Silveraith
Silveraiths are incorporeal undead creatures that glow with pale blue energy (like that created by a chill touch spell). Their forms are vaguely skeletal, but they suggest clothing the creatures often wore in life, such as flowing robes or full plate armor.
Silveraiths are created through a specific application of the create greater undead spell. The caster must be of a level sufficient to create a ghost, and the subject must have been a creature to which the silveraith template can be added. The spell must be cast on the Negative Material Plane, or in an area where negative energy is overwhelmingly present.
Creating a Silveraith
"Silveraith" is a template that can be added to any living creature of at least 5 levels or Hit Dice that uses magic, whether it is an arcane or divine spellcaster or a creature with supernatural or spell-like abilities (referred, to hereafter as the base creature). The creature's type changes to undead, and it gains the incorporeal subtype. It uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Hit Dice: All the base creature's Hit Dice increase to d12s.
Speed: A silveraith gains a fly speed of 30 feet (or the base creature's fly speed, if that is greater), with perfect maneuverability.
AC: The silveraith has a deflection bonus to its AC equal to 5 + its Charisma bonus (if any). As an incorporeal creature, it has no natural armor bonus.
Attacks: The silveraith can make a number of incorporeal touch attacks equal to the base creature's number of natural attacks. For example, a Small dragon silveraith would have three incorporeal touch attacks (from its bite and two claw attacks). If the silveraith has more than one incorporeal touch attack, it makes additional attacks beyond the first at a -5 penalty (unless, it has the Multiattack feat). A silveraith applies its Dexterity modifier to its touch attack rolls.
Damage: A silveraith's incorporeal touch attacks function as inflict serious wounds spells that deal 3d8+1 points of damage per level (maximum 3d8+10). A successful Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 silveraith's level + silveraith's' Charisma modifier) reduces the damage by half.
Special Attacks: A silveraith retains all the base creature's supernatural and spell-like special attacks (but not its extraordinary ones) and also gains those listed below. All saving throw DCs are equal to 10 + 1/2 silveraith's HD + silveraith's Charisma modifier unless noted otherwise.
Magic Absorption (Su): A silveraith can ready an action to absorb spells targeted at it as if it were a rod of absorption. When it absorbs spell energy, it creates a backlash of negative energy that deals 1d6 points of damage per absorbed spell level to the caster of the spell (Will save for half). A negative energy protection spell negates this damage, and undead spellcasters are actually healed by this effect.
Spells: A silveraith can cast any spells it could cast while alive, except for healing spells or other spells utilizing positive energy.
Special Qualities: A silveraith retains all the base creature's supernatural and spell-like special qualities (but not its exceptional ones) and also gains those listed below.
Create Spawn (Su): An arcane or divine spellcaster killed outright by the backlash of the silveraith's magic absorption power rises as a silveraith itself in 1d4 days. If the victim would not otherwise qualify for the template, it does not become a silveraith. The silveraith exercises no special control over spawn created in this manner.
Immunities (Ex): Silveraiths are immune to cold, electricity, polymorph, and mind-affecting attacks.
Incorporeal Subtype: A silveraith can be harmed only by other incorporeal creatures, +1 or better magic weapons, spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities. The creature has a 50% chance to ignore any damage from a corporeal source; except for force effects or attacks made with ghost touch weapons. A silveraith can pass through solid objects, but not force effects, at will. Its attacks ignore natural armor, armor, and shields, but deflection bonuses and force effects work normally against them. A silveraith always moves silently and cannot be heard with Listen checks if it doesn't wish to be.
Turn Resistance (Ex): A silveraith has +4 turn resistance.
Undead Traits: A silveraith is immune to mind-affecting effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, necromantic effects, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless it also works on objects. It is not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, ability drain, energy drain, or death from massive damage. A silveraith cannot be raised, and resurrection works only if it is willing. The creature has darkvision (60-foot range).
Abilities: A silveraith gains +2 to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, but as an incorporeal undead creature, it has no Strength or Constitution score.
Skills: A silveraith receives a +8 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Search, and Spot checks. Otherwise its skills are the same as the base creature's.
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature + 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Any nonlawful and nongood. Lawful or good designators change to neutral. Thus, a chaotic good creature becomes a chaotic neutral silveraith, while a lawful good creature becomes neutral.
Advancement: As base creature.
Sample Silveraith: Silveraith (Sample).