Ossuary Hound

Medium undead, lawful neutral

Armor Class 13 (armor scraps)
Hit Points 13 (2d8 + 4)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	14 (+2)	9 (-1)	6 (-2)	10 (+0)	6 (-2)

Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages understands Common but can’t speak
Challenge ¼ (50 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Pack Tactics. The ossuary hound has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the hound’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
• Bonepile. The ossuary hound can be used as material components for spells requiring bones as a material component (such as animate dead). The ossuary hound dies when used in this way.
• Grim Scavenger. During a long rest, or as the party travels at a normal or slow pace, the bone dog can gather a pile of bones or the corpse of a Medium or Small humanoid, if any exists within one mile of the party.

ACTIONS

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

ABOUT

The glowing green embers of an ossuary hound’s eyes are framed by unnatural bone spikes and ridges jutting from its once-canine body. Often referred to as “ghoul hounds” thanks to their appetite for decaying flesh, these tainted beasts prowl graveyards, battlefields, and alleyways looking for their next meal. Though not especially aggressive toward the living, ossuary hounds are seen as dark omens and many find themselves on the wrong end of pitchforks and torches. More enlightened towns will make a place in their society for ossuary hounds, training them as watchdogs against malicious undead.

Necromancer’s Best Friend. Ossuary hounds are coveted familiars for fledgling necromancers, their propensity for fetching the remains of the dead proving useful for many of their master’s spells and rituals. In desperation, a necromancer can also tap into the rich supply of necrotic energy that ossuary hounds build up with their diet, using their familiars as components for their spells when no other bodies are available.

Born from Death. Ossuary hounds are not generally made, but rather are the result of a hound continuously feeding on the undead until they themselves become more dead than alive. As ossuary hounds feed, the necrotic energy that animates their undead prey begins to affect their bodies and minds, making them relentless and a bit feral. Although most ossuary hounds are a creation of circumstance, some necromancers seek to create them intentionally, feeding necrotic flesh to slavering hounds. Some hunters of the undead stumble upon the secret when their own hounds take on the likeness of their prey.