A brutal and vicious-looking ghoul that carries a cruel glaive, its forearms up to its elbows are stained with dark, dried blood. Its glowing, rust-colored eyes penetrate with a calculating stare of restrained hunger.
Backbone of the Legions. Iron ghouls and ghasts are the elite members of the imperial legions, acting as non‑commissioned officers, officers, and standard-bearers. They feed from the slave pits and march on the orders of the darakhul nobility.
Fond of Uniforms. Iron ghouls are proud of their status and uniforms. Their standard breastplates and open-faced helms are black iron with brass trim, and the helm’s crest is often a ruby‑dyed fan of bat wings or carrion beetle bristles to indicate their authority.
Tooth and Bone Weaponry. Many items of an iron ghoul’s gear are decorated with inlaid bone or set with teeth, rather much as pearls might be used for weapons crafted elsewhere.
Iron Ghoul
Medium undead, lawful evilArmor Class 16 (breastplate)
Hit Points 143 (22d8 + 44)
Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) | 14 (+2) | 14 (+2) | 14 (+2) |
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common, Darakhul, Undercommon
Challenge 5 (2,900 XP)
Turning Defiance. The iron ghoul and any ghouls within 30 feet of it have advantage on saving throws against effects that turn undead.
Actions
Multiattack. The iron ghoul makes one bite attack and one claw attack, or three glaive attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (3d8 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a creature other than an elf or undead, it must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target repeats the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If the target is humanoid, it must succeed on a separate DC 13 Constitution saving throw or contract darakhul fever.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (4d6 + 4) slashing damage. If the target is a creature other than an elf or undead, it must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target repeats the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If the target is humanoid, it must succeed on a separate DC 13 Constitution saving throw or contract darakhul fever.
Glaive. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage.
Heavy Bone Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage.