The Husked

The Watching Dead

They just… stand there. Staring. Like they're waiting for something.

There is a sickness that spreads through the minds of those who travel Faulmoor’s abandoned roads. It is not a fever, nor a plague of the flesh, but rather something more insidious—a feeling. That creeping, undeniable certainty that you are being watched.

In most cases, the feeling is dismissed as paranoia, a trick of the mind brought on by exhaustion and the ever-present mist. But in some cases, it is not just paranoia. It is them.

The Husked are perhaps the most unsettling of the Blighted, not because they strike quickly, nor because they hunger as others do, but because they do nothing at all. They stand, still as statues, in the midst of forgotten places—at crossroads, near the ruins of villages, or within abandoned waystations, their bodies mummified by time and rot, their sunken eyes black and glistening like oil.

They do not move. They do not breathe. They simply wait.

The Husked are a puzzle wrapped in silence and stillness. They do not attack at first—they simply watch. If you see one standing motionless in the distance, do not turn your back for too long, and do not let them out of your sight. They react poorly to fire, though unlike other Blighted, it does not destroy them—it simply forces them into action. If you must fight them, force them to move first. They rely on fear to control the battlefield, and a strong, direct approach may make them falter. However, they are best avoided entirely—many travelers have found themselves surrounded after ignoring the feeling of being watched for too long.

Survivors say that once a Husked has turned its gaze upon you, it will not look away. It does not matter if you turn your back, if you close your eyes—it will still be there. But do not make the mistake of thinking it is harmless. For the moment you ignore it for too long, or let it out of your sight, you will find it closer.

Many believe the Husked serve some unseen purpose, that they herd travelers into places they should not go, or that they are merely biding their time—waiting for the day the Blight fully takes what remains of Faulmoor.

If you find yourself being watched by one, there is only one thing to do. Walk away. Slowly. And never look back.

Stat Block

Medium Undead, unaligned

Damage Immunities: Poison
Condition Immunities: Poisoned, Exhaustion
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 8
Challenge: 1/2 (100 XP)

Traits

• Aura of Dread:
  Creatures that start their turn within 20 feet of The Husked and can see it clearly must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on their next attack roll before the start of their next turn due to overwhelming dread and distraction. This effect does not stack.

Actions

• Slam:
  Melee Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
  Damage: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage.