I just knew that you would be back. I assume that meant my last creations worked out well for you? Glad to hear it, glad to hear it. Watch out for the-! Oops. Sorry about that. Are you up to date on your tetanus vaccinations? Oh… Well, I’m sure you can trick a cleric into removing that negative level for you. That’s one problem with employing zombies for your construction projects. They aren’t the greatest at cleaning up their work stations. As you can see, you’ve caught me in quite the lab renovation, but I’ve got some new pieces that I’m dying to show off.
… What? No, not literally. Put that sword away. You’re frightening the reanimated dog, and they’re nearly impossible to clean up after. The discoloration never quite comes completely out.
Blast Skeleton
These certainly aren’t your garden variety skeletons. Unless your garden is on fire and explodes in a fiery blast of shrapnel when the freeze kills everything. These skeletal warriors are bonded to a juvenile fire elemental at the time of their creation, which wreathes the body in magical flames. The relative lack of strength allows the necromantic energies animating the skeleton to keep control, but the process does instill a sense of purpose and intelligence into these creatures that can make them difficult to control for the average evil tyrant. Oh stop it, I said average. The fact that you come to me in the first place dispels that rumor. Any way, these creatures are capable of more than simply following orders – they act and fight with a dark intelligence, allowing them to make quick decisions and adjust plans on their own, following the spirit of your orders instead of the letter. This makes them perfect guards for remote outposts that you don’t visit as often. The fire spirit combined with their intelligence gives them a certain proclivity for casting several fire based spells as well which I’m sure will surprise any adventurer that tries to stay at range from their nasty looking claws. What’s more, even if they are defeated, these creatures are sure to get the last laugh. A side effect of the young age of the fire spirit is that they are not able to escape back to their home plane. When the necromantic energies that animate the skeleton are ended, the spirit simply explodes, causing flame and bone shards to rain down on anyone foolish enough to be nearby. Now… how many do you want?
Ben Erickson
