One idea, if some of your gaming party is away, instead of cancelling a game, players may find themselves inside the Cenob Box, to do missions of rescuing or finding treasures.
Cenobite
Lawful Evil Medium Outsider
Init +6 Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +12
DEFENSE
AC 19 touch 12, flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, +7 natural)
hp 110hp (13d10+39 con)
Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +6
Defensive Abilities
DR 10/+1 Immune: Fear, Pain, Blindness, Paralyzation, Petrification
Resistance: All Elemental 20
OFFENSE
Speed Fly 50 ft.
Melee Scythe or Whip +16/+11 (1d10+3)
Special Attacks: Hooks of Pain
Spell Like Abilities: Cast as 13th level Necromancer. They are able to use each of their spell-effects once a day. Every time one of their Hooks of Pain contacts, they are able to recast any one of their spells again.
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 9
Base Atk +13 CMB +16 CMD 28
Feats Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack
Skill: +9 Bluff , +12 Craft (Armor and Chains) , +15 Knowledge (arcana, planes, religion) , +12 Perception , +10 Sense Motive , +12 Stealth
Languages Dwarf, Minotaur, Kyton, Elf, Common
ECOLOGY
Environment Any Mortal Plane (Always found near a Cenob Box)
Organization Small Units (1-3)
Treasure Value Half Normal (Small bits of treasure and magic that can be worn)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Spell Like Abilities: Cast as 13th level Priest; Saving Throw (DC 13 + spell level)
Detect: Magic, Invisibility, Illusion (Constant)
Rays of: enfeeblement, paralyze, rusting & fear (all usable 1 / day)
Touches of: Silence, Confusion, Blindness, Polymorph, Electricity (11-20) (all usable 1 / day)
Field of Mercy: Cenobites radiate a 25 foot radius of empathy towards outer-planar beings. Any non-natives that approach a Cenobite on a mortal plane must beat a Will DC 24 to break the field and act normally. However, they are unable to take physical actions or cast spells against a Cenobite until the second round. This effect likewise prevents a Cenobite to take any counter action on planars until the third round. Meaning, on the second round they are totally defenseless against a creature in their field who has made their saving throw. This is a constant effect that they cannot evade. This effects only the Cenobites, not the Cenob Box or their mortal servant.
The Cenobites are outer-planar beings that seek to cause suffering to mortals. Most were former mortals themselves who manipulated an arcane device called the Cenob Box, which is often used to give physical pleasures, but its main purpose can be used to summon these horrific beings that brings mortals to their world. Most forced into the device, endlessly suffer, but a few are transformed into beings who serve the device, these are the Cenobites. They appear as pale skin humanoids often with visual signs of torture on their bodies, wearing deep-black leather armor. They seem to lack emotion, except for when their sadistic side comes out when interrogating or attacking mortals. Most use scythes or whips, but a small number use other types of weapons.
The Cenob Box is actually a portal to the Demi-Plane of Pain. Cenobites can only come to mortal worlds when summoned through this device. Most who use the devise seek physical pleasure until that sensation is lost - and they are driven to seek the suffering of others. Eventually those who uses the device, can summon the Cenobites, once every 24 hours. While they come to serve the wielder, they always require a "pound of flesh" before they return to the Box. Wielders instinctively know the Cennobites obey the holder of the Cenob Box by attacking, capturing or otherwise destroying an
enemy. When they are able to incapacitate a victim, they drag them into the Cenob Portal and in return the wielder is given a permanent boon 1-3 hp. What few wielders realize is that if they are unsuccessful at finding a victim at least once every ten days, the Cenobites may punish the wielder by permanently draining the wielder 2-5 hp.
While outer-planar, Cenobites prefer the company of mortal beings. They are sometimes seen in medical houses or places or torture, just to hear the screams of victims. They have a deep fear of other Outer planar beings, even those they should have some connection to. They emanate a Field of Mercy which enables them to re-enter the Cenob Box to avoid confrontation. They understand though, if the current mortal wielder is unable to escape, the Cenob box might be found by those they are unable to manipulate.
Hooks of Pain (Su) Cenobites can summon chained hooks to attack a singular victim at +13 to touch attack, inflicting a cumulative 1d6 dmg and a -2 on all rolls (second hook inflicts 2d6 dmg and -4 to rolls, etc.) Each time a chain attaches to a victim, it connects to the nearest hard surface; if the hook does not hit a victim, it disintegrates the next round. When at least three chained hooks are on a victim, the Cenobites can call the victim into the Cenob Box, or whenever they leave. Each of the first three hooks add 20% chance, additional hooks adds +5%. If the victim fails this roll, they are sucked into the Cenob Box. The only way to free the victim is to defeat the Cenobite or destroy the chains holding the victim (AC 30, Requires a +3 weapon, 50 hp). What many don't realize is that a Cenobite may summon the Hooks even without a Cenob Box, but then it is done merely to inflict suffering.
Cenob Box: A small, intricately carved wooden, bone or metal box with small sliding pieces that when re-positioned change the carvings on the device. While believed to be a singular artifact, they are in fact several versions in any given mortal plane. These boxes are portals to the Demi-Plane of Pain. By manipulating the pictures, wielders receive happy sensations. The first few times, it is always positive (24 hour +4 bonus to their preferred ability score, rush of happy memories or feelings, etc) but by the fourth time, these leave the wielder wanting something else - usually to inflict pain on others.
Box wielders must then call out the Cenobites at least once every ten days, these beings appear for their sacrifice, and if no one else is there, the Cenobites take their sacrifice from the wielder. If a wielder is able to go more than 99 days without providing a sacrifice, the Cenobites will either teleport the Box away or begin to tempt another would-be wielder to take it from the current wielder. Once the Cenob Box summons the Cenobite back, it cannot be used again for 24 hours, if they were not successful in having a sacrifice, they must wait 48 hours.
