Skip to main content

Rattling Skeleton/Skeletal Conductor




Galvanically powered and piecemeal, the rattling skeleton lurches toward its victim with uneven steps as lances of crimson lighting lick nearby surfaces. The undead's body is constructed by mismatched bones from a handful of corpses with sigil-etched manacles floating around its wrists. Long chains snake away from the skeleton's shackles, writhing on waves of electrical fury.

Gothic Instrument. Each rattling skeleton is tuned by its creator to fit a particular eerie chord. Thus when assembled, a clutch of the crackling corpses creates a grisly song that can rout an enemy formation before the battle even really begins. As skeletons fall the song becomes a discordant, uneasy mess that grates on the nerves just as much, if not more so, than the initial tune.

Skeletal Conductor. Every orchestra needs a leader, even one as morbid as an ensemble of rattling skeletons. A rattling conductor appears much like its fellows, save its bones are fused to a lattice of accursed chains. While the band leader doesn't make nearly as much noise as the rest of the grim group, it's presence amplifies the mind-bending effects of the overall sound. Due to the increased voltage bouncing within its ribcage, the skeletal conductor can also provide a devastating crescendo when needed.

Rattling Skeleton

medium undead, lawful evil

Armor Class 12

Hit Points 22 (4d8+4)

Speed 30ft

Str 10 Dex 15 Con 12 Int 6 Wis 8 Cha 10

Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Poisoned

Damage Immunities Poison

Damage Resistances Lightning, Thunder

Damage Vulnerabilities Bludgeoning

Senses darkvision 60ft, passive Perception 9.

Languages understands sylvan but cannot speak

Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Macabre Music.

The rattling skeleton's disconnected bones constantly clink off of one another while its electrified fetters spark and rattle. If a creature begins its turn within 10ft of the rattling skeleton and is not deafened they must succeed on a DC 10 or be Frightened until the start of its next turn. In addition, the rattling skeleton gains Disadvantage on Stealth checks.

Actions

Charged Chain:

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage plus 3 (1d6) electricity damage.




Skeletal Conductor

medium undead, lawful evil

Armor Class 13

Hit Points 45 (6d8+16)

Speed 30ft

Str 10 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 6 Wis 9 Cha 15

Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Poisoned

Damage Immunities Poison

Damage Resistances Lightning, Thunder

Damage Vulnerabilities Bludgeoning

Senses darkvision 60ft, passive Perception 9.

Languages understands sylvan but cannot speak

 Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Macabre Maestro.

In the skeletal conductor's presence, the ghastly tune rattling skeleton's produce is more effective. If a creature begins its turn within 10ft of a rattling skeleton that is within 30ft of a skeletal conductor and is not deafened they must succeed on a DC 12 or be Frightened until the start of its next turn. If a creature fails this save by 5 or more they are Restrained as well as Frightened.

Actions

Multiattack:

A skeletal conductor makes two charged chain attacks as one action.

Charged Chain:

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage plus 3 (1d6) electricity damage.

Marching Orders (1/day):

Each rattling skeleton that is within 30ft of the skeletal conductor, can hear it, and not already affected by Marching Orders can immediately use their reaction to make the Dash action. The skeletal conductor may then make an one attack as a bonus action.

Reactions

Iron Clap.

If both the skeletal conductor's charged chain attacks in a turn hit it may use its reaction to smack the links together and create a powerful 20ft cone thunderclap. Creatures in the area of effect must succeed on a DC 12 Strength save or take 14 (3d8) thunder damage and be knocked prone. On success, a creature takes half as much damage and is not knocked prone.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Knave of Knights

Bound to the Cavalcade of the King of Fools , this fallen angels wears a mockup of platemail armor crafted from bright pressed velvet and knitted wool but his weapons are nevertheless quite real. Said weapons are a whip crafted from liars's tongues and a lance of hell iron he wields as if it was made from driftwood. The stub of burnt wings jut from his back with multi-colored streamers dangling from the charred bones. The Knave of Knights fell in with the Cavalcade when he vowed to defend a rightful king's right to rule, only to find out that the sire he fell in with was a bastard usurper who had successfully taken his brother's place. Cursed and broken mentally by the deception, he was easily felled by the King of Fools and given a new place at the archdevil's side serving as his jester and favored knight all wrapped into one. Knave of Knights Medium Fiend (devil), lawful evil Armor Class 18 (natural armor) Hit Points ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Black Lady

The Black Lady claims to be the The King of Fools' concubine and takes pride in the title despite how other devils look down on her and the rest of the cavalcade for it. She adores the 'silly' archdevil to no end and works tirelessly to ensure that the devils beneath him show the properly courtly respect that her lord is due... if he is around. Otherwise, she focuses more on vicious gossip, violent fetes, and malicious matchmaking. Pitch black in skin with burning red eyes, the Black Lady's legs end in smolding pig hooves while long, curled horns poke from her ebony coiffure. She wears a variety of overy fancy dresses that are always stripped, monochrome, and risque. One accessory she is never without is an enchanted fan made from burnt angel feathers. This fan is as sharp as any demon's claws and will always return to her hand. The Black Lady Medium Fiend (devil), lawful evil Armor Class 22 (natural armor) Hit Points...
Post a Comment
Read more

Crackle

A singular being, Crackle is a bolt of lightning given sentience after hiting a monk meditating atop the mountain. In fact, it believes it is that very monk reincarbated from a smoldering husk instead of the force which killed it. Crackle takes on a humanoid shape, chaning its lighting to appear to have skin and clothing. However, ripples of electricity constantly wiggle along its form. Often times its hair, clothing, and arms will clip through one another for Crackle is an imperfect copy. Crackle travels about, driven by a strong sense of law if not justice. It has a hard time empathizing with other points of view than the one it adopted and flies into a rage when pressed on its true nature. Crackle Medium elemental, lawful neutral Armor Class 14 Medium elemental, lawful neutral Speed 30 ft Str 15 Dex 18 Con 16 Int 11 Wis 16 Cha 18 Damage Resistances thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing ...
Post a Comment
Read more