Night rider

Night riders were a type of undead warrior. More powerful and dangerous than a zombie or skeleton, they were used as guardians or servants by more powerful undead or by the god Myrkul, Lord of Bones, most prominently during the Time of Troubles in the Year of Shadows, 1358 DR.

Description
Night riders appeared as decaying corpses, invariably seeming to be zombies, sometimes partially skeletal or even complete skeletons.

Personality
Although possessed of low intellect, a night rider was not mindless like a zombie or skeleton, making it much more dangerous than either, and profoundly evil besides. It retained a little of the intelligence and skills it had in life, so night riders appeared to be drawn to places they'd once lived or often visited. The only time they made a sound was to chuckle or cheer as they struck a victim.

Combat
For all that they resembled zombies and skeletons, night riders were much more powerful. They were faster than zombies, but still a little slower and clumsier than they would've been in life, usually being sluggish to react in battle or to dodge a ranged assault. They were capable of subtle military tactics, not only charging head on but keeping forces in reserve and hanging back, and attacking and retreating to harry their opponents.

Abilities
Their very touch was unnaturally cold, harming all living things they touched and sapping their strength for an hour. For the same reason, they couldn't use anything that required the touch of a living creature.

Due to their great inherent evil, they could emanate a protection from good, 10' radius spell whenever they willed. They could also conjured darkness, 15' radius as they pleased.

They were immune to charm, sleep, hold, and cold spells. They were vulnerable to healing magic, which reduced their unlife energy and do as much damage as would've been healed on a living creature. They were also harmed by holy water.

They moved completely silently. They didn't feel pain.

Society
Night riders were rare, being animated from corpses by a few liches and wicked clerics, but most notably by the god Myrkul himself. They were usually found serving him or greater undead. Created for a purpose, they were typically employed as servants or guardians and went where they were ordered.

They had no organization of their own, but were found alone or in groups of three to two-dozen night riders. They were often found among other undead, especially the zombies and skeletons they were indistinguishable from. Many night riders were companions of the skeletal horses known as gaunts or deadmounts, hence their name.

They didn't need to eat.

Possessions
They could use any kind of weapon, but most who served Myrkul wielded scythes of wounding +1. Many wore and carried whatever they'd had before being raised. For example, a group raised from the bodies of a Purple Dragons patrol still wore chain mail and surcoats with the Cormyrean insignia, armed with light horse lances, long swords, maces, and daggers, but did not use their shields.

Notable Night Riders
During the Time of Troubles in 1358 DR, in Cormyr on Eleasias 28, the avatar of Myrkul raised thirteen bodies of a patrol of Purple Dragons, together with their horses, as night riders mounted on gaunts. They were led by their former sergeant, Ogden the Hardrider. Myrkul sent them into Hermit's Wood to kidnap Midnight and seize one of the Tablets of Faith as her party camped, and kill the rest. The adventurers managed to defeat the night riders.

Appearances

 * Adventures:
 * Waterdeep
 * Comics:
 * "Total Eclipse"