Bloody Bones Skeleton
Bloody Bones Skeleton (CR 7)
Bloody bones skeletons are named not because they are, themselves, bloody, but because of the terrible defensive magics which surround them, breaking the bones of any creature unlucky enough to damage them. Appearance-wise, bloody bones skeletons look and act identically to decrepit skeletons. In fact, the necromancers who create them are counting on this to add an extra edge to their defender's efficacy.
Bloody bones skeletons are necromantic pseudo-constructs specifically created to serve as sentinels. Because they never need to eat, sleep or breathe, and they do not age, they can stand guard over a place or thing forever, only lurching into action when strangers approach. It is not uncommon for these guardians to outlive their creators, in fact, guarding secret laboratories long after the point of the defense has been forgotten.
The ritual of creation involves the extended torturing and eventual sacrifice of nine humanoids, the broken remains of which are joined by the ritual's magic to create the skeleton's body and house the terrible magic they possess.
GENERAL
CR 7 Hit Dice 10
XP 3,200
CN Medium Undead (Construct)
Init +3; Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Perception +13
DEFENSE
AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 dex, +7 armor)
hp 90
Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +6
Aura: -
SR: -
Special Defenses: DR 5/bludgeoning, Bloody Bones, Mimicry, healed by negative energy
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:
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Space / Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.
Single Melee rusty spear +11 (1d8+5/19-20x2)
Full Melee 2x rusty spear +11 (1d8+5/19-20x2)
Ranged rusty shortbow +11 (1d8+5/19-20x2)
Special Attacks Bloody Bones
Action Points 0
STATISTICS
Str 17, Dex 14, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +7; CMB +10; CMD 22
Feats -
Skills -
Languages Bloody bones skeletons can take orders from their creator in any language that creator speaks, but otherwise have no means of communicating or responding.
SPECIAL ABILITIES
- Bloody Bones
Any time the bloody bones skeleton is damaged by an attack which targeted it (anything: melee, ranged, spells, etc.), the attacker must make a Fortitude save, DC 16, or lose 1d3 points of Strength, as one or more of their bones is broken or shattered by the necromantic magics surrounding the bloody bones skeleton. The first time this ability successfully inflicts Strength damage to a creature each round, the bloody bones heals 10 points of damage. The healing aspect of this ability may not occur more than once per round, though the Strength damage aspect certainly may. Creatures reduced to 0 Strength by this effect becomes too weak to move in any way and falls unconscious. Note that attacks which include the bloody bones, but do not specifically target it (such as a fireball spell, or the splash damage from an alchemist's bomb), do not trigger this effect.
- Mimicry
Bloody bones skeletons look and behave exactly like decrepit skeletons, and only a knowledge religion check, DC 30, will reveal that they are something quite different. The DC for this check drops to 15 as soon as the bloody bones ability is triggered.
- Step In and Strike
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
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
Unlike other undead, bloody bones skeletons are not imbued with true immortality. While they do not age, and have no need to eat, sleep or breathe, they can be slain through damage that reduces them to 0 or fewer hit points. The souls of the humanoids used in the creation of these monsters are destroyed during the ritual, so resurrection and other raise-dead-like spells have no effect.
TREASURE
sell value of approximately 2,375 gp
COMBAT TACTICS
Bloody Bones skeletons are mindless automatons, directed to guard a place or a thing by their creator. They are often created in small packs, and will stand unmoving and inert until someone other than their creator approaches.
Once in combat, bloody bones skeletons look and behave exactly like regular decrepit skeletons. They will mindlessly attack with their rusty swords, always targeting the nearest foe (and choosing randomly if more than one target is the same distance away). Only when they are attacked do the differences stand out. The bloody bones ability is automatic, crippling attackers and healing the bloody bones skeleton at the same time.
GM's should be aware that encounters with these creatures could cause several days of downtime for a party afterwards, as they rest to recover their drained strength.