Decrepit Skeleton

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Decrepit Skeleton (CR 1)

Through dark necromantic power, a corpse can be transformed into a skeleton, shedding its flesh and becoming inhabited by the captured soul of a fallen warrior. Skeletons are nearly always mindless, but surprisingly, this is rarely much of a disadvantage for them. The warrior spirit inhabiting the body moves by reflex, demonstrating an ingrained martial prowess that makes skeletons notoriously effective combatants.

Skeletons are motivated by an intense hatred and jealously towards living things. They yearn only to crush that spark of life from everything they can reach.

Decrepit Skeletons are less durable than others of their ilk but are still worthy opponents, often wielding a bow to make ranged attacks against their chosen prey.

General

CR 1 Hit Dice 2

XP 400

NE Medium Undead

Init +2; Senses Darkvision 60', Perception +0

Defense

AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +1 dex, +0 natural, +0 deflection)

hp 20

Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +4

Aura: -

SR: -

Special Defenses: DR 5/bludgeoning

Immunities:

• all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms)
• disease, poison, ability damage, ability drain, energy drain
• death effects, necromancy effects, sleep effects
• nonlethal damage
• paralysis, stunning, fatigue, exhaustion
• any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless)

Weaknesses: Cannot heal damage on its own, but healed by negative energy.

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Single Melee rusty spear +4 (1d8/19-20x2)

Full Melee 2x rusty spear +4 (1d8/19-20x2)

Ranged rusty shortbow +4 (1d8/x2), range increment 30 feet

Special Attacks Step In And Strike

Action Points 0

Statistics

Str 15, Dex 14, Con -, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 10

Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 15

Feats Quick Draw (EFFECTS: If forced into melee, can switch to their sword as a swift action.)

Skills

Languages None

Special Abilities

Step In and Strike (Su)

Prior to making any attack, whether melee or ranged, a decrepit skeleton can take a free 5-foot step. This does not provoke attacks of opportunity, is not limited by having already moved, and does not cost them any actions.

Damage Resistance (Su)

Skeletons are highly resistant to all physical damage except bludgeoning

Treasure

sell value of approximately 231 gp

Combat Tactics

Decrepit Skeletons are totally non-intelligent but they have a fierce desire to kill the living. The will use their free five foot step every round to get closer to more living foes. If they are not in melee range they will use their ranged attacks until they can engage in melee with the living. They will use their Quickdraw ability to switch weapons between ranged and melee with un-nerving speed. In all cases, unless directed by other monsters, they will fight to destruction.

Out of Combat

Immortality

Skeletons cannot be killed by normal means. However, low-level skeletons like these may lie shattered and dormant after being defeated for decades or even centuries before rising again to seek to rid the world of life. A sanctify corpse, consecrate or gentle repose spell will add ten years and a day to the time it takes for a skeleton to re-compose. A resurrection spell will bring the person associated with the skeleton back to life, destroying the necromantic bond on its corpse.

Rusty Equipment

Skeletons wear equipment and wield weapons that are as old as they are. All their equipment has the Fragile property, though GM's shouldn't bother with tracking broken conditions on weapons.