Weekly Creature Feature: Deadman's Chest
This week, I've got another collaboration with my six year old son Bear. I'm particularly impressed ith the imagination on this one. Bear has been reading my comics and apparently felt inspired by my Infinity Gauntlet collection. He drew this one up this morning and told me how the zombies was essentially bossed around by the ghost in the treasure chest. As per usual, I take his idea and put game statistics to it to come up with a collaborative effort.
At any rate, the Deadman's Chest is an interesting two part composite undead that combines the features of both a wrath and a zombie. As per all of the Weekly Creature Features, the entirity of the entry excluding the art is Open Game Content. The artwork is done by my son Bear and is property of Johnathan abd Bear Bingham and may not be used without permission. Without further ado, I bring you the Deadman's Chest.
Name: Deadman’s Chest
No. Enc: 1
Alignment: Chaotic
Movement: 120’ (40’)
Armor Class: 8 (for corpse), 3 (incorporeal form)
Hit Dice: 6
Attacks: 2 (touch, weapon)
Damage: 1d8 or by weapon, 1d6, drain life energy
Save: F4
Morale: 12
Hoard Class: XVII
Description: The Deadman’s Chest is an unusual type of guardian undead. They are placed with a specific purpose (usually to guard a treasure hoard or location), thus never found as wandering monsters. The monster is composed of a corporeal body, a magic chest and an incorporeal spirit. The corporeal body is corpse similar to a zombie. The corpse will always be encountered within sight of the chest. The corpse will attack as a 2 HD zombie and utilize whatever weapon type it has at hand or will attack with bare fists. Unlike the more traditional zombie, the corpse is controlled by a malevolent intelligence that resides within the magical chest. If the zombie is reduced to zero hit points, the body will collapse. It will reanimate in one turn unless the spirit that resides in the chest has been destroyed.
The incorporeal entity that resides within the chest is very similar in appearance to a wrath. Like a wraith, the Deadman’s Chest inflicts 1d6 points of damage per hit as well as draining one life level. When reduced to zero levels, the victim will become a zombie under control of the Deadman’s Chest. Like other forms of undead, the Deadman’s Chest is unaffected by sleep, hold, or charm spells. The incorporeal spirit is bound to its chest and cannot leave the immediate vicinity of the chest’s location.
At any rate, the Deadman's Chest is an interesting two part composite undead that combines the features of both a wrath and a zombie. As per all of the Weekly Creature Features, the entirity of the entry excluding the art is Open Game Content. The artwork is done by my son Bear and is property of Johnathan abd Bear Bingham and may not be used without permission. Without further ado, I bring you the Deadman's Chest.
Name: Deadman’s Chest
No. Enc: 1
Alignment: Chaotic
Movement: 120’ (40’)
Armor Class: 8 (for corpse), 3 (incorporeal form)
Hit Dice: 6
Attacks: 2 (touch, weapon)
Damage: 1d8 or by weapon, 1d6, drain life energy
Save: F4
Morale: 12
Hoard Class: XVII
Description: The Deadman’s Chest is an unusual type of guardian undead. They are placed with a specific purpose (usually to guard a treasure hoard or location), thus never found as wandering monsters. The monster is composed of a corporeal body, a magic chest and an incorporeal spirit. The corporeal body is corpse similar to a zombie. The corpse will always be encountered within sight of the chest. The corpse will attack as a 2 HD zombie and utilize whatever weapon type it has at hand or will attack with bare fists. Unlike the more traditional zombie, the corpse is controlled by a malevolent intelligence that resides within the magical chest. If the zombie is reduced to zero hit points, the body will collapse. It will reanimate in one turn unless the spirit that resides in the chest has been destroyed.
The incorporeal entity that resides within the chest is very similar in appearance to a wrath. Like a wraith, the Deadman’s Chest inflicts 1d6 points of damage per hit as well as draining one life level. When reduced to zero levels, the victim will become a zombie under control of the Deadman’s Chest. Like other forms of undead, the Deadman’s Chest is unaffected by sleep, hold, or charm spells. The incorporeal spirit is bound to its chest and cannot leave the immediate vicinity of the chest’s location.
How cool is this? Love it.
ReplyDeleteFantastic. When I first started reading I thought the zombie was going to be hiding inside the chest.
ReplyDeleteVery cool. That is a crazy looking zombie. Does the incorporeal form also turn as a wraith (4HD) or as a 6HD undead?
ReplyDeleteThe zombie is essentially an extension of the wraith form so overall, the creature turns as a 6HD creature. I wanted to make it a little bit tougher than just a pairing of a wraith and zombie.
ReplyDeleteThat is a really interesting way to present the undead, both conceptually and mechanically. I play a cleric these days, so I think about the undead a lot. Composite undead are cool ... the cleric could think s/he turned the Zombie, and wonder why it's still coming at them. This would be especially unsettling when they are at Level 5 and the Zombie should be automatically turned. Jolly good.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I get the feeling that the fundamental message of the Creature Feature will be that for the awesomest gaming we must attempt to combine the unfettered imagination of a child with the rational crunchiness of an educated grown-up?
@Spawn of Endra - You got it! I really wanted this to mess with the players as they may try to turn the zombie or the wraith but find out that it is not so easy and the situation is a bit more complex than it may first appear. Also note that the zombie will reanimate within one turn unless the wraithform is dispatched as well. Should keep players on their toes!
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly amazed talking to kids about fantasy, monsters, etc. More than anyone, they "get it". Afterall, I think fantasy has pretty much been about trying to explain things we don't understand and the world to a six year old is full of all sorts of mysterious things. Collaborating with Bear is the coolest thing I've ever done game wise!