Deathglow Skeleton

“I don’t know what happened. Our priest ran up to confront the glowing skeleton, saying some mystical prayers, but they had no effect. The foul skeletons just kept coming and the priest became very pale and then passed out. We could barely drag him out and fend off those wretched things at the same time. We didn’t lose anybody this time, but we can’t go back that way.”

— Cal Matka, survivor of the Icehold Catacombs

Named for the glowing fungus that covers and animates its bones, the Deathglow Skeleton is a very frightening and eerie undead creature that has caused many an adventurer to pause, turn tail, and run. It's chilling white bones, black void eye sockets, and expressionless face pale in comparison to its unnerving and debilitating deep blue glow as it rises and begins its relentless attack.

Basic Information

Anatomy

These strange creatures retain the general size and shape of the original form that it had when it was living.

Genetics and Reproduction

This skeleton cannot reproduce, replicate, clone or otherwise make more of itself. The only way in which this being can be created is through the mysterious properties of the Deathglow Fungus. The fungal mycelium must attach itself to the bones of a once sentient creature and then begin to feed on the skeletal remains and the essence of death that lingers upon them. The fungus and bones then hybridize and begin an entirely new relationship as a Deathglow Skeleton.

Growth Rate & Stages

This creature does not ever grow and retains the same overall size and shape of its skeletal structure when it died.

Ecology and Habitats

This skeleton can be found in almost any environment from hot deserts, to ice caves, to underground lairs. Because its fungus lives exclusively on bones or calcium sources, settings rich in bone matter like forgotten battle fields, caves, dungeons, and places of death are the most common habitats for this species. Locations with steady temperatures, stable humidity, and consistent lighting are the most advantageous for the growth and spread of the fungus and therefore the skeleton as well.

Dietary Needs and Habits

These skeleton-fungi hybrids only feed upon the bones of sentient creatures. When such a creature comes too close the bones become animated by the fungus and attack that creature. The fungi will slowly over the years spread to these new bones and eventually consume them.

Biological Cycle

Time seems to have no effect on these creatures other than to force them into hibernation when there is no longer a food source nearby.

Behaviour

This creature has no natural predators and generally ignores all others of its kind. It will only attack nearby living vertebrate animals.

Additional Information

Social Structure

This species does not communicate and has no social structure at all.

Domestication

These creatures are impossible to train or domesticate as they seek only the bones of anyone attempting to do so.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

It is said that in the remote areas of the world a few mad necromancers will use the Deathglow Skeleton in a bizarre ritual. They must capture or even create this entity so that they may grind its fungus covered bones into a very fine powder and then snort it in a dangerous ceremony. Those that partake in this event claim to enter a timeless trance and are able to communicate with the spirit of any deceased person of their choice. This spirit may not resist, hinder, or lie to the necromancer.

“Oh what depths we delve, to discover the divine.
Messages commanded, by the madman’s mind.
Secrets pulled forth, from the spirits’ embrace.
Martyrs made, of the souls disgrace.”

— Skord Hazen, The Maddened, member of the Siel Pencuri

Facial characteristics

No matter the species, all Deathglow skeleton have an eerie blank expression and glowing bones.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

There is no telling exactly where these skeletons can be found, but it stands to reason that they must be in locations known to have the Deathglow Fungus. They in turn are usually found in areas that have experienced a lot of death and dead bodies. The most notable locations have been in the Zarici Forest, the Caverns of Everdeep, the Iceblast Pass, and the Plains of Sorrow.

Average Intelligence

This skeletal creature has no intelligence what so ever. It is animated and controlled by a fungus that has consumed parts of the bones and the essence of death. This hybrid of fungus and death, instinctually seeks only to gather new bones to feed upon. It will mindlessly attack any nearby sentient creature and will not stop, rest, or retreat.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

These strange beings seem to possess all of the senses and capabilities of the original creature. How exactly this is possible with missing body parts is still unknown and contested by many wizards and clerics alike. Whether the answer is mystical, magical, or some bizarre aspect of the fungus it remains unknown at this time.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

These physical bones of the skeletons are parasitized and controlled by a combination of the Deathglow Fungus and negative death energy.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• All Sentient

Scientific Name

Ossium Letum Flagrare

Origin/Ancestry

These entities seem to originate from any previously living sentient creature.

Lifespan

The current lifespan or unlifespan is unknown.

Conservation Status

This eerie undead creature is not under any protection status of any nation. All who encounter it are encouraged to destroy it if they can do so safely and/or report it to the nearest religious center or government agency.

Average Height

The height is variable depending on the individual host creature.

Average Physique

This creature maintains its original base skeletal structure despite the lack of muscles and connective tissue.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The stark white bones of this creature are covered by a thin, grey fungus that glows with an eerie, deep blue radiance.

Geographic Distribution

• Unknown

by by me from midjourney

Special Abilities:

Despite its appearance and aggressive behavior, the skeleton was not created through evil means and is not inherently evil, as such it cannot be turned, destroyed, or controlled by any cleric or religious object.
Additionally, anyone moving within 5 feet of it begins to suffer a slow loss of positive energy and loss of life. This lost health induces a severe weakened state and can only be regained through spiritual or magical healing.

“Save your prayers for us priest. We’re going to need those healing petitions. I’ve encountered these blue skeletons once before, in the Iceblast Pass. They can’t be turned or destroyed by your words. No faith can stop them. The only way is through combat or dare I say it, magic. And your blades won’t do much either. You’ll be much more effective with the crushing weapons.”

— Grit Redhammer, Ruball Dwarf