5e Grognard

Moved to my new blog here .

Moved to my new blog here .

Dragon Magazine #162 gives us some more wealth to mine with the Skotos, a relative of the shadow.  The skotos is based off of Teiresias and the ghosts of Tartarus in Homer's Odyssey . John Henry Fuseli - Teiresias Foretells the Future to Odysseus Skotos Medium undead, neutral evil Armor Class 15 Hit Points 27 (5d8+5) Speed  40 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 6 (-2) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 8 (-1) Skills Stealth +4 (+6 in dim light or darkness) Damage Vulnerabilities radiant Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder, bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical weapons Damage Immunities necrotic, poison Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petified, poisoned, prone, restrained Senses darkvision 60 ft. passive Perception 10 Languages - Challenge 2 (450 XP) Amorphous. Skotos can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. ...

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Another of the spells that can be found in the necromantic spellbook Cryptichronos conjures a inky black cloud. Creeping Darkness was mentioned in the article as being a spell that could be in the book and originally appeared in Oriental Adventures. It later appeared in 3.5's Complete Arcane.   It's listed as a 4th level evocation spell on the wu jen spell list. I felt it fits better as a conjuration, and was a bit under powered, so I changed it to 3rd level. Creeping Darkness 3rd level conjuration Casting Time: 1 action Range: 120 ft. Components: V, S, M ( A whisker from a black cat and a tiny bottle of smoke captured on a moonless night.) Duration: concentration or 1 minute This spell creates an amorphous cloud of inky blackness that you can shape and move as desired. While you concentrate on it, the darkness can move up to 20 feet per round, either floating through air or seeping through the smallest cracks. The cloud stops all light and sound, s...

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Another of the spells that can be found in the necromantic spellbook Cryptichronos causes the red death . Masque of Red Death  by Greg Hildebrandt Crimson Scourge 5th level necromancy Casting Time: 1 action Range: Touch Components: V, S, M (scarlet robe and a faceless red mask, both made from the finest silk, worth at least a 1,000 gp each) Duration: Special This terrible spell can affect one humanoid being.  Upon pronouncing the curse, you touch the victim, who gets a Constitution saving throw.  Failure results in the victim bleeding profusely through the pores of the skin, taking 1-2 hp damage per round until dead. Regular first aid cannot prevent this damage, and most magical curatives have no effect upon the affliction. Such spells as remove curse , and cure wounds can staunch the hemorrhaging, but hit points may be re-gained fully only through time and rest. A heal spell, on the other hand, can dispel the results of this evil magic ent...

Another of the spells that can be found in the necromantic spellbook  Cryptichronos   summons a hungry mist. Vampire Mist 4th level necromancy Casting Time: 1 action Range: 30 ft. Components: V, S Duration: 1 minute With this spell, you cause a pale, large sized cloud of chilling vapor to form at any desired spot within a 30’ radius. The vapor billows, shifts, and appears almost sentient even though it is not truly alive. It moves at a rate of 30 ft. per round, seeking out and enveloping the nearest life-form within reach of its gaseous tendrils (possibly attacking you if you do not take precautions). Once the spell is cast, you do not need to concentrate upon the magic in order for its effects to persist.  You do not have any control over the mist once the spell is cast.   The vapor can flow over 10’ high walls and can seep through even the smallest openings and cracks. It cannot pass through airtight barriers (such as a wall of  f...

Another of the spells that can be found in the necromantic spellbook  Cryptichronos   transforms your arms into poisonous snakes. Sinuous Horrors Level 4 transmutation Casting Time: 1 action Range: self Components: S Duration: 1 minute This spell transforms each of your arms into a writhing, hissing serpents that can strike at any opponent within arms reach.  Each arm attacks as a poisonous snake. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: + to hit equal to you spell attack bonus, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage, and the target must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC, taking 10 (4d4) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.  It also inflicts the poisoned condition. You cannot cast this spell while holding an object, or wearing anything on your hands (e.g., rings or gloves).  You cannot grab ony object while under effects of the spell, or cast any spells with a som...

One of the spells that can be found in the necromantic spellbook  Cryptichronos   is one that allows you to control an undead creature. Undead Control 3rd-level necromancy Casting Time: 1 action Range: 20 yards Components: V, S, M Duration: 1 hour You attempt to control a single undead creature you can see within range. It must make a Wisdom saving throw, and does so with advantage if you or your companions are fighting it. If it fails the saving throw, it is controlled by you until the spell ends or until you or your companions do anything harmful to it. The controlled creature regards you as a friendly acquaintance. When the spell ends, the creature knows it was controlled by you. The material component is an evil priest’s unholy symbol or some other properly cursed talisman forcefully presented to the affected monsters. The component is not lost in the casting and may be subsequently reused. At Higher Levels: You can control more powerful undead c...

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Continuing along with another skeleton variant. From Dragon #138: A classic Walt Disney cartoon featured dancing skeletons, and animated skeletons often appear in cartoon features. Such skeletons not only dance but trade heads, fall into piles of bones, and reform into skeletons again. The skeleton variation herein called dry bones is inspired by the antics of cartoon skeletons. The name “dry bones” comes from the song of the same name (“The leg bone is connected to the hip bone,” etc.). Dry Bones Medium undead, neutral evil Armor Class 13 Hit Points 32 (5d8 + 10) Speed 30 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 6 (-2) 8 (-1) 5 (-3) Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning Damage Immunities poison Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9 Languages understands all languages it knew in life but can’t speak Challenge 1 (200 XP) Combine. Dry bones can combine...

October is the beginning of my favorite time of the year.  The air gets crisp.  Green gives way to oranges, reds, yellows and browns.  The rustle of leaves.  My favorite holiday, Halloween, which brings us things that go bump in the night , this month's Blog Carnival. With that I decided to jump ahead thru my collection of Dragon Magazine, to issue # 138, which brings us a crypt full of undead creatures. Bloody Bones Medium undead, neutral evil Armor Class 13 Hit Points 19 (3d8+6) Speed 30 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 6 (−2) 8 (−1) 5 (−3) Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning Damage Immunities poison Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9 Languages understands all languages it knew in life but can’t speak Challenge ½ (100 XP) Horrifying Visage.  Each non-undead creature within 60 feet of the bloody bones that can see i...