Cairnhaunt - By Bill Silvey
Frequency: Uncommon
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 8
Move: 12"
Hit Dice: 3
% In Lair: 100%
Treasure Type: C
No. Of Attacks: 2
Damage/Attack: 1-8/1-8
Special Attacks: See Below
Special Defense: Nil
Magic Resistance: Standard
Intelligence: Average-Low
Alignment: Neutral
Size: M
Psionic Ability: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
Level/XP Value: III/20 per HP
The Cairnhaunt or Lamenting Spirit as it is sometimes known is found almost exclusively on ancient battlefields where great armies once clashed. But rather than the departed souls of some lofty heroes or diabolical villains, Cairnhaunts are always the spirits of the unmourned and forgotten armorers, peasant-soldiers, pages, and other lowly footmen drafted in to an army to fight for a Lord or Margrave's greater goals.
The Cairnhaunt is characterized by it's constant muttering to itself; anyone who camps on or near the graves of these fallen and forgotten ones may hear the spirit's moans or whispers. If the night is moonless and a fog has risen, the Cairnhaunt can be faintly observed coalescing in the mist. It is at this time that direct action can be taken against the spirit. An exorcism spell will destroy the Cairnhaunt, and they are banished as a Special in the Turn Undead table for Paladins and Clerics.
The Cairnhaunt sees things as it wishes to, not as they really are. For example, a Cairnhaunt might torment a particularly beautiful woman passing the gravesite if the spirit perceives her beauty as a reflection of a love unfulfilled before the untimely and violent death. Or they may see a group of passing adventurers as a regiment of the enemy the spirit was sworn to defend against.
The Cairnhaunt is able to grasp with it's chilling hands for 1-8 points of damage each, but the chief threat that the Cairnhaunt poses is it's Lament. This low keening sound can under the right circumstances act as a Geas spell. When someone unlucky enough to pick the area near or on the mass grave of fallen footmen hears this sound, they must save versus Magic Spells or be Geased to perform a duty for the Cairnhaunt. This can be to return an item from the Cairnhaunt's barrow to a loved one, to take a message to a distant relative, or in rare cases to find whomever slew them (if indeed they still live) and enact revenge. Unless the Geas is thrown off, the Cairnhaunt will rest once the deed is done.
Cairnhaunts can see into both the Astral and Ethereal Planes and they can be attacked from there as well.