Duncan McGregor, Undead Gallowglass

Sir Duncan McGregor

Undead champion; lawful

Armor Class: 17
Hit Dice: 7+2*** (34 hp)
Attacks: 1 greatsword (1d10+2 + 1d6 unholy) or 1 crossbow (1d6)
BtH: +8
Movement: 90’ (30’)
Saving Throws: D8 W9 P10 B10 S12 (8)
Morale: 12
Alignment: Lawful
XP: 1,650
Number Appearing: 1
Treasure Type: Special

Infravision: 120’.

Languages: Common; understands Elvish and Infernal.

Undead: Immune to effects that affect living creatures (e.g. poison) and to mind-affecting or mind-reading magic (e.g. charm, hold, sleep).

Unnatural Resilience: Sir Duncan suffers only half damage from mundane weapons. Magical weapons, holy water, and attacks specifically effective against undead inflict normal damage.

Greatsword Specialist: Sir Duncan gains +1 to attack and damage rolls with his greatsword, already reflected above. His greatsword inflicts 1d10+2 damage plus 1d6 unholy damage.

Crossbow: Damage 1d8. Range 5’–80’ / 81’–160’ / 161’–240’. Reload, Slow, Two-handed.

Parry: Once per round, when hit by a melee attack he can perceive, Sir Duncan may improve his AC by 2 against that attack. He must be wielding his greatsword and capable of defending himself.

Defender’s Presence: Allies immediately adjacent to Sir Duncan gain a +1 bonus to AC while he remains capable of fighting.

Protector’s Duty: Once per round, when an adjacent ally is hit by an attack, Sir Duncan may interpose himself and suffer the attack’s damage in the ally’s place. He cannot use Parry against an attack intercepted in this manner.

Sworn Bodyguard: Sir Duncan designates one creature—typically Prince Brannart—as his sworn ward. Once per combat, if his ward is within 30’ and would be reduced to 0 hp by an attack or damaging effect, Duncan may immediately move up to half his movement toward the ward. If he can reach the ward, Duncan suffers the damage instead.

Undead Fortitude: The first time in an encounter Sir Duncan is reduced to 0 hp, he may save versus Death. On a success, he remains standing with 1 hp. This ability does not function if the killing blow was caused by holy water, clerical magic, or a blessed weapon specifically potent against undead.

Notes 

• Sir Duncan, Undead Gallowglass, is from an alternate Glantri where Duncan's uncle and laird, Prince Brannart, has slain and raised his nephew to be a skeleton champion and bodyguard. Duncan retains a portion of his free will, despite certain familial and necromatic obligations that bind him to his Uncle, a Lich.
• Similar to his uncle, Duncan wears the cap and tartan colors of the McGregor Clan. Because he has now become a skeleton similar to Prince Brannart, some wonder if this is a clever ploy to confuse possible assassins. As skeletons, the two look very much alike. The differences come into play when one uses spells and the other draws a claymore.
•  Specialty is as a Gallowglass with special abilities that provide protection to target ally, typically to his hated liege, Prince Brannart.