It is believed that when the Lords of Nightmare saw the vast aerial fleets of the people of Wyctil, they realized that they would need a flying skirmisher with a bit more intelligence than the Shy Man and Fire Mask to properly attack. Thus, they altered the soul-twisting mgics that created the lesser creatures and created the Gaunt Flyers. While the Gaunt Flyers are considered a success, the granting of greater intelligence gives them a greater sense of self that sometimes causes them to go berserk when the realization of the abominations they have become hits them.

A Gaunt Flyer looks like a Shy Man superficially, but there are differences. The Gaunt Flyer's cloak is red, and a pair of skeletal wings thrusts out from the back of the creature. The mask of the Gaunt Flyer is made of highly polished steel, and a symbol of a pair of white wings is lacquered onto the forehead. Unlike the Shy Men and Fire Masks, Gaunt Flyers have been given some independence and intelligence to cope with the vagaries of aerial combat. This means that the Gaunt Flyers are often tasked with low-level reconnaisance of an area being primed for invasion, and are just as often dispatched to guide Stealer Drone squads to the soul collection sites. It also mens that the Gaunt Flyers are somewhat aware of the fact that their masters consider them no better than the mindless Shy Men and Fire Masks. This has caused a stirring of resentment within their ranks, but the Gaunt Flyers are far too afraid of their masters' power to consider any form of rebellion., A Gaunt Flyer looks like a Shy Man superficially, but there are differences. The Gaunt Flyer's cloak is red, and a pair of skeletal wings thrusts out from the back of the creature. The mask of the Gaunt Flyer is made of highly polished steel, and a symbol of a pair of white wings is lacquered onto the forehead. Unlike the Shy Men and Fire Masks, Gaunt Flyers have been given some independence and intelligence to cope with the vagaries of aerial combat. This means that the Gaunt Flyers are often tasked with low-level reconnaisance of an area being primed for invasion, and are just as often dispatched to guide Stealer Drone squads to the soul collection sites. It also mens that the Gaunt Flyers are somewhat aware of the fact that their masters consider them no better than the mindless Shy Men and Fire Masks. This has caused a stirring of resentment within their ranks, but the Gaunt Flyers are far too afraid of their masters' power to consider any form of rebellion.

Combat
Gaunt Flyers, as a result of their intelligence, are provided longspears to facilitate attacking both aerial and ground targets. They prefer to attack flying targets, as this is the reason they were created, but will attack whatever their Soulherder commander orders them to. They are intelligent enough to use swarm tactics and can plan simple ambushes, but they are mostly front-line troops. The posibility that they might go berserk also makes them too much of a libility to include in more advanced tactics than the usual charge.

Berserk (Ex)A Gaunt Flayer has a cumultive 5% chance per round of combat to go berserk as the soulstuff of which it is composed becomes cognizant of its unholy condition. This adds 4 to its strength and constitution, and adds 12 temporary hit points to its current total, and lasts until the creature is slain. The berserk creature randomly attacks any creature within reach of its longspear, and cannot be brought out of the condition. Any Soulherder that sees a berserk Gaunt Flyer will immediately attempt to destroy it.
Daze (Sp)Like a Shy Man, a Gaunt Flyer cannot exist apart from its cloak. If the cloak is removed or destroyed, the Gaunt Flyer ceases to be, creating a bright flash as the perverted soulstuff of its being dissipates. This acts as a daze spell affecting all susceptible creatures within 5 feet. Caster Level: 1 Save DC: 11

Society
Unlike the Shy Men and Fire Masks, the Gaunt Flyers are intelligent enough to have something resembling a society. This normally consists of 12-50 Gaunt Flyers staying near each other when not on assignment.Since they do not eat, sleep, or reproduce, they have few community exercises. Recently, however, some Gaunt Flyers hve been observing the various races of Wyctil, trying to understand the family and community relationships they see. The concept of religion fascinates them the most. One community has tried to mimic the worship it has seen, creating a small idol of clay that looks like another Gaunt Flyer. The community has named it, "The Free One".

This creature has been play tested.
This is not a kender type creature.