SKELETON WARRIOR # 1e FREQUENCY: Veryrare NO. APPEARING: 1 ARMOUR CLASS: 2 MOVE: 6" HIT DICE: 9+2 to 9+12 % IN LAIR: 90% TREASURE TYPE: [[A]] NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 DAMAGEIATTACK: By weapon type SPEC I A L ATTACKS : +3 hit probability SPECIAL DEFENCES: See below MAGIC RESISTANCE: 90% INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional ALIGNMENT: Neutral (evil) SIZE: M PSlONlC AB1 LITY: See below Attack/Defence Modes: See below LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: 10th- 12th level : V11/2,550 + 14 per hitpoint 13th- 15th level : V111/3,700 + 16 per hit point These are undead lords of the 10th-15th level, formerly powerful. fighters (and will have psionic abilities if possessed in life). They are only affected by magical weapons and have 90% magical resistance. Their appearance is similar to that of a lich (see ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS MONSTER MANUAL) - skeletal creatures clad in the rich, but faded and rotting trappings of a powerful fighter. It is said that the skeleton warriors were forced into their lich-like state ages ago by a powerful and evil demigod who trapped each of their souls in a golden circlet. A skeleton warrior's sole reason for remaining on this plane is to search for and regain the circlet which contains its soul. Anyone possessing one of these circlets may control the skeleton warrior whose soul is stored therein within a 240' range. The controller can see through the warrior's 'eyes' when controlling a warrior in this way, but he may not himself move nor may he cast spells - he is literally unable to do so. Thus, while in 'active control' the controller may cause the skeleton warrior to fight, to search for treasure and so forth. The controller may also control the creature in a 'passive mode'; the skeleton warrior will be inert while under passive control and the controller cannot see through its 'eyes', but the controller can move, fight and cast spells. In either case, control is lost if the skeleton warrior moves more than 240' from the controller, or vice versa, or if the circlet is removed from the controller's head. If the circlet remains in his possession, the controller can resume control at a late; time, but if it leaves his possession, whether by accident or deliberate act, the skeleton warrior will immediately stop what it is doing and proceed at double speed (12" movement rate) to attack and destroy the former controller, never resting until this task is accomplished or control is reestablished. If the circlet falls into the possession of the skeleton warrior, it will 'die' and vanish, never to reappear, and the circlet will turn to fine, valueless dust. When a circlet first comes in to the possession of a character, particularly if he does not recognise its significance, he may be unaware that the skeleton warrior whose soul is imprisoned therein will be tracking him. To establish control, he must not only put the circlet on his head but must also be able to see the skeleton warrior and concentrate on the establishment of control over the creature. If he does not do this, the skeleton warrior will attack him in an attempt to destroy him and gain possession of the circlet. Once control has been established in the first instance, however, it will only be broken as indicated above. The circlet cannot be worn with any other headgear to be effective; the wearing of a helm, for instance, will nullify its powers, though the skeleton warrior will still be aware of i t s presence. The mere sight of a skeleton warrior will cause any creature below 5 hit dice to flee in panic. Clerics have no chance of turning them. Skeleton warriors usually fight with two-handed swords, but other types of weapon have been known to be used. Whatever weapon is used, the skeleton warrior attacks with a +3 'to hit' bonus, though the weapon itself does not become magical # 2e | | | |---|---| |Climate/Terrain:|Any| |Frequency:|Very rare| |Organization:|Solitary| |Activity Cycle:|Any| |Diet:|Nil| |Intelligence:|Exceptional (15-16)| |Treasure:|A| |Alignment:|Neutral evil| |No. Appearing:|1| |Armor Class:|2| |Movement:|6| |Hit Dice:|9+2 to 9+12| |THAC0:|11| |No. of Attacks:|1| |Damage/Attack:|By weapon (+3 to attack roll)| |Special Attacks:|See below| |Special Defenses:|See below| |Magic Resistance:|90%| |Size:|M (6-7' tall)| |Morale:|Champion (15)| |XP Value:|4,000| Formerly powerful fighters, skeleton warriors are undead lords forced into their nightmarish states by powerful wizards or evil demigods who trapped their souls in golden circlets. The sole reason that skeleton warriors remain on the Prime Material plane is to search for and recover the circlets that contain their souls. A skeletal warrior appears as a cracked and yellowing [skeleton](https://www.completecompendium.com/appendix/skeleton) covered with shards of decaying flesh. Its eyes are black holes containing pinpoints of reddish light. It is clad in the blackened armor and rotted trappings it wore in its former life. **Combat:** Anyone possessing a skeleton warrior's circlet can control its actions, so long as the controller remains within 240 feet of the warrior. The controller is either in active control of the warrior or in a passive mode. When in active control, the controller can see whatever the skeleton sees, and he can mentally command it to fight, search for treasure, or take any other actions; however, the controller himself is unable to cast spells, move, or take any other actions while in active control. When in the passive mode, the controller can take any normal actions, but he is unable to see through the warrior's eyes; the skeleton warrior remains inert while the controller is in passive mode. The controller can change between the passive mode and active control at will. The controller must have the warrior's circlet on his head in order to control the warrior. If the circlet is removed from the controller's head, he can no longer control the warrior; likewise, if the controller and the warrior are separated by more than 240 feet, the controller can no longer control the warrior. If the circlet remains in the controller's possession, he can resume control at a later time. But if the controller loses the circlet, either by accident or by a deliberate act, the warrior immediately proceeds toward the controller at twice its normal movement rate (12) to attack and destroy him. The warrior does not rest until it destroys its former controller or until control is re-established. If the warrior holds the circlet to its head, both the warrior and the circlet turn to dust, never to reappear. When a character first comes into possession of a circlet, he is unlikely to be aware that the skeleton warrior is tracking him, unless he recognizes the circlet's significance. To establish control for the first time, the character not only must hold the circlet to his head, he must be able to see the warrior and concentrate on the establishment of control for one round and then roll a successful Wisdom check; if he fails the Wisdom check, he can try again in subsequent rounds. Meanwhile, the skeleton warrior continues to approach, attempting to destroy the character and gain possession of the circlet. If his concentration is broken before control is established - for instance, if he has to defend himself against an attack - he must concentrate again for three rounds. Once control has been established for the first time, it can only be broken as indicated above. To be effective, the circlet cannot be worn with any other headgear; placing it in a helm, for instance, nullifies its powers, though the skeleton warrior is still aware of the circlet's presence. Skeleton warriors usually fight with two-handed swords, but they can use other weapons as well. Skeleton warriors make all weapon attacks with a +3 bonus to their attack roll; this is an innate ability, the weapon itself is not magical. Only magical weapons affect skeleton warriors. They have a 90% magical resistance. The mere sight of a skeleton warrior causes any creature with fewer than 5 Hit Dice to flee in panic. Skeleton warriors cannot be turned by priests. **Habitat/Society:** Skeleton warriors are usually found near the areas where they died in their former lives, or where they were buried. A skeleton warrior usually has a sizeable collection of treasure, the remnants of a lifetime of adventure. Since a skeleton warrior is preoccupied with recovering its circlet, protecting its treasure is not a priority. **Ecology:** Skeleton warriors are used by their controllers as bodyguards, servants, or workers. Since skeleton warriors are obsessed with their circlets and are therefore undependable, evil creatures and other undead seldom associate with them. Skeleton warriors do not eat, sleep, or perform any other physiological functions.