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{{canon}}
{{canon}}


The '''skull lord''' is a particularly intelligent and powerful form of [[undead]], its appearance most noted by its three [[human]]-shaped [[skull]]s and the [[bone]] [[staff]] it wields.<ref name="MM V p. 154-155">[[Monster Manual V]] p. 154-155</ref><ref name="Tome of Foes p. 230">[[Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes]] p. 230</ref> Different accounts have given different details on the skull lord's origins and [[special abilities]].
==Possible Origins==
Several possibilities might explain the origins of the first skull lords, though their origins have been tied to a necromantic wave of energy unleashed by the death of [[Vrackmul]] and the destruction of [[Black Tower of Vrackmul|his Black Tower]].<ref name="MM V p. 155">MM V p. 155</ref> Another origin tied the skull lord's to creation by [[Vecna]] on [[Oerth]]. In this origin story, [[Kas]] brought great chaos in Vecna's [[empire]] following his [[betrayal]]. In the ensuing upheaval, Vecna's commanders waged [[war]] on each other, thereby earning Vecna's wrath. He [[punished]] them by fusing them together in groups of three and then [[exile]]d them into the [[Plane of Shadow]].<ref name="Tome of Foes p. 230">[[Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes]] p. 230</ref> Other origin stories depict skull lords as the undead remnants of some unknown, triple headed race or the result of blundered attempts at [[lich]] transformations.<ref name="MM V p. 155">MM V p. 155</ref>
==Special Abilities==
A skull lord has been said to have many unusual and unnatural abilities, not the least of which is to create its own undead minions. According to one description, each of a skull lord's skulls has a unique power. One skull can spit out bone shards at foes. One of the skulls can cause some of the bones from a creature to burst out and heal a [[corporeal undead]] by joining its body. Finally, one skull can animate undead servants for the skull lord (a [[skeleton]], a [[bonespur (Undead)|bonespur]], or a [[serpentir]]), though the skull lord can only have a limited amount of control at once. Although not tied directly to its skulls, this same account of the skull lord's powers stated it can create a [[spectral rider]] once per month, though the spectral rider is not beholder to obey the skull lord's commands without choice.<ref name="MM V p. 154-155">[[Monster Manual V]] p. 154-155</ref>
Another account of the skull lord depicts it as lacking the special abilities above but having extraordinary skill as an [[arcane spellcaster]]. This version of the skull lord also has the ability to bolster undead and summon skeletons. Finally, according to this description, the skull lord is extraordinarily resilient in the face of many attacks, demonstrating [[evasion]], many damage resistances, and the ability to automatically resist an effect it had seemingly succumbed to.<ref name="Tome of Foes p. 230">[[Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes]] p. 230</ref>
==Encounter areas==
Skull lords can be encountered in [[the Endless Road]].<ref>[[Domains of Dread: The Endless Road]], [[Dungeon Magazine]] #174</ref>
Skull lords can be encountered in [[the Endless Road]].<ref>[[Domains of Dread: The Endless Road]], [[Dungeon Magazine]] #174</ref>
==Classification as per [[Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead]]==
{{netbook}}
It has been stated that the skull lord qualifies as an [[Restless Dead]] according the [[Walking Dead]] typology in [[Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead]]. Likely [[salient ability|salient abilities]] include [[Chamber Sense]], [[Death Gaze]], [[Dispelling Glare]], [[Dread Gaze]], [[Fear Aura (Walking Dead Salient Ability)|Fear Aura]], [[Glyph of Warding (Walking Dead Salient Ability) |Glyph of Warding]], [[Killing Zone]], [[Paralyzing Gaze (Walking Dead Salient Ability)|Paralyzing Gaze]], [[Telekinesis (Walking Dead Salient Ability)|Telekinesis]], [[Touch of Doom]], and [[Undying]].<ref>[[Van Richten’s Files: The Clavius Keel Case]], [[Quoth the Raven Issue 26]], p. 152-153</ref>


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[[category:Abnormal Anatomy]]
[[category:Arcane Spellcaster]]
[[category:Corporeal Undead]]
[[category:Challenge 15]]
[[category:CR 7]]
[[category:Innate Racial Spellcaster]]
[[category:Lawful Evil]]
[[category:Native Monster of the Endless Road]]
[[category:Reanimator]]
[[category:Restless Dead]]
[[category:Skeleton]]
[[category:Sorcerer]]
[[category:Spellcaster]]
[[category:Undead]]
[[category:Undead]]
[[category:Native Monster of the Endless Road]]
[[category:Undead Summoner]]
[[category:Walking Dead]]

Latest revision as of 16:13, 30 November 2019

The skull lord is a particularly intelligent and powerful form of undead, its appearance most noted by its three human-shaped skulls and the bone staff it wields.[1][2] Different accounts have given different details on the skull lord's origins and special abilities.

Possible Origins

Several possibilities might explain the origins of the first skull lords, though their origins have been tied to a necromantic wave of energy unleashed by the death of Vrackmul and the destruction of his Black Tower.[3] Another origin tied the skull lord's to creation by Vecna on Oerth. In this origin story, Kas brought great chaos in Vecna's empire following his betrayal. In the ensuing upheaval, Vecna's commanders waged war on each other, thereby earning Vecna's wrath. He punished them by fusing them together in groups of three and then exiled them into the Plane of Shadow.[2] Other origin stories depict skull lords as the undead remnants of some unknown, triple headed race or the result of blundered attempts at lich transformations.[3]

Special Abilities

A skull lord has been said to have many unusual and unnatural abilities, not the least of which is to create its own undead minions. According to one description, each of a skull lord's skulls has a unique power. One skull can spit out bone shards at foes. One of the skulls can cause some of the bones from a creature to burst out and heal a corporeal undead by joining its body. Finally, one skull can animate undead servants for the skull lord (a skeleton, a bonespur, or a serpentir), though the skull lord can only have a limited amount of control at once. Although not tied directly to its skulls, this same account of the skull lord's powers stated it can create a spectral rider once per month, though the spectral rider is not beholder to obey the skull lord's commands without choice.[1]

Another account of the skull lord depicts it as lacking the special abilities above but having extraordinary skill as an arcane spellcaster. This version of the skull lord also has the ability to bolster undead and summon skeletons. Finally, according to this description, the skull lord is extraordinarily resilient in the face of many attacks, demonstrating evasion, many damage resistances, and the ability to automatically resist an effect it had seemingly succumbed to.[2]

Encounter areas

Skull lords can be encountered in the Endless Road.[4]

Classification as per Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead

It has been stated that the skull lord qualifies as an Restless Dead according the Walking Dead typology in Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead. Likely salient abilities include Chamber Sense, Death Gaze, Dispelling Glare, Dread Gaze, Fear Aura, Glyph of Warding, Killing Zone, Paralyzing Gaze, Telekinesis, Touch of Doom, and Undying.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Monster Manual V p. 154-155
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes p. 230
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 MM V p. 155
  4. ↑ Domains of Dread: The Endless Road, Dungeon Magazine #174
  5. ↑ Van Richten’s Files: The Clavius Keel Case, Quoth the Raven Issue 26, p. 152-153

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