Rolling Pinwheel: If the Bonewheel Skeleton moves at least 15ft straight toward a target and ends its move next to the target, the target must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, or a DC 18 Strength saving throw or take 5(2d4) bludgeoning damage. If the target fails the saving throw, they must repeat the saving throw(taking 5(2d4) slashing damage for each further failed save) until they succeed or they are reduced to 0 hit points. If a Dexterity saving throw is successful, or the target is reduced to 0 hit points, the Bonewheel Skeleton will continue the rest of its movement straight onwards. If the Bonewheel Skeleton hits another target, resolve Rolling Pinwheel for that target(ignoring the minimum movement required).
Unarmed Strike: Melee weapon attack, +4 to hit, reach 5ft, one target. Hit 4(1d4+2) bludgeoning damage.
Description
“At first, we knew their coming was the clattering of wood against bone against stone. Then, all of a sudden, they came out of the darkness - five of the abominations rolling towards us like Catherine wheels from hell. I can still remember the fiery green glow from their sightless eye pits as they collided with Thordor and Grimley. Whatever magic was empowering the skeletons made them keep spinning even when they should have stopped. All that was left of the two mercenaries was a trail of blood and meat leading away behind us - a trail that seemed to mock our foolhardy descent into these catacombs.” - Sir Marquis of Shadol.
A grotesque amalgamation of cartwheel and humanoid skeleton, Bonewheel Skeletons are rumored to be the resurrected remains of those who suffered death at the hands of carriage accidents; having become one with their killers. Darker sources say they were created from victims who refused to talk when they went under the torture rack and were punished with unlife for retaining their secrets. Wherever they may come from, all that is known of them now is that they can be sometimes found wandering aimlessly in dank sewers, underground networks, and dusty catacombs - as if searching for some purpose in unlife - and will attack any adventurers that stray into their lairs with relentless focus.
Habitual Nature. Bonewheel Skeletons seem to be magically drawn to each other and other undead and are usually encountered in small groups stalking the confines of underground rooms and attacking any living thing they encounter on sight. Encountering a lone Bonewheel Skeleton often means that there are more nearby, and the sight of a comrade run down by one has proven deadly to many an adventuring party when a mass of reinforcements plows into them from the rear. Nocturne uses them as units to distract his opponents with Flesh Reavers in order to allow the other undead to enter the fray.
Bone Servants. Powerful necromancers and mages have been known to exert their influence over Bonewheel Skeletons they find and will use their lairs as convenient guarded locations in which to store magical artifacts or important items given the opportunity. In these situations, the mage will usually place a larger undead sentinel to act as a distraction for intruders whilst the Bonewheel Skeletons ambush them from the darkness. The pirates of Krakenfall have also been known to utilize Bonewheel Skeletons, sometimes managing to remove their wheels and arming them or using them as waiters for their lair and parties.
Rolling Death. A Bonewheel Skeleton has no weapons to speak of and can seem deceptively defenseless when first encountered. Their undeniably deadly nature only becomes clear when they set themselves in motion. Leaping high into the air whilst rolling, the Bonewheel Skeleton is able to leverage its momentum and turn itself into a rolling wheel of spikes and blades that can easily tear through flesh and armor alike with the mass of its impact. The only options for those who face such a foe coming towards them are to leap out of the way or attempt to somehow stop the skeleton with their raw strength. Those that fail to do so find themselves being ground down by the rolling Bonewheel, eventually falling so that the skeleton may continue on its course.
Undead Nature. The Bonewheel Skeleton doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.
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