Illustration Xan Drake

The Manless Horse-Head

xandrakeart
Challenge 3
(700 XP)
Robinloft Estimated CR 3
Tiny undead, unaligned
Armor Class 6 (16 with barkskin)
Hit Points 21 (6d4+6)
Speed 0 ft., fly 5 ft. (hover)
STR
3 (-4)
DEX
2 (-4)
CON
12 (+1)
INT
8 (-1)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
6 (-2)
Saving Throws Con +3, Wis +5
Skills Perception +7
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., truesight 30 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages abyssal, telepathy 60 ft.
Environments grassland
Equine Eschewance.

As long as zombie is within 60 ft. of the Headless Horse-Man, it does not require somatic or material components for spellcasting (except in the case of materials with a listed value in gp).
Undead Fortitude.

If damage reduces zombie 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, zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
Spellcasting. zombie is a 5th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following cleric spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): guidance, resistance, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
1st level (4 slots): bane, guiding bolt, sanctuary, shield of faith
2nd level (3 slots): barkskin, hold person, blindness/deafness
3rd level (2 slots): animate dead, bestow curse

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.

Reactions

Dreadful Whinny. Whenever a creature that zombie can see moves within 30 ft., it can let out a Dreadful Whinny. All creatures within 30 ft. that can hear zombie must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for the next round. On a successful save, the creature becomes immune to the Dreadful Whinny for the next 24 hours.

Zombies

A zombie is a corpse reanimated by contemptible magic. Drawn from the grave or the battlefield, these undead often appear in tattered apparel with bodies half-decayed and dripping with worm-ridden filth. Zombies walk with a shambling gait with mindless persistence. While their movements are awkward, they are physically powerful. A foul stench of decay hangs heavy in the air around them.

The Manless Horse-Head

As the sun sinks below the horizon, you hear the thundering sound of footsteps approaching. From the opposite direction, a terrible, piercing equine shriek shakes you to your core. By the time you've realized what's about to happen, it's already too late.

A brave adventurer once fought a great battle a terrifying half-man, half-horse monstrosity that had been rampaging through the countryside. The adventurer sliced clean through the monster’s thick, muscled neck and separated its head clean from its body.

We would only be so lucky if that were the end of this story, but a devious necromancer stole away the two halves of this beast and reanimated them separately, dooming them both to eternal torment. These two halves may never be joined back together no matter how hard they try, and in their anger have returned to laying waste to the countryside.

When together, these two creatures are a formidable force, acting as one. If separated, however, you may stand a fighting chance…

Described by xandrakeart

Duplication and Templates

The Manless Horse-Head (xandrakeart) has been modified from other monsters.

Riding Horse (SRD)
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The Manless Horse-Head (xandrakeart)

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