Recall Knowledge (undead) Religion DC 13

Perception +2; Darkvision

Skills Acrobatics +6, Athletics +3

Str +2, Dex +4, Con +0, Int –5, Wis +0, Cha +0

Items scimitar, shortbow (20 arrows)

AC 16; Fort +2, Ref +8, Will +2

HP 4, negative healing; Immunities death effects, disease, mental, paralyzed, poison, unconscious; Resistances cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5, piercing 5, slashing 5

Speed 25 feet

Melee scimitar +6 / +1 / -4 (forceful, sweep), Damage 1d6+2 slashing

Melee claw +6 / +2 / -2 (agile, finesse), Damage 1d4+2 slashing

Ranged shortbow +6 / +1 / -4 (deadly 1d10, range increment 60 feet, reload 0), Damage 1d6 piercing

Most skeleton guards have one of these abilities. If you give a skeleton more, you might want to increase its level and adjust its statistics.

Collapse Trigger The skeleton is critically hit. Effect The skeleton collapses into a pile of bones and the attack deals only normal damage. The skeleton can reform in a standing position as an action, but until it does, it is immobilized and flat-footed.

Explosive Death When the skeleton is destroyed, its bones shatter and explode as the necromantic energy holding it together is released. Adjacent creatures take 1d6 slashing damage with a basic Reflex save.

Screaming Skull (auditory, emotion, fear, mental) The skeleton removes its skull and throws it, making a jaws attack with a range of 20 feet. It then attempts to Demoralize each foe within 10 feet of the target. The head bounces, rolls, or even flies back, returning to the skeleton at the start of its next turn. The skeleton is blind until then.

Skeleton Abilities Most skeletons have one of these abilities. If you give a skeleton more, you might want to increase its level and adjust its statistics.

• Blaze The skeleton is wreathed with fire, which doesn’t consume its bones or gear. The skeleton gains immunity to fire and weakness 5 to cold, loses its resistance to cold, and its Strikes deal additional persistent fire damage equal to half the skeleton’s level (minimum 1 damage).
• Bloody The skeleton is covered in dripping blood and gains fast healing equal to its level.
• Bone Missile The skeleton yanks a rib from its ribcage to use as an arrow or javelin. The skeleton loses HP equal to its level (minimum 1), then makes a ranged Strike. This uses the attack bonus of whichever of the skeleton’s other Strikes has the highest attack bonus and deals piercing damage equal to that Strike’s damage plus the skeleton’s level (minimum 1).
• Bone Powder When the skeleton takes physical damage from a critical hit, one of its bones is pulverized into a fine powder. All creatures in a 5-foot emanation that breathe take 1d6 persistent poison damage (plus an additional 1d6 for every 6 levels the skeleton has).
• Collapse Trigger The skeleton is critically hit. Effect The skeleton collapses into a pile of bones and the attack deals only normal damage. The skeleton can reform in a standing position as an action, but until it does, it is immobilized and flat-footed.
• Explosive Death When the skeleton is destroyed, its bones shatter and explode as the necromantic energy holding it together is released. Adjacent creatures take 1d6 slashing damage per 2 levels (minimum 1d6) with a basic Reflex save.
• Screaming Skull (auditory, emotion, fear, mental) The skeleton removes its skull and throws it, making a jaws attack with a range of 20 feet. It then attempts to Demoralize each foe within 10 feet of the target. The head bounces, rolls, or even flies back, returning to the skeleton at the start of its next turn. The skeleton is blind until then.
• Skeleton of Roses Thick briars have grown through the skeleton’s bones, covering it in red roses with inch-long thorns. The skeleton’s unarmed melee Strikes deal additional piercing damage equal to 1/3 the skeleton’s level (minimum 1 damage). At the end of each of its turns, if the skeleton has caused piercing damage with its thorns, it regains HP equal to its level (minimum 1). Each time the skeleton regains HP in this way, another rose blossoms.