Skeleton Archer

A skeleton archer is an animated bowman who continues defending an assigned place even after death. It may stand on the walls of a ruined fortress, in a tomb gallery or behind an arrow slit long forgotten by the living garrison. Its bow, insignia or remaining equipment may reveal whom the original soldier served. Magic may preserve an old order or place it under a new master's control.

It does not act according to a living archer's ordinary needs. It may wait motionless until someone enters a defined area, then respond in the same way each time. Within a group, its fire can be combined with skeletons guarding the approach. A necromancer, curse or magical ward may control it. The degree of its own will depends on its specific origin; the stat profile alone does not mean it carries the original person's memories.

Like an ordinary skeleton, it reduces damage from a dagger or arrow by one. At range, it benefits from its position and an unobstructed view, so cover and another route can significantly change an encounter. It does not automatically have the same special abilities as a living archer. The party can investigate what triggers its fire, whose insignia it wears and whether a legitimate way to enter exists. Discovering the guard's origins can explain why it defends something that now seems entirely worthless.