Unleash the terrors of the crypt with the Vertebral Cannon, a gargantuan siege engine crafted from the remains of fallen giants. Featuring a barrel forged from a massive spinal column and a chassis of reinforced rib-bone, this menacing construct is the perfect centerpiece for any undead army or high-stakes fantasy battle.
A horrifying necromantic artillery piece is positioned on the field of battle, prepared to launch bone shards or necrotic energy.
A centerpiece boss encounter or a primary objective during a siege. Players must likely disable it or prevent it from firing while dealing with its defenders.
Artist: Artisan Guild
Type: PROP, MONSTER
Pose: The cannon barrel is curved upward in an arch, supported by thick chains attached to the center of the chassis. The machine sits level on four spiked wheels.
Action: Standing/Idle
Mood: menacing
Action Category: Standing/Idle
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Suitable Locations: The walls of a necromancer's citadel, A blighted battlefield in the Shadowfell, The entrance to an abyssal cathedral, An undead siege line outside a holy city, A subterranean workshop for dark engineers
Encounter Scenarios: A long-range obstacle the party must destroy or bypass, A heavy artillery unit in a mass combat scenario, A stationary magical trap guarding a lich's treasury
Power Level: Mythic (score 85/10)
Compatible Game Systems: Dungeons & Dragons (perfect): Excellent as a homebrew siege engine or animated construct.; Pathfinder (perfect): ; Warhammer Fantasy / Age of Sigmar (perfect): Highly compatible with Ossiarch Bonereapers or generic 'Death' factions.; Mork Borg (good): The grim, skeletal theme fits the game's aesthetic perfectly.; Frostgrave (usable): Could serve as a scenographic objective in a necromantic scenario.
Race: Not applicable, Sex: Not applicable, Build: Not applicable, Size: Not applicable, Age: Not applicable, Style: Not applicable
Creature: Vertebral Cannon (Construct), Size: Gargantuan
Body: A mechanical artillery piece on four wheels; the barrel is made of giant vertebrae; the chassis is formed from massive leg and pelvic bones; held together by metal chains and rivets.
Also known as: Bone Siege Engine, Necromantic Construct, Skeletal Ballista
Related creatures: Bone Golem, Skeleton Warrior, Hellfire Engine, Warforged Titan
Distinctive Features: Spinal column barrel, Pelvis-shaped breech, Spiked bone-wheels
Monster Weapons & Attacks: The vertebral barrel likely fires necrotic energy or bone projectiles.
Defensive Features: Dense bone construction, Heavy iron chains, Spiked wheels to prevent boarding
Mount: Not applicable, Size: Not applicable
Aesthetic: Cool / Badass, Creepy / Unsettling, Horrifying / Grotesque, Sinister / Evil, Grimdark, Intimidating / Imposing
Cultural Aesthetic: Generic Western Fantasy, Grimdark
Hairstyle: None (non-humanoid)
Similar to characters: Skull Cannon of Khorne, Mortek Crawler from Age of Sigmar, Warcraft Meat Wagon, Dark Souls Bone Towers, Lich King Siege Engine
Miniature Dimensions: 80.2mm H x 68.6mm W x 115.7mm D (base: 150.0mm)
Keywords: bone cannon, skeletal siege engine, necromancer artillery, undead war machine, spine cannon, skull artillery, grimdark siege weapon, ossuary construct, death rattle cannon, huge bone wheels, gothic horror mini, lich army weapon, graveyard artillery, bone golem cannon, vertebral artillery, dark fantasy prop, massive skeleton weapon, monster hunter siege, hellish war engine, demonic bone launcher
