It looks like a skeleton. It walks like a skeleton. It attacks like a skeleton. However, the skeletal effigy is a clever copy of alchemically-treated that has been painted and garbed to appear as one of the most basic of undead horrors. It takes a keen eye to see through the ruse, at least until the effigy explodes in a shower of shards.

Walking Stake. Early on in her battles with the vampires that destroyed her life, La Contessa wondered after their weakness to wooden stakes through the heart. She found no scientific reason for this phenomenon, even after lengthy experiments involving a restrained bloodsucker, their central organ, and a variety of woods. Eventually, the torturous trials paid off and the alchemist was able to develop an alchemical solution that when a length of wood was saturated in it provided a modecrum of the paralytic effect. It didn’t just work on vampires but caused all manner of undead to seize up for a time, as well as poison their mortal lackies.

It took another few months for her to devise the best delivery system. Faux-skeletons crafted from soaked wood that were rigged to explode when destroyed proved the best delivery system. Not only could the constructs infiltrate a vampire’s shambling ranks, but when a horde piled onto one of the bastards the multitude of resulting detonations eventually riddled the leech with enough paralytic to affect them. Then, La Contessa only needed to swoop in and finish the job with a leisurely decapitation.

Skeletal Effigy

Medium construct, unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)

Hit Points 26 (4d8+8)

Speed 30ft

Str 12 Dex 14 Con 15 Int 4 Wis 8 Cha 4

Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning

Damage Immunities necrotic, poison

Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned

Senses darkvision 60ft passive Perception 9

Languages -

Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Death Burst.

When the skeletal effigy dies, it explodes in a burst of wooden shards. Each creature within 5ft. of it must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) piercing damage on a failed save, and are Poisoned for 1 minute. An affected creature repeats this save at the end of each of their turns with the effect ending on success. On success, a creature takes half as much damage and is not poisoned.

Undead creatures that fail this save are Paralyzed for one minute. An affected undead creature repeats this save at the end of each of their turns with the effect ending on success. On success, a creature takes half as much damage and is not poisoned.

Undead Appearance.

Unless studied closely, the skeletal effigy is indistinguishable from and undead skeleton.

Actions

Multiattack.

The skeletal effigy can make two attacks with its shortsword as one action.

Shortsword.

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.

Shortbow.

Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.