Skeleton, Giant
Climate/Terrain:
| Any |
|
Frequency:
| Rare
|
Organization:
| Solitary
|
Activity Cycle:
| Any
|
Diet:
| Nil
|
Intelligence:
| Non-(0)
|
Treasure:
| Nil
|
Alignment:
| Neutral
|
No. Appearing:
| 2-8 (2d4)
|
Armor Class:
| 4
|
Movement:
| 12
|
Hit Dice:
| 4+4
|
THAC0:
| 15
|
No. of Attacks:
| 1
|
Damage/Attack:
| 1d12
|
Special Attacks:
| Nil
|
Special Defenses:
| See below
|
Magic Resistance:
| Nil
|
Size:
| L (12' tall)
|
Morale:
| Fearless (20)
|
XP Value:
| 975
|
Giant skeletons are similar to the more common undead skeleton, but they have
been created with a combination of spells and are, thus, far more deadly than
their lesser counterparts.
Giant skeletons stand roughly 12 feet tall and look to be made from the bones
of giants. In actuality, they are simply human skeletons that have been
magically
enlarged. They are normally armed with long spears or scythes that end in keen bone
blades. Rare individuals will be found carrying shields (and thus have an Armor
Class of 3), but these are far from common. A small, magical fire burns in the
chest of each giant skeleton, a by-product of the magics that are used to make
them. These flames begin just above the pelvis and reach upward to lick at the
collar bones. Mysteriously, no burning or scorching occurs where the flames
touch the bone.
Giant skeletons do not communicate in any way. They can obey simple, verbal
commands given to them by their creator, but will ignore all others. In order for
a command to be understood by these animated skeletons, it must contain no
more than three distinct concepts. For example, "stay in this room, make sure that
nobody comes in, and don't allow the prince to leave,". would be the type of
command these creatures could obey.
Combat: In melee combat, giant skeletons most frequently attack with bone-bladed
scythes or spears. Each blow that lands inflicts 1d12 points of damage.
Once per hour (6 turns), a skeleton may reach into its chest and draw forth a
sphere of fire from the flames that burn within its rib cage. This flaming
sphere can be hurled as if it were a
fireball that delivers 8d6 points of damage. Because these creatures are immune to
harm from both magical and normal fires, they will freely use this attack in close
quarters.
Giant skeletons are immune to
sleep, charm, hold, or similar mind-affecting spells. Cold-based spells inflict half damage to
them, lightning inflicts full damage, while fire (as has already been mentioned)
cannot harm them. They suffer half damage from edged or piercing weapons and
but 1 point of damage per die from all manner of arrows, quarrels, or missiles.
Blunt melee weapons inflict full damage on them.
Being undead, giant skeletons can be turned by priests and paladins. They are
more difficult to turn than mundane skeletons, however, being treated as if
they were mummies. Holy water that is splashed upon them inflicts 2d4 points of
damage per vial.
Habitat/Society: The first giant skeletons to appear in Ravenloft were created by the undead
priestess Radaga in her lair within the domain of Kartakass. Others have since
mastered the spells and techniques required to create these monsters; thus, giant
skeletons are gradually beginning to appear in other realms where the dead and
undead lurk.
Giant skeletons are employed as guards and sentinels by those with the power
to create them. It is said that the Dark Powers can see everything that
transpires before the eyes of these foul automatons, but there is no proof supporting
this rumor.
Ecology: Like lesser animated skeletons, these undead things have no true claim to any
place in nature. They are created from the bones of those who have died and are
abominations in the eyes of all who belief in the sanctity of life and
goodness.
The process by which giant skeletons are created is dark and evil. Attempts to
manufacture them outside of Ravenloft have failed, so it is clear that they
are in some way linked to the Dark Powers themselves. In order to create a giant
skeleton, a spell caster must have the intact skeleton of a normal human or
demihuman. On a night when the land is draped in fog, they must cast an
animate dead, produce fire, enlarge, and a
resist fire spell over the bones. When the last spell is cast, the bones lengthen and
thicken and the creatures rises up. The the creator must make a Ravenloft Powers
check for his part in this evil undertaking.