Shikki-Gaki (5e Creature)

Shikki-Gaki

Medium undead, neutral evil Armor Class 8 Hit Points 37 (5d8 + 15) Speed 20 ft., burrow 10 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 10 (+0) 6 (-2) 16 (+3) 3 (-4) 4 (-3) 5 (-3) Damage Vulnerabilities fire, radiant, slashing Damage Resistances cold Damage Immunities necrotic, poison Condition Immunities poisoned Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 7 Languages understands the languages it knew in life but can't speak Challenge 1 (200 XP) False Appearance. While the shikki-gaki remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary fungus. Flammable Spores. If the shikki-gaki takes fire damage, it can't use its Poisonous Spores reaction until the end of its next turn. Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the shikki-gaki to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is fire, radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the shikki-gaki drops to 1 hit point instead. Regardless of whether the shikki-gaki succeeds on the saving throw or not, each creature within 10 feet of it must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 7 (2d6) poison damage and be poisoned until the end of its next turn. ACTIONS Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 3 (1d6) poison damage and be poisoned until the end of its next turn. REACTIONS Poisonous Spores. When the shikki-gaki is hit by a melee attack, it releases poisonous spores from the growths of fungal spores and mushrooms on their bodies. Each creature within 5 feet of the shikki-gaki must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 3 (1d6) poison damage and be poisoned until the end of its next turn.

Shikki-gaki are similar to zombies but they are completely bloated with rot, they also have various mushrooms and lichens and assortments of other poisonous black molds growing on their bodies. They smell horrific beyond the stench of even most undead and people who have fought them and survived are sick for days with vomiting and infected sinuses and throats. They are known to generally burrow into the soft guano of caves and let their mushrooms grow and nourish them on the guano when found in the wild. Adventurers have been surprised when they discovered patches of very large mushrooms suddenly erupt from dung heaps as full bloated walking corpses defending their homes. Only when the leadership or presence of a powerful undead can be felt do these creatures have a change of heart. They mill about towards corrupted entities and happily spread their sickening spores on the wind or befoul pools of fresh water near villages to kill off the fish that local farmers cultivate near their villages. Most villagers use ashigaru armed with crossbows or bows to kill them from a distance, especially with burning arrows which seems to clear out their poisonous spores. Shikki-gaki have strange warped features, they sometimes lose their eyes altogether and the wood fungus growing on their heads develops into a central cyclopean eye that is all black. Sometimes a very large wood fungus or mushroom can grow right on top of their heads and the peasantry laugh that they are simply rice-farmers from the deeps. Chopping off the head of a shikki-gaki with a mushroom hat and parading it around a village is seen as an act of comedy and good luck. The mushrooms are doused with strong alcohol or saltwater to wash away the poisonous spores.

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