Shadow + Blood Magic Companion

Skeletons

Skeletons arise when a creature is animated by dark magic. They
heed the summons of spellcasters who call them from their stony
tombs and ancient battlefields, or rise of their own accord in
places saturated with death and loss, awakened by stirrings of
necromantic energy or the presence of corrupting evil. Skeletal
undead can be created from the bones of other creatures besides
humanoids, giving rise to a host of terrifying and unique forms.

Skeleton Template

An aberration, beast, dragon, fey, fiend, giant, humanoid, or
monstrosity can become a skeleton. When it undergoes this
transformation, it retains its statistics except as described below.

Lost Characteristics. The skeleton loses its original saving
throw and skill bonuses, as well as any special senses. Some
special traits may be removed at your discretion, such as traits
that assume a living body, like amphibious.

Type. The skeleton’s type is Undead, and it loses any tags. It no
longer requires air, food, drink, or sleep.

Alignment. The skeleton is Lawful Evil.
Ability Scores. The skeleton’s ability scores change as follows:
Con 15 (+2), Int 6 (-2), Wis: 8 (-1), Cha: 5 (-3). Int, Wis, and Cha
can’t be increased by this change.
Senses. The skeleton has darkvision with a radius of 60 feet.
Armor Class. The skeleton’s AC is reduced by 2. This cannot
reduce their AC below 10 + their Dexterity modifier.
Damage Vulnerabilities. The skeleton is vulnerable to
bludgeoning damage.
Damage Immunities. The skeleton is immune to poison
damage.
Condition Immunities. The skeleton can’t be exhausted or
poisoned
Languages. The skeleton understands all languages it knew in
life but can’t speak.

Sample Skeleton

The skeleton statistics presented here use an ogre as the base
creature.

CHAPTER 4 | CREATURES 51

Zombies The flesh and bones of any formerly living creature can be
imbued with some semblance of life, transforming them into a
Sinister necromantic magic infuses the remains of the dead, zombie. Necromantic magic, usually from spells, animates a
zombie. Some zombies rise spontaneously when dark magic
causing them to rise as zombies that do their creator's bidding saturates an area. Once turned into a zombie, a creature can't be
restored to life except by powerful magic.
without fear or hesitation. They move with a jerky, uneven gait,
Sample Zombie
clad in the moldering apparel they wore when put to rest, and
The zombie statistics presented here use a young black dragon as
carrying the stench of decay. the base creature.

Zombie Template 52

An aberration, beast, dragon, fey, fiend, giant, humanoid, or
monstrosity can become a zombie. When it undergoes this
transformation, it retains its statistics except as described below.

Lost Characteristics. The zombie loses its original saving
throw and skill bonuses, as well as any special senses or special
traits.

Type. The zombie’s type is Undead, and it loses any tags. It no
longer requires air, food, drink, or sleep.

Alignment. The zombie is Neutral Evil.
Speed. Reduce all the zombie’s speeds by 10 feet, to a
minimum of 5 feet.
Ability Scores. The zombie’s ability scores change as follows:
Int 3 (-4), Wis: 6 (-2), Cha: 5 (-3). Int, Wis, and Cha can’t be
increased by this change. The zombie’s Constitution score is
increased by 2, and its Dexterity score is decreased by 6, to a
minimum value of 6 (-2).
Senses. The zombie has darkvision with a radius of 60 feet.
Saving Throw: Wisdom. The zombie adds its proficiency
modifier to its Wisdom saving throws
Damage Immunities. The zombie is immune to poison
damage.
Condition Immunities. The zombie can’t be poisoned.
Hit Dice. The zombie gains two additional hit dice, increasing
its hit points by the regular amount.
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the zombie to 0 hit
points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5
+ the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a
critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
Languages. The zombie understands all languages it knew in
life but can’t speak.

CHAPTER 4 | CREATURES