Gallow Dead

Gallowdead Creature15

NE Medium Undead

Perception +27; darkvision

Languages Common, Necril

Skills Acrobatics +27, Athletics +29, Intimidation +26, Stealth +27

Str +8, Dex +4, Con +5, Int +2, Wis +4, Cha +5

Items +2 resilient full plate, +2 striking spiked chain

Eyes of the Tyrant Gallowdead are the eyes and ears of the lich who created them; this lich can see through them at any time as long as they’re on the same plane of existence as him or her.

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AC 37; Fort +28, Ref +25, Will +27

HP 280, negative healing; Immunities death effects, disease, paralyzed, poison, unconscious

Aura of Whispers (auditory, aura, divine, enchantment, fear, mental) 30 feet. A gallowdead is surrounded by an aura of blasphemous whispers. A creature who hears them understands them to be mutterings of its most closely guarded secrets and private failings laid bare. A creature that first enters the area must attempt a DC 34 Will save. Regardless of the result of the saving throw, the creature is temporarily immune to aura of whispers for 1 minute. The frightened condition from this aura can’t be reduced while in the aura.

Critical Success The creature is unaffected.

Success The creature is frightened 1.

Failure The creature is frightened 2 and stunned 1.

Critical Failure The creature is frightened 3 and stunned 3.

Chains of the Dead The spiked chain of a gallowdead is wrapped around and through their body, imbuing it with foul necromantic powers. The spiked chain can’t be disarmed, deals an additional weapon die of damage, and has a greater reach while wielded by the gallowdead.

Gallow Curse (curse, divine, necromancy) Those who destroy gallowdead are subject to a powerful death curse. When a creature reduces a gallowdead to 0 HP, the creature must attempt a DC 34 Will save. A creature that fails this saving throw is doomed 1 and can’t remove the condition until the curse has been lifted.

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Speed 25 feet

Melee [one-action] spiked chain +31 (disarm, reach 20 feet, trip), Damage 3d8+14 slashing

Melee [one-action] claw +29 (agile), Damage 3d12+14 slashing

Chain Capture [reaction] Trigger The gallowdead critically hits a target with their spiked chain; Effect The gallowdead attempts an Athletics check to Grapple the target. On a success, the gallowdead can also pull the target adjacent toward them to the distance the gallowdead chooses. Most often, a gallowdead chooses to pull a creature close enough that it’s in their reach and out of defensive position, but so the creature still can’t reach the gallowdead’s body. At the start of the gallowdead’s next turn, if the target hasn’t Escaped, the target takes the damage of a spiked chain Strike, and the chain releases the creature.

Charge Chain [free-action] (divine, necromancy, negative) Frequency once per round; Effect The gallowdead imbues their chain with necromantic power. The gallowdead chooses to make their next Strike with the chain this turn either deal an additional 4d6 negative damage or have 120-foot reach.

About

The first gallowdead were hung from enormous, hooked chains and magically bonded to these chains after death. After the prison’s destruction, the gallowdead who remained were left to wander the ruins. All gallowdead have massive hooks through their chests.