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# Entry No. 001 - Apex Werewolf ### Adventure Lead Red Claw is a recently made Apex monster that has been driving out all the local wildlife through insane consumption of as many creatures as possible. Eventually stumbling onto a small logging village that had a few farm animals, it kills the animals and when confronted with the villagers gains a taste for humanoids. Now it must be dealt with before more die. ### True Werewolf The beast red claw is a true werewolf, not one afflicted with lycanthropy but rather an originator of it. A regular wolf that undergone a mysterious transformation that gave it humanoid form driven by the mind of a beast. It feeds, attacks, and spreads its lycanthropy without a single driving thought other than its own survival. ### Notable Behavior Information of this creature's habits and decision making during combat. ***Survivor.*** Red Claw is at its heart a primitive beast who when heavily wounded would rather choose to retreat than continue its hunt for food. If its prey is a threat but also heavily hurt then it'll strike harder than ever to end the fight as quickly as possible. It'll target creatures who seem to hurt it the most over ones who hurt it last. It at the very least intelligent enough to understand that it can heal from its bites and knows when not to bite something bad more than once. ***Bloodthirsty.*** Ever since its transformation into an apex monster, Red Claw has a natural craving for wounded creatures. A creature who is heavily wounded (below half hit points) will drive its hunger all the more to attack that creature over others. This does not overwrite its survivor behavior but may occasional poke through when injured. ***Predator.*** As a beast by nature and origin Red Claw already had natural instincts in tracking down and stalking its prey to land a clean kill. As an apex and werewolf these instinctual abilities have heightened. It seeks to hide and stalk its prey and initiate a fight with one swift critical kill. Do to this, Red Claw will primarily hunt at night when it has the most advantage. Additionally, Red Claw takes to fear and will strike creatures fleeing or afraid of it for swift kills. It will end the fight as soon as it can.
> ##### Apex Monsters > An apex monster is the result of a natural phenomenon in which a monster goes through a spontaneous and rapid growth that results in higher hit points, greater stats, and new attacks and abilities that a normal version of the creature would not possess. > > Apex monsters are often characterized by a massive increase in food consumption and growth in size. \columnbreak ### Recommended Gear ##### Blood Corrupter Vials *Made from the dark herb known as Night Callers, the liquid inside the small vial is black as night with a thick concentration. Consuming it creates a dull pain in ones chest as it puts a strain on ones heart. This should not be consumed in large doses.* ___ After consuming, for 1 hour the affected creature's blood becomes black as night. Any creature that consumes this black blood will take 2d6 necrotic damage. ##### Valor's Hand Potion *Made from the herbs Thyme, Masterwort, and Yarrow, it results in a honey colored liquid that slides down your throat with ease. A bitter-sweet taste where after consumption you feel your head clear and your breathing calm.* ___ After consuming, for 1 hour the affected creature has advantage against effects that would cause it to become frightened or on saving throws to end the frightened condition. ##### Blysk Bomb *A rare alchemic creation that when lit and thrown explodes in a blinding flash. This flash puts a creature into a daze that can stun it or reduce its ferocity.* ___ Choose a point within 20 ft to throw this object, upon being lit and thrown as part of using it, the object will then explode in a blinding flash. Creatures within 10 ft of the explosion must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, upon failure the creature becomes dazed. It has disadvantage on attacks rolls and Dexterity saving throws. **If thrown at Red Claw:** this explosive will instead reduce Red Claw's Action Points to 1 point for the round. ### Threat Level This creature was designed to combat a party of **four level 5 characters.** As such, this creature may need adjusting depending on how many more or less characters are present at the table. As a witchery monster, this monster is meant to be abused by its weaknesses. Encourage players by telling them there are secrets and items that make the fight easier overall but do not be afraid to warn them that if they do nothing the fight may end up very one sided in the monster's favor. \pagebreak ___ ___ > ## Red Claw >*Large Apex Beast (Shapechanger), Ver 1.0.1* > ___ > - **Armor Class** 14 > - **Hit Points** 252 (18d10+54) > - **Speed** 45 ft., climb 45 ft. >___ >|STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA| >|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:| >|18 (+4)|16 (+3)|16 (+3)|8 (-1)|12 (+2)|4 (-3)| >___ > - **Saving Throws** Dex +6, Con +6, Wis +5 > - **Skills** Athletics +7, Perception +5, Stealth +6, Survival +6 > - **Damage Vulnerabilities** Thunder (Keen Hearing and Smell), Poison (Wolfsbane only) > - **Damage Resistances** bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren't silvered. > - **Senses** passive Perception 15, Darkvision 120 ft. > - **Languages** - > - **PC Challenge** Level 5 > ___ > ### Abilities > ***Legendary Resistance (2/Day).*** If Red Claw fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. It can also use a legendary resistance to prevent it being stunned due to thunder damage, or to recover from one present condition. > > ***Keen Hearing and Smell.*** This creature has advantage on perception checks involving hearing or smell. If Red Claw takes thunder damage, he must succeed a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or become stunned until the end of his next turn. > > ***Ambush.*** If this creature attacks an enemy that is surprised or frightened, the attack is an automatic critical. > > ***Rejuvenation.*** At the start of the creatures turn, it regains 10 hit points unless it has taken fire or necrotic damage before the start of its turn. > > ***Bloodthirst.*** This creature hunts for the wounded, using their blood to heal itself. If Red Claw attacks a creature that is below half its hit point maximum with a bite attack. It heals for the same amount of damage dealt. Unless the creature it bites has corrupted blood. > > ***Superior Stalker.*** This creature is heavily skilled in hiding and ambushing its prey, it has advantage on stealth checks in dim light or darkness. > > ***Desperate Survival.*** This creature is a desperate survivor, when wounded it grows stronger. When bloodied (half hit points or less). It gains access to the Apex Hunt action and gains another turn in initiative order. When crippled (quarter hit points or less) this creature may attempt to flee. > > \columnbreak > ___ > > ### Actions > ***Action Points.*** Red Claw has **3** Action points per turn to spend on its actions. > > ***Claw. (1 point)*** *Melee weapon attack:* +7 to hit, Reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit* 9 (2d4+4) slashing damage. > > ***Bite. (1 point)*** *Melee weapon attack:* +7 to hit, Reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit* 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage. > > ***Rend. (2 points)*** *Melee weapon attack:* +7 to hit, Reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit* 7 (1d6+4) slashing damage, the creature hit will begin to bleed viciously. Start of the affected creature's turn it takes 1d6 bleed damage. This continues until the creature takes an action to patch itself up or is healed. > > ***Apex Hunt. (3 points)*** The creature rapidly dashes between 3 targets of its choosing attempting a Claw attacks against each target. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Creatures hit by these claw attacks begin bleeding excessively, taking 1d10 bleed damage at the start of their turn. This bleeding continues each round until the creature takes an action to patch itself up or is healed. > > ***Piercing Gaze. (1 point)*** The creature's eyes glow intensely. It targets one creature it can see within 60 ft. That creature must make a DC 14 Wisdom save or become frightened. > > ***Superior Leap. (1 point)*** This creature immediately leaps into the air and lands in an empty space up to 20 ft. away. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. > > ***Craving. (reaction)*** Upon reducing a creature to below half its hit point maximum, Red Claw can make a bite or claw attack as a reaction. \pagebreak ## Credits ##### - Blackthorn Theme by /u/blckthorn ##### - Zee Bashew [Witchery Monsters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhjkPv4qo5w&t=451s) ##### - Dungeon Coach [Folklore Monsters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ztk39IcnsY&t=800s) and [Action Oriented Monsters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xua9kgK9W1Q&t=790s)