Floating Skull

Tiny undead, neutral evil

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 7 (2d4 + 2)
Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
1 (-5)	17 (+3)	14 (+2)	17 (+3)	12 (+1)	12 (+1)

Skills Arcana +5, Perception +3
Damage Resistances lightning, necrotic, piercing
Damage Immunities cold, fire, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned, prone
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Illumination. The floating skull sheds either dim light in a 15-foot radius, or bright light in a 15-foot radius and dim light for an additional 15 feet. It can switch between the options as an action.
• Magic Resistance. The floating skull has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
• Rejuvenation. If the floating skull is destroyed, it regains all its hit points in 1 hour unless holy water is sprinkled on its remains or a dispel magic or remove curse spell is cast on it.
• Spell Conduit. The floating skull possesses this trait when it acts as a familiar. When its companion casts a spell, it can deliver the spell as if it had cast the spell. The floating skull must be within 100 feet of its companion and it must use its reaction to deliver the spell when cast. If the spell requires an attack roll, the companion uses their attack modifier for the roll.

ABOUT

Floating skulls are made from the severed heads of wizards, warlocks, clerics, and others with potent magical gifts. All that remains are their burning skulls, carved with magical runes and set with gems in the hollow sockets of their eyes.These skulls are ablaze with magical flames which burn the same color as their gemstones. These gems act as crude phylacteries and will restore the floating skull to its animated undeath unless their magic is dispelled or their curse lifted. They are generally created as guardians and eternally charged with watching over a place, object, or person.

Bound Guardians. Floating skulls are echoes of the creatures they were in life. Though they can speak and have memories from their lives, they are only pale shadows of their living selves. Often, they are driven mad by the solitary existence of their eternal watch, their cursed immortality stretching out long centuries in the dark of tombs and forgotten treasure hoards. It is this very insanity, loneliness, and boredom, that drives some to serve as companions.

They can prove ironically grateful for those who break their curse by defeating them, stealing or destroying whatever they were charged to protect.

Once free, they will follow this creature as their new master, at long last being able to leave their eternal post.

Ascendant Liches. Some floating skulls were never bound, but self created, through dark sacrificial rituals. These greater floating skulls represent a form of ascendant lichdom. Such wizards have outlived the need for mortal flesh and have become something more in the pursuit of the arcane mysteries of the cosmos. Their existence is purely cerebral and they maintain the full dimensions of their personality and mortal memories. Such greater floating skulls bear many gems beyond the pair in the sockets of their eyes. They have crystal fangs in place of teeth, or are crowned in spiked crystal shards. Some wear jewelry holding similar gems.

These stones serve as their phylacteries and their undeath endures as long as one remains.