Medium construct, lawful evil
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 19 (3d8 + 4)
Speed 10 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +2 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 (+3) | 5 (-3) | 14 (+2) | 5 (-3) | 8 (-1) | 7 (-2) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +5
Damage vulnerabilities bludgeoning
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, petrified, poisoned
Senses passive Perception 9
Languages the languages it knew in life
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Cunning Opportunist. The stone cursed has advantage on the attack rolls of opportunity attacks.
False Appearance. While the stone cursed remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal statue.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack (suggested). The stone cursed makes two attacks with its petrifying claws.
- Petrifying Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage, or 14 (2d10 + 3) slashing damage if the attack roll had advantage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw, or it begins to turn to stone and is restrained until the end of its next turn, when it must repeat the saving throw. The effect ends ifthe second save is successful; otherwise the target is petrified for 24 hours.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
Stone Cursed
A stone cursed is a tragic creature that was once a living humanoid, but was turned to stone by a petrifying effect, such as a basilisk’s gaze or a medusa’s stare. A stone cursed is then awakened by a foul alchemical ritual that infuses it with a twisted semblance of life and loyalty to its creator. A stone cursed is a mindless and malevolent construct that seeks to slay any living being that crosses its path, unless ordered otherwise by its master.
Description
A stone cursed looks like a humanoid statue made of stone, with some variations depending on the type of stone and the original appearance of the victim. A stone cursed may have cracks, chips, or moss on its surface, or it may be polished and smooth. A stone cursed has no hair, eyes, or other organic features, but it may have some clothing or accessories that were petrified along with it.
A stone cursed has no voice, but it can make a low rumbling sound when it moves or attacks. A stone cursed can understand the languages it knew in life, as well as the language of its creator, but it cannot speak. A stone cursed has no personality or emotions of its own, but it may retain some vague memories of its former life.
Combat
A stone cursed is a formidable opponent in combat, using its strength and durability to overpower its enemies. It can make two attacks per round: one with its bite and one with its claws. Its bite can crush bones and metal alike, and its claws can slash and rend flesh and armor. A stone cursed can also use its petrifying touch to turn its foes to stone with a touch. A creature that is touched by a stone cursed must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or begin to turn to stone and be restrained. The creature must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. The effect ends if the second save is successful; otherwise the creature is petrified for 24 hours.
A stone cursed has several defenses that make it hard to harm or hinder. It has a high natural armor class that reflects most physical attacks. It is vulnerable to bludgeoning damage, but it is immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition. It is also immune to being charmed, exhausted, frightened, or petrified.
A stone cursed’s only weakness is its lack of intelligence and free will. It will follow its creator’s commands without question, even if they are suicidal or nonsensical. It will also ignore any other creatures or obstacles in its way, unless they directly threaten or interfere with its mission.
Habitat / Society
A stone cursed does not have a natural habitat or society of its own. It is an artificial construct that is created by a dark alchemist, a mad wizard, or a cultist who seeks to create loyal guardians or assassins. The creator of a stone cursed must perform a ritual that requires a mixture of basilisk blood and the ashes from the burned feathers of a cockatrice. The ritual awakens a dim echo of the petrified victim’s spirit, animating the statue and turning it into a useful servant.
A stone cursed’s creator can assign it a target by providing it with a name, a description, and an item that belongs to or was touched by the target. The creator can also give the stone cursed additional commands or instructions, such as whether to kill the target quickly or slowly, or whether to bring back proof of the kill.
A stone cursed can travel across any terrain to reach its target, using its strength and resilience to overcome any obstacles. A stone cursed can also sense the presence of living creatures within 60 feet of it, and will try to kill them unless ordered otherwise by its creator.
Ecology
A stone cursed has no natural role in the ecology of any plane. It is an unnatural creature that disrupts the balance of life wherever it goes. It does not care about the consequences of its actions, nor does it have any allies or enemies among other creatures. It only cares about fulfilling its mission and satisfying its hunger for metal.
A stone cursed poses a serious threat to anyone who crosses its path, especially if they possess metal items that attract its attention. A stone cursed will not hesitate to attack anyone who stands in its way or tries to stop it from reaching its target. A stone cursed will also not spare anyone who is associated with or protects its target, unless instructed otherwise by its creator.
A stone cursed can be destroyed by powerful magic or weapons that can bypass its defenses. However, even if a stone cursed is killed, it may not be the end of the threat. The creator of a stone cursed may have created more than one for the same target, or he may have a backup plan to revive or replace the fallen one. The only way to ensure that a stone cursed will not come back is to find and destroy the creator and his ritual materials, or to convince him to call off the hunt.