New Monster – Octagon

The eight-sided obsidian pillar wrenched itself free of the ground and began drifting forward, slowly spinning.  Fused to the top of the pillar was a wide helmet of dark metal and obsidian, from inside glared a faintly glowing red eye.  Somehow, its hatred was palpable and it quickly began casting bolts of black fire at us.

Octagon                                               CR 8 (4,800 XP)
LE medium construct (but see living core below)
Init +5; Senses Perception +10, Darkvision (60′)
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18; (+8 armor, +1 Dex, +1 Dodge)
hp 64 (8d10+20)
Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +4
Defensive Abilities dense, DR 10/blessed, DR 3/-, resistance to all energy types 10, SR 18; Immune construct traits (but see living core)
OFFENSE
Spd fly 45 ft (good)
Melee slashing limb +10 (1d8+2/ 16-20)
Missile 2 blasts of black fire +10 ranged touch (2d6 darkness + enervation effect)
Special Attacks unsettling presence
STATISTICS
Str 14 , Dex 13, Con –, Int 15, Wis 15, Cha 16
Base Atk +8; CMB +10; CMD 21
Feats dodge, improved initiative, point blank shot, precise shot, weapon focus (black fire)
Skills Fly +9, Perception +10, Spellcraft +10
SQ death feeder, living core, tactical unity
Environment –
Organization single, pair, patrol (3-5), force (12-20), army (75-100)
Treasure Value none

The Octagon is in fact a construct designed to allow a group of once human aberrations to travel and pursue their plans of conquest.  In secret colonies deep in corrupted lands, the Octagons plan and build, creating ever more evil and destructive weapons of war and conquest.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Black Fire (Su) The Octagon can lash out with up to two blasts of dark fire a round up to a range of 180′, these blast cause 2d6 points of darkness damage and the target must make a Fortitude save (DC 17) or suffer 1d4 temporary negative levels.  These negative levels fade after 2d4 hours and never become permanent.

Death Feeder (Su) When an Octagon kills a foe, either through their melee attack or their black fire, they heal 2d8 hit points worth of damage.  Any healing over their usual maximum hit points becomes temporary hit point that last one hour.

Dense (Ex) The Octagon is very difficult to move gaining a +4 bonus to resist any attempt to use a maneuver or ability that would cause the Octagon to move or change position (such as bull rush).

Limited Flight (Su) The Octagon cannot fly more than 30′ above a surface.

Living Core (Ex) The Octagon is in fact a shell and life giving cradle for its living operator, a once human creature that possesses nothing but hatred for all other living things.  Because of this, the Octagon is vulnerable to illusions, mind-affecting effects, death effects, necromancy effects, paralysis, and sleep effects but it receives a +6 resistance bonus to resist all such effects.  The living core creature provides the mental statistics of the Octagon and can use its saves and skills or that of the Octagon, whichever is higher.

Tactical Unity (Su) All Octagons within a mile are in constant communication and they can form a chain to allow for different groups to remain in contact with each other. If one is aware of a particular danger, they all are. If one in a group is not flat-footed, none of them are. No Octagon in a group is considered flanked unless all of them are.

Unsettling Presence (Su) The very presence of a being so obviously unnatural as the Octagon is unsettling and disturbing.  All within 50′ must make a Will save (DC 17) of be shaken as long as they remain in that area or the Octagon is in sight and for 2d4 rounds afterward.  Once the save is made, the person is immune to this ability for the next 24 hours.

The save DC is Charisma based.

What you may know about the Octagon:
Knowledge (Arcana or Religion) DC 18.  These constructs are fueled by powerful necrourgic magics and their black fire is extremely damaging to the living sapping their very life.

Knowledge (Arcana) DC 25.  These constructs are difficult to harm except by blessed or holy weapons and they feed off of the death of their foes.

Knowledge (Arcana) DC 35.  The obsidian octagon is a construct shell protecting a living creature, an abomination, that directs it.

Necrourgic Specialists or anyone with the Craft Construct feat gains a +2 bonus to these skill checks.

TACTICS
Before Combat: Octagons use lesser beings, often undead or terrified humanoids, to sofen up their foes.  Driving them into battle before them to weaken their enemies and reveal their strength and weaknesses.

During Combat: They focus their attacks on spellcasters first, trying to destroy their ability to pose a threat, and then on those directly attacking them.  They try to remain at range, knowing that melee combat places them at a disadvantage.  With their tactic unity ability, they are able to perform complex flanking maneuvers without fear of losing coordination or contact.

Morale: Octagons value their own lives highly but are willing to die for their cause.  Those that have suffered more than half damage will prepare to withdraw while continuing to use their black fire to support the plan.  If it seems obvious that they will be defeated, they will flee, laying down a barrage of black fire at any who pursue them.

Notes: Should have had this up yesterday but it took longer to finish than I had intended.  You can compare and contrast with the Hakkakukei (the Legend of the Five Rings version).