{| class="d20 dragon monstats" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"

| class="left" | [[#Necrosis|Necrosis]] ([[Ex]])

| class="left" | ''[[#Command Undead|Command Undead]]'' ([[Sp]]), ''[[#Ghoul Touch|Ghoul Touch]]'' ([[Sp]])

| class="left" | [[#Vile Incarnate|Vile Incarnate]] ([[Ex]])

| class="left" | ''[[#Create Undead|Create Undead]]'' ([[Sp]]), ''[[#Slay Living|Slay Living]]'' ([[Sp]])

| class="left" | [[#Thick Blood|Thick Blood]] ([[Ex]])

| class="left" | ''[[#Control Undead|Control Undead]]'' ([[Sp]]), ''[[#Create Greater Undead|Create Greater Undead]]'' ([[Sp]])

A baron of the grave may sit down with an [[SRD:Undead Type|undead]] creature for a single hour and focus the negative energies that animates them (given that the [[SRD:Undead Type|undead]] does not attempt to do them harm). When a baron of the grave focuses the negative energy inside an [[SRD:Undead Type|undead]] creature, he may grant that creature a permanent insight bonus to either [[SRD:Armor Class|AC]], [[SRD:Attack Roll|attack rolls]], or [[SRD:Attack Damage|damage rolls]] equal to three times the bonus to [[SRD:Caster Level|caster level]] that this class feature grants. A single [[SRD:Undead Type|undead]] creature may only have one of these three stats being affected by this class feature at a given time, and this insight bonus can be changed from one stat to another freely, given that an hour is spent to focus for energies again. The bonus to [[SRD:Caster Level|caster level]] granted by this class feature increases by +1 every three levels after first (4<small>^th</small>, 7<small>^th</small>, 10<small>^th</small>, 13<small>^th</small>, etc.).

'''{{Anchor|Necrosis}} ([[Ex]]):''' A baron of the grave is one who is so deeply intertwined with undeath that they eventually begin to actually become somewhat similar to the [[SRD:Undead Type|undead]], both in soul and physiology. Starting at second level, a baron of the grave gains immunity to [[SRD:Disease|disease]], [[SRD:Sleep Effect|sleep effects]], [[SRD:Paralyzed|paralysis]], and [[SRD:Poison|poison]] and is not at risk of death from massive damage. Additionally, the baron may choose to substitute his [[SRD:Charisma|Charisma]] modifier for [[SRD:Concentration Skill|Concentration]] checks and no longer needs to breathe in order to survive.

'''{{Anchor|Vile Incarnate}} ([[Ex]]):''' As a baron of the grave's body steadily becomes more and more saturated with evil powers and energies, he eventually reaches a point where the forces of undeath actually seem to leak from his very pores. At fifth level, a baron of the grave gains an [[SRD:Detect Evil|evil aura]] as if he were a 10<small>^th</small> level [[SRD:Cleric|cleric]]. If the baron already project an [[SRD:Detect Evil|evil aura]] due to a class feature, then he is considered 10 levels higher for the purposes of determining the strength of this aura.

! Speed Bonus <BR> (Bipedal)<small>^[[#1|1]]</small>! Speed Bonus <BR> (Quadrupedal)<small>^[[#2|2]]</small>

|class="left" | [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Fine]] and [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Fine&minus;]] || +10 feet || +20 feet || 1d2

|class="left" | [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Diminutive]] || +20 feet || +40 feet || 1d3

|class="left" | [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Tiny]] || +20 feet || 40 feet || 1d4

|class="left" | [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Small]] || +30 feet || +60 feet || 1d6

|class="left" | [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Medium]] || +30 feet || +60 feet || 1d8

|class="left" | [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Large]] || +30 feet || +60 feet || 2d6

|class="left" | [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Huge]] || +40 feet || +80 feet || 3d6

|class="left" | [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Gargantuan]] || +40 feet || +80 feet || 4d6

|class="left" | [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Colossal]] and [[SRD:Table: of Creature Size and Scale (3.5e Other)|Colossal+]] || +50 feet || +100 feet || 6d6

'''{{Anchor|Stygian Anatomy}}:''' A baron of the graves grave's body reaches a point where it is so overwhelmed by the forces of undeath that it actually begins to change on the most basic scale, charging each of his individual cells with negative energies. When the baron has reached this point, his body and soul become more like that of an [[SRD:Undead Type|undead]] creatures than any living beings should. At tenth level, a baron of the grave gains immunity to [[SRD:Stunned|stunning]], is no longer subject to [[SRD:Nonlethal Damage|nonlethal damage]], and no longer needs to eat or sleep in order to survive. In addition to these bonuses, the baron gains an enhancement bonus to his speed based on his size (as shown on [[#Table: Stygian Anatomy Effects|Table: Stygian Anatomy Effects]]) as his body begins to unleash the forces that it has harbored for so long, and two [[SRD:Natural Weapons|claw attacks]] that deal damage based on his size (as shown on [[#Table: Stygian Anatomy Effects|Table: Stygian Anatomy Effects]]) as his body contorts and fingers turn into talons. The baron is automatically proficient with these [[SRD:Natural Weapons|claw attacks]]. Damage inflicted by these [[SRD:Natural Weapons|claw attacks]] does not heal naturally or with rest, requiring a healing spell of some sort in order to be undone. If the baron does not have hands or some other appendage that could be changed into a claw, then he does not gain any [[SRD:Natural Weapons|claw attacks]].

The epic baron of the grave gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic baron of the grave feats) every 5 levels after 10<small>^th</small>.

'''Sample EncounterNPC:''' Sylvia had never been completely sound of mind, often complaining about voices whispering in the night, and when she was a child, sitting up in bed, screaming from a nightmare as she tore (literally tore) her sheets apart. Though, as she grew, she learned to adjust herself to normal life, eventually even getting married to a respectable merchant named Fredrick Linth. A short while later in her life, as her new husband went farther and farther way from home due to his line of work, she began to relapse, not having anyone around to steady herself on seemed to drive her back into the pits of madness that she had pulled herself out of as she grew up. Local rumors say that, during these years of her life, sounds could be heard coming from the basement of her house during the night, and every now and then, lights would seem to spring into existence, merely floating around her home. Eventually Sylvia completely snapped, and, one night, when her husband had returned after a particularly long time away, she removed his spine. Many things happened that night. First, Sylvia vanished, with her husband's body. Second, many well known, and quite friendly people went missing. Thirdly, a plague began, spreading outward from Sylvia's home. Sylvia's whereabouts are currently unknown, though she is considered to be a disturbed and dangerous individual by most who once knew her.