Monday Monster: Bone Devil (Osyluth)

I’ve been a fan of this monster from Day 1 of reading the AD&D Monster Manual.

This terrifying “lesser” devil strikes fear into the hearts of adventurers as well as holes in them with its nasty tail and barbed polearm. While it might not be quite as fearsome as its greater cousins, this “little” devil packs a mean wallop and doesn’t waste time negotiating. It’s more of a stab first and ask questions never frontline monster.

I won’t bore you with the history, but this creature has been in the Dungeons & Dragons game for a very long time now. I’m pretty sure we’ve seen at least one version in every edition of D&D. The 5E version has some pretty decent artwork. Statistically it’s okay.

Dragonbane doesn’t have “devils.”

But they do have demons. Presenting The Bone Demon:

Ferocity: 2. Size: Large.

Movement 18. Armor: 3. HP: 64

Wings: Allow the Bone Demon to move through the air like a wasp.

Attacks:

1. Ossein Fear: The demon Issues a terrifying screech. All player characters within 10 meters suffer a fear attack.
2. Poison Sting: The creature’s tail lashes out furiously and stings a character. The attack does 2d8 Piercing damage plus Moderate Lethal Poison. It can be parried.
3. Polearm Impale: The Bone Demon picks one target within 6 meters to Impale on its polearm. Does 2d10 damage and snares the target unless an Evade roll is made. A victim snared in the manner may not make a move action on their turn. The polearm can be escaped with an opposed Strength Roll. (The demon is considered to have 18 Str for this purpose.)
4. Bone Crack! The GM randomizes a limb on a character. Roll 1d4: 1 = Right Arm, 2= Left Arm, 3 = Right Leg, 4 = Left Leg. The target must make a CON test or suffer the injury as per Severe Injury of that type.
5. Bone Control: The target must make a CON test or take 2d8 damage and be awkwardly moved wherever the demon directs them. The effect only lasts 1 turn.
6. Pounce! The demon lands on one character within movement range and slashes wildly with its claws. This attack may be evaded moving the target to the edge of the creature’s area. Claws do 2d10 damage. The character may make an Opposed STR check to free themselves on their turn. (Demon has an 18 STR for purposes of this check.) Otherwise the demon can continue to attack or move off its prey.