The First Drowned
Huge aberration, chaotic evil
Before the mills, before the levees, before the first ferry rope, the river took someone, and it has never given them back. The First Drowned is that grief with somewhere to stand: a tall wading shape of black water wearing every face it has borrowed since. It does not hate the living. It wants company in the exact shape of its own sorrow, and it will keep your face to practice with.
Armor Class 18 (grief-water flesh)
Hit Points 203 (14d12 + 112)
Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft.
- STR
- 22 (+6)
- DEX
- 18 (+4)
- CON
- 26 (+8)
- INT
- 20 (+5)
- WIS
- 22 (+6)
- CHA
- 24 (+7)
Saving Throws Cha +12, Wis +11
Skills Insight +11, Perception +11
Damage Resistances cold, necrotic
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 21
Languages understands all languages it has stolen faces from but speaks in echoes
Challenge 16
Traits
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the first drowned fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The first drowned has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Sorrow Aura. Enemy creatures within 30 feet of the first drowned have their speed reduced by 10 feet and have disadvantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed.
Amphibious. The first drowned can breathe air and water.
Actions
Multiattack. The first drowned makes three Sorrow Strike attacks.
Sorrow Strike. Melee Attack Roll: +11, reach 15 ft. Hit: 30 (7d6 + 6) Psychic damage.
Stolen Visage (Recharge 5–6). Each creature within 30 feet that can see the first drowned must succeed on a DC 18 Intelligence saving throw or be frightened of it for 1 minute. A frightened creature repeats the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Borrowed Face (Recharge 5–6). One creature within 60 feet that can see the first drowned must succeed on a DC 18 Intelligence saving throw or be charmed by it for 1 minute. While charmed, it regards the first drowned as a lost loved one and will not willingly harm it. It repeats the saving throw when it takes damage, ending the effect on a success.
Legendary Actions
Grief's Reach. The first drowned makes one Sorrow Strike attack.
