Bloody Bones

Medium Undead, Chaotic Evil

---

Armor Class 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 82 (11d8 + 33)
Speed 30 ft.

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	15 (+2)	16 (+3)	8 (-1)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)

---

Saving Throws

Dex +4, Wis +3, Cha +4

Skills

Perception +5, Stealth +4, Intimidation +5

Damage Resistances

Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Damage Immunities

Necrotic, Poison

Condition Immunities

Blinded, Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 15

Languages

Understands Common but can’t speak

Challenge

CR 5 (1,800 XP)

---

Traits

• Undying Hunger. The Bloody Bones is driven by an insatiable thirst for suffering. Any creature it reduces to 0 hit points with a melee attack becomes a pool of blood for the Bloody Bones, granting it 5 temporary hit points. If the Bloody Bones has at least 10 temporary hit points, it can’t be reduced below half of its maximum hit points.
• Horrific Appearance. Any creature that sees the Bloody Bones within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Creatures that succeed on the saving throw are immune to this ability for 24 hours.
• Grave-Runner. The Bloody Bones can move through tight spaces and squeeze through openings with ease. It can move through spaces as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. It can also climb vertical surfaces as easily as walking.

---

Actions

• Multiattack. The Bloody Bones makes two Claw attacks.
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
  Hit: 10 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) necrotic damage.
• Terrifying Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
  Hit: 12 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed with fear for 1 round. Creatures that succeed on this saving throw are immune to the Terrifying Rend for 24 hours.
• Blood Pool (Recharge 5–6). The Bloody Bones causes a pool of congealed blood to form in a 5-foot square area within 30 feet. Any creature that enters or begins its turn in the area must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone. The pool lasts for 1 minute or until the Bloody Bones uses this ability again.
• Revenge of the Damned (Recharge 5–6). The Bloody Bones summons the restless spirits of the tortured souls it has claimed. A ghostly wail emanates from its body, causing each creature within 30 feet to make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 13 (3d8) psychic damage and is frightened for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and isn’t frightened.

---

Legendary Actions

The Bloody Bones can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Bloody Bones regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Claw Strike. The Bloody Bones makes one Claw attack.
• Terrifying Visage (Costs 2 Actions). The Bloody Bones twists its body into grotesque contortions, making itself appear more horrific. All creatures within 15 feet must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn.

---

Tactics

The Bloody Bones is a relentless creature, lurking in dark, cramped spaces, preying on the fear and vulnerability of its victims. It hunts quietly, creeping into homes, abandoned buildings, and forgotten crypts, hiding in the shadows until it’s ready to strike. It prefers to stalk its prey, waiting until it’s alone, then attacking with savage, cruel abandon.

• Opening Moves: The Bloody Bones uses its Blood Pool to hinder movement and create an obstacle for its enemies. It prefers to corner its prey, ensuring they have no escape. Once it has its victims trapped, it uses its Claw and Terrifying Rend attacks to slowly break them down, feeding off their fear and suffering.
• Avoiding Danger: The Bloody Bones is cautious but will retreat if it feels threatened by a group of adventurers, using its ability to slip through small spaces to escape danger. It’s not above luring creatures into isolated areas or using the environment to its advantage, waiting to strike when it has the upper hand.
• Using Fear as a Weapon: The Bloody Bones knows that fear can paralyze its victims, so it will take full advantage of its Horrific Appearance and Revenge of the Damned abilities to disorient and frighten enemies. It will attack the weakest-looking foes first, hoping to break the group’s morale.
• Legendary Actions: If the Bloody Bones is in a fight with multiple creatures, it will use Terrifying Visage to further scare its enemies and break their concentration, making them easier targets. It also uses Claw Strike to deal additional damage when possible, especially when an opponent is frightened or paralyzed by its abilities.

---

Folklore & Roleplaying Notes

In folklore, the Bloody Bones is the restless spirit of a sadistic torturer or murderer, often bound to an urban environment or a darkened lair where it can continue its cruel ways. The creature’s name derives from its horrifying appearance—skinless, with muscles and blood exposed, resembling a walking skeleton draped in gore. Its presence in a town or village is often attributed to the spirits of the tortured or murdered victims that it leaves in its wake.

The Bloody Bones is motivated by pure malice and a need to cause pain, toying with its victims before delivering a final, brutal blow. It thrives in dark, oppressive spaces—places where fear reigns supreme and escape seems impossible. It is often found in abandoned buildings, old manor houses, or underground ruins, preying on anyone foolish enough to wander into its domain.

Roleplay the Bloody Bones as a cunning, malevolent entity, enjoying the terror and suffering it causes. It speaks little, but when it does, it mocks its victims, telling them that their death is inevitable. If encountered, adventurers will find it a fearsome foe—one that is nearly impossible to escape once it has decided to hunt you down.

Bloody Bones

Crouching in the darkness is a flayed man, his lidless eyes staring incessantly. Gore oozes from his skinless form onto the floor. He stands, clenching his fists as if in anticipation.

Taken from the Creature Codex

Many are the sins that may result in the committer rising as a member of the restless dead. The most vile sadists and torturers may pierce the mortal veil and return to unlife as a bloody bones in order to resume their cruel work. A bloody bones’ attacks are random and savage, and they delight in incapacitating their victims slowly, relishing the pain and terror they spread while doing so.

Unlike many undead creatures, bloody bones tend to lurk in cities. Their ability to squeeze through tight spaces unimpeded allows them to lair in the tiniest cracks and crevices, and they love to spring upon victims from unlikely places such as cabinets, cupboards and chests. Their shared love of mayhem and urban habits can bring bloody bones and morghs into contact, and the two types of monsters will work together to bring death and desolation to communities. A bloody bones is the size of a person, although slightly lighter due to the lack of skin.

---

Bloody Bones     CR 5

XP 1,600
CE Medium undead
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +14
Aura horrific appearance (30 ft., DC 17)

Defense

AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+2 Dex, +5 natural)
hp 60 (8d8+24)
Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +9
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +2, undead traits

Offense

Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 slams +10 (1d8+4)
Special Attacks blood pool, rend (1d8+6 plus fear)

Statistics

Str 18, Dex 15, Con -, Int 11, Wis 16, Cha 16
Base Atk +6; CMB +10; CMD 22
Feats Improved Bull’s Rush, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Stealthy
Skills Escape Artist +20, Intimidate +14, Perception +14, Stealth +23; Racial Modifiers +8 Escape Artist, +8 Stealth
Languages Common
SQ compression

Ecology

Environment urban and underground
Organization solitary, pair or clot (3-10)
Treasure standard

Special Abilities

• Blood Pool (Su) Any creature that enters or moves through a space adjacent to a bloody bones must succeed a DC 14 Reflex save or fall prone. The save DC is Constitution based.
• Fear (Su) Any creature affected by a bloody bones’ rend attack must succeed a DC 17 Will save or cower in fear for 1 round. This is a mind-influencing fear effect and the save DC is Charisma based.
• Horrific Appearance (Su) Any creature that sees a bloody bones within a range of 30 feet must succeed a DC 17 Fortitude save or take 1d6 points of Strength damage. Creatures that are affected by this ability or save against it are immune to the horrific appearance of that bloody bones’ horrific appearance for 24 hours. This is a mind-influencing effect and the save DC is Charisma based.