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Sorrow Stitcher

Empty eyes peer out from beneath the hood of this pale maiden’s patchwork cloak. Her hands hold what appear to be the shadowy silhouettes of scissors and a sewing needle.

Sorrow Stitcher CR 8

Source Seers of the Drowned City pg. 61
XP 4,800
CE Medium fey
Init +9; Senses low-light vision; Perception +17


hp 90 (12d6+48)
Fort +8, Ref +13, Will +10
DR 5/cold iron and piercing


Speed 30 ft.
Melee scissors +12/+7 (1d6+1/19–20), needle +6 touch (hollow heart curse)
Special Attacks needle, sorrowful gaze, sneak attack +3d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th; concentration +14)
At will—crushing despair (DC 19)
3/day—overwhelming grief (DC 20), ray of exhaustion, shadow conjuration, shadow step


Str 12, Dex 21, Con 18, Int 17, Wis 15, Cha 22
Base Atk +6; CMB +7; CMD 23
Feats Ability Focus (curse), Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +20, Disguise +21, Escape Artist +20, Knowledge (local) +18, Perception +17, Sense Motive +17, Sleight of Hand +20, Stealth +20, Use Magic Device +21
Languages Aklo, Common, Sylvan


Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, or gang (3–6)
Treasure standard

Special Abilities

Needle (Su) As a swift action, a sorrow stitcher may jab at an adjacent foe with a shadowy needle that manifests in its hand as part of this attack. The needle attack functions as a primary natural weapon that resolves as a touch attack. If a sorrow stitcher hits with its needle, the target is affected by the hollow heart curse. As long as at least one creature within 30 feet suffers from this curse, a shadow stitcher gains fast healing 2 and a +2 morale bonus on all saving throws against mind-affecting effects.

Hollow Heart Curse: save Will DC 22; effect The creature loses all emotions except fear and sorrow and finds it difficult to defend itself from attacks by sorrow stitchers. The cursed individual takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, cannot gain any morale bonuses, and cannot be subject to a barbarian’s rage ability or similar effects. A creature affected by the hollow heart curse is considered to be flat-footed against all attacks by sorrow stitchers. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Scissors (Su) A sorrow stitcher carries shadowy scissors that it can wield as a masterwork short sword.

Sorrowful Gaze (Su) The shadow stitcher can cause a target within 30 feet to become blinded by tears for 1d6 rounds (Will DC 22 negates). The save DC is Charisma-based.


Descendants of fey exiles, these creatures share their forebears’ curse of a severed connection with the First World. Born with broken spirits and empty hearts, sorrow stitchers seek to spread their misery and despair to all they encounter.

Craving to experience happiness, sorrow stitchers often gravitate toward cities. They are jealously drawn to festivals where they steal the joy from the hearts of unsuspecting revelers. Armed with shadowy scissors and needles, sorrow stitchers can experience fleeting instants of mirth when they inflict the hollow heart curse on a creature, yet this swell of emotion passes quickly, forcing the fey to seek new victims to curse.

Pale and slender, often appearing in feminine form, sorrow stitchers could be mistaken for humans if not for the palpable and visible aura of gloom and shadowy sadness that they constantly emit. Shadow stitchers are fond of wearing garishly colorful clothing, but such festive hues do little to gladden them.