Hooden Horse

The head of this gaunt, white-shrouded humanoid resembles a horse’s skull.

Hooden Horse CR 5

XP 1,600
LN Large construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +11

AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, +6 natural, –1 size)
hp 57 (5d10+30)
Fort +1; Ref +3; Will +3
Immune construct traits

Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 claws +8 (1d8+4)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks captivating song, caroling
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th; concentration +18)

Constantprying eyes (greater)
At willbestow curse (DC 17)

Str 18, Dex 15, Con —, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 17
Base Atk +5; CMB +8; CMD 17
Feats Alertness, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Perception +11, Sense Motive +7; Racial Modifiers +4 Sense Motive
Languages Common

Environment any land
Organization solitary
Treasure standard

Captivating Song (Su) The song of a hooden horse captivates those who hear it. When a hooden horse sings, all creatures within a 300-foot spread must succeed on a DC 16 Will saving throw or become captivated. A creature that successfully saves is not subject to the same hooden horse’s song for 24 hours. A victim under the effects of the captivating song moves toward the harpy using the most direct means available. If the path leads them into a dangerous area such as through fire or off a cliff, that creature receives a second saving throw to end the effect before moving into peril. Captivated creatures can take no actions other than to defend themselves. A victim within 5 feet of the hooden horse simply stands and offers no resistance to the hooden horse’s attacks. This effect continues for as long as the hooden horse sings and for 1 round thereafter. This is a sonic mind-affecting charm effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Caroling (Su) A hooden horse is adept at luring creatures out of houses. The 300-foot spread created by a hooden horse’s captivating song passes through all doors within 30 feet of the hooden horse as if those doors weren’t there.

Constructed over generations from the bones of revered villagers and their livestock, hooden horses are constructs that police the communities which created them. When necessary, hooden horses combat outside threats to their host communities, but their primary focus is on the communities themselves. Each hooden horse vigilantly watches the citizens of its host community, calling out and cursing those who break any law or defy any cultural norm.

Once installed in a community, an hooden horse cannot be reasoned with or called off. Its understanding of community laws and societal norms is fixed at the time of its creation and never changes over time, regardless of the will of its host community. The hooden horse always views interference with its own activities as a violation of community law, and defends its role in the community with violence if necessary.

Though communities patrolled by hooden horses often come to resent their protectors, many celebrate the guardians constructed by their forebears. Such communities hold annual festivals in which their hooden horses parade about town, caroling at the houses of upstanding citizens not to chastize but to entertain.

A hooden horse stands 8 feet tall, but its skeletal frame can weigh as little as 200 pounds.

Section 15: Copyright Notice – Epic Meepo Presents

Epic Meepo Presents: Monsters. © 2011-2012, Eric Morton.
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