Lakava

The small creature in front of you stares up with piercing black eyes. The pallid lips of its purplish corpse-like mouth stretch back to show large yellowed teeth, as it begins a shrill scream that would cause the strongest warrior to cringe.

A lakava is a horror to behold. It is a grotesque thing, the likes of which has even caused me terror and disgust I never thought possible. It is a malevolent spirit from the Navirim, whose entrance into our world is a particularly awful chosen vessel to possess: the body of an infant or small child who has passed. The lakava changes the body in terrible ways, as if the innocent vessel is trying to reject such an abomination. Just to behold one, or hear its cry, is enough to shake a person’s grip on reality. I know this all too well, and would as soon forget I did. 

—Etahn

Lakava

CharacteristicsCV2
StatScore%Speed30’
STR840HP15
CON1050Dmg Mod-1
SIZ525AV1
INT1050ClassMonster
ACU945TypeNavirite
DEX1680Horror1/1d6
SOC840TreasurePoor
  • Attack: (2) Claw 65% 1d6+2+dm plus 1d4 Wither; Bite 60% 1d6+2+dm plus 1d4 Wither
  • Skills: Acrobatics 65%, Dodge 60%, Grapple 45%, Hide 65%, Listen 55%, Spot 60%, Stealth 65%
  • Special: Dark Vision 60’, Maniacal Laugh, Withering Attacks
  • Weaknesses: Cold Iron
  • Habitat: Any
  • Encounter: Solitary

SIZ Note

Small (SIZ 5) = +10% to Hide, Stealth, and Dodge (already applied).

Withering Attacks

A lakava’s unnatural body radiates the corrupting influence of the Navirim. Its Claw and Bite attacks inflict an additional 1d4 Wither damage. Wither bypasses AV unless the target’s armor is silvered. Wither manifests as cracking skin, darkening veins, and flesh unnaturally drying and decaying.

Maniacal Laugh

Once per combat, the lakava may release a shrill, unnatural laugh as a free action. One living creature within 60’ that can hear the lakava must make an ACU save. On a failure, the target becomes shaken and must immediately make a 0/1d3 Horror check. A creature that succeeds on the ACU save is immune to that lakava’s Maniacal Laugh for the remainder of the encounter.

Cold Iron Vulnerability

Cold iron disrupts the Navirite spirit possessing the lakava’s stolen body. Cold iron weapons inflict +1d4 damage.

Since the Lakava’s physical body is a possessed corpse, I’d keep most harvestables supernatural rather than treating the child’s remains as valuable monster parts. The useful materials should be things created by the Navirite possession.

Reagents & Remnants

Navirite Ichor (Reagent)

A thick, dark fluid that collects around the Lakava’s organs as the possessing spirit corrupts its vessel. The ichor remains unnaturally cold and is useful in magic involving decay, possession, and the Navirim.

Value: 75 gp
Harvesting Difficulty: Average

Navirite Essence (Reagent)

If harvested immediately after a Lakava is destroyed, a small portion of the departing Navirite spirit can sometimes be trapped in a silver or magically prepared vessel. This essence is prized for magical research involving Navirites, possession, and protection from the Navirim.

Value: 150 gp
Harvesting Difficulty: Very Difficult