Homebrew Bloody Scarecrow Species Details

There are many terrifying creatures made of nightmares and darkness.  Few have earned the infamy of the feared scarecrow.  Though they are the minions of greater evils, they hold a strong presence of terror over others.  When a scarecrow is risen, dark deeds are in store for the future.

The process of creating a scarecrow is meticulous.  It requires a ritually sacrificed humanoid, evil resources, and isolation.  When one has been prepared, it is left in the fields to rot and dry up.  Only after it has properly dehydrated can it become a true scarecrow.  If it is disturbed at any point before the process is complete, it becomes what is known as a bloody scarecrow.

Bloody scarecrows are trapped somewhere between the living and the dead.  They were given freedom before their minds were consumed by darkness, and so they retained their free will as an animated corpse.  Their bodies are perpetually wet with their own blood, and much of their innards have been replaced with green stalks of wheat or corn.  Even though they are an incomplete project, they are still terrifying to behold.

Most who find themselves in this state go mad.  They are a walking monster, and most who see them will run in fear.  Others find their new state of existence as an opportunity to take revenge on their murderers.  Whether they be a warlock, wizard, or even a hag, they have gained a formidable nemesis in a bloody scarecrow.  A rare few try to find peace by committing acts of charity and goodwill to others.  It is a cursed life, filled with screams and fearful looks, but perhaps the individual might find the salvation they seek.

Bloody Scarecrow Traits

Darkvision, False Appearance, Flammable, Magical Creature, Scarecrow’s Resilience, Terrifying Gaze, Wooden Claws

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Creature Type

You are a construct, even though you most definitely look like the undead.

Size

You are Medium.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.

False Appearance

While you remain motionless, you are indistinguishable from an ordinary, inanimate scarecrow.

Flammable

You have a vulnerability against Fire damage.

Magical Creature

You have damage resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Terrifying Glare

As an Action, you target one creature you can see within 30 feet. If the target can see you, it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the end of your next turn. The DC of the save equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest. The frightened target is paralyzed.

Undead Resilience

You were brought back to a half-alive state, represented by the following benefits:

• You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.
• You don’t need to eat, drink, or breathe.
• You are immune to disease.

 

Wooden Claws

Your wooden claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier.