Skilled Undead. Unlike typical undead, these creatures have retained some of their skill that they possessed in life. They have more action and reaction options than typical undead, and may even retain certain skills.
Boneforged Body. Boneforged skeletons take the maximum result for all of their hit die. Additionally, they enjoy proficiency in Strength and Constitution saving throws.
Skeletal Leadership. These skeletons can command other skeletons, though not through telepathy or verbal communication. Using gestures, they can direct and provide basic leadership to lesser skeletons. Additionally, they can understand such communication from others, undead or otherwise, particularly military command gestures.
Multiattack. The Boneforged Skeleton Warrior makes two melee attacks, usually one shield bash followed by one spear attack. Alternatively, they may throw their spear and draw their shortsword (but not attack with the shortsword).
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. and range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage, or 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Shield Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a medium or smaller creature, it must succeed a DC12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 100 ft./400 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage.
Reequip. Any time this creature is more than 30ft from the nearest enemy, it will unequip its shield and melee weapon, instead arming its crossbow and reducing its AC by 2. Any time this creature would end its turn within 30ft of the nearest enemy, it will unequip its crossbow and equip its melee weapon and shield.
Reload. Any time this creature is wielding its crossbow and is more than 30ft from the nearest target, it will reload its crossbow as a bonus action after making a melee attack.
Parry. The boneforged skeleton warrior adds 2 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit it. To do so, the boneforged skeleton warrior must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon or shield.
Trade Blows. The creature sacrifices its typical defensive stance, losing its shield bonus to AC against a single melee attack made against it, declared before the attack's hit roll is made. If they do, they make an immediate attack after the other's attack, making the attack roll at advantage. To do so, the creature must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon or shield.
Shield Shove. The creature may make an immediate reaction after a melee attack is made against it, whether the attack is successful or not, to shove the melee attacker. The target must beat a DC12 Strength saving throw or be pushed back 5ft away from the creature.
Description
Serving as tomb guards and stalwart protectors to undead spellcasters, these skeletons are equipped with a spear, shortsword, and heavy crossbow to serve as versatile and formidable foes to any that would face them. These undead possess skills that most would not expect of a Skeleton, and an awareness that is uncanny among the undead. In some rare instances, these skeletons can even pose as lesser officers among a Necromancer's legion, commanding less intelligent skeletons with nonverbal gestures it has retained from its life.
Only creatures with martial training in life can be brought back as these skeletons, relying on the skill set they once had to be held onto during the reanimation process. As an additional benefit, the tougher bodies also contribute to a sturdier skeleton, making these formidable undead harder to take down from well toughened bones repaired and fortified after death.
Comments