Restless Dead
"The virulence of death itself made flesh in the faces of our past."
Shambling through the gloom of the wastes and the Outlands, the Restless Dead are a virulent and ever present danger to the living population of Cairne. These creatures, while slow and devoid of anything akin to human intelligence, are without any physical need and will continue on despite damage and obstacles. they have no sense of time or pain, and will slowly lumber after anything that moves driven by the disease that now controls their behavior.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The restless dead are, for all intents and purposes, zombies. The still moving corpses of the dead, reanimated and seeking out the living. They exist in varying states of decomposition from the recent dead to merely a skeletal remnant.
Ecology and Habitats
The Restless Dead are those infected by the Breathless Plague and die while still carrying the disease. The disease is already fairly widespread, but thanks to the efforts of the Order of Benevolents, it has been contained fairly well to the Outlands and the Wastes. The disease drives those infected to wander aimlessly, often grouping mindlessly into clusters of infected. The pathogen itself keeps the host body ambulatory even after death and utilizes it to continue spreading to other hosts.
Biological Cycle
Any breach into the bloodstream, a scratch or bite from an infected carrier, alive or dead, will cause the disease to infect a new host. The potential new victim is allowed a DC 15 constitution save to resist the infection, but this must be done for each wound sustained from the infected carrier. The newly infected will begin to show symptoms within 24 hours and will die and reanimate in a number of days equal to their constitution score.
Additional Information
Social Structure
The pathogen that animates the Restless Dead holds a natural propensity to form "herds" of infected as a method of self preservation. The herd can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the herd can move through any opening large enough for a medium humanoid. The herd can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points. Those caught within the herd must make an athletics or acrobatics skill check for each 5' space they try to escape through to get away, but for every space moved through, they incur an attack of opportunity from every side occupied by the herd.
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
- Languages Understands All Languages It Spoke In Life But Can't Speak
- Medium Undead, Unaligned
- Armor Class 8
- Hit Points 22 (3d8+9)
- Speed 20'
- STR 13 (+1)
- DEX 6 (-2)
- CON 16 (+3)
- INT 3 (-4)
- WIS 6 (-2)
- CHA 5 (-3)
- Damage Immunities Poison
- Condition Immunities Poisoned
- Senses Darkvision 60', Passive Perception 8
- Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Abilities
- Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the Restless Dead to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5+the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the Restless Dead drops to 1 hit point instead.
Actions
- Slam. Melee Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5', one target. Hit: (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage. A target that is hit is then immediately subjected to a grapple attack.
Restless Dead Herd
- Armor Class 6
- Hit Points 200 (21d12 + 63)
- Speed 20'
Actions
- Slam. Melee Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5', one target. Hit: 14 (4d6) bludgeoning damage. A target that is hit is then immediately subjected to a grapple attack. A herd may attack any amount of targets within reach or within the swarm itself. If the hit points of the swarm are reduced by half, then reduce the damage by half (2d6).
- Grapple. Following a successful hit, the target is grappled (escape DC 15). Until this grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the herd can constrict another target.
Scientific Name
Undead
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