Seven Spooky Skeletons - Jack of Flame

Seven Spooky Skeletons is a short series running until Halloween, showcasing a different unique skeletal villain each night.

Tonight's Spooky Skeleton is Jack of Flame, a skeletal sorcerer of fire who can teleport by throwing his explosive jack-o-lantern head.

The following text is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.

This skeleton, bearing a scythe, has a devilishly carved jack-o-lantern in place of a skull. Tongues of fire trail from the mouth and eye-holes as he moves forward to attack.

Jack of Flame       CR 6

XP 2,400

Human skeletal champion sorcerer 9

NE Size undead (fire)

Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +11

Special special

DEFENSE

AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +1 dodge, +4 mage armor)

hp 95 (9d6+2d8+55)

Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +11; +4 channel resistance

DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune cold, fire, undead traits

Vulnerability vulnerability

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee +1 scythe +7/+2 (2d4+1 plus 1d6 fire/x4)

Ranged mwk dart +10/+5 (1d4 plus 1d6 fire) 20ft.

Special Attacks elemental blast (1/day, 9d6 fire, 20 ft. radius, DC 19 Reflex halves), elemental ray (8/day, 1d6+4 fire, 30 ft. ray), fiery teleportation (1/hour, 5d6 fire; see text)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 11^th)

   1/day – vomit centipede swarm

Spells Prepared (CL 9^th)

2   4^th (5/day; DC 19) – bestow curse, dragon’s breath, elemental body I^B,

3   3^rd (7/day; DC 18) – fireball, flame arrow, fly, protection from energy^B,

4   2^nd (7/day; DC 17) – burning gaze, fire breath, flaming sphere, pyrotechnics, scorching ray^B,

5   1^st (8/day; DC 16) – burning disarm, burning hands^B, cause fear, enlarge person, grease, mage armor

8   cantrips (at will; DC 15) – acid splash, bleed, dancing lights, daze, ghost sound, mage hand, mending, spark

Bloodline elemental (fire)

BASE STATISTICS

Without mage armor, Jack of Flame’s armor class is: AC 16, flat-footed 12

STATISTICS

Str 11, Dex 16, Con --, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 20

Base Atk +6; CMB +6; CMD 19

Feats Arcane Strike, Combat Casting, Dodge, Empower Spell, Eschew Materials^B, Improved Initiative^B, Lightning Reflexes^B, Martial Weapon Proficiency (scythe), Quick Draw, Weapon Focus (ray)

Skills Bluff +13, Fly +8, Intimidate +19, Knowledge (arcane) +7, Knowledge (nature) +4, Perception +11, Profession (farmer) +16, Sense Motive +11, Spellcraft +10, Stealth +10, Use Magic Device +10

Languages Common, Ignan

SQ bloodline arcana (spontaneously change spell’s energy damage type to fire), soul of fire

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Soul of Fire (Su)

Jack of Flame is immune to fire, and all weapons wielded by him deal an additional 1d6 points of fire damage.

Fiery Teleportation (Su)

Once per hour, as a standard action, Jack of Flame can teleport by throwing his jack-o-lantern head. He makes a ranged touch attack against a square of his choosing with a range increment of 20 feet. If the attack fails, the jack-o-lantern lands in a different square 5 ft./range increment away (roll 1d8 to determine the direction). Upon landing, the jack-o-lantern explodes in a blast of fire, dealing 5d6 points of fire damage to all creatures in the target square and in each adjacent square. Creatures succeeding on a DC 20 Reflex save take only half damage.

   Jack of Flame then appears in the target square, his jack-o-lantern head restored to his rejuvenated skeletal body. His old headless body crumples to dust. Teleporting in this way ends any ongoing effects affecting Jack of Flame (except those caused by spells that Jack of Flame cast) and restores any ability score damage or lost limbs, though his HP remains the same. The save DC for this effect is Charisma-based.

Vomit Centipede Swarm (Sp)

Jack of Flame can vomit a swarm of centipedes from his jack-o-lantern mouth as a standard action once per day. This spell functions as the spell vomit swarm, but it produces a centipede swarm instead of a spider swarm, and the centipede swarm is immune to fire.

ECOLOGY

Treasure NPC gear (+1 scythe, 6x mwk darts, 4x flasks of alchemist’s fire, potion of inflict moderate wounds (CL 5^th), wand of entangle (CL 3^rd; 22 uses remaining), other treasure)

This otherwise unassuming skeleton is missing its skull. In its place is a jack-o-lantern carved with a wicked grin and full of unending fire. In life, this man was a lonely farmer, shunned as a firebug and arsonist by his community. He never learned how to control his sorcerous powers, but he was encouraged by mischievous fire spirits. Some stories say his fires saved his village during a particularly harsh winter, but they went back to shunning him as soon as Spring came. Other stories tell of a lost love and a hunger for vengeance. Whatever the case, all agree that Jack’s rampage began at his village’s harvest festival. His flames engulfed the entire town, burning all within. One brave farmer, his name lost to the ages, used his dying strength to behead Jack with a scythe – the very scythe which Jack now carries, permanently marked by the nick left by Jack’s neck bones. From the ashes of that deadly fire rose Jack of Flame, the pumpkin-headed firebrand, a spirit of vengeance and cruelty. He knows little of subtlety – what a little fire won’t solve, a lot of fire just might. 

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-your fifth spooky d20 despot

Seven Spooky Skeletons - Our Lady Deathless

Seven Spooky Skeletons is a short series running until Halloween, showcasing a different unique skeletal villain each night.

Tonight's Spooky Skeleton is Our Lady Deathless, a winged skeleton covered in gleaming gold. She is false angel who leads the living to their deaths.

The following text is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.

This skeleton’s bones are etched and plated with shining gold, and a serene golden mask covers her face. She floats above the ground, her gleaming skeletal wings outstretched behind her.

Our Lady Deathless      CR 7

XP 3,200

Aasimar skeletal champion antipaladin 4/cleric 5 (charm, death)

CE Medium undead

Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +13

Aura aura of cowardice (10 ft.), aura of evil

DEFENSE

AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, +2 natural, +1 dodge)

hp 113 (7d8+4d10+60)

Fort +14, Ref +8, Will +16; +4 channel resistance

DR 5/bludgeoning; SR 15

Defensive Abilities gilded glory, unholy resilience

Immune cold, undead traits; Resistances acid 5, electricity 5

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee +2 unholy spear +13/+8 (1d8+4/x3)

Ranged mwk unholy javelins +13/+8 (1d6+2) 30ft.

Special Attacks bleeding touch (6/day, 1d6 bleed for 2 rounds), channel negative energy (8/day, 3d6, 30 ft., DC 17), dazing touch (6/day), smite good (2/day, +5 attack, +4 damage, +5 AC), touch of corruption (7/day, 2d6 negative energy plus DC 17 Fort save or shaken for 4 rounds)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9^th)

   at will – detect good, quickened levitate

   1/day – daylight

Antipaladin Spells Prepared (CL 4^th)

   1^st (DC 16) – command, murderous command

Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 5^th)

   3^rd (DC 16) – bestow curse, dispel magic, suggestion^D

   2^nd (DC 15) – death knell^D, dread bolt, hold person, spiritual weapon

   1^st (DC 14) – bane, burning disarm, cause fear, charm person^D, protection from good

   orisons (DC 13) – bleed, guidance, light, mending

STATISTICS

Str 14, Dex 16, Con --, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 20

Base Atk +9; CMB +11; CMD 24

Feats Channel Smite, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Initiative^B, Mobility, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack

Skills Bluff +19, Diplomacy +13, Heal +7, Intimidate +11, Knowledge (religion) +8, Perception +13, Sense Motive +9, Spellcraft +6; Racial Modifiers +2 Diplomacy, +2 Perception

Languages Common, Celestial

SQ aura of evil, spontaneous casting, unholy weapons

SPECIAL ABILITIES

False Angel Form (Su)

Our Lady Deathless can assume the form of a glowing golden angel. The angel’s face is covered by Our Lady Deathless’ serene golden mask. While in false angel form, Our Lady Deathless’ aura becomes a strong aura of good.

   While Our Lady Deathless is in false angel form, creatures damaged by her negative energy attacks - such as channel energy, touch of corruption, or an inflict spell - must make a DC 20 Will save. Failure means that they believe that they have been healed for the same amount of damage. This damage only becomes apparent with a DC 20 Heal check or once Our Lady Deathless exits false angel form. This is a mind-affecting effect and the save DC is Charisma-based.

   Our Lady Deathless can remain in false angel form for up to 5 hours per day. This time is spent in 10 minute increments – if she exits false angel form before 10 minutes have passed, a 10 minute increment is still expended. Entering false angel form is a standard action, and leaving it is a free action.

Gilded Glory (Su)

Our Lady Deathless is covered with ornate gold ornamentation worked into her bones, granting her a +5 armor bonus and spell resistance 15.

Unholy Weapons (Su)

Any weapons wielded by Our Lady Deathless gain the unholy special ability as long as they are in her possession and for one round thereafter.

ECOLOGY

Treasure double (+2 spear, 4x mwk javelins, 2,500gp worth of gilding, other treasure)

Our Lady Deathless is a winged aasimar skeleton who has plated her bones with fifty pounds of gold. She wears a golden mask depicting a serene female face. No one knows her past or her true name. In undeath, she is known as Our Lady Deathless, and she is a cunning and evil scourge of all that is good. She delights in taking on her false angel form to mislead lost adventurers to their dooms, revealing her true self only at the very end. Her favorite targets are paladins and good-aligned clerics, often tricking them into attacking innocents or otherwise violating the precepts of their faith. 

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-your fourth spooky d20 despot

Seven Spooky Skeletons: The Screamer

Seven Spooky Skeletons is a short series running until Halloween, showcasing a different unique skeletal villain each night.

Tonight's Spooky Skeleton is the Screamer, a raging ogre barbarian haunted by the ghosts of his dead tribe, who carries the screaming skulls of his enemies in his ribcage.

The following text is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.

This stout ogre skeleton leaps into the fray, swinging two spiked chains bound to its wrists. Its rib cage is packed with human skulls that scream unnervingly as he charges.

The Screamer      CR 7

XP 3,200

Ogre skeletal champion barbarian 6

CE Large undead

Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +12

Aura screaming rage (50 ft., DC 18)

DEFENSE

AC 10, touch 8, flat-footed 9 (+1 Dex, -1 size, +2 natural, -2 rage)

hp 132 (6d8+6d12+42)

Fort +11, Ref +5, Will +10; +4 channel resistance

DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune cold, undead traits

Defensive Abilities improved uncanny dodge, trap sense (+2)

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft.

Melee 2 mwk spiked chains +16/+16/+11 (2d4+8 plus disarm or trip) and spirit totem +13 (1d4+4 negative energy) or 2 claws +17 (1d6+8) and spirit totem +13 (1d4+4 negative energy)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Ranged screaming skull +10 (3d6 negative energy plus paralysis) 20ft.

Special Attacks screaming rage (22 rounds/day), rage powers (no escape, smasher, lesser spirit totem)

BASE STATISTICS

When not raging his stats are:

AC 12, touch 10, flat-footed 11

hp 108; Fort +9, Will +8

Melee 2 mwk spiked chains +14/+14/+9 (2d4+6 plus disarm or trip) or 2 claws +15 (1d6+6)

Str 23, Cha 14; CMB +17; CMD 29; Climb +11

STATISTICS

Str 27, Dex 13, Con --, Int 7, Wis 13, Cha 18

Base Atk +10; CMB +19; CMD 31

Feats Double Slice, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain), Extra Rage, Improved Initiative^B, Toughness, Two-Weapon Fighting

Skills Climb +13, Intimidate +8, Perception +12, Sense Motive +7, Survival +7

Languages Giant

SQ fast movement

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Death Throes (Su)

When the Screamer is destroyed, all living creatures within 30 feet take 5d6 points of negative energy damage and are confused for 1d4-1 rounds. A DC 18 Will save negates the confusion but not the negative energy damage. This is a mind-affecting fear effect, and the save DC is Charisma-based.

Screaming Skull (Su)

The Screamer can reach into its rib cage and pull out one of its screaming skulls (a move action to grab), throwing it as a ranged attack. Targets struck by the skull take 3d6 negative energy damage and must make a DC 18 Will save or be paralyzed for 1d6 rounds. Success negates the paralysis but not the negative energy damage. This is a mind-affecting fear effect, and the save DC is Charisma-based.

Screaming Rage (Ex)

For up to 22 rounds per day, the Screamer can enter into a terrible rage, during which the skulls trapped in its ribcage begin to scream and their eyes glow blue. This ability is identical to the barbarian’s rage ability except as noted below. Instead of boosting the Screamer’s Constitution score, screaming rage grants a +4 morale bonus to the Screamer’s Charisma score. Since undead cannot be fatigued, the Screamer suffers no ill effects upon ending his rage (although if the loss of the temporary hit points brings him to 0 hp or below, he is still destroyed).

   Additionally, each round that the screamer maintains his rage, all creatures within 50 ft. must make a DC 18 Will save or become shaken for that round. This is a mind-affecting fear effect, and the save DC is Charisma-based.

ECOLOGY

Treasure NPC gear (2 mwk spiked chains, other treasure)

The Screamer is an ogre skeleton with two spiked chains bolted to its wrists. Its rib cage is stuffed with dozens of human skulls – their eyes glow blue and they scream incessantly when the Screamer goes into a rage. In life, the screamer was the last of a tribe of ogres who were slaughtered by humans. He was raised in chains, first as a slave, then as a freak show attraction with a travelling carnival. When he broke free of his chains, he slew everyone at the carnival and kept their heads as trophies, towing them behind him in a carnival wagon. A group of adventurers ambushed and slew him, tossing his corpse and his wagon of heads over a cliff. Animated by his lonely anger and protected by the spirits of his dead tribe, he once again roams the world, seeking death and destruction.

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-your third spooky d20 despot

Seven Spooky Skeletons: Woodbones

Seven Spooky Skeletons is a short series running every night until Halloween, because I love Halloween, alliteration, and the word 'spooky'. Each night, d20 despot will be showcasing a different unique skeletal villain.

Tonight's spooky skeleton is Woodbones, an undead, bark-encrusted druid who summons skeletal animals and rides a bony bear infused with the spirit of an evil tree.

The following text is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.

This halfling skeleton is partially fused with plates of ragged bark. It sits astride a skeletal bear bristling with woody vines.

Woodbones          CR 6

XP 2,400

Halfling skeletal champion druid 8

NE Small undead

Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., greensight; Perception +13

DEFENSE

AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 16 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +5 natural, +1 dodge)

hp 73 (10d8+28)

Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +14; +4 channel resistance, +4 vs. effects from fey and effects using plants

DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune cold, undead traits

Defensive Abilities resist nature’s lure

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.

Melee +1 quarterstaff +8/+8/+3 (1d4+2) or 2 claws +9 (1d3+1)

Ranged +1 sling +11 (1d3+2) 50ft.

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8^th; concentration +12)

   constant – greensight

   1/day – tree shape

Spells Prepared (CL 0^th)

4^th – bloody claws, inflict serious wounds (DC 18), thorn body

3^rd – call lightning (DC 17), fungal infestation (DC 17), greater magic fang, inflict moderate wounds (DC 17)

2^nd – barkskin, fog cloud, frigid touch, wood shape

1^st – bristle, decompose corpse, liberating command, magic stone, shillelagh

orisons – create water, detect magic, light, resistance

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 16, Con --, Int 11, Wis 18, Cha 15

Base Atk +7; CMB +7; CMD 20

Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative^B, Mounted Combat, Natural Spell, Two-Weapon Fighting

Skills Acrobatics +5, Climb +3, Intimidate +7, Handle Animal +9, Heal +8, Knowledge (nature) +10, Perception +13, Ride +16, Stealth +16, Survival +11; Racial Modifiers +2 Acrobatics, +2 Climb, +2 Perception

Languages Common, Halfling, Druidic

SQ nature bond (skeletal animal companion), nature sense, skeletal wild shape, spontaneous casting, trackless step, undead wild empathy, woodland stride

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Bark Armor (Ex)

Woodbones’ bones are fused with the bark of the Tree of Death, granting him a +4 natural armor bonus on top of the existing natural armor bonus granted by the skeleton template.

Blessing of the Tree of Death (Ex)

The Tree of Death gave Woodbones many gifts. Woodbones gains greensight as a constant spell-like ability and tree shape as a spell-like ability useable once per day. It also adds any inflict wounds spells to its druid spell list.

Skeletal Animal Companion (Ex)

Woodbones’ animal companion gains the skeletal champion template. The companion retains all special qualities granted to an animal companion. In addition, planted within the heart of the skeletal animal is a sapling descended from the Tree of Death. This grants the skeletal animal companion a +4 bonus to grapple checks, a +4 bonus to Charisma, and the ability to cast entangle as a spell-like ability once per day with a caster level equal to Woodbones’.

Root, The Skeletal Bear

Bear skeleton animal companion

N Medium undead

Init +6; Senses low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +0

DEFENSE

AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+8 natural, +2 Dex)

hp 58 (9d8+18)

Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +5; +4 channel resistance, +4 vs enchantments

DR 0/-; Immune immunity, undead traits

Defensive Abilities devotion, evasion

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.

Melee bite +11 (1d6+5), 2 claws +11 (1d4+5)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8^th)

   1/day – entangle

STATISTICS

Str 21, Dex 15, Con --, Int --, Wis 10, Cha 14

Base Atk +6; CMB +11; CMD 23

Feats Improved Initiative^B

SQ link, share spells

Skeletal Wild Shape (Su)

Woodbones can assume the form of any skeletal animal of Tiny, Small, Medium, or Large size. This ability functions like the spell undead anatomy II except as noted here. The effect lasts for eight hours or until it changes back. Changing form is a standard action and doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity. Woodbones’ skeletal animal forms retain its bark armor and +4 natural armor bonus. Woodbones can use this ability three times to day.

Skeletal Summons (Su)

Any creatures summoned when Woodbones casts summon nature’s ally or similar summoning spells are summoned with the skeleton or exoskeleton template, as appropriate. Summoned elementals are not affected by this change.

Undead Wild Empathy (Ex)

Woodbones can improve the attitude of an undead animal just as a living druid can with a living animal. Woodbones can use this ability to influence an undead magical beast with an Intelligence score or 2 or lower.

ECOLOGY

Treasure NPC gear (+1 quarterstaff, +1 sling, 40 bullets, potion of inflict serious wounds (CL 5^th), other treasure)

This halfling skeleton’s bones are partially fused to tough sheets of thick bark, forming a crude sort of armor. Some of its bones are missing, replaced with perfectly crafted wooden doubles. In life, this creature was a halfling druid. It died at the foot of the legendary Tree of Death, the bark of which grew over its corpse, decomposed it, and infused it with dark powers. All other aspects of its past identity have been stripped away by the ages, leaving only the husk known as Woodbones, Servant of the Tree of Death. It rides a skeletal bear named Root, which bears the thrashing, evil sapling of the Tree of Death in its rib-cage. Together, they seek to bring a twisted balance to nature by hastening the death and decay of all living things.

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-your second spooky d20 despot 

Seven Spooky Skeletons: The Marquis

Happy Halloween, and welcome to Seven Spooky Skeletons! This is the first entry in an ongoing series running until Halloween. Each day, d20 Despot will feature a stat block for a villainous skeletal NPC. Each skeleton will have some sort of unique ability or characteristic that makes them more than just a collection of stats.

The first of the Seven Spooky Skeletons is the Marquis, a cold-blooded but dashing rogue whose empty eye sockets and lipless grin are hidden behind a crimson carnival mask.

The following text is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.

This skeleton, wearing a red and gold carnival mask, a broad-brimmed feathered hat, and a dashing half-cape, flourishes his gleaming rapier

The Marquis            CR 5

XP 1,600

human skeletal champion rogue 7

CE Medium undead

Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 14 (+2 natural, +4 Dex, +2 deflection)

hp 76 (9d8+36)

Fort +7, Ref +10, Will +4; channel resistance +4

DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune cold, undead traits

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee +1 keen rapier +12/+7 (1d6+2/15-20) or 2 claws +10/+5 (1d4+1)

Ranged mwk dagger +11/+6 (1d4+1) 10ft.

Special Attacks Sneak Attack +4d6 plus 4 bleed

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 7^th)

   2/day – alter self (human only), charm person (DC 15)

STATISTICS

Str 13, Dex 18, Con --, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 18

Base Atk +6/+1; CMB +7; CMD 21

Feats Combat Expertise, Dazzling Display, Improved Feint^B, Improved Initiative^B, Quick Draw, Step Up, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (rapier)^B

Skills Acrobatics +16, Appraise +5, Bluff +16, Climb +6, Diplomacy +16, Disable Device +8, Disguise +16, Escape Artist +8, Intimidate +14, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (local) +5, Knowledge (nobility) +4, Perception +11, Sense Motive +7, Sleight of Hand +8, Stealth +12

Languages Common, Elvish

SQ convincing, rogue talents (bleeding attack, combat trick, weapon training)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Convincing (Ex)

The Marquis is preternaturally charming, even in the heat of battle. When he uses his charm person ability, the target does not gain the +5 bonus to their saves they would normally be entitled to even if the Marquis or his allies are threatening or attacking the target. In addition, when the Marquis attempts a Diplomacy skill check, the targets regard him as one step closer to friendly for the purposes of setting the DC of the check.

ECOLOGY

Treasure NPC gear (+1 keen rapier, 3x mwk daggers, ring of protection +2, potion of invisibility (CL 5^th), potion of inflict moderate wounds (CL 5^th), masterwork thieves’ tools, other treasure)

This skeleton covers his bony face with an ornate, long-nosed carnival mask – crimson, filigreed with gold. Over his left shoulder hangs a jaunty half-cape of fine workmanship, and upon his head sits a broad-brimmed bravo’s hat with a long white ostrich feather in the brim. In life, the Marquis was an inveterate playboy, dashing swordsman, and cunning serial killer. He casually slew hundreds of victims, often in the middle of their conversation, and all while maintaining a winning smile. His vast wealth, political power, and natural charm allowed him to get away with much, but it was ironically his dueling prowess that lead to his death. A gang of aspiring swashbucklers, tired of seeing the Marquis win every duel he fought and never grant mercy to the beaten party, set upon him in a back alley one night, stabbing him over forty times and leaving him to bleed out in the gutter. In death, he acts much the same as he did in life: charming, arrogant, and consumed with a need to kill.

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-your first spooky d20 despot

Monster Monday: Goo Bat Swarm

Today's Monster Monday is the goo bat, a blood-sucking ball of ooze with bat wings. Goo bats swarm their prey, glomming on to them to slow them down with a thick layer of slime which begins to siphon the blood from their body. They leave behind jellified corpses that burst open into new swarms of goo bats.

Whoa, is that an original illustration? Well, it sure as heck ain't a professional illustration. I got a tablet, so I'm going to start drawing some of the monsters I stat up. The goal is that eventually every Monster Monday will have its own original illustration (and I'll gradually get better at drawing them).

Hey, Halloween is coming up! Starting this Wednesday, I will be posting a new skeleton stat block every day until Halloween. It's an event I'm calling: d20 Despot's Seven Spooky Skeletons.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.

Monster Monday: Titanosaur, the Biggest Dinosaur Ever

Today's Monster Monday is the titanosaur, a mindbogglingly tremendous sauropod dinosaur. The titanosaurs were actually a group of many sauropod species, the largest of which were also the largest dinosaurs ever and the longest and heaviest land animals ever to walk the earth.

by ДиБгд, via Wikimedia

A life-restoration of the titanosaur ampelosaurus atacis, shown with spiky osteoderms along its spine

One of the cool things that makes titanosaurs stand out from your more well-known sauropods like brachiosaurus, diplodocus, or apatosaurus is that many titanosaurs had osteoderms - large bony plates embedded in their skin. These plates may have acted as additional armor for these already formidable beasts, and some (such as ampelosaurus, above) even had spikes. The ampelosaurus above shows a conservative distribution of osteoderms, but the diamentinasaurus illustrated below is depicted as rather more well-armored.

by T. Tischler, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, via Wikimedia

Life-restoration of diamentinasaurus matildae, showing one possible level of titanosaurid osteoderm distribution

What's in a name? Translating a real-world monster, whether mythological or real, into a fantasy world can be difficult, especially when they are saddled with a name that instantly ties them to our world. With many classic dinosaurs, this isn't so much of a problem. Household names like tyrannosaurus and velociraptor, while clearly grounded in our world's scientific Greco-Latin naming conventions, seem to fit in relatively easily to a fantasy world alongside dragons, chimerae, and basilisks. Equally interesting but more newly discovered animals often have names that stand out like a sore thumb, either because they are overly long and complicated or because they specifically reference a real-world name or place. Titanosaur names like argentinosaurus, aegyptosaurus, or isisaurus (named after the Indian Statistical Institute) do not lend themselves to a fantasy world's immersion.

The monster statted up below is an argentinosaurus, by many estimates the largest of the titanosaurs. I chose to call it, simply, titanosaur, a rather generic name which can cover many species (including the horse-sized magyarosaurus). Identifying this monster by its scientific clade is akin to naming the stat block for tyrannosaurus 'coelurosaur'. Still, I thought it was better than identifying it with the real-world nation of Argentina, or calling it 'titanosaurus', which, despite lending its name to the titanosaurids, is a much smaller titanosaur than argentinosaurus (13 tons compared to argentinosaurus' 70-100 tons) and is now usually considered to be a nomen dubium - a name or classification unsupported by current science.

Also, it is important to remember that paleoart is often minimalist, omitting many potential features of a dinosaur that are not preserved in the fossil record. More adventurous paleoartists like to go out on a limb with their reconstructions, giving them interesting features that, while not necessarily supported by the fossil record, are also not disproven by the fossil record and thus may rest within the realm of possibility (I call this the Air Bud approach to paleoart, i.e. "There's no rule saying dogs can't play basketball"). This type of paleoart emphasizes naturalism, showing prehistoric animals in all the variety of coloration, integument, and behavior as other animals we are more familiar with. This often breathes new life into depictions of prehistoric animals, and generates renewed public interest in paleoart. With that in mind, here is another titanosaur illustration that would certainly make an impression in a fantasy world.

by Danny Cicchetti, via Wikimedia

A be-striped, be-quilled, and be-dewlapped life-restoration of the titanosaur overosaurus paradasorum

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.