Skeleton Soldier
Skeleton Soldier (CR 8)
Skelton Soldiers look like better maintained, better equipped, and more skilled Skeleton Legionnaires. They are wholly mindless, but like many skeletons are driven by a cold implacable hatred of the living. Once a Skeleton Soldier has sensed the existence of the living, they are completely implacable in their attack. Nothing will stop them, nothing will dissuade them, they know no fear or falter.
Their desire to kill is backed up by a scary degree of skill. Skeleton Soldiers are mindless, but they are not unskilled. They are killers of the highest order, unhesitating, remorseless, and tireless.
GENERAL
CR 8 Hit Dice 12
XP 4,800
NE, Medium, Undead
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60ft, Perception +12
DEFENSE
AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21 (+6 dex, +11 armor)
hp 125
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +11
Aura: -
SR: -
Special Defenses: DR 15/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 (if it has no Int), but healed by negative energy.
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Space / Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.
Single Melee Rusty Khopesh +14 (2d8+2/19-20x2)
Full Melee 2x Rusty Khopesh +14 (2d8+2/19-20x2)
Ranged Javelins +14 (2d8+6/x2)
Special Attacks Improved Feint, Step In and Strike
Action Points 0
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 16, Con -, Int -, Wis 14, Cha 18
Base Atk +8; CMB +15; CMD 28
Feats Improved Feint, as a move action roll a Bluff Check to deny target their Dex Bonus.
Skills Bluff +18
Languages Thanic
SPECIAL ABILITIES
- Improved Feint
As a move action, the skeleton can use Bluff to feint in combat, causing its opponent to be denied his Dexterity bonus to his AC against that skeleton's attacks until the beginning of his next turn. The DC of this check is equal to 10 + the target’s base attack bonus + the target’s Wisdom modifier. If the target is trained in Sense Motive, the DC is instead equal to 10 + the target’s Sense Motive bonus, if higher.
- Step In and Strike
Prior to making any attack, whether melee or ranged, a 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
Skeletons are highly resistant to all physical damage except bludgeoning
- 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.
- Immortality
Skeletons cannot be killed by normal means. However, low-level skeletons like these may lie shattered and dormant after being defeated for years or even decades 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.
TREASURE
sell value of approximately 3,250 gp
COMBAT TACTICS
Skeleton Soldiers are dangerous foes, despite their complete lack of intelligence. The remains of their martial skill is carried indelibly in their bones.
Skeleton Soldiers are content to stay at range and use their Bluff Skill to feint and then hurl javelins to deadly effect. They will target lightly armored spell casters and support players first for such attacks. Skeleton Soldiers will concentrate their ranged attacks upon a single foe whenever possible. In melee combat, Skeleton Soldiers will use the Step In and Strike ability to set up flanks, and will strive to make full attack actions against lightly armored foes whenever possible. Against well armored foes they will use a move action to feint and make a single attack instead.
Against foes with reach weapons, Skeleton Soldiers will stop moving five feet away from that foe, and use Step In and Strike to melee attack without provoking at Attack of Opportunity.
Fighting Skeleton Soldiers is dangerous, stressful work.