Sculpted from bone, sinew and glistening cartilage, the marrowborn empress is an abomination like no other. As artistic as it is obscene, the undead monster towers are nearly nine-feet tall. The human-like qualities of its lower skull ends just above the nose hole where the bone flares into a latticework crown complete with wet-gristle instead of inset diamonds. Within the miscreation's throat lurks a sinuous tongue ending in a barbed spike, ever-eager to pull a victim closer to the empress. A sheaf of scrimshawed bones cover its torso in the imitation of an over-bust corset. Thought, one can still see down into its ribcage where marrowborn cysts pulsate within a moist, mucous lining. The bottom half of the anathema's body is a series of bone-plates stylized like an ankle-length dress. The marrowborn empress doesn't have ankles, though. Three dozen arachnid-like legs ring the hem. Constructed from phalanges and grey muscle, the collection lets the horror scuttle along with supernatural grace.
Profane Progenitor. The marrowborn empress' origin is unknown. Some suspect she is an insane necromancer's magnum opus. Others postulate she was spat out of Hell itself. She is the sole ancestor of the foul marrowborn species, however. Her bone skirt unfolds whenever she nears a helpless victim and from within the slimy strands n ovipositor slithers out. Little more than a mucous-sheathed spine, this appendage ends in a hollow spike that injects a marrowborn cyst into the helpless creature. Once inside, the parasite grows along the host's bones before ripping free from its fleshy moorings. The newborn marrowborn pawn then joins the constantly growing throng of its brethren under the empress' singular drive; the transformation of every living creature into one of her brood.
Marrowborn Empress
Large undead, lawful evil
Climb 40ft
Str 16 Dex 18 Con 18 Int 11 Wis 10 Cha 14
Skills Stealth +9 (expertise)
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities blinded, frightened, poisoned
Senses blindsight 60ft., darkvision 120ft, passive Perception 10
Languages -
Challenge
13 (10000)
Ambusher.
In the first round of a combat, the marrowborn empress has advantage on attack rolls against any creature it surprised.
Frightful Presence.
Each creature of the marrowborn empress' choice that is within 30 ft. of the aberration and aware of it must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or become Frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the marrowborn empress' Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Legendary Resistance (3/day).
If the marrowborn empress fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Weapons.
The marrowborn empress' weapon attacks are magical.
Pounce.
If the marrowborn empress moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the marrowborn empress can make one whip tongue attack against it as a bonus action.
Surprise Attack.
If the marrowborn empress surprises a creature and hits it with an Attack during the first round of Combat, the target takes an extra 14 (4d6) damage from the Attack.
Actions
Multiattack
The marrowborn makes two claw attacks as one action.Claw.
Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 15 (3d6+5) slashing damage.Whip Tongue.
Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 15 ft., one creature. Hit: 12 (2d6+5) slashing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be moved to an unoccupied square within 5ft of the marrowborn empress and the marrowborn empress may make a claws attack against it as a bonus action.
Corpse Explosion (Recharge 6).
The marrowborn empress agitates the bones in nearby corpses, causing them to explode. All corpses within 30ft explode in a 5ft radius of searing hot gore. All creatures within the radius of one of these explosions must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity save or take 17 (5d6) necrotic damage and be Incapacitated for the next minute. On success a creature takes no damage and is not Incapacitated. At the end of each of its turns, an affected creature can repeat this save with the effect ending on success.
Osseous Ovipositor.
The marrowborn empress injects a shard of itself into an Incapacitated or Unconscious creature. The creature must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or be infected with a disease; a minuscule marrowborn cyst.
A humanoid host can carry only one marrowborn cyst to term at a time. Over 24 hours, the spawn moves to the creature's bones, gestates and forms a marrowborn pawn. In the 4-hour period before giving birth, the host starts to feel unwell, its speed is halved, and it has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws. At birth, the marrowborn pawn tears its way through meat and skin and pulls the skeleton with it all within 1 round, killing the host in the process.
If the disease is cured before the dredge's emergence, the marrowborn cyst is disintegrated. If a marrowborn cyst is implanted in a Construct, Plant, or Undead it automatically disintegrates.
Legendary Actions
Hide (1 point).
The marrowborn empress takes the Hide action.
Slash (1point).
The marrowborn empress makes a claws attack.
Corpse Explosion (2 points).
The marrowborn empress uses its corpse explosion action, if available.
Scurrying Swarm (2 points).
All marrowborn besides the marrowborn empress within 120ft of the marrowborn empress may move or climb up to their Speed.
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