Crawling Claw

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Crawling Claw Introduction

In the dim, flickering light of your torch, a shadow skitters across the cold stone floor, drawing your gaze to a sight both macabre and mesmerizing. Before you, a Crawling Claw emerges from the darkness, its grotesque form a chilling testament to the dark arts that birthed it. This disembodied hand, severed at the wrist, moves with an unsettling grace, its fingers flexing and curling as if guided by an unseen puppeteer. The skin is pallid and mottled, a ghastly reminder of the life it once belonged to, now animated by necromantic forces beyond mortal comprehension.

The Crawling Claw is a creature of sinister purpose, often found lurking in the shadowy corners of forgotten crypts, abandoned dungeons, or the lairs of those who dabble in forbidden magics. It is said that these malevolent appendages are created by dark wizards or necromancers, who imbue them with a fragment of a soul, binding them to their will. Yet, some whisper that the claws possess a will of their own, driven by the lingering malice of the soul fragment trapped within.

Legends speak of Crawling Claws as harbingers of doom, sent forth to enact the vengeful desires of their creators. They are relentless in their pursuit, scuttling silently across floors and up walls, their presence often heralded by an eerie scratching sound that echoes through the corridors. Despite their small size, they are formidable foes, capable of strangling the unwary or delivering a deadly touch imbued with necrotic energy.

In the annals of lore, tales abound of Crawling Claws serving as spies or assassins, slipping through the narrowest of cracks to reach their targets. Some say that those who fall victim to a Crawling Claw's attack are cursed, their own hands destined to rise as claws upon their death, perpetuating the cycle of undeath. As you stand in the oppressive silence of this ancient place, you can't help but wonder if the Crawling Claw before you is merely the first of many, its brethren lying in wait just beyond the edge of your light.

Crawling Claw Skills & Traits

Skills

• Stealth +4

Senses

• Blindsight 30 ft. (blind beyond this radius)
• Passive Perception 9

Languages

• Understands Common but can't speak

Abilities

• Turn Immunity: The crawling claw is immune to effects that turn undead.

Actions

• Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 (1d4 - 1) bludgeoning or slashing damage (claw's choice).

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Battle Tips for Crawling Claw

The Crawling Claw is a small, undead creature that can be a surprising and unsettling foe in any encounter. While individually weak, their strength lies in numbers and their ability to catch adventurers off guard. Here are some tips for using Crawling Claws effectively in battle:

Using Crawling Claws in Battle

• Ambush Tactics: Crawling Claws are excellent for setting up ambushes. Hide them in dark corners, under furniture, or in piles of debris. When the party enters the area, have the Claws spring to life, creating a chaotic and disorienting surprise attack.
• Swarm Strategy: Individually, Crawling Claws are not very powerful, but in large numbers, they can overwhelm a party. Use them to swarm a single target, grappling and restraining them to make it easier for other enemies to attack.
• Distraction and Diversion: Use Crawling Claws to distract the party while more significant threats prepare their attacks. The Claws can draw attention away from a more dangerous foe or a trap that the party might otherwise notice.

Coordinating Multiple Crawling Claws

• Coordinated Attacks: Have multiple Crawling Claws target the same character to maximize their effectiveness. By working together, they can increase the chances of successfully grappling and restraining a target.
• Divide and Conquer: Use Crawling Claws to split the party. Have them attack from multiple directions, forcing the adventurers to divide their attention and resources.
• Retreat and Regroup: If the battle turns against them, Crawling Claws can retreat into small spaces where larger creatures cannot follow. Use this tactic to regroup and plan another ambush or to lead the party into a trap.

Fleeing and Tactical Retreat

• Utilize Terrain: Crawling Claws can easily navigate through tight spaces and difficult terrain. Use this to your advantage by having them retreat into areas that are hard for the party to access.
• Feign Weakness: Have some Crawling Claws feign destruction or retreat to lure the party into a false sense of security, only to attack again when the adventurers are vulnerable.
• Regroup with Reinforcements: If the Crawling Claws are part of a larger undead force, have them retreat to join up with more powerful undead creatures, creating a more formidable challenge for the party.

By using these tactics, a dungeon master can turn the seemingly insignificant Crawling Claw into a memorable and challenging encounter for any adventuring party.