Ossiosacrum
Ossiosacrums are a strange variety of undead that are born from epic battles. After a battle is over, occasionally there is enough negative energy and death in the air to create one of these creatures. The negative energy always inhabits the corpse of the losing army’s commander, reanimating it as an Ossiosacrum. Initially, the Ossiosacrum is merely a human skeleton, but over time it begins to grow and become unique. In the first week its fingers sharpen into points. In the three weeks after its creation the creature grows a long, sharp tail made from bone. Over the following month the Ossiosacrum’s bones thicken to over double their normal width. By the end of this transformation, the creature looks very little like it was ever human.
It is important to note that an Ossiosacrum is a separate entity from the creature whose corpse it inhabits. While they are known to inherit quirks from their host, they do not retain their memories or personality. Ossiosacrums are known for being particularly intelligent, especially for undead. They are the generals of undead armies and many living creatures have noted that they are very fluent and clever in their speech.
Ossiosacrums are known for the unusual quirk of dressing their undead minions in uniforms of some kind, typically in the same design of the army its host led in life. They sometimes speak to mindless undead servants as though they were alive, asking them questions or opinions and then answering themselves. It is believed that Ossiosacrums are fully aware that their minions cannot hear or answer them, but continue to speak anyways out of loneliness or pure boredom.
The only pastime of an Ossiosacrum is war. When they are not actually battling they will prepare for the next war. They only interact with other creatures if they believe that it will give them some sort of advantage in combat, and it is generally accepted that such alliances are temporary and flimsy at best. It is commonly thought that this is the Ossiosacrum’s way of reproducing; by engaging in battles and slaughter, they can create more of their kind. While Ossiosacrum clerics are rare, they are known for being highly religious as a race. Before battle they always utter a prayer to an entity named Ocanivo for victory.
There are legends of a group of seven Ossiosacrums that are permanently allied, collectively called the Gallonts. They all wear golden rings with a skull symbol, minor artifacts that allow them to communicate over vast distances and transfer control over their undead armies temporarily to one another. When one of the Gallonts is destroyed, his ring is passed to his chosen successor, always another Ossiosacrum. If no successor was chosen, the Gallonts find another to take the destroyed member’s place. Their stated goal is to destroy this world and transform all inhabitants into undead.
Medium Undead
Hit Dice: 40d12 (260)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft
Armor Class: 31 (+4 dex, +17 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +20/+27
Attack: 2 Slashes (+27) or Tail (+27)
Damage: 2 Slashes (3d8+7) or Tail (4d12+7)
Space/Reach: 5ft/5ft
Special Attacks: Bone Launch, Eye Ray, Spell-Like Abilities, Counterspell
Special Qualities: Spell Resistance 30, Damage Reduction 10/-
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +14, Will +28
Abilities: Str 24, Dex 18, Con -, Int 20, Wis 14, Cha 18
Skills: Knowledge (Tactics) +48, Knowledge (Undead) +48, Knowledge (Arcane) +48, Spellcraft +48, Tumble +48
Feats: Quicken Spell-Like Ability (Animate Dead), Quicken Spell-Like Ability (Create Undead), Quicken Spell-Like Ability (Create Greater Undead), Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Combat Reflexes, Spring Attack, Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Expertise, Blind Fight
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary or with Undead Followers
Challenge Rating: 15
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always Neutral Evil
Advancement: By Character Class
Level Adjustment: -
Bone Launch: An Ossiosacrum can launch shards of bone in a ten foot radius as a full round action. All other creatures within the radius take 2d6 piercing damage.
Eye Ray: As a full round action an Ossiosacrum can fire a beam of negative energy from its eyes, requiring a ranged touch attack (at +24 to hit.) The target takes 3d8 negative energy on a successful hit. Undead are healed by this attack, instead of damaged.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will: Animate Dead, Create Undead, Create Greater Undead.
Counterspell: Once per a day, an Ossiosacrum can counter one spell that he successfully identifies with a spellcraft check.