Empusa
Medium Monstrosity (shapechanger), chaotic evil
A monstrous woman with claws and hooves of shining copper, the creature stalks the roads and tracks between towns, seeking to kill and devour any who stumble across her path._
Bane of Travelers. Distant kin to lamias, the dreadful empusae are exclusively female. They use their supernatural abilities to hunt down and devour the flesh of those traveling along deserted roads and byways between settlements. While empusae aren’t afraid of sunlight, they tend to hunt at night, returning to caves and ruins during the day to feast on those they have killed. When travelers aren’t available, empusae target shepherds and farmers, disguising themselves as goats or donkeys to get close to their targets.
Copper Hooves. The legs and hooves of an empusa are extremely powerful and are sheathed in magically-hardened copper, allowing her to deliver swift and powerful kicks and move at great speed. This copper can be harvested when the empusa is slain and is often used in the construction of magical boots and staffs.
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 102 (12d8+48)
Speed 40 ft.
- STR
- 20 (+5)
- DEX
- 13 (+1)
- CON
- 18 (+4)
- INT
- 10 (+0)
- WIS
- 14 (+2)
- CHA
- 19 (+4)
Saving Throws Cha +7, Wis +6
Skills Stealth +4, Deception +7, Perception +5
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Common
Challenge 5
Traits
Ambusher. In the first round of combat, the empusa has advantage on attack rolls against any creature she has surprised.
Magical Copper. The empusa's claw and kick attacks are magical.
Nimble Fighter. The empusa can take the Dash or Disengage action as a bonus action on each of her turns.
Shapechanger. The empusa can use her action to polymorph into a Small or Medium beast that has a challenge rating no higher than her own, or back into her true form. Her statistics, other than her size, are the same in each form. While transformed, at least one of her limbs has a coppery color. Any equipment she is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. She reverts to her true form if she dies.
Actions
Multiattack. The empusa makes two claw attacks, or one claw attack and one kick attack.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage.
Kick. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 10 feet away from the empusa and knocked prone.
