Gashadokuro, Titan 餓者髑髏

Huge undead (yokai), chaotic evil

Armor Class 19 (natural armor)

Hit Points 350 (28d12 + 168)

Speed 40 ft.

STR 27 (+8) · DEX 10 (+0) · CON 22 (+6) · INT 8 (−1) · WIS 16 (+3) · CHA 16 (+3)

Saving Throws Str +14, Con +12, Wis +9

Skills Athletics +14, Perception +9, Intimidation +9

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

Damage Immunities poison

Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 19

Languages understands Yokai Speech, Common (cannot speak)

Challenge 15

Traits

Undead Titan (Greater). Gashadokuro stands 20+ feet tall, made of countless human bones. It can’t be grappled, pushed, or knocked prone by creatures smaller than Huge (unless a feature specifically bypasses size restrictions). If forced movement doesn’t specify size, Gashadokuro has advantage on the saving throw.

Mass Grave Essence (Enhanced). Whenever Gashadokuro reduces a Medium or smaller creature to 0 HP with a melee attack, it can use its reaction to absorb that creature’s bones, regaining 30 HP. The target’s remains become a mangled husk (requiring true resurrection (PHB, p.284) or similarly powerful magic to restore).

Skeletal Disassembly (2/Short Rest). Gashadokuro can detach part of its bone mass to create a Skeletal Proxy in an unoccupied space within 10 ft., treated as a Bone Naga (MM p. 233) under its control. The proxy appears at full HP, rolls its own initiative, and obeys Gashadokuro telepathically. Gashadokuro’s HP is reduced by 40 upon creation and restored by 40 if it reabsorbs the proxy (it can’t exceed current max HP). The proxy lasts until destroyed or reabsorbed.

Nightmarish Moan (1/Short Rest). If Gashadokuro is reduced below half HP for the first time in an encounter, it emits an echoing wail of tormented souls. Each hostile creature within 30 feet that can hear must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom save or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature repeats the save at the end of each turn, ending the effect on success. Once it ends or is saved against, that creature is immune for 24 hours.

Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If Gashadokuro fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Actions

Multiattack. Gashadokuro makes four attacks in any combination of Skeletal Claw and Crushing Stomp, or three attacks and uses Bone Storm if available.

Skeletal Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

Hit: 23 (3d8 + 8) slashing damage + 10 (3d6) necrotic damage. If the target is Medium or smaller, it must succeed on a DC 18 Strength save or be knocked prone.

Crushing Stomp. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 5 ft., one prone target.

Hit: 26 (4d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage + 14 (4d6) necrotic damage. If this reduces a creature to 0 HP, apply Mass Grave Essence.

Bone Storm (Recharge 5-6). Gashadokuro thrashes violently, flinging broken bones in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in the area must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 45 (10d8) slashing damage plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on success. A creature failing by 5 or more is also pushed 15 ft. away and knocked prone.

Bonus Actions

Skull Slam. Gashadokuro quickly hurls a large skull or bone chunk at a creature within 20 ft. Ranged Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, one target.

Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage + 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.

Reactions

Grave Lash (Greater). When a creature within 10 feet misses Gashadokuro with a melee attack, Gashadokuro makes one Skeletal Claw attack against that creature with advantage. On a hit, add an extra 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.

Legendary Actions

Grant Gashadokuro 1 Legendary Action at the end of another creature’s turn:

Gashadokuro moves up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks and may make one Skeletal Claw attack.

Lore

This is a mightier form of Gashadokuro, bigger and more cunning in battle. It can demolish small armies or terrorize entire regions.

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. 94 · Fern Flower Press