Cursed Dead Dwarf

Long ago, the demihumans of the ancient fallen city fled the purging wars and the anger of their sorcerer tyrant, the undead dragon king, by hiding in the highest cavern beneath the city. He found them and sent his soldiers below. The last to stand were the dwarves defending a lion-crested hall in the cavern later called the moaning ruins. The dragon king fought them himself and watched as every one was hanged from the trees before the hall. When his troops burned the settlement, he cursed the dwarves for their defiance, and so the cursed dead were born.

They look much as they did in life, dressed in faded yellow robes marked with a lion on the chest. Their heads loll on broken necks, and nooses of giant's hair still circle their throats. Many still hang from rotting ropes and moan softly whenever anyone enters the cavern, which gave the ruins their name. Sometimes a rope snaps and the freed dwarf wanders; these wanderers turn up among the ruins of the northern overlook. They remember the ancient city's language and the dwarven tongue of that age, but most can only moan.

Each cursed dead is tormented by the half-remembered failure to save its city, and every living creature reminds it of the army that destroyed its home, a wrong it will do anything to avenge.

It batters with club-like arms for 1d8 per hit, and even those still hanging can attack this way at -2 to hit. Its signature attack is grisly: moaning, it flings its limbs wide and its sinews burst out as writhing, binding cords. It can make four sinew attacks per round against a single target within 20 feet, each dealing 1d4, and two or more hits mean the target is caught. The attack can be used once every five rounds while the body pulls itself back together, though it can still pummel in the meantime.

A bound victim cannot cast spells or turn undead and fights and defends at -4. The cursed dead spends a round reeling him in, then pummels him until he is dead. Breaking free takes a Strength check at -2 for two cords, -3 for three, -4 for four. A cord can also be cut by dealing it 8 points of damage, though blunt and piercing weapons do only 1 point per hit to cords while harming the creature normally. Severed cords regrow in 24 hours unless the cursed dead is destroyed.

Evil clerics cannot command them, but a turning result that would grant control instead means they will leave that priest, and anyone standing within 10 feet, unharmed.

Cursed dead never leave the moaning ruins. Most dangle along a boulevard of blackened, lifeless trees; some have broken loose and roam the city, trailing anyone who disturbs them until they can use their sinews. When a living creature comes within 50 feet of one, every hanging dwarf begins to moan and waits for a chance to seize the intruders. Any that are cut down attack at once with their sinews.

Hearing the moans forces a save vs. death magic. Failure brings -2 to every attack roll and proficiency check made in the cavern and will demand to leave after 1d4 hours.

Undeath has turned these dwarves evil. Driven to defend their home and redeem their old failure, the best they can manage is to slaughter trespassers and seek a little comfort in each death.