DISPLACER ELDER
This monstrous predator is the elder version of a displacer beast, a beast that takes its name from its ability to displace light so that it appears to be several feet away from its actual location. A displacer elder resembles a sleek, great cat covered in gray-black fur. However, its otherworldly origins are clear in its six legs and the two tentacles sprouting from its shoulders, both ending in pads tipped with spiky protrusions. A displacer elder's eyes glow with an awful malevolence that persists even in death.
Unseelie Origins. Displacer beasts roamed the twilight lands of the Feywild for ages, until they were captured and trained by the Unseelie Court. The warriors of the court selectively bred the beasts to reinforce their ferocious and predatory nature, using them to hunt unicorns, pegasi, and other wondrous prey. However, it didn't take long for the displacer beasts to use their malevolent intelligence to escape their masters.
Running and breeding freely in the Feywild, the displacer beasts soon came to the attention of the Seelie Court. With blink dog companions at their side, fey hunters drove these predators to the fringes of the Feywild, where many crossed over to the Material Plane. To this day, displacer beasts and blink dogs attack each other on sight.
Love of the Kill. Displacer beasts kill not just for food but also for sport. They target prey even when not hungry, often toying with their victims to entertain themselves until they are ready to eat. After killing its prey using its tentacles, a displacer beast drags the corpse to a quiet place where it can feed without distraction.
Displacer beasts hunt alone or in small prides that demonstrate skill at setting ambushes. A single beast will strike and withdraw, luring prey into a densely wooded area where its packmates wait. Packs of displacer beasts hunting near trade roads recall the frequency and schedule of regular caravans, laying down ambushes to pick off those caravans.
Prized Guards and Pets. Intelligent evil creatures favor displacer beasts as pets, but a displacer beast enters such an alliance only if it appears beneficial. A displacer beast might guard a vault or act as a bodyguard for a prominent individual.
Steel Mind. Being older and wiser, displacer elders have resistance to charm effects against it.
Keen Displacement. Elders have a distinct familiarity to their natural ability to deceive prey of their location. Their heightened ability grants them better displacement.
Displacer Elder
Large monstrosity, lawful evil
- Armor Class 16 (natural)
- Hit Points 170 (20d10 + 60)
- Speed 45 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 20 (+5) 20 (+5) 16 (+3) 10 (+2) 12 (+1) 8 (+4)
- Skills Perception +5, Stealth +9
- Saves Strength +9
- Condition Resistances Charmed
- Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 11
- Languages understands one language
- Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Avoidance. If the displacer elder is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.
Keen Displacement. The displacer elder projects a magical illusion that makes it appear to be standing near its actual location, causing attack rolls against it to have disadvantage. If it is hit by an attack, this trait is disrupted until an attack against it misses or the end of its next turn, whichever is sooner. This trait is also disrupted while the displacer beast is incapacitated or has a speed of 0.
Steel Mind. The displacer elder is resistant to charm effects.
Hind Legs. The displacer elder can use half its movement to rest on its hind legs in order to attack with its two front paws and bite.
Pounce. If not on hind legs, the elder can use half its movement to leap 20ft. toward a target. Makes attack roll against target. If hit and target is Medium size or smaller, it must succeed a DC 20 Strength check or knocked prone. Elder can use its attack action to bite once with advantage.
Actions
Multiattack. The displacer elder makes two attacks with its tentacles. If on hind legs, instead makes three attacks: two claws and one bite.
Pounce. Melee Attack: + 6 to hit. Target must succeed a DC 20 Strength save or be knocked prone.
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) piercing damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 19 (3d6 + 6) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.