Let's go with the wider range. Thanks!
Updated.
Moving on...
Shadowrath, Lesser
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any land
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Nil
INTELLIGENCE: As former self
TREASURE TYPE: W
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
NO. APPEARING: 2-12
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVEMENT: 9
HIT DICE: 4+4
THAC0: 17
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Chilling touch
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Hit only by magical weapons
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 10%
SIZE: As former self
MORALE: Fearless (20)
XP VALUE: 1,400
These undead beings appear as totally black skeletons, with only their eyesockets aglow with red, deadly energy. These creatures are created by the ray of undeath power of the Crown of Horns. All victims killed by this ray arise as lesser shadowraths, also known as “blackbones”; if killed by the ray, any nonmagical equipment worn by the subject is consumed during the transformation (all magical equipment is simply abandoned or collected for the Crown bearer).
The shadowraths are still intelligent, but they are totally under the control of the wearer of the Crown of Horns if he or she is within 100 yards of their position. Note that any magical or psionic powers the shadowrath possessed while alive are lost in the conversion to undead status.
Combat: Lesser shadowraths attack by using a chilling touch, which causes 1-6 points of damage and requires the victim to save vs. death magic or lose one point of Strength. Creatures completely drained of Strength points by lesser shadowraths die, and such a death is irreversible. Strength points return at the rate of one per hour.
These undead can be turned by clerics as a ghast. Lesser shadowraths are immune to the effects of normal and silver weapons.
Habitat/Society: As stated above, lesser shadowraths are created by the Crown of Horns. These undead retain their intelligence, but they willingly serve the wearer of the Crown until they are destroyed. As intelligent beings, they can understand instructions given them by the Crown’s wearer and can perform tasks set them.
Originally appeared in City of Splendors (1994). This is the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four version.
Shadowrath, Greater
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any land
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Nil
INTELLIGENCE: As former self
TREASURE TYPE: W
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
NO. APPEARING: 1-10
ARMOR CLASS:5 (or as former self)
MOVEMENT: 12
HIT DICE: 5+5
THAC0: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: As former self
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Energy drain
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Hit only by magical weapons
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 25%
SIZE: As former self
MORALE: Fearless (20)
XP VALUE: 2,000
These powerful undead also are result of the Crown of Horns. Those slain by Myrkul’s Hand (the other major power of the artifact) arise as greater shadowraths or “abysskin”. Greater shadowraths retain both the intelligence they possessed during life and the general appearance of the being, including clothing, armor, equipment, and so on. However, the abysskin have no eyes, internal organs, or bones; instead, they are filled with and animated by Negative Material plane energy, and this crackling black energy is visible in the creatures’ eyes, open mouths, or open wounds on the body. Greater shadowraths can use all equipment their former selves carried (except magical items opposed to their new alignment). Shadowrath cannot activate any magical items that need command words, as they are mute. As with lesser shadowraths, all magical or psionic abilities of the shadowrath’s previous existence are lost as undead.
Combat: The touch of a greater shadowrath causes 2-8 (2d4) points of damage and requires the victim to make a saving throw vs. death magic or lose one level of experience. Beings completely drained of levels by a greater shadowraths die a permanent, irreversible death. Greater shadowraths can be turned by cleric characters as mummies.
Habitat/Society: Greater shadowraths are created by the evil artifact, the Crown of Horns. They often accompany the Crown - wearer, acting as bodyguards and enforcers of the Crown - wearer.s will. Greater shadowraths also lead groups of lesser shadowraths when assigned a difficult task or mission by their creator.
Ecology: As with all undead, shadowraths have no place in any natural ecological system. They drain life and vitality from surroundings and return nothing. If left without direct control, shadowraths always seek out and destroy wizards and worshipers of Mystra (as revenge for Mystra’s destruction of Myrkul during the Godswar). Shadowraths often cover themselves in heavy cloaks and hoods to approach their victims unawares; this works fine for the greater shadowrath (who can pass for their previous selves, as long as their eyes and mouths and other negative energy spots are hidden), but most nonmagical cloth becomes tattered, rotten, and disintegrates after prolonged contact with lesser shadowraths.
Originally appeared in City of Splendors (1994). This is the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four version.