Gashadokuro 餓者髑髏

Huge undead (yokai), chaotic evil

Armor Class 18 (natural armor)

Hit Points 230 (20d12 + 100)

Speed 40 ft.

STR 25 (+7) · DEX 10 (+0) · CON 20 (+5) · INT 6 (−2) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 16 (+3)

Saving Throws Str +12, Con +10, Wis +7

Skills Athletics +12, Perception +7, Intimidation +8

Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Damage Immunities poison

Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17

Languages understands Yokai Speech, Common (or local dialect) and the anguished whispers of the dead but cannot speak

Challenge 13

Traits

Undead Titan. Gashadokuro stands between 15 and 25 feet tall, formed from countless human bones. It cannot be grappled, pushed, or knocked prone by creatures smaller than Huge, unless magic or specialized features say otherwise. If an effect forcibly moves it and does not specify size limits, Gashadokuro has advantage on the saving throw to resist.

Mass Grave Essence. Whenever Gashadokuro reduces a living Medium or smaller creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, it can use its reaction to absorb that creature’s bones, replenishing 20 hit points. The target’s remains become a mangled husk, impossible to resurrect by normal means (requiring a true resurrection (PHB, p. 284) or similarly powerful magic).

Skeletal Disassembly (1/Short Rest). Gashadokuro can detach a portion of its fused bones to create a Skeletal Proxy in an unoccupied space within 10 feet. Treat this proxy as a Bone Naga (MM, p. 233) under Gashadokuro’s control; it rolls its own initiative and acts independently. The proxy remains until destroyed or until Gashadokuro reabsorbs it (no action required if adjacent). Gashadokuro’s hit points are reduced by 30 when the proxy forms and restored by 30 if it reabsorbs it; Gashadokuro can’t go above its current maximum this way.

Actions

Multiattack. Gashadokuro makes three attacks: two with Skeletal Claw and one Crushing Stomp. It can replace Crushing Stomp with Bone Storm if available.

Skeletal Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

Hit: 18 (3d6 + 7) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone as Gashadokuro slams it into the ground with dreadful force.

Crushing Stomp. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one prone target.

Hit: 20 (3d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic damage. If this damage reduces a creature to 0 hit points, apply Mass Grave Essence immediately.

Bone Storm (Recharge 5-6). Gashadokuro swings its massive arms and ribs in a violent flurry. Each creature in a 20-foot cone must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 28 (8d6) slashing damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic damage and is pushed 10 feet away. On a success, the creature takes half damage and isn’t pushed.

Reactions

Staggering Wail. When Gashadokuro first drops below half its hit points (once per encounter), it unleashes a deafening cacophony of anguished moans from the countless souls within it. Each hostile creature within 30 feet that can hear must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of Gashadokuro’s next turn. A creature that succeeds on this save is immune to Staggering Wail for 24 hours.

Legendary Actions

To further challenge your party, grant Gashadokuro 1 Legendary Action at the end of another creature’s turn:

Lurch (Costs 1 Action). Gashadokuro moves up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks. It can make a single Skeletal Claw attack against one creature it moves adjacent to.

Behavior & Lore

Gashadokuro rarely hides, trudging through battlefields or cursed lands at night. Its presence alone is enough to unnerve entire groups.

Often found in places where many people died unburied. The negativity and hatred of the dead fuels its existence.

This amalgamation of vengeful bones has no interest in peace or reason. It only seeks to devour more bones.

Lore

Enormous monster formed from countless starved corpses, towering over towns at night.

Gashadokuro is an enormous, skeletal being, reminiscent of a giant’s remains, formed from the bones and lingering hatred of those who perished in battle, died along lonely roadsides, or otherwise passed away without receiving proper funeral rites. It rises at night to instill fear among the living, often heralded by the sinister crackle of bones. Travelers say it crushes unfortunate victims or even devours them. As it lumbers forward, its teeth clack and its ribs rattle with a ghastly “gachi-gachi” sound—hence the yokai’s name. Yet it does not always announce its presence; at times, Gashadokuro will lurk in silence, creeping up unnoticed on its prey.

An ancient legend recounts a bloody uprising against a ruler more than a thousand years ago, led by the samurai Taira no Masakado. When his rebellion was crushed, Masakado himself was beheaded. His daughter, the sorceress Takiyasha-hime, refused to relinquish her father’s cause; using dark magic, she reanimated his severed head, which still contained the rebellious spirit of the fallen warrior. At first, that living skull was said to float above the city of Kyoto, but as the sorcery intensified, it gathered bones from the bodies of slain soldiers and transformed into a towering skeletal figure bent on attacking the imperial capital. Thus, the first Gashadokuro was born.

From Yokai Bestiary 5E, p. 92 · Fern Flower Press