoul retains the base
attack bonus granted to it by its race and class
levels.
Attacks: A high ghoul retains all the natural
weapons, manufactured weapon attacks and
weapon proficiencies of the base creature. A high
ghoul gains a bite attack as a primary attack if it
does not already have one. All existing natural
weapons are treated as secondary attacks. If it has
no other natural weapons, it also gains two claw
attacks as secondary attacks.
Damage: Natural and manufactured weapons
deal damage normally. A bite or claw attack deals
damage depending on the high ghoul's size. (Use
the base creature's damage if it's better.)

Size Bite Claw

Fine 1 1
Diminutive 1d2 1
Tiny 1d3 1
Small 1d4 1d2
Medium 1d6 1d3
Large 1d8 1d4
Huge 2d6 1d6
Gargantuan 2d8 1d8
Colossal 4d6 2d6

Page 19

Special Attacks: A high ghoul retains all of
the base creature’s special attacks, provided these
attacks do not require a living physiology. A high
ghoul gains the following special attacks:
High Ghoul Fever (Su): Disease—bite,
Fortitude DC 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma ability
modifier, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d3
Con and 1d3 Dex.
A creature which dies from high ghoul fever
must make a level check against DC 15. If it
succeeds, it rises as a high ghoul rather than a
standard ghoul. A creature that rises as a high
ghoul is not under the control of any other ghouls.
A creature that rises as a standard ghoul is under
the control of the high ghoul whose fever created
it.
Paralysis (Ex): Those hit by a high ghoul’s
natural weapons must succeed on a Fortitude save
(DC 10 + 1/2 hit dice + Charisma ability modifier)
or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds. Elves have
immunity to this paralysis.
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Masterwork Monsters: Rise of the Ghouls
Special Qualities: A high ghoul retains all
special qualities of the original creature. A high
ghoul gains +2 turn resistance.
Abilities: A high ghoul's Strength, Intelligence
and Charisma increase by +2, its Dexterity and
Wisdom increase by +4, and it has no Constitution
score.
Feats: A high ghoul retains all the existing
feats it had in life, and gains Multiattack as a
bonus feat.
Environment: Any.
Organization: Any.
Challenge Rating: HD 5 or less, as base
creature +1; HD 6 or more, as base creature +2.
Treasure: Standard.
Alignment: Any evil. A high ghoul that has
class levels which require an alignment other than
the one they choose is treated as an ex-member of
that class, as outlined in the class's description.
Advancement: By character class.
Level Adjustment: +4

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