Crimson Bones
Crimson bones are gruesome undead created when a humanoid is flayed alive in a sacrificial ritual. They appear as skeletons that continually drip with fresh blood. Crimson bones are not created purposely; they rise spontaneously from the dead, driven by hatred of the living & lust for vengeance. They cannot speak or even understand the words of others. They exist only to kill in wild frenzies of blood & death. Evil clerics can not rebuke or command these chaotic undead, but they can be turned. Only arak sith, sithkin changelings or necromancy wizards with their Control Undead feature can control crimson bones.
Combat
Crimson bones attack until destroyed, for their only focus is on killing the living & flaying the flesh from their bones. Empowered by their hatred, their teeth & bony fingers rip through flesh like knives.
Statblock
Homebrew, Ravenloft: Denizens of Darkness (3.5e)
Crimson Bones
STR
14 +2
DEX
16 +3
CON
15 +2
INT
6 -2
WIS
12 +1
CHA
6 -2
Blood Poisoning. When a creature is exposed to the crimson bones' blood, such as through a melee attack or as a result of the blood splash feature, the creature must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the creature contracts the disease blood poisoning & takes 2 (1d4) poison damage at the end of each of its turns. The effect lasts until the creature dies or is cured through casting the spell Lesser Restoration, a paladin's lay on hand feature, or a similiar magical effect.
Blood Splash. When the crimson bones takes damage of any type but psychic, each creature within 5' of the crimson bones must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken or be splashed with its blood.
Actions
Multiattack. When the crimson bones takes the attack action, it makes one bite attack & one claws attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5', one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5', one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage.
Suggested Environments
Any climate, any terrain
Sources
Ravenloft: Denizens of Darkness 3.5e, p 40-41
Dread Domains
The Shadowlands. Crimson bones are often the creations of arak sith, members of the Unseelie Court of Mount Arak. As a result, they are only really found in domains adjacent to the Shadowlands, such as Keening & Tepest. A handful of necromancers have also learned how to create crimson bones, so they can occasionally be found in other domains serving dark mages or liches.
Dark Powers
Visceral Corpse (XII). As bloody skeletons bent on flaying their victims alive, they are a true example of body horror.
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