Shade
Monster Junkie
That would be pure rat-bastardly joy. 
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A traditional monster from English folklore similar to skeletons is Bloody Bones. The monster’s full name is Rawhead-and-Bloody-Bones, and it is sometimes referred to as Old Bloody Bones or Tommy Rawhead. Samuel Johnson, in his l7th-century dictionary, defined the creature as “the name of a spectre, mentioned to fright children” (Here, spectre is, of course, used generically, and bears no relationship to the AD&D game monster of the same name.)
In Folklore Society County Publications (of England), Ruth Tongue quotes two informants who described Bloody Bones as living in dark shadowy places such as in deep cupboards, inside closets, or under the stairs. Those who are heroic enough to peep through a crack might get a glimpse of the dreadful crouching creature, with blood running down its face, seated waiting on a pile of bones that once belonged to children who told lies or said bad words. However, if you spied upon the monster, it knew about it and got you anyway.
Most creatures classed as “nursery bogies” are based on earlier legendary tales of monsters. In Lancashire and Yorkshire, Rawhead-and-Bloody-Bones is a kind of evil spirit haunting old marl pits and similar places. In Cornwall, Old Bloody Bones lives in abandoned mines, especially those near the sites of ancient battles.
Bloody Bones lies waiting to grab victims who pass nearby, dragging the unwary down into deep forbidding lairs.
BLOODY BONES
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1 (30% chance of 2-12)
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: 12.
HIT DICE: 3
% IN LAIR: 50%
TREASURE TYPE: 40% chance each of J-N
(B in lair if more than 1)
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-10
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Fear
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
lNTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
SIZE: M
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Bloody bones are the undead, animated corpses of evil criminals cursed to continue their horrid trade long after they should have died. They look like bloody skeletons with a few shreds of flesh hanging on the bones. In fact, they resemble corpses left hanging on gibbets (a traditional punishment for criminals).
Bloody bones lair in hidden caves or deep concealed pits. They venture forth only to kill and rob victims. At the sight of a bloody bones, a character must make a saving throw vs. spells or else suffer the effects of a fear spell. For the effects of damage vs. a bloody bones, treat the creature as if it were a skeleton (i.e., one-half damage from sharp weapons, etc.). The chance of a cleric turning a bloody bones is the same as the cleric’s chance to turn a shadow.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #138 (1988).
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A traditional monster from English folklore similar to skeletons is Bloody Bones. The monster’s full name is Rawhead-and-Bloody-Bones, and it is sometimes referred to as Old Bloody Bones or Tommy Rawhead. Samuel Johnson, in his l7th-century dictionary, defined the creature as “the name of a spectre, mentioned to fright children” (Here, spectre is, of course, used generically, and bears no relationship to the AD&D game monster of the same name.)
In Folklore Society County Publications (of England), Ruth Tongue quotes two informants who described Bloody Bones as living in dark shadowy places such as in deep cupboards, inside closets, or under the stairs. Those who are heroic enough to peep through a crack might get a glimpse of the dreadful crouching creature, with blood running down its face, seated waiting on a pile of bones that once belonged to children who told lies or said bad words. However, if you spied upon the monster, it knew about it and got you anyway.
Most creatures classed as “nursery bogies” are based on earlier legendary tales of monsters. In Lancashire and Yorkshire, Rawhead-and-Bloody-Bones is a kind of evil spirit haunting old marl pits and similar places. In Cornwall, Old Bloody Bones lives in abandoned mines, especially those near the sites of ancient battles.
Bloody Bones lies waiting to grab victims who pass nearby, dragging the unwary down into deep forbidding lairs.
BLOODY BONES
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1 (30% chance of 2-12)
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: 12.
HIT DICE: 3
% IN LAIR: 50%
TREASURE TYPE: 40% chance each of J-N
(B in lair if more than 1)
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-10
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Fear
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
lNTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
SIZE: M
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Bloody bones are the undead, animated corpses of evil criminals cursed to continue their horrid trade long after they should have died. They look like bloody skeletons with a few shreds of flesh hanging on the bones. In fact, they resemble corpses left hanging on gibbets (a traditional punishment for criminals).
Bloody bones lair in hidden caves or deep concealed pits. They venture forth only to kill and rob victims. At the sight of a bloody bones, a character must make a saving throw vs. spells or else suffer the effects of a fear spell. For the effects of damage vs. a bloody bones, treat the creature as if it were a skeleton (i.e., one-half damage from sharp weapons, etc.). The chance of a cleric turning a bloody bones is the same as the cleric’s chance to turn a shadow.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #138 (1988).
