Blackbones
Born of once-living warriors who lived the life of a martial adept, these skeletons wield fighting techniques as sable as their ash-black bones, using their fighting prowess and ebon swords to eliminate foes.
Blackbones (CR 11)
XP 12,800
NE Medium Undead
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +17
DEFENSE
AC 30, touch 18, flat-footed 30 (+7 armor, +4 Dex, + 4 natural, +4 shield)
hp 138 (12d8+84)
Fort +11 Ref +9 Will +17
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +6 DR 10/bludgeoning and good Immune ice, undead traits; Absorb shadow Weakness fire vulnerability, holy vulnerability
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +2 keen dark sword +19/+14 (1d10+10, 17-20/x2), shield bash +18/+13 (1d8+9)
Special Attacks deadly strike
Maneuvers and Stances (IL 12)
Stances- outer sphere stance (1st), snapping turtle stance (1st), battle dragon’s stance (3rd), the dragon knows (5th), oathbreaker’s aura (6th)
Strikes- hangman’s curse (4th), ricochet shell (4th), thrashing dragon twist (5th), witch’s revenge (5th), warlock’s blow (6th)
Boosts- leaping dragon (1st), murderous spite (2nd)
Counters- defensive shell (2nd), word of retribution (2nd), burnished shell (3rd), steel shell (6th)
Disciplines: Cursed Razor, Iron Tortoise, Thrashing Dragon
The blackbones is considered to have all of its maneuvers readied. It recovers three maneuvers of its choice when making a successful critical hit; it may only recover maneuvers in this manner once per round. Alternately, it may recover one maneuver of its choice as a standard action. Its initiation modifier is Charisma.
STATISTICS
Str 27, Dex 18, Con -, Int 16, Wis 14 Cha 24
Base Atk +9; CMB +17; CMD 31
Feats Prodigious Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Fighting, Shield Focus, Defensive Expertise, Improved Shield Bash, Double Slice
Skills Acrobatics +15, Climb +10, Intimidate +22, Knowledge (arcana) +9, Knowledge (religion) +12, Perception +17, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +18, Stealth +15
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic
SQ quick counter, uncanny dodge, vile will
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Deadly Strike (Ex): The grim satisfaction of landing an especially debilitating blow upon an enemy fills the blackbones with a dark fervor that strengthens its blows further. Whenever the blackbones lands a successful critical hit, it deals an additional 2d6 damage. All further attacks made by the blackbones on the creature that suffered the critical hit that activated this ability deal an additional 2d6 damage for two rounds. Landing another critical hit on the affected target while this ability is still active extends the duration by one round; the duration may only be extended once per round in this manner.
This ability may not be used with weapons that inflict non-lethal damage. Creatures immune to critical hits or precision damage are not be affected by this ability.
Quick Counter (Ex): Three times per day, the blackbones may initiate a counter as a free action. This ability may only be used once per round.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A blackbones has uncanny dodge, as the thief ability.
Vile Will (Ex): A blackbones’ inherent desire to destroy and burning hatred for its enemies begets a force of will that is especially hard to break. It adds its Charisma modifier to all Will saves.
ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, strike team (3-6), troop (4-16)
Treasure Standard, +2 keen dark sword, +1 breastplate, +2 heavy steel shield of bashing
Opponents both canny and wily, blackbones are said to arise from dark knights who took the path of a martial disciple. Their strength and presence are even greater in undeath than they were in life, and they take great advantage of this, wielding the powerful dark swords that they had while still living and making aggressive use of their shields. They are always to be found outside of combat with their battle dragon’s stance active, granting them a great advantage when the fighting starts, and a significant boost to damage while fighting with sword and shield; however, a blackbones is wise enough to switch out to a different stance when their current stance does not suit their current situation optimally. Typically, they make heavy use of their counters, and are unafraid to force enemies to engage them in melee with warlock’s blow. Surrounding one is never a good idea, for they will not hesitate to use thrashing dragon twist to devastate multiple enemies at once.
Blackbones are about 6 feet tall and weigh 30 pounds.
Born of once-living warriors who lived the life of a martial adept, these skeletons wield fighting techniques as sable as their ash-black bones, using their fighting prowess and ebon swords to eliminate foes.
Blackbones (CR 11)
XP 12,800
NE Medium Undead
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +17
DEFENSE
AC 30, touch 18, flat-footed 30 (+7 armor, +4 Dex, + 4 natural, +4 shield)
hp 138 (12d8+84)
Fort +11 Ref +9 Will +17
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +6 DR 10/bludgeoning and good Immune ice, undead traits; Absorb shadow Weakness fire vulnerability, holy vulnerability
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +2 keen dark sword +19/+14 (1d10+10, 17-20/x2), shield bash +18/+13 (1d8+9)
Special Attacks deadly strike
Maneuvers and Stances (IL 12)
Stances- outer sphere stance (1st), snapping turtle stance (1st), battle dragon’s stance (3rd), the dragon knows (5th), oathbreaker’s aura (6th)
Strikes- hangman’s curse (4th), ricochet shell (4th), thrashing dragon twist (5th), witch’s revenge (5th), warlock’s blow (6th)
Boosts- leaping dragon (1st), murderous spite (2nd)
Counters- defensive shell (2nd), word of retribution (2nd), burnished shell (3rd), steel shell (6th)
Disciplines: Cursed Razor, Iron Tortoise, Thrashing Dragon
The blackbones is considered to have all of its maneuvers readied. It recovers three maneuvers of its choice when making a successful critical hit; it may only recover maneuvers in this manner once per round. Alternately, it may recover one maneuver of its choice as a standard action. Its initiation modifier is Charisma.
STATISTICS
Str 27, Dex 18, Con -, Int 16, Wis 14 Cha 24
Base Atk +9; CMB +17; CMD 31
Feats Prodigious Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Fighting, Shield Focus, Defensive Expertise, Improved Shield Bash, Double Slice
Skills Acrobatics +15, Climb +10, Intimidate +22, Knowledge (arcana) +9, Knowledge (religion) +12, Perception +17, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +18, Stealth +15
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic
SQ quick counter, uncanny dodge, vile will
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Deadly Strike (Ex): The grim satisfaction of landing an especially debilitating blow upon an enemy fills the blackbones with a dark fervor that strengthens its blows further. Whenever the blackbones lands a successful critical hit, it deals an additional 2d6 damage. All further attacks made by the blackbones on the creature that suffered the critical hit that activated this ability deal an additional 2d6 damage for two rounds. Landing another critical hit on the affected target while this ability is still active extends the duration by one round; the duration may only be extended once per round in this manner.
This ability may not be used with weapons that inflict non-lethal damage. Creatures immune to critical hits or precision damage are not be affected by this ability.
Quick Counter (Ex): Three times per day, the blackbones may initiate a counter as a free action. This ability may only be used once per round.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A blackbones has uncanny dodge, as the thief ability.
Vile Will (Ex): A blackbones’ inherent desire to destroy and burning hatred for its enemies begets a force of will that is especially hard to break. It adds its Charisma modifier to all Will saves.
ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, strike team (3-6), troop (4-16)
Treasure Standard, +2 keen dark sword, +1 breastplate, +2 heavy steel shield of bashing
Opponents both canny and wily, blackbones are said to arise from dark knights who took the path of a martial disciple. Their strength and presence are even greater in undeath than they were in life, and they take great advantage of this, wielding the powerful dark swords that they had while still living and making aggressive use of their shields. They are always to be found outside of combat with their battle dragon’s stance active, granting them a great advantage when the fighting starts, and a significant boost to damage while fighting with sword and shield; however, a blackbones is wise enough to switch out to a different stance when their current stance does not suit their current situation optimally. Typically, they make heavy use of their counters, and are unafraid to force enemies to engage them in melee with warlock’s blow. Surrounding one is never a good idea, for they will not hesitate to use thrashing dragon twist to devastate multiple enemies at once.
Blackbones are about 6 feet tall and weigh 30 pounds.