Shackledeath

Medium aberration, lawful neutral

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	16 (+3)	15 (+2)	16 (+3)	16 (+3)	16 (+3)

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 39 (6d8 + 12)
Speed 30 ft.
Skills Arcana +6, Religion +6, Perception +6, Stealth +6
Damage Immunities cold, poison
Damage Resistances piercing and slashing nonmagical weapons
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Celestial, Infernal, Primordial
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Special Traits

• Aggressive. As a bonus action, the shackledeath can move up to its speed towards a hostile creature that it can see.
• Punishment. The shackledeath can use its bonus action to punish each creature it has manacled. The effect depends on how many manacles each creature is wearing: 1 manacle: the target takes 1d8 necrotic damage and cannot regain hit points until the start of the shackledeath’s next turn.
  • 2 manacles: The target takes 3d6 necrotic damage and the shackledeath gains temporary hit points equal to the damage done.
  • 3 manacles: The target gains a level of exhaustion and the shackledeath recovers all its hit points.
  • 4 manacles: The target takes 61 (7d8 + 30) necrotic damage. If a creature is killed by this power, it becomes a zombie under the control of the shackledeath.

Actions

• Shackle. Melee Weapon Attack. +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: the target is captured by one manacle (escape DC 20). The shackledeath has a total of 4 manacles. Manacles magically lock around a target creature’s limbs. If a shackledeath is slain, the manacles open.

Tactics

Shackledeath duties usually involve crippling or intimidating rather than inflicting lethal injuries. However they have no qualms about killing if they feel the need, for example if a follower evades the punishment they deserve. Shackledeaths are fanatically dedicated to their work and do not retreat unless they face utter defeat. In such cases, they are intelligent enough to fall back in order to regroup. They always seek alternative ways to fulfill their missions, watching and stalking their victim for all their natural days if need be.

Description

Shackledeaths act as enforcers and executioners of people that offend the gods or fail in their duties to them. They are often sent to punish rather than kill. Offenders are left with their lives and the knowledge of what awaits them should they fail again. It’s possible that truly devout or zealous followers have been granted the service and aid of shackledeaths, and keep them as guardians. The slaver is particularly watchful of these blessed minions, however. They might be prominent among his followers, but they also have farther to plummet if they fall from grace.

Easily mistaken for undead, shackledeaths are actually extraplanar creatures. They resemble tall, humanoid skeletons with green-glowing eyes. Their collarbones are abnormally long and thick, extending roughly two feet from each shoulder. From each of these collarbones hang two chains, each about six feet in length.

These chains end in manacles or shackles of black iron. Shackledeaths sometimes wear the tattered remains of what may once have been robes worn by clerics. They walk with a shambling gait that belies their speed and agility.