Neural Network Monsters Compendium

Table of Contents (continued)

Achs

Also sometimes called "corpse reeds" or "river stalks," achs are a somewhat rare medicinal plant found along tributaries and fast flowing streams. All parts of the plant, from the seeds, roots, and leaves, can be used to prepare common home remedies, treating ailments like indigestion or headaches. Because of their scarcity, these fibrous greens can fetch a high price at village markets, often graded based on size, color, and freshness. However, folk tales speak of particularly old and robust achs, capable of curing all manner of diseases. These S-class plants are from which the species get its grisly name, as they are rumored only to grow near fresh corpses of the drowned. Attempts to verify this legend have thus far yielded no conclusions, although the idea of a potent medicine only growing from the bodies of the dead is not a new one. Indeed, from a certain perspective, all plants of good health and stature grow from the decaying bodies of those that came before, although rarely as directly and explicitly as the stories of the river achs.

Ancient Tortles

Relics of an age long since passed, the tortle people describe their ancestors as great and powerful creatures, in tune with the underlying pulse of the natural world. Wielding a kind of primordial magic lost to the ages, these ancient people lived in harmony with the spirits around them, maintaining their steady way of life in balance with the march of the cosmos.

There have, of course, been rumors surrounding the alleged sightings of these ancestral figures, often in remote and dangerous corners of the world, inaccessible but by foolhardy sailors or ships blown far off course. As fantastic as it would be to find these people still alive and thriving in an isolated community somewhere, it seems exceptionally unlikely that any population of their culture could remain undisturbed or undiscovered over the last thousand years. As their modern descendants themselves lead very nomadic and solitary lifestyles, the necessary spread and distribution of creatures twice their size would be immense; far too large a territory to go completely unnoticed by the very active maritime network of our world. Indeed, the only way for even a single colony of these ancient people to remain in hiding would be for them to be actively avoiding detection and discouraging explorers somehow. The very thought of such a thing, obviously, is completely preposterous.

Astro-Fish

While traveling through the Astral Sea, you may catch glimpses of tiny alabaster creatures, perhaps resembling a scrap of fabric caught in the wind. These are commonly called the astro-fish, and they drift along the psychic currents. While mostly harmless, schools of these strange beings are often attracted to those not native to the plane, where they seek to feed on recent memories and background thoughts. A single fish will rarely have a noticeable effect on one's mind, but a large enough number of them can quickly steal hours or even days at a time. It is believed that many of those lost to the Astral Sea have been victims of the astro-fish, finding themselves with no idea of where they are or how they got there, doomed to drift aimlessly for the rest of eternity.

Barbers

Fashion trends may come and go, but the work of a barber is never finished. Usually seen as an indulgence of the middle and upper class, the services of a talented barber can immediately change one's first impressions on people. Whether to improve one's business negotiations or romantic prospects, being well-groomed is essential to success in any level of society. Furthermore, a trip to the barber shop is often very relaxing in its own right, allowing one to take the mind away from matters of stress and hardship, indulging in the company of good people and a friendly atmosphere. Indeed, some very profitable business dealings themselves are borne out of relationships started while one or more parties were seated in the barber's chair. So while it may certainly be possible to survive the world with quick and simple shaves and haircuts, finding a quality professional can elevate one from simply surviving to thriving.

Bat Unicorn

The goblins of the Tonapa caves ride out on giant bats for their raids, pillaging the countryside under the cover of darkness and sowing discord wherever they go. It is reported that their steeds bear a large single horn from their head, although it is unknown whether these were crafted using chimeric magics or if the bats have been affixed with some sort of spiked helm. Regardless, the goblins train their mounts to fly at full speed towards their intended targets, slamming into them with the points of these horns. While they are of course deadly with enough accuracy, this also disorients their victims, potentially knocking them to the ground or out of the air.

Beets

Far from the simple vegetables most are familiar with, the beets of the northern Scrann towns are carnivorous beasts, attacking livestock and pets and any other creatures they can fit within their jaws. However, despite the threats they pose, some farmers have adopted them as fairly effective guardians to their fields. By lining the borders of their crops with a few of these maneaters, any thieving bears, boars, or even goblins are soon deterred from pressing onwards, lest they become a meal instead of stealing one. Even should one of these thieves manage to escape with their lives, the deep stubborn stains left by the maneater's juices often lead to their capture quite literally red-handed. So long as the farmer keeps their vegetative guardians well fed and watered, they will retain a steadfast watch over their property all through the season.

Bullywug Bogbergers

Living deep in the western swamps, some tribes of bullywugs maintain mostly peaceful relationships with their neighbors by domesticating various species of oozes. These slime ranchers use their herd to dispose of waste and secure their territory, calling upon the bogbergers that tend the flock in times of conflict. The shepherds have built some understanding with the creatures they care for, as well as at least a measure of tolerance to their acidic bodies. The slimes are kept well fed on scraps from the rest of the tribe, and thus have incentive to remain in the area while food is plentiful. Though it may be a simple partnership, it relies a great deal on a surprising amount trust from both sides.

Burglestars

While they may not be full angels as most would recognize them, burglestars are emissaries of the gods all the same. They serve deities like Hermes, the Traveler, or other patrons to thievery, and are said to offer aid and shelter to those truly devoted to burglary and subterfuge. These celestial beings would not appear any different from any other mortal, but one might get a hint of their divine heritage from their unnatural grace and speed. It is said they detest violence, preferring instead to encourage rooftop chases or games of manual skill in order to settle disputes. Because of this, apprehending one of these tricksters is even more difficult than finding one in the first place.

Clack Servants

Vampires that live in the subterranean world of the Underdark gain many benefits, not the least of which is the complete lack of sunlight. However, one of the drawbacks to this world of darkness is the scarcity of living bodies, both as a food source and to be employed as labor and servants. Thus, some have turned to necromantic magic in order to make the best use of their limited resources. Clack servants are animated skeletons, often formerly dwarves, dressed in an excess of metal plates and scraps of old armor. Every movement through the dark caverns of the vampire's lair causes these plates to rattle and echo through the halls, earning them their popular moniker. These walking noisemakers serve as surprisingly effective guards and sentries, and a single one can easily alert the entire compound to the detection of intruders. The extra weight of their armor also makes them to make surprisingly powerful charges through enemy lines, despite their small stature. Overall, attempting to infiltrate any stronghold the employs this skeletal security system is exceptionally difficult, and planning around these obstacles will be paramount.

Cloud of Chaos

Repeated magical experimentation often has dangerous and unpredictable by-products, and clouds of chaos are one such result. A swirling mass of raw elemental energy, these animated creatures are barely held together by the magic that created them. They rarely live longer than a week if left alone, but the destruction they can cause during that time can rival even a feral dragon. Thankfully, when they appear they are easy enough to find, and dealing with them is relatively straightforward with the right approach.

The Crystalline

The Crystalline, or "Crystalmen" as they are sometimes called, are an alien race of beings formed entirely of transparent, glass-like stone. It is theorized by anthropologists that they are descended from earth-based genasi, and that their unique composition is a result of living many generations far below the surface. They are quite sensitive to sound, and raising one's voice even a little is considered extremely taboo in their culture. By and large they are an amiable, if quite stoic, people when dealing with outsiders. They are seen rarely out of the Underdark, but now that contact has been made with them, it is probably not long before we see adventurous young crystalline make their way abroad to seek their fortunes.

Desert Beeple

Distant cousins to the Thri-keen people, these desert insect-folk are often called "beeple" by surrounding villages and nomadic tribes. Unlike the tales of humanoid wasps and bees most have read or heard of, these beeple are actually quite solitary, most wandering the sands completely alone for most of their lives. Meetings with others of their kind are said to be amicable, but short. It is theorized that some fashion of courtship must take place between males and females of appropriate age and health, and that some kind of nesting or child-rearing should follow, but these subjects simply have not brought up in the few recorded interviews with these people. Indeed, their culture and values seem quite alien to our ways of thinking, as ours must be to them as well. Still, as a whole they seem fairly trustworthy and at the very least not particularly malicious, although with such a small number of examples to draw from, specific interactions may vary wildly.

Dome Animal

A relic from the Age of Wonders, this strange tortoise-shaped contraption was built using magic and methods long lost to the history of the world. Restored to functionality, it can be used as a sturdy and reliable source of shelter and protection against the elements and other dangers of the world. It was likely designed to be a convenience for those needing to travel great distances with few companions, allowing for peace of mind during those cold nights in a strange land. Discovering the method to once again produce this device at a large scale would be quite the feat for an enterprising artificer, but one that could easily satisfy one's financial obligations for several lifetimes.

Dragons

Cerrous Dragons

Cerrous dragons, sometimes called "light keepers" or "light guardians," are mighty and ancient dragons tasked with protecting nature's beauty and safeguarding its growth under the sun. They are famed for their brilliant iridescent scales, their fierce devotion to justice, and their impressive mastery over druidic magics. Those who worship evil powers should beware the light of these guardians, especially those that seek to upset the natural cycles of life and death.

Cerrous Aeriental Negative Gname Guant

Gargantuan dragon, chaotic evil

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• Armor Class 25 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 297 (22d20 + 66)
• Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
21 (+5)	23 (+6)	16 (+3)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	25 (+7)

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• Saving Throws Dex +14, Con +11, Wis +10, Cha +15
• Skills Perception +10
• Damage Resistances necrotic
• Damage Immunities poison
• Condition Immunities paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, restrained
• Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 20
• Languages Common, Draconic, Druidic, Sylvan
• Challenge 25 (75,000 XP)

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Innate Spellcasting. The dragon's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 23). The dragon can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: cloudkill

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Poison Aura. As long as it is conscious, the dragon continuously emits a toxic gas around it, no matter what form it is in. At the start of each of the dragon's turns, each breathing creature within 30 feet of it takes 11 (2d10) poison damage. All creatures in this area are lightly obscured and have half cover against ranged attacks.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage, plus 11 (2d10) poison damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage, plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

Frightful Presence. Each creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 23 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.

Mist Form. The dragon transforms into toxic mist or reverts to its true form. Its reverts to its true form if it is reduced to 0 hit points.

While in mist form, the dragon is incapacitated and can’t speak. It has a flying speed of 30 feet, can hover, and can pass through any space that isn’t airtight. It has advantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws, is immune to nonmagical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage, and is resistant to all other kinds of damage.

While in mist form, the dragon can enter a creature’s space and stop there. Each time that creature starts its turn with the dragon in its space, the creature must succeed on a DC 23 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the start of its next turn. While poisoned in this way, the target is incapacitated.

Poison Breath (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales poisonous gas in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 23 Constitution saving throw, taking 70 (20d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The area is filled with a dense fog, heavily obscuring the area for 1 minute or until it is dispersed by a wind of moderate or greater speed (at least 10 miles per hour).

Reactions

Misty Dodge. In response to taking damage, if the dragon is in its true form, it can use its reaction to turn into its mist form, using that form's resistances and immunities to the damage.

Legendary Actions

The dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Detect. The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Tail Attack. The dragon makes a tail attack.

Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 10 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 22 Dexterity saving throw or take 15 (2d6 + 8) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.

Mist Form (Costs 3 Actions). The dragon uses its Mist Form ability.

Crone Dragon

Throughout the entirety of recorded history, the act of a dragon infiltrating a hag's coven has only been seen a few times, but to devastating results. Dark magic corrupts the elemental nature of the dragon's body, twisting it into something horrid and unnatural. It is said that dragons who undergo this transformation appear withered and decrepit, earning them the moniker of "crone dragons."

Curple Lard Dragon

Curple dragon, lard dragon, gluttonous dragon; all are the same name for the beast that has gorged itself beyond all semblance of reason. While all dragons possess a ravenous appetite, these specimens have devoured so much as to cost them their ability to even walk effectively, much less take to the skies. Most accounts of these creatures describe them living deep in their caves as most dragons do, but lacking any conventional hoard of treasure. They crave not glittering gold or treasures, but only more food and flesh to eat. One could argue that their hoard is simply the contents of their massive stomachs, which may or may not contain the relics and valuables of meals past.

Dead Dragon

It's the giant corpse of a dead dragon.

Death Seep Dragon

Fully embraced by magic most foul, a death seeper is a dragon that spreads blight and disease everywhere it goes. Though they may lack the fearsome breath of their cousins, instead they have a wicked tail as their main armament. Longer than the rest of its entire body, the tail harbors a deadly enchantment that poisons fields and turns forests into wastelands. It is unknown whether this is in service to some dark god that seeks to corrupt to all the green places of the world, or whether the dragon itself simply takes pleasure in the destruction it brings. In either case, these dragons are the sworn enemies of many elves and other protectors of nature, any of which would relish the chance to remove such a forsaken beast from our world.

Golf Dragons

Though more closely related to wyverns than true dragons, these brutish creatures consider themselves the pinnacle of all scaled kind, which in turn places them above all other beings, in their eyes. Their favored hunting strategy is to lie wait, hidden deep in the overgrowth, then pouncing on their prey with all the grace of a stampeding ox. Though quite heavy-handed, it is effective nonetheless, smashing through most defenses with their club-like tails. Made of dense bone and scales, their tails are their primary weapon, secreting a corrosive acid that leaves terrible scars when it meets flesh. Cruel as they are, it is not unheard of for golf dragons to let a victim run free if they have been marred particularly harshly. It is believed they primarily do this because it allows their reputation to spread, allowing them to bask in the fear their presence instills among the common folk.

Jabberwont

A smaller cousin to the infamous Jabberwock, these dragonkin are known for their silver tongues and desire for stimulating conversation. Those that stumble their way into a jabberwont's lair will be given one chance to entertain their host with their stories or an area of their expertise, or else they will find themselves staying for dinner in the worst way.

Psionic Dragonets

Though much smaller than their more famous cousins, dragonets with psionic abilities are highly sought after as allies among dragonkind. Their innate talent at reading thoughts and sensing motives are invaluable to any diplomatically minded center of power, and they are often asked to serve as ambassadors or advisors to noble courts of all kinds. Furthermore, they also possess the rare ability to travel between the planes of the multiverse, expanding their prospects all the way from the celestial courts to the demon lords of the Abyss.

Purple Fang Dragon

Fang dragons are insidious predators that lurk deep in lakes and river systems, ambushing large beasts from below. They only need to land a single bite to poison their prey, which they then allow to flee for a moment before following at a safe distance. There is no cure for purple fang venom, and those struck with it usually only have days to live. The dragon is rarely in a hurry, and will often simply wait for the victim expire on their own before going in for the kill. They are not especially cunning creatures, but their lithe form grants them a serpentine grace that aids them in hiding their large bodies. Any assassin would pay their weight in gold for a fang dragon venom gland, but none would dare go looking for such a thing on their own, not when more foolish monster hunters are available to hire.

Will-o'-Dragon

When the process of becoming a dracolich fails, one of the many dangerous possibilities is that of the soul becoming untethered from the object intended as the dragon's phylactery. With no body or mind to return to, the soul drifts the world, slowly losing pieces of its memories until it can summon the willpower to once again take shape. These draconic will-o'-wisps might have some semblance of their identity, but many are but shades of their former glory.

Dunebats

Unlike other bats, giant dunebats are not particularly adept fliers, and are more suited to crawling or gliding across desert sands of their home. They are most active during the hours of dawn and dusk, when they rouse themselves from their underground burrows to search for carrion or smaller prey. They are also well known to ambush any unfortunate creature that wanders too close to them while they are buried in the sand, a cooling strategy they employ during the heat of the midday sun.

Durp Snake

The great serpents of the Iksalan jungles are rightly feared for their impressive size and strength, but any guide will tell you that they can be dealt with quite handily with enough experience and training. Their bodies are easily more than thirty to forty feet long, with some specimens measuring at almost fifty. Thankfully, they are not nearly so graceful as their smaller cousins, and attack with the majority of their bulk on every strike. This commitment to the bite makes it simply a matter of constantly moving to avoid being caught by their fangs, although like most things is easiest done in theory rather than practice. Still, if the stories of the outland hunters are to be believed when they bring in large hauls of the snake's meat, it's a much simpler proposition to slay one of these creatures than most others that live beneath the canopy.

Dwarf Giant and Giant Dwarf - The Odd Couple

Face Stealers

Sometimes called elf cobras (not to be confused with elvish cobras, which are a nonmagical species of snake), these bizarre predators possess a unique organ on the tip of their snout that can effectively copy the faces of humanoid creatures. It should be noted that this itself is not their face, which is far larger and easily capable of swallowing a grown man whole. Rather, this seems to be a strange sort of lure, not unlike some kinds of fish or turtle whose tongues resemble worms to their hungry prey. The face stealers hide under dense canopy and underbrush, then use this face to draw lost travelers into striking distance. Thankfully, they don't seem to possess any sort of civilized intelligence, and the lack of speech or proper responses should be a clear indication of their deception to any wary wanderer. Still, the uncanny sight of a fellow traveling companion attached to these giant serpents is enough to distract many people long enough to put them in harm's way. It is therefore advised, of course, to always stay close with one's traveling companions at all times, as the consequences of straying too far will almost certainly put everyone's lives in danger.

The Feast Stone

Legends tell of an isolated village high in the mountains, cut off from trade due to a terrible storm. On the brink of starvation, a pious woman prayed to the gods, asking that they all be saved from their grisly fate. In a vision, she was instructed to hike as far and high as she dared, to find the roundest and smoothest stone she could see, then to pet and coax that stone with kind words and soft songs for no fewer than three days.

The woman bid her friends and family goodbye and did as she was told by her gods, climbing up and up and up, further than anyone else she had ever known, far further than she had ever ventured beyond her home. There she found a dull gray stone no bigger than her fist, but nearly a perfectly round circle and smooth as the stones that only lined the bottoms of streams. She sat beside this stone and sang it every song she knew from her childhood, stroked it as she did the heads of her own children, and spoke to it all the stories of her village and all of their forefathers, back generations and generations, on and on and on until she knew no more of the tales.

When she finally finished, she had seen that three days had indeed passed. She looked down at the stone, and to her great surprise, it rose on four tiny feet and crawled into her lap. She clutched that stone and held it close, then carried it all the way back down the winding mountain pass back to her home in the village. She brought out her largest pot and filled it with as much snow and water it could carry, then set it over her fire and brought it to a roiling boil. With the greatest of care, she laid the dull gray stone into the water and called to her family, to her neighbors, to the entire village. They all eyed the stone in the boiling water with trepidation, but with nothing else to eat, they took their cups and drank of the stone soup.

But instead of tasting of plain boiled water or sand, the water was transformed into the richest of broths, filling and hearty and warm. The word quickly spread, and everyone came to the woman's home to fill their bowls and their bellies. The village was saved on that day, and the roads cleared soon after for trade to begin once again. The people thanked the gods for their salvation, and the tale of the feast from a stone has been passed on ever since.

Fire Brains

There are times when the development of intellect devourers is tainted, either by disease or latent magic in the area, causing the ustilagor larva to become fevered. This fever mutates it in strange ways, although still leaving it very capable of taking the minds of those it defeats. Thought not as efficient or effective as a typical intellect devourer, these fire brains are still highly dangerous, especially in large enough numbers.

Fraithwarp Giants

Fraith giants often live as hermits and sages, acting as shamans to the surrounding hill giant clans when called upon. Their deep connection to the land allows them draw upon its natural magic, using it to move themselves from hill to hill with ease. They are bearers of ancient knowledge and stories, often providing counsel to any that are able to find them and bring them offerings for their gods. While they are not explicitly evil, per se, they possess a particular sense of mischief that can make them difficult to bargain with, much less make alliances with. Still, should you find yourself an audience with one of these recluses, it would be wise to take advantage of the situation however you can.

Frownies

Some believe that frownies are created from the interaction between the natural wilderness and the Shadowfell, spawned where the border between planes is thinnest. Others theorize that they are native to the Feywild, the result of lesser fey creatures being exposed too long to the deep sorrow of the winter eladrin. Whichever the case may be, these twisted beings are suffused with a heavy misery that they only want to spread throughout the world. They seek out people and places full of joy and mirth, then snuff it out with as much of their power as they can muster. They cannot abide by another's happiness while they are doomed to suffer, and being in the presence of it only reinforces their own bitter feelings. They cannot be dissuaded nor reasoned with, and as of yet no bargain struck with one of their kind has been honored by them for long.

The Ghost Sea

Ancient legends speak of a far off sea, deep in the mountains to the north, nine leagues wide and three times as long. No rivers lead in or out, yet the surface stays level all year long. This is no ordinary body of water, but is the entrance to the underworld itself. Those who seek entrance to the land of the dead must earn their passage from a god, or else suffer the consequences. Those who attempt to cross over themselves are drowned by the ghost sea, their souls consumed and lost for all eternity. It is said that the sea itself is made up of those souls who attempted to cross the threshold without an invitation, now doomed to forever linger between the living and the dead, imprisoned mere steps away from their goal.

Golems

Curse Golem

Thought to be the creation of a sadistic artificer, curse golems are fiendish constructs made to resemble small dolls or effigies, often made of scrap cloth, straw, or other commonly available materials. At its core, however, it must be powered by a source of potent dark magic, such as a hag's tongue or a devil's eye. This heart of darkness instills an inherent desire to spread misery and pain throughout the world, finding their way into the hands of children in small towns and villages throughout the rural countryside. Though their creator may be long dead, these golems inflict their curses on anyone and everyone they cross paths with, and will likely continue to do so until every last one of their number has been stamped out from existence.

Hag Golem

For those who mean to hide their lairs under the watch of a powerful hag, but don't want to strike an actual bargain with one, this simulation offers a close approximation of their hideous and terrifying natures. Customized to appear as horrific as necessary, the real power comes from a sacrificial heart fueling its eldritch powers. Its gaze is enough to instill so much fear in the mind of its victims that they are frozen in terror, or even to fall dead on the spot. Failing that, it is also equipped with two powerful claws, another tribute to the awful creatures it is inspired from. Truly, this construct is more than enough to spread rumors of an unthinkable evil lurking in your lands, and none but the most foolhardy of monster hunters will come to seek it out.

Mage Golem

Often crafted by powerful spellcasters, these crystalline constructs are often used as assistants in arcane research, archivists, or even as sentries. Their hardy nature and long lifespans make them ideal in circumstances too hazardous or tedious for most humanoids, though the high cost of their production should make most hesitate before putting them to work in any especially dangerous situations. Still, their adaptability and loyalty make them steadfast companions and assets to nearly any type of magical study.

Rain Golem

Once sculpted by the cloud giants as playthings for their children, rain golems are anything but toys to those unlucky enough to cross them. They bring with them severe weather, and even a focused storm cloud that constantly swirls around them. Without a master, these creations wander the countryside, bringing ruin and disaster to the farming communities they pass through. It is said that each has a heart made of a fine emerald, making them choice targets for treasure seekers and monster hunters. The knowledge of creating these golems, thankfully, has been long lost to the ages, so their numbers will only continue to diminish with each one felled.

Golfs

There are times when a person's competitive spirit is so strong that it persists even after death, sometimes possessing the very tools of their trade. The story of the Kolve hauntings is one such case, where a warrior of great renown was apparently struck dead just before conquering a historic feat of skill. Though the town mourned the loss quite thoroughly, the warrior's spirit simply could not move on, and could be seen on moonlit nights still swinging away, shooting stones far into countryside.

Great Space Pat

Hey guys, thanks for coming tonight. If you have any questions, of course, feel free to stop and ask, I'm sure everyone would be more than willing to help out. If you need supplies, I've got extra, so just let me know and please try and get it back to me when we finish up.

Some of you have heard this before, but I really just have three rules. Rule one: play along! We're all here to have fun, and you can always go off playing your brooding loner hero in plenty of other games at home. While we're here with everyone else, just try and go with the flow and work together. Rule two: if it seems like things are going in a direction you really don't want it to, just raise your hand and let me know. I can't say we're necessarily going to reverse the direction of what's happened, but we can definitely move past it without going into detail. I don't want anyone to have a bad experience just because someone decided they really needed to stomp a bag of kittens to death or something. This also goes for if anyone has any really bad phobias of spiders or snakes or anything like that, just let me know right now and I'll do my best to avoid that kind of stuff if it's not needed. Lastly: have fun in your own way, so long as it doesn't go against the first two rules and ruin other peoples' fun. Roleplay as much or as little as you want, speak in an accent if you want or don't; we're all here for a good time and we shouldn't judge other folks for how they want to play. I want everyone to be comfortable playing in their own way.

Okay, any last questions before we begin? We'll probably take a break about an hour and half to two hours in, then come back after that and finish out the night. Cool? Cool, then let's jump on in! Last we left our heroes...

Great Space Pat

Gargantuan celestial (shapechanger), neutral

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• Armor Class 20
• Hit Points 615 (30d20 + 300)
• Speed 100 ft., fly 100 ft., burrow 100 ft., swim 100 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
30 (+10)	30 (+10)	30 (+10)	15 (+2)	30 (+10)	30 (+10)

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• Saving Throws Str +19, Dex +19, Con +19, Int +11, Wis +19, Cha +19
• Skills Insight +28, Perception +28
• Damage Resistances all
• Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, incapacitated, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, stunned, unconscious
• Senses truesight 300 ft., passive Perception 38
• Languages All languages
• Challenge 30 (155,000 XP)

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Behind the Screen. Whenever Pat rolls for an action, ability check, or saving throw, he may do so in secret. Pat then declares the value of his roll and uses that, unless a humanoid within 300 feet of him and is aware of his presence declares a veto. Pat then must reroll the die in the open. After vetoing a roll, a humanoid is no longer able to do so again for 24 hours.

Discorporation. When Pat drops to 0 hit points or dies, his body is destroyed but his essence travels back to beyond the cosmos, and he is unable to take physical form for a time.

Divine Form. Pat can survive without food, water, or air; and he is immune to magic that would ascertain his thoughts, truthfulness, alignment, or creature type.

Divine Spellcasting. Pat's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 27, +19 to hit with spell attacks). He can innately cast the following spells at 9th level, requiring no components:

At will: counterspell, detect magic, dispel magic, hold person, plane shift, polymorph, teleport, wish

3/day: divine word, power word heal, power word kill, power word pain, power word stun

Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If Pat fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Limited Magic Immunity. Pat can't be affected or detected by spells of 6th level or lower unless he wishes to be. He has advantage on saving throws against all other spells and magical effects.

Shapechanger. Pat can use an action to magically polymorph into any creature that has a challenge rating no higher than his own, or back into his true form. He reverts to his true form if he dies. Any equipment he is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (Pat's choice).

In a new form, Pat retains his actions, alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. His statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.

Actions

Rocks Fall. Each creature of Pat's choice within 300 feet of him must succeed on a DC 27 Dexterity saving throw, taking 110 (20d10) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. Pat may choose to reduce the number of damage dice rolled for this ability to a minimum of 1.

Manual of Monsters. Pat rolls a d20 and summons any number of creatures with a combined Challenge Rating equal to or less than that value. The creatures appear in any unoccupied spaces of Pat's choice within 300 feet of him. Each creature rolls its own initiative and acts in initiative order.

Reincarnate Map. Pat transforms the area within 300 feet of him into new terrain, magically changing the topography, local weather, and composition of the terrain. He may add or remove structures, tools, or other non-living objects. The changes to the terrain are permanent and can only be reversed with a wish spell.

Legendary Actions

Pat can take 5 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Pat regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Detect. Pat makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Spell. Pat casts a spell.

Quench Magic. Pat targets one creature that he can see within 300 feet of him. Any resistance or immunity to damage that the target gains from a spell or a magic item is suppressed. This effect lasts until the end of Pat's next turn.

Teleport (Costs 2 Actions). Pat magically teleports up to 300 feet to an unoccupied space he can see, along with anything he is wearing or carrying.

Rearrange the Field (Costs 3 Actions). Pat chooses any number of creatures within 300 feet of him and magically teleports each them to an unoccupied space within 300 feet of him. An unwilling target may make a DC 27 Charisma saving throw, not being teleported on a success.

Greater Mommy

Though they resemble the undead mummy, greater mommies are actually a type of fey creature, one that has become so wrapped up in its own delusion that it thinks of itself as a progenitor of mummies. Lurking in the darker corners of the Feywild, these tormented beings attack any living creatures that approach them, taking the corpses of their victims and turning them into mummy thralls. If not dealt with promptly, they can soon amass a terrible army, spreading across the land like a swarm of locusts and plunging the world into an age of dust and darkness.

Hardass

Believed to have been built by an ancient civilization as an autonomous laborer, these metal mules are incredible beasts to behold. Able to pull far greater loads than their living and breathing counterparts, they are also protected by thick armor plating. Some scholars believe this indicates their use in transporting siege weapons and other engines of war, while others believe it may show that their society was so wealthy and advanced that even common tools would be made of materials we find rare and valuable today. Regardless, these machines are remarkably well designed, and what few specimens we can study today demonstrate the longevity and robustness of their craftsmenship.

Hat-Fright

No one knows for sure where the hat-frights came from. Some believe they are the product of a mad biomancer, experimenting with smaller species of mimics in hopes of taking control of a royal court. Regardless of their origin, these parasites are able to latch onto a person's mind and take control of their body. While they are unable to properly replicate speech or normal social behaviors, they do seem able to direct their host's actions and movements quite true to the original, making them just as formidable a threat as facing one's friend in earnest. Beware finding lost companions sporting new headwear, the hat-fright controlling them would be happy to render you unconscious and use your body as a host for another one of their kind.

Horse-Spider Brains

Horse-spiders are related to the steeders used by duergar through the Underdark, but have been selectively bred by goblins to better suit their size and needs. In order to enforce a more rigorous discipline among the beasts, hobgoblin warlords have spawned "brain" spiders: centralized individuals that serve as nodes for a primitive hive mind among their species. These individuals are ridden by field commanders and lieutenants into battle, guiding and rallying their arachnid cavalry with a precision that human armies can only dream of. Alone, a single horse-spider brain is cunning, but hardly more dangerous than a typical horse-spider. Surrounded by its brethren, however, and even the mightiest spider slayers should strongly reconsider a full retreat.

Hounds

Goblin Dogs

No one is quite sure if goblin dogs are a smaller breed of worg or some kind of giant breed of rat, or perhaps even some horrifying chimera of the two. All that is known about these ugly creatures is that they are as vicious to face as they are disgusting to look at. They universally suffer from a terrible strain of mange, leaving their patchy hides marked with lesions and scabs of all sizes. Curiously, goblinoids seem to be unaffected by both the awful smell and disease that accompanies these hounds, and regularly keep them as pets, sentries, and sometimes even mounts. The dogs keep the dens quite clear of refuse, devouring all scraps of rubbish as soon as they reach the ground, edible or otherwise.

In the interest of a comprehensive description, there is one bizarre rumor that persists through the scarce literature regarding these creatures, one that strains credulity if it were to be taken seriously. It is said that, despite the grotesque appearance and diseased nature of the goblin dogs, their meat makes for one the finest meals that can ever be eaten, so long as it is prepared properly. Whether this legend has any scrap of truth to it, or if it was some ancient academic's idea of a cruel joke, it is unlikely that any reputable chef would be willing to subject themselves to approaching one of their stench-ridden bodies, even if they had somehow discovered the secrets to preparing it.

Gog Dogs

Gog dogs are the demonic cousins to the infernal hell hounds. More often lone warriors than pack hunters, they make up for it by being twice as strong and twice as resilient. A single one of these demons will easily tear a city quarter to pieces, and a full company of sellswords might only have an even chance against it. Though often left to their own devices, there are some that are employed by greater demon lords as pets or servants, sometimes even sent off to enforce the will of their master across the planar system. They aren't exactly intelligent like the civilized races of our world, but neither are they completely bestial either. They possess a sense of low cunning that drives them to go beyond preserving their own survival, and an inherent fiendish sadism that allows them to delight in the destruction and suffering they wreak upon others. As much as they might resemble animals from our world, remember above all else that it is an unholy and demonic creature, and would sooner turn you to ash than fight by your side or eat from your hand.

Gol Dogs

Gol hounds are domesticated blink dogs, fey creatures designed to be used as sentries and security patrols for those that can afford to purchase and keep them. Much more tame and pliable than their Feywild cousins, these animals have been bred for strength and loyalty. They've also been extensively trained to expand the reach of their signature teleporting ability, although at the cost of its duration and versatility. Regardless, even employing a single one of these dogs will easily double the efficacy and halve response time of a security detail on your property, making it well worth the cost to add one to your arsenal.

Plant Hounds

Thornies have long been used by the vegepygmy tribes as mounts and companions, so it was only natural that they would eventually be domesticated to further specialize specific breeds to aid in hunting. These plant hounds are incredibly effective at tracking quarry through thick vegetation, and are quite well trained at taking down prey as well. They are disciplined and loyal, as any hunting dog should be, and do not require the same vast amounts of food that animal hounds do. With an ample supply of fresh fertilizer and sunlight, a plant hound will offer you one of the most steadfast and competent hunting companions that can be found anywhere in the world.

It should be noted, however, that these creatures do require significant maintenance and upkeep to remain reliable. Though they do not require food, their tough hides require daily pruning and clipping in order for them to stay mobile. An overgrown plant hound could quickly become too entangled to move, eventually taking root and beginning the process of budding and seeding. Useful if one seeks to cultivate a new crop of hounds, but less so if one needs to go hunting in the interim.

Spectral Woof Greepy

The legends say that she was once just another mongrel stray, wandering the wilderness always looking for her next meal and a dry place to sleep. However, as fate would have it, one dark day she came upon an infant in a basket left on the side of the road, parents slain and carried off by wolves. With no one left to care for the child, this hound took him in as her own pup, carrying him from town to town and somehow finding enough food for them both. As the boy grew, he learned the common tongue sporadically by listening the conversations of the grown men and women nearby. He learned that his mother was called "greepy" and a "woof," so that's what he called her as well.

Kick Spirit

In life, they were practitioners of the martial arts cut down before they could reach their prime. In death, however, the frustration and rage of having their lives stolen from them has turned these "kicking spirits" into fearsome revenants, full of fury turned against the world around them. Unable to progress in their training, they are compelled to challenge the living to bouts of single combat, seeking a path that is no longer meant for them. Defeating them in this way will only fuel their frustration further, and their spirit will inevitably return again to its place of haunting, with no memories of its past challenges and once again challenging all those that cross its path.

Kurt

Like, if you really think about it, we're just doing what we all used to do as kids when we played make-believe. We just kind of are forced to grow out of it as we get older and have to start worrying about stuff like working and making money and fitting in to society's expectations and all that. Really, it goes back even further and we're just going back to what our ancestors all did way back in the day sitting around a fire in the middle of the woods or whatever. It's something primal inside us, it's a part of our nature as thinking, feeling creatures to want to share in this experience with each other, to bond over shared triumph and failure.

And we live in this ridiculous world where we don't really have a chance to have that any more. Everyone is so self-absorbed into their own lives and their own troubles that the chance to just cut loose and create those experiences with each other is so rare except for people who are ridiculously wealthy and can afford it. And I'm not saying that everyone should skip work to go out and have adventures all the time, we all need to eat and pay rent and take responsibility and all that, but we're really missing out on the chance to sit around the fire with our friends and family and just tell stories with each other, to create some sense of magic in the air between everyone, to be able to relax and be silly and goof off and pretend to be someone else for a couple hours.

And isn't that what part of this is? Like, we get a chance to spend a few hours literally being another person, someone completely different from us, with a whole different set of problems and tools to look at the world. That kind of experience is invaluable to being a well-rounded and empathic individual. Like, I honestly believe that the world can be a better place if we all played games like this. We all get some experience putting ourselves in someone else's shoes, someone often quite different, or at least lives in a very different world, and we learn from that. We grow from that. And ideally, like, really ideally, we grow enough to realize that we're all just people, you know, people in the real world each with our own problems and outlooks and beliefs about how things should go. And from there, I think we can all really come together as a species, you know? We can learn how much there is we share in common, and what we can learn from our different perspectives, and how wonderful and beautiful the world is because of those differences, instead of trying to close our world off from them.

Kurt

Gargantuan celestial (shapechanger), neutral good

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• Armor Class 20
• Hit Points 615 (30d20 + 300)
• Speed 100 ft., fly 100 ft., burrow 100 ft., swim 100 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
30 (+10)	30 (+10)	30 (+10)	15 (+2)	30 (+10)	20 (+5)

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• Saving Throws Str +19, Dex +19, Con +19, Int +11, Wis +19, Cha +14
• Skills Insight +28, Perception +28, Performance +14
• Damage Resistances all
• Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, incapacitated, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, stunned, unconscious
• Senses truesight 300 ft., passive Perception 38
• Languages All languages
• Challenge 30 (155,000 XP)

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Craft Spell. Kurt can cast any spell of 9th level or lower at up to 9th level, requiring no components or concentration. Wisdom is his spellcasting ability for it (spell save DC 27, +19 to hit with spell attacks). Instead of its normal duration, the spell lasts for as long as Kurt is in the presence of the target or any other creatures observing the spell, and all damage, conditions, or other effects end once he is no longer in their presence, or when he chooses to end it as a bonus action.

Discorporation. When Kurt drops to 0 hit points or dies, his body is destroyed but his essence travels back to beyond the cosmos, and he is unable to take physical form for a time.

Divine Form. Kurt can survive without food, water, or air; and is immune to magic that would ascertain his thoughts, truthfulness, alignment, or creature type.

Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If Kurt fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Limited Magic Immunity. Kurt can't be affected or detected by spells of 6th level or lower unless he wishes to be. He has advantage on saving throws against all other spells and magical effects.

Shapechanger. Kurt can use an action to magically polymorph into any creature that has a challenge rating no higher than his own, or back into his true form. He reverts to his true form if he dies. Any equipment he is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (Kurt's choice).

In a new form, Kurt retains his actions, alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. His statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.

Actions

Shared Storytelling. Over the course of 4 (1d4+2) hours, Kurt guides up to six willing humanoids through a shared storytelling experience. During this time, the target's hit points are restored to their maximum, all conditions and levels of exhaustion are removed, and any effects of curses or madness are suppressed. Additionally, humanoids taking part in this experience do not feel the effects of hunger, thirst, or other physical requirements for the duration.

Over the course of the story, Kurt will present those involved with a series of puzzles, challenges, and fictional conversations. A target can attempt the challenge by making a Charisma (Performance) check. Optionally, if the archetypes variant is being used, the target can add the appropriate bonus to this check.

At the conclusion of the session, all humanoids that took part in the story gain a +2 bonus to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma based skill checks for the next seven days. A creature can only benefit from one of these bonuses at a time.

Legendary Actions

Kurt can take 5 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Kurt regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Detect. Kurt makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Spell. Kurt casts a spell.

Quench Magic. Kurt targets one creature that he can see within 300 feet of him. Any resistance or immunity to damage that the target gains from a spell or a magic item is suppressed. This effect lasts until the end of Kurt's next turn.

Teleport (Costs 2 Actions). Kurt magically teleports up to 300 feet to an unoccupied space he can see, along with anything he is wearing or carrying.

Let it Be (Costs 3 Actions). Kurt surrounds himself and up to six humanoids with a subtle magical aura. Though other creatures are aware of their presence, they are compelled to leave them to their business. Any creature within 30 feet of a creature protected by this aura that attempts to approach, attack, or converse with it must succeed on a DC 27 Wisdom saving throw, doing nothing on a failure instead. This aura lasts until the end of Kurt's next turn, or until one of the creatures protected by the aura attacks or speaks to a creature not protected by the aura.

Mac Cat

Native to the subterranean world of the dwarves, it is theorized that mac cats were created by the duergar as weapons of war. Once ordinary felines, they have been touched by duergar magic, giving them similar abilities to both become invisible or to enlarge themselves to a ridiculous degree. They could be let loose in rival encampments or battle formations in order to wreak havoc behind enemy lines, and they could be easily transported with only little more food than any other small animal.

Man-Can

While not as prolific or whimsical as their gnomish contemporaries, goblin artificers have toiled long years below their mountains, researching and constructing terrifying engines of war. By combining their mechanical creations with dark magics, they have been able to implant the mind of a dying goblin into a metal monster, granting it size and strength it never would have dreamed of. Furthermore, after a somewhat tempermental adjustment period, they can outfit these walking "man-cans" with a variety of horrifying weapons, from razor sharp claws to cannons that shoot deadly poison. What they lack in grace, they more than make up for in their complete and utter brutality. Truly, the only limit for these abominations is that of their inventor's twisted imagination.

Marragan Ralleraith

Of all the legends of demonic plagues and fiendish infestations, the legend of the Marragan Ralleraith is one of the strangest. The origins of the creature differ from source to source, some asserting that it was a man transformed by divine punishment, while others claim that it was a pale slime given life by Juiblex itself. Regardless of how it came to be, the ooze is capable of at least some form of coherent thought, and that thought is to replicate itself across the land.

Unlike other slimes that can reform into multiple smaller offspring when split by violent force, Marragan can duplicate itself on its own, creating a perfect clone over the course of a single day. Moreover, regardless of all the bodies it can create, all of its offspring share a single mind, allowing it to spread its tentacles across the land in every nook and cranny it can hide itself in. This makes it effectively immortal until every single body is tracked down and destroyed utterly, as even one remaining clone is able to reproduce itself into an army in a matter of weeks.

Memeball

Appearing as a grotesque mass of humanoid faces, the memeball is a horrifying creature native to the lower planes, a creature of pure madness that has taken on a life of its own. It adapts rapidly to its surroundings, improving on its inherent hardy nature, and continues moving steadily towards any areas it can sense is inhabited by sentient creatures. By subjecting its victims to its own madness, it can eventually transform other creatures into another of its kind, thus propagating its lineage and doubling its rate of affliction. Simply trying to engage with one of these aberrations is risky enough, so the general consensus for dealing with them is to not engage, forcing them to expend all their energy without creating any more of themselves. While hardly the most noble strategy of pest control, history has shown it to be handily effective.

Morkels

A nasty species of fungus native to the deep jungles of Ixalan, morkels constantly emit poisonous spores that seize the mind and body. It is believed that they feed on the nutrients provided by the corpses that fall prey to their paralytic powder. Some time after its discovery, a marketplace watch officer had the brilliant idea of using the spores to safeguard valuables, deciding to cultivate a crop of the little mushrooms. This was finally accomplished after much trial and error, but now sealed pots containing a small cluster of morkels can be purchased and deployed for any number of security purposes. Of course, employing such a measure has plenty of dangers of its own, including being caught in the trap oneself and meeting an unfortunate end. Still, there are few lengths those with significant wealth won't go to in order to ensure the peace of mind that their holdings are safe from thieves, including risking their own lives.

The Owlborn

The owlborn are a secretive race, cousins to the aarakocra and other aven peoples. They are gifted with incredible sight and hearing, and make for superb hunters and scouts. While they do not often travel far from their homes, it is not unheard of to find one working abroad as a hired mercenary.

Pegs

Smaller cousins to the common brownie, pegs are mischievous pranksters that delight in bothering and inconveniencing the larger peoples of the world. They often sneak about in the darkest hours of the night, using their magical pins to fasten blankets to the bed, shoes to the floor, or clothes to the wardrobe. There are some that believe being visited by a peg in the night to be a sign of good luck, but they likely have never had to deal with waking to find oneself trapped in bed, or needing to fetch the village smith in order to remove one's eating utensils from the table.

Like many fey creatures, a peg's sense of right and wrong is rather different from the rest of the world, and what may be seen as malicious or mood-souring to most societies is all in good-natured fun to them. For better or worse, they are rather solitary creatures, so even if you manage to catch one long enough to explain the difference of opinion, they would have no better chance of explaining the situation to their fellows as you would. If you happen to find yourself beset by such irksome creatures, the best strategy is to simply take their mischief in stride and not allow them to provoke any reaction from you. The less you respond to their nightly work, the better chances of them growing bored with you and moving on to some other poor victim.

Pemple Lich

Better known as swarm lords or lich druids, these foul creatures were once champions of the natural world, now corrupted by the influence of dark magic. They spread disease and undeath to every corner of their home, and previously beautiful greenery soon turns to foul wastes. The only things that can survive in these poisoned lands are insects and other carrion feeders, those sorts of beasts that thrive on an environment of decay and rot. Though a pemple lich may not move far, their influence grows daily as their powers do, and it is never long before their evil presence is felt along their neighbor's borders.

Unlike other liches, liches of the druidic pedigree lack a phylactery in which they house the source of their power. Rather, it is the befouled landscape itself that grants them their strength. This, of course, is in turn fueled by the continued growth of their own dark magic, creating a vicious cycle by which both can feed on endlessly. However, this also means that by weakening one, the other is reduced as well. By turning back the tide of necrotic decay at the edges of the lich's influence, the lich itself will be hindered, and by defeating the lich the land can be saved. Unfortunately, like all things concerning beings of great and terrible power, while this is a simple solution in theory, putting it into practice is rarely such an easy affair.

Pemple Lich

Medium undead, chaotic evil

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• Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 153 (18d8 + 72)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	12 (+1)	18 (+4)	16 (+3)	20 (+5)	15 (+2)

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• Saving Throws Con +11, Int +10, Wis +12
• Skills Arcana +12, History +10, Insight +9, Survival +12
• Damage Resistances cold
• Damage Immunities necrotic, poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
• Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 19
• Languages Common, Druidic, Sylvan, plus up to three other languages
• Challenge 21 (33,000 XP)

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Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the lich fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Regeneration. The lich regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn. If the lich takes fire or radiant damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the lich’s next turn. The lich dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.

Spellcasting. The lich is an 17th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 20, +12 to hit with spell attacks). The lich has the following druid spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): infestation, poison spray, primal savagery, thorn whip

1st level (4 slots): absorb elements, detect magic, entangle, faerie fire

2nd level (3 slots): dust devil, gust of wind, hold person, spike growth

3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, conjure animals, dispel magic, sleet storm

4th level (3 slots): blight, giant insect

5th level (2 slots): contagion, insect plague

6th level (1 slot): create undead, wall of thorns

7th level (1 slot): finger of death, whirlwind

8th level (1 slot): control weather

9th level (1 slot): storm of vengeance

Turn Resistance. The lich has advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns undead.

Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the lich to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the lich drops to 1 hit point instead.

Actions

Rotting Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 14 (4d6) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned in this way, the target is unable to regain hit points. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Change Shape (2/Day). The lich magically polymorphs into a Gargantuan swarm of flying insects, and can remain in this form for up to 9 hours. The lich can choose whether its equipment falls to the ground or melds with its new form. The lich reverts to its true form if it dies or falls unconscious. The lich can revert to its true form using a bonus action on its turn.

While in swarm form, the lich retains its game statistics and ability to speak, but has a flying speed of 30 feet. It can cast its spells with verbal or somatic components in its new form.

The new form’s attacks count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances and immunity to nonmagical attacks.

Legendary Actions

The lich can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The lich regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Cantrip. The lich casts a cantrip.

Touch Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The lich uses its Rotting Touch.

Frightening Gaze (Costs 2 Actions). The lich fixes its gaze on one creature it can see within 10 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw against this magic or become frightened for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a target's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to the lich's gaze for the next 24 hours.

Disrupt Life (Costs 3 Actions). Each non-undead creature within 30 feet of the lich must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw against this magic, taking 21 (6d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Pigoloths

Pigoloths are the shock troops of a yugoloth mercenary company. While not as versatile as a mezzoloth, they are exceptionally useful as a blunt instrument, battering away at an enemy's defenses with speed and weight. Their simple-mindedness makes them easy to command and direct, but it also makes them easy to deceive and turn.

As with all yugoloths, these brutes are interested only in their own wealth and personal welfare, and the right words at the wrong times might inspire a team of pigoloths to abandon their contract in exchange for greater rewards on the opposing force. If one is to hire these fearsome creatures, it would be best to spend any amount of resources necessary to ensure they are well fed and paid considerably more than one's enemies could afford.

Pingel Ant

Commonly employed by wealthier dwarf kingdoms, pingel ants are a curious subterranean fey creature that feed on precious metals, gold in particular. In exchange for coins to eat, they will happily watch over treasure vaults, mine shafts, and other areas that do not require them to travel far from their meals. Though the cost of their services does add up over time, their ability to see through any manner of spells and illusions makes them invaluable assets to any dwarf lord wary of intruders. An old dwarvish saying remarks, "A pingeler may eat your gold today, but still costs less than the thief that got away."

Purple Bird

Purple birds are chimeric abominations, made by splicing together birds of prey with the stinger of purple worms. This sort of biomancy is a perversion of the natural order, and as a result these creatures cannot expect long lifespans. During their short time, they seem wracked with pain and anger, lashing out at anything that enters their territory. Despite their surly demeanor, there are rare cases of befriending and taming these poor beasts. By easing their pain and showing them honest compassion, it has been said that you can earn yourself a fierce and loyal protector for as long as they have left to live.

Putter Vampire

In the lands of Kolve, there is a breed of lesser vampire hidden amongst the highborn folk, a secret underworld of courtiers and politicians devoted to ruling from the shadows. Though they work slowly, their goals of total subjugation of the mortal world requires a light touch and a great deal of patience. Like all vampires, however, their curse grants them an eternal life in the darkness, allowing them the longevity needed to see such a plan through. Though they lack the same superior strength or magical boons of their cousins in the east, they still possess an uncanny ability to gain power over the weak-minded. They have used this to great effect among the noble court, inserting themselves into key positions of law and order throughout the land. No one but those among their leadership can truly know how far into their plans they currently are, but the consequences of their success will surely be felt all over the world of the living.

The Ruck Sea

Often referred to as a "rubbish elemental" or "garbage monster," the ruck sea is an immense pile of refuse and litter that has somehow become animated and given the semblance of life. It moves slowly across the arid sands of the Burning Wastes, collecting as much debris as it can to incorporate into its already considerable bulk. Living or unliving, it will reach out and take in everything it can wrap its tendrils around and draw into itself, where the sheer weight of its mass will slowly grind anything within it to smaller and smaller pieces. Those who have encountered it describe seeing within its body everything from ancient artifacts to the bleached bones of its former victims, all incorporated into the rolling mass of accumulated debris. Thankfully, the roving sea moves quite slowly, and can easily be avoided once it is spotted on the horizon.

Serpent Sharks

Sometimes called "shrieking eels," these fearsome creatures frequent the shores near human settlements and trading routes, hoping to chance upon any poor soul that finds themselves falling into the water. Like others of their kind, serpent sharks are drawn to the scent of fresh blood, and the area will soon be teeming with dozens of them within minutes of even the smallest wound. Unlike most sharks, however, these beasts use their impressive length to coil around their prey and drag them to the depths below. This method of hunting, while still somewhat useful against other aquatic animals, seems frighteningly tailored towards land-dwelling creatures. It still is unknown whether this was a natural behavior that coincidentally matched well with terrestrial animals, or if somehow these tactics developed when their taste for human flesh did.

Shadowstaffers

Staffers in the Shadowfell are highly sought after specialists that are able to accomplish nearly any task quickly and efficiently, often with no questions asked. They call upon allied fey spirits to take on particular forms suited to the work they've been hired to do, instantly creating a small task force to root out unwanted guests, infiltrate an enemy encampment, or to provide protection to valuable assets.

Senior Shadowstaffer

Medium fey, neutral

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• Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 54 (12d8)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	16 (+3)	11 (+0)	20 (+5)	17 (+3)	15 (+2)

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• Saving Throws Int +8, Wis +6
• Skills History +8, Insight +6, Perception +6
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
• Languages Common, Sylvan, Telepathy with creatures it has summoned
• Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

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Shadow Summoner. The shadowstaffer can conjure creatures from the shadows. These creatures have identical statistics to their normal counterparts, except that their creature type is fey, and they lack any coloration to their form. They last until they are reduced to 0 hit points, are dispelled, or are dismissed by the shadowstaffer as a bonus action. The shadowstaffer cannot conjure more creatures if the total challenge rating of creatures it currently has summoned is greater than or equal to 6.

Actions

Shadowfell Shillelagh. Melee Spell Attack: +6, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) necrotic damage.

We Need Muscle. The shadowstaffer conjures up to 3 ogres, who appear in unoccupied spaces within 30 feet of it. The ogres roll for initiative and act in initiative order.

We Need Distance. The shadowstaffer conjures up to 2 archers, who appear in unoccupied spaces within 30 feet of it. The archers roll for initiative and act in initiative order.

We Need a Specialist. The shadowstaffer conjures 1 doppelganger, mage, or priest, who appears in an unoccupied space within 30 feet of it. The creature rolls for initiative and acts in initiative order.

We Just Need Bodies. The shadowstaffer conjures 3d4 thugs, who appear in unoccupied spaces within 30 feet of it. The thugs roll for initiative and act in initiative order.

Sirpers

Once thought to be the paranoid ramblings of those touched with madness, history has now confirmed the existence of the demonic impersonators known as sirpers. As dangerous as they are insidious, these foul creatures capture and replace figures of key importance in select regions and countries, steering the politics of a land towards unknown goals. Thanks to their ability to absorb an entire life's worth of memories from their victims, they are quite capable of deceiving even the closest friends and family. Furthermore, the actual process renders the victim itself into an infantile state of mind, incapable of raising an alarm or contesting their impostor. Thankfully, these fiends prefer to capture rather than kill, often keeping their victims alive and imprisoned nearby for easy access. The memories they steal are not permanent, and they require repeated visits to keep the ruse accurate.

Slake Elemental

Slakes are water elementals corrupted by fiendish influence, turning them into feral wanderers of the Underdark. They feed off the energy of the living, forcing them to seek out subterranean denizens to ambush. Once a slake has a hold of its quarry, it will simply squeeze the creature until it expires, compressing the body so tightly that circulation will be completely stopped. From the reports of the bodies it leaves in its wake, it is a grisly end for any unfortunate enough to meet it. As with all deadly creatures, it is well advised to keep as much distance from it as absolutely possible.

Space Ogres

While most Corbessians have a reputation for being gruff but fair-minded and trustworthy, there are a select few that reject the common beliefs of their people, striking off on their own to work as mercenaries. These are almost always deserters of the Corbessian Navy or other military branches, and as such are looked at with both shame and disgust by other members of their species. Some are employed by criminal organizations as private enforcers and bodyguards, others band together and form their own private armies for hire. Some even eschew freelancing altogether, preferring instead to become pirates and launch raids on remote outposts or lone merchant vessels.

The combat prowess of these massive brutes is well known throughout the galaxy, even among other Corbessians. Once called "ogres" as a derogatory slur, many of these mercenaries have embraced the term, believing it helps people underestimate their mental faculties. Though their large size and fearsome demeanor may give the impression that Corbessians are nothing but simple-minded barbarians, any person that has spoken to one at length will be well aware of their keen intellect and articulate nature. If it ever feels like a negotiation with an ogre is going a little too well, be wary that there may be a scheme afoot behind your back.

Spectral Slugs

Spectral slugs are strange little creatures that seem to be native to the Border Ethereal. Their translucent bodies are difficult to see even in bright light, and their ability to vanish into thin air makes them even more tricky to spot and remove. They are parasites by nature, feeding on the energy of living things until they've had their fill or the host expires from exhaustion.

Spirit Forest Brain

Deep in the Savalier Wood lies an ancient tree that sees and speaks through the animals of the land. With a mind more vast than the sky itself, it has watched over its domain for a thousand years, keeping an eerily close eye on any it believes might harbor ill intentions.

Stone Cats

Stone cats are assumed to be distantly related to gargoyles and other denizens of the Elemental Plane of Earth. Those that cross over into the Material Plane are often mistakenly identified as animated statues or bewitched felines. While slower and stockier than their flesh and blood counterparts, a stone cat is far more adept at ambush hunting than those it mimics, capable of lying in complete stillness while disguised as part of the rocky terrain. They are often spotted in the mountains only after they pounce upon their victims, forcing companions to choose between fighting the creature off or running for their lives.

Stulkers

It isn't known whether stulkers are flora-based elementals that live in the earth or earth-based elementals that grow flora, but they are known to be quite deadly to the farmers whose lands they frequent. These creatures often take a wide area of crops or wild plants and wear them on their backs for camouflage, creating a convincing cover for their large bulk. So convincing is their disguise that unsuspecting farmers are unable to see the danger until it has already grabbed them and pulled them deep into the earth. Though they may be unable to see with their eyes below the surface, they possess an uncanny sense of the ground in which they live, detecting all that walk upon it. Should engaging such a creature become absolutely necessary, doing so from a very safe distance is advised.

The Sun of Fish

Brilliantly colored and graceful in the water, the so-called sun of fish is a legend passed down among the fishing villages of tropical waters. Not to be confused with the large and clumsy sunfish, this creature is said to be covered in shimmering golden scales, flashing like a beacon beneath the waves. Fishing boats at night report seeing something like the sun deep in the water, giving the elusive creature its name. No one has managed to catch one yet, although there have been a few close calls. The fish is able to set off its flare both to stun and disorient prey as well as distract potential captors, keeping it free to escape and swim another day.

Talking Heads

Many powerful wizards and sorcerers keep the services of scribes and clerks to help them with their work, recording notes and maintaining records for archival purposes. Those who are more necromantically inclined may even continue enlisting these services beyond death, reanimating their former employee into an undead skull, retaining the memories, skills, and experience that made the notary so useful to begin with. There are even rumors of entire halls filled with the animated skulls, acting as a sort of an immortalized history dating back centuries. With limited mobility and little to entertain themselves, it would be no surprise if these poor trapped souls are found to have gone a touch mad when discovered. When there is nothing else in your world but your own voice, one has to make do.

Tasked Genies

Task genies operate as servants and vassals to the more powerful djinni and lords of the elemental planes. Though lacking in much obvious magical power, they each are a wish personified, capable of giving their life to accomplish nearly any task using their innate mystic energies. Since each of them does have some sense of self-preservation, they will often seek to fulfill their master's commands with any and all other avenues available to them before relying on this potent ability. Should a mortal find themselves with such a genie in their employ, it would be prudent to consider their usefulness as a long-lived elemental entity before seeking an immediate magical solution to whatever problem currently ails them.

Spycer Dragon Tasked Genie

These hot-tempered elementals are employed by djinni lords as sentries or guards around their palatial estates, and are by far the most dangerous of their kin. Touched by efreeti magic, spycer dragons have a limited command of fire, allowing them to shape it to their master's will. They are the most willing to give their lives in service, releasing the spark that sustains them to defeat their lord's enemies or those that seek to harm their master in any way. Their loyalty is admirable, and it makes them all the more fierce in battle.

Wanger Tasked Genie

Wanger genies, like their windy cousins, are also servants to the elemental lords, but are used in a far more underhanded capacity. Operating as spies and thieves, they are employed across the planes as a djinni's eyes and ears, reporting back periodically on enemies, rivals, and even allies. Able to slip in almost anywhere, these genies are believed to be the inspiration for sleep sprites and other stories about faeries associated with dreams. It would be best not to take them lightly, however, as falling asleep while facing such an adversary might be the last mistake you ever make.

Ticked Genie

Sometimes during the creation of a tasked genie, the arcane process of harnessing the wish that sustains them is corrupted in some way and fails to take hold. The resultant creature is one that is magically compelled to give its life in service, but is completely unable to do so. Thus is the tortured existence of these beings, an immortal life filled with an incessant need to do that which cannot be done. These "ticked genies," as they are sometimes called, are then turned loose on political rivals or generational enemies, where they will release all the frustration built up within them until they are destroyed. Though they may lack the potent spark of power that fuels their cousins, they are no less magical in nature, nor are they any less dangerous. The rage within them is so powerful that they can even inflict it upon others, causing an otherwise calm and reserved mind to lash out recklessly. This ability makes the genies excellent saboteurs and disruptive agents, breaking enemy morale and routing soldiers wherever they go.

Unicorns

Black Willow Unicorn

Kokki, sometimes called "black willow unicorns," are a rare breed of kirin that are born only once every few centuries. They are said to bring good fortune to the lands they roam, and that their counsel is universally wise and compassionate. Like all kirin, they cannot stand violence or bloodshed, and even being in the presence of blood can make them take ill. However, in dire situations in which they must protect themselves, they will call upon spiritual allies and other creatures to aid them, at least for long enough to escape.

Fumble Unicorn

Whether the result of a crippling injury, poison, or curse, some unicorns are victims of a debilitating condition that saps their strength and natural gracefulness. Not only are they physically impaired, but often their magical potency suffers as well, weakening their ability to enact the positive change they seek for the world. Aiding such a creature in its hour of need would surely indebt it to its benefactor in some way, and any blessing from such a divine being is never a thing to be taken lightly.