Bonedrinker (CR 6)

Medium Undead
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Initiative: +3 (Dex); Senses: darkvision 60 ft., scent, Listen +13, and Spot +13
Languages: Bonedrinkers speak the languages they knew in life, typically Goblin, and that of their creators, typically Goblin and Common.


AC: 17 (+3 Dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 14
Hit Dice: 11d12+22 (93 hp); DR: DR 5/silver or good
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +9
Speed: 30 ft.
Space: 5 ft./5 ft. (tentacles up to 10 ft.)
Base Attack +5; Grapple +14
Attack: Tentacle +10 melee
Full Attack: 2 tentacles +10 melee and 2 claws +5 melee
Damage: Tentacles 1d10+5, claws 1d8+2
Special Attacks: Bonedrink, improved grab, pounce
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 16, Con -, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 15
Special Qualities: resistance to cold 10, fire 10, and sonic 10, scent, undead traits, unholy toughness
Feats: Cleave; Combat Reflexes; Improved Natural Attack (claws); Power Attack
Skills: Hide +13, Listen +13, Move Silently +17, and Spot +13
Advancement: 12-15 HD (Medium); 16-33 HD (Large)
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pack (3-6)
Treasure/Possessions: Standard

Source: Monster Manual III

This gaunt creature is humanoid in shape, except for two long, writhing, pale tentacles that sprout from beneath its arms. Although its features are somewhat goblinoid in appearance, wicked talons cap its long, spindly fingers, and its wide maw opens to reveal many sharp teeth, including six 6-inch-long fangs. Its hairless, gray-skinned body is covered in oozing sores that weep a pale white fluid.

A truly repulsive creature, the bonedrinker hunts to feed on the bones of its victims. Terrible undead created in a horrid ritual reminiscent of mummy creation, bonedrinkers wander the dark places of the world, seeking new creatures to feed upon. Hobgoblin wizards originally developed the ritual to create these monstrosities, using the fallen corpses of goblin and bugbear warriors to create the first lesser bonedrinkers and bonedrinkers. The tradition of using bugbears and goblins became habit, and nearly all bonedrinkers previously lived as one of these two goblinoid races. In theory, other humanoid creatures could be converted into bonedrinkers, but this would require twisting and adapting the original ritual.

Bonedrinkers resemble ghasts in many ways, leading those who catch only fleeting glimpses of the creatures to erroneously pass on exactly that description. If it weren't for the two tentacles that grow beneath their arms and the six horribly long fangs in their mouths, the description might even fit.

A bonedrinker's body is covered in weeping sores, the result of its constant need to feed. The longer one goes without liquefying and draining a creature's bones, the more sores appear. This has no effect on the creature's abilities, but a bonedrinker certainly grows more reckless and desperate the hungrier it becomes.

Bonedrinkers prey on any creature with a skeletal structure. They care nothing for vermin, elementals, constructs, or any other creature lacking their favorite food. Many other carnivores similarly eat bones, but not in the same way that a bonedrinker does. Bonedrinkers secrete a strange chemical in their saliva that breaks down bones into a viscous liquid.

As the bones liquefy, the bonedrinker slurps them up through wounds it inflicts with its bite. In essence, a bonedrinker is to bones what a vampire is to blood.

A bonedrinker stands about 7 feet tall and weighs roughly 225 pounds. Created from a bugbear, it superficially resembles the goblinoid from which it was created.

Bonedrinkers speak the languages they knew in life, typically Goblin, and that of their creators, typically Goblin and Common.

Combat

Clever hunters, bonedrinkers prefer to attack lone victims unless hunting in packs. They typically strike from hiding, pouncing on their chosen prey and attempting to establish a grapple as quickly as possible. If especially famished, a bonedrinker might attack more recklessly, grappling a single victim even if part of a group and attempting to drain it dry while ignoring the victim's companions.

Bonedrink (Su): Once a bonedrinker has successfully grappled an opponent, it can begin to drink its bones. To do this, the bonedrinker must make a successful grapple check. If it pins its foe, it fastens onto the creature with its horrendous fangs. It then secretes a painful toxin into the victim that deals 1d6 points of Constitution damage. Each round the pin is maintained, the bonedrinker deals an additional 1d6 points of Constitution damage. Creatures reduced to 0 Constitution die, as the majority of their bones become too brittle to support their bodies and they collapse into a sack of loose flesh.

Creatures without bones or Constitution scores are immune to the Constitution-damaging effects of the bonedrink ability.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a bonedrinker must hit with a tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking attacks of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and deals automatic claw or tentacle damage to the grappled victim. It can deal automatic claw or tentacle damage in each subsequent round that it maintains the grapple, and a bonedrinker that has successfully pinned an opponent can begin to drink its bones (see Bonedrink, above). Bonedrinkers have a +4 racial bonus on grapple checks.

Pounce (Ex): If a bonedrinker charges, it can make a full attack in the same round.

Creating A Bonedrinker

The ritual that turns a bugbear corpse into a bonedrinker requires the create undead spell cast by a caster of 15th level or higher with 10 or more ranks in Knowledge (religion). Transforming a goblin corpse into a lesser bonedrinker is a similar but less exacting process, requiring create undead cast by a caster of 12th level or higher with 7 or more ranks in Knowledge (religion). These rituals are typically known only to hobgoblin wizards and clerics, though the secret has undoubtedly spread to other races over the years.

Unholy Toughness (Ex): A bonedrinker gains a bonus to its hit points equal to its Charisma modifier x its Hit Dice.

Skills: Bonedrinkers have a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.