Heat and dehydration have tanned this humanoid’s skin into a thick reddish leather which still smells of the palm wine, cinnamon, and honey from its burial ritual. The body jerks forward in spasms, moving its arms and legs in angles impossible for a living creature. It suddenly stops and open it mouth to release a cloud of iridescent beetles.
XP 1,600
LN Medium undead
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +16
Aura Scarab Swarm (30 ft., 1d6 damage plus distraction and scarab parasite)
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+1 dex, +7 natural)
HP 58 (8d8+24)
Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +8
DR 5/—; Immune undead traits
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee khopesh +11 (1d8+4/19-20)
STATISTICS
Str 18, Dex 12, Con —, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 14
Base Atk +6; CMB +13; CMD 23
Feats Power Attack, Toughness, Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Focus (slam)
Skills Perception +16, Survival +12
Languages Classical Rigian
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Scarab Swarm (Ex) – A swarm of scarab beetles crawl out of the mummy’s body and swarm around in a buzzing cloud. All creatures within the aura (except for another scarab mummy or a non-living creature) take 1d6 damage plus distraction per round.
Distraction (Ex) - A creature damaged by the scarab mummy’s Scarab Swarm. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a DC 15 Fortitude save negates the effect.
Scarab Parasite (Su) Disease (parasite) — 3 points of damage from Scarab Swarm; save Will DC 16; onset 3 rounds; frequency 1/day; effect gain Deathwatch as per Cleric spell plus 1d6 Wis and 1d6 Cha damage; cure 3 saves
Scarabs from this mummies swarm have burrowed under the skin of those they attack. The beetles’ presence causes its host to see death written upon the faces of all. For as long as they are infested, the host see all living creatures in the state of death or decay. While these visions may be helpful in determining the health of those looked at, seeing the world in such a constant state of decay can drive the all but the strongest mad.
In some, becoming a scarab mummy is a great honor granted to the most faithful. To others, the rite is but another requirement of their servitude to their lord. In any case this precursor to contemporary mummification is a ritual respected by those who value or hold to the old Rigian gods.
The mummified remains tend to be decorated with gold jewelry and white linen shendyt. Their garments contrasting their dehydrated skin with its reddish lacquered appearance. Though the process of mummification is less refined than later processes, the body and facial features remain hauntingly intact. Contrary to other methods tried over the centuries, looking at the hardened face of a scarab mummy has been compared to looking at the feature of a well carved marble statue. All of this comes as at a price, however, and only the most wealthy temples could afford performing such a ritual.