The greatsword skeletons (Session 23)

Start-class article · First seen: s23 · Last seen: s24
The greatsword skeletons (Session 23)
Portrait of The greatsword skeletons (Session 23).
Character
StatusDead
First seens23
Last seens24

The greatsword skeletons are three large skeletons, each with a greatsword in one hand and a shield in the other, that the party fought in the ridge temple in sessions 23 and 24 [23][24][25]. They knock a target flat with the shield and follow with a sword that adds necrotic damage and cuts the target’s maximum hit points, and the DM says a critical hit kills them outright [67][68][26]. Hugo destroyed all three, each on a natural 20; the last he first disarmed, under a rule the DM improvised, and “whatever magic is empowering it seems to fade away” [54][55][15][28][29]. The DM gives the type no name, and the title is this wiki’s description.

Overview

The greatsword skeletons are three large skeletons met in the ridge temple in sessions 23 and 24, each with a greatsword in one hand and a shield in the other [23][24][25]. The first was one of the undead with the pendant cultist and fell to Hugo’s thrown hand axe on a natural 20. The second and third came after Father Thomas struck a sealed door; Hugo beheaded the second, again on a natural 20. In session 24 he disarmed the third and finished it with a third natural 20 [26][27][15][28][29].

The DM gives the type no name; “the greatsword skeletons” is this wiki’s description. The page records what was seen and done, with no published stat block, and the one rules term it uses, “undead fortitude”, is the DM’s own [26].

Appearance and demeanour

To Caelumn the first was “a skeleton that is roughly one and a half your size”, with “his greatsword that is the size of your body” [30][31]. A reddish energy swirled inside it, plain once Caelumn’s Fire Bolt had burnt its cloak away [32], and the first one’s sword “definitely has runes inscribed on it” [33]. The DM likens the way they move to an automaton, a robot, a Terminator and “a brain dead zombie”, which are similes and not names [34][35][36][37]. The second and third were heard before they were seen, a sword scraping on the floor [38][39]. The third, in the DM’s words, was “another one of these giant skeletons with a grand uh like big fuck-off sword” [11].

Abilities as played

  • Shield bash. The usual opening is a bash that calls for a Strength save and knocks a failed save flat: 11 on Terry, 15 and 14 on Caelumn. The shield also blocked Kole’s Eldritch Blast [40][41][42][35][43].
  • A sword that drains. A hit with the greatsword adds necrotic damage and cuts the target’s maximum hit points, by 8 on Terry and on Hugo, whose “purple blood” nearly vanished into the blade [3][12].
  • Disarmed. The DM improvised a disarm, an attack roll then a contested Athletics check, and Hugo won it. The third then fought on with its shield alone and cut no more maximum hit points [13][15][17].
  • Undead fortitude. The DM says the type has it and that a critical hit kills it outright [26][27]. In session 24 the third made a Constitution save, a 16, when Toll the Dead would have felled it, and stood on one hit point until Hugo’s critical hit [44][29].
  • Tactics. The first changed its approach after one exchange with Terry. Kole tried ordering the second to obey, then shot it [45][46].

Relationships

  • The pendant cultist: the first came in behind her and went for Caelumn when she signalled [1][47][48].
  • The voice: as Father Thomas began his turn in the second fight, a voice through the temple’s stonework told its “darlings” to deal with the visitors, and the DM confirmed the plural; whose voice it was is not stated [49][50][51]. Two spectres then came through the wall at Father Thomas, and the third skeleton fought beside them into session 24 [52][53][11].
  • Hugo: destroyed all three, each on a natural 20, and took the third’s sword by a disarm [54][55][15][29].

Disposition towards the party

Hostile and single-minded. They do not speak. Caelumn’s offer of “a very juicy looking turtle” in his place earned only a tilt of the head and another bash [56].

Notable quotes

“this creature has undead fortitude as well. because it’s a crit it dies” — Nick (DM), [26]

“And as the sword leaves your body, you feel it taking something with it.” — Nick (DM), [57]

“obviously this combat was not supposed to be this hard” — Nick (DM), [58]

“Seems we have uninvited visitors. Deal with them, my darlings.” — The voice (Nick, DM), [49]

“whatever magic is empowering it seems to fade away” — Nick (DM), [15]

History in the campaign

Session 23: The Changeling in Manacles

Main article: Session 23

The first skeleton was among the undead behind the cultist when she opened the hidden wall. It bashed Terry flat when he cast Shield, and later ran him through, cutting eight from his maximum hit points [1][59][3]. On the cultist’s signal it went for Caelumn, knocking him flat twice [47][60][42]. Terry’s radiant blow made it drop its shield, and Hugo, arriving late, killed it with a thrown hand axe on a natural 20 [5][61]. Later Father Thomas struck a sealed door and a second skeleton answered; Hugo beheaded it, again on a natural 20 [62][63]. A third, hit once by Hugo for 16, was still fighting when play paused [39][64][10].

Session 24: The Knight of Smoke

Main article: Session 24

The third skeleton was still on Hugo when play resumed. Its sword took 8 off his maximum hit points and almost absorbed his “purple blood” [11][12]. Hugo asked what it would take to steal the sword, and the DM improvised a disarm, an attack roll then a contested Athletics check; Hugo won it, and “whatever magic is empowering it seems to fade away” [13][65][15]. Left with its shield, it bashed on until Father Thomas’s Toll the Dead would have felled it; a Constitution save of 16 kept it on one hit point, and Hugo’s natural 20 crumbled it [17][44][19][29].

Status

As of session 24. All three are destroyed, each by Hugo on a natural 20 [54][55][19][29]. A search of the skeletons turned up “a big shield and two great swords”, and Caelumn, asking about “the giant cursed greatsword”, was told it feels magical “kind of”; which sword he meant and who holds which is not stated [21][22]. Whether the 8 maximum hit points Hugo lost return on a long rest was not asked; the DM said yes of the spectres’ touch [66].

See also

References

  1. ^ Session 23, line 347: First seen behind the cultist: "a group of undead, a skeleton and three zombie-looking creatures".
  2. ^ Session 23, line 524-536: The first skeleton's shield bash on Terry.
  3. ^ Session 23, line 752-756: Its greatsword drains: "your maximum HP is reduced by 8".
  4. ^ Session 23, line 847-854: Roughly one and a half Caelumn's size; knocks him flat.
  5. ^ Session 23, line 1019: Terry's radiant hit; it drops its shield.
  6. ^ Session 23, line 1087-1092: The first destroyed: Hugo's thrown hand axe on a natural 20; "undead fortitude".
  7. ^ Session 23, line 1701-1726: The second arrives after the sealed door is struck.
  8. ^ Session 23, line 1840-1844: The second destroyed: Hugo's natural 20 and longsword.
  9. ^ Session 23, line 1871-1890: The third arrives; Hugo hits it for 16.
  10. ^ Session 23, line 1902: The session pauses mid-initiative with the third still fighting.
  11. ^ Session 24, line 77: The third resumes the round on Hugo: "another one of these giant skeletons".
  12. ^ Session 24, line 126: Its sword: five slashing and eight necrotic damage, "your maximum HP is reduced by 8", and Hugo's "purple blood" almost absorbed into the blade.
  13. ^ Session 24, line 194: The DM's improvised disarm: "a attack roll followed by a contested athletics check".
  14. ^ Session 24, line 201-202: Hugo asks whether the runes reacted; the DM: "I mean it reacted to the blood yeah".
  15. ^ Session 24, line 219: Hugo wins the contest and pulls the sword out of its hand; "whatever magic is empowering it seems to fade away".
  16. ^ Session 24, line 224-227: A greatsword needs both hands; Hugo throws it 20 feet across the room.
  17. ^ Session 24, line 262-266: Weaponless, it bashes with its shield: nine bludgeoning damage and "no HP reduction".
  18. ^ Session 24, line 322-332: Toll the Dead would drop it; the DM rolls a Constitution save, a 16, "so he stays alive"; it stays on one hit point.
  19. ^ Session 24, line 334-336: Hugo's Reckless Attack is a natural 20.
  20. ^ Session 24, line 381-382: The third destroyed: "the skeleton stops in its tracks and crumbles to a pile of bones.".
  21. ^ Session 24, line 394-395: Caelumn asks about "the giant cursed greatsword"; the DM: "Yeah, kind of. But yes, you can.".
  22. ^ Session 24, line 696: A search of the skeletons: "you find a big shield and two great swords".
  23. ^ Session 23, line 592: Inline citation.
  24. ^ Session 23, line 593: Inline citation.
  25. ^ Session 23, line 1720: Inline citation.
  26. ^ Session 23, line 1090: Inline citation.
  27. ^ Session 23, line 1843: Inline citation.
  28. ^ Session 24, line 334: Inline citation.
  29. ^ Session 24, line 382: Inline citation.
  30. ^ Session 23, line 847: Inline citation.
  31. ^ Session 23, line 854: Inline citation.
  32. ^ Session 23, line 658: Inline citation.
  33. ^ Session 23, line 1498: Inline citation.
  34. ^ Session 23, line 556: Inline citation.
  35. ^ Session 23, line 955: Inline citation.
  36. ^ Session 23, line 1726: Inline citation.
  37. ^ Session 24, line 305: Inline citation.
  38. ^ Session 23, line 1703: Inline citation.
  39. ^ Session 23, line 1871: Inline citation.
  40. ^ Session 23, line 530-536: Inline citation.
  41. ^ Session 23, line 849-851: Inline citation.
  42. ^ Session 23, line 915-917: Inline citation.
  43. ^ Session 24, line 256: Inline citation.
  44. ^ Session 24, line 324-327: Inline citation.
  45. ^ Session 23, line 639: Inline citation.
  46. ^ Session 23, line 1716-1718: Inline citation.
  47. ^ Session 23, line 797: Inline citation.
  48. ^ Session 23, line 835: Inline citation.
  49. ^ Session 23, line 1748: Inline citation.
  50. ^ Session 23, line 1754: Inline citation.
  51. ^ Session 23, line 1757: Inline citation.
  52. ^ Session 23, line 1761: Inline citation.
  53. ^ Session 23, line 1766: Inline citation.
  54. ^ Session 23, line 1092: Inline citation.
  55. ^ Session 23, line 1844: Inline citation.
  56. ^ Session 23, line 914-917: Inline citation.
  57. ^ Session 23, line 754: Inline citation.
  58. ^ Session 23, line 998: Inline citation.
  59. ^ Session 23, line 528-536: Inline citation.
  60. ^ Session 23, line 847-851: Inline citation.
  61. ^ Session 23, line 1090-1092: Inline citation.
  62. ^ Session 23, line 1690-1705: Inline citation.
  63. ^ Session 23, line 1843-1844: Inline citation.
  64. ^ Session 23, line 1888-1890: Inline citation.
  65. ^ Session 24, line 213: Inline citation.
  66. ^ Session 23, line 1857: Inline citation.
  67. ^ Session 23, line 530: Inline citation.
  68. ^ Session 23, line 756: Inline citation.