Transcendent Lunarchida
Medium Aberration, neutral evil
A four-armed, four-legged creature in the vague shape of a human—but seemingly made of fine spider silk—moves down a tree, slowly chanting the incantation of a spell in the pale light of the full moon._
Made in Corrupt Forests. Lunarchidnas are beings of moonlight and spider silk created in forests permeated by residual dark magic. When this magic coalesces on a spider web touched by the light of a full moon, the web animates. The web gains life and flies through the forest, gathering other webs until it collects enough silk to form a faceless, humanoid body, with four legs and four arms.
Hatred of Elves. Lunarchidnas hate elves and love to make the creatures suffer. They poison water sources, set fire to villages, and bait monsters into stampeding through elf communities. These aberrations especially enjoy stealing away elf children to use as bait to trap the adults that come to the rescue.
Cyclical Power. The lunarchidna’s power is tied to the moon. When the skies are dark during a new moon, the lunarchidna becomes more shadow than living web. Its mental ability dulls, and it becomes barely more than a savage animal. When a full moon brightens the night, however, the lunarchidna becomes a conduit of lunar light and can channel that power through its body. Using its heightened intellect, it makes plans, writes notes, and plots from the safety of the trees where it makes its home. In the intermittent phases of the moon, the lunarchidna is a more than capable hunter, trapping and devouring prey it encounters while retaining enough knowledge of its plans and magic to further its goals in minor ways. The lunarchidna’s statistics change cyclically as shown on the Lunarchidna Moon Phase table.
Lunarchidna Moon Phase
Moon Phase
Statistics
Daytime, new, or crescent moon
Open Game License
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 91 (14d8+28)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
- STR
- 10 (+0)
- DEX
- 17 (+3)
- CON
- 14 (+2)
- INT
- 18 (+4)
- WIS
- 12 (+1)
- CHA
- 17 (+3)
Saving Throws Con +5, Wis +4
Skills Stealth +9, Perception +4
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned, restrained
Senses blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Deep Speech, Elvish
Challenge 6
Traits
Light Invisibility. The lunarchidna is invisible while in bright or dim light.
Spider Climb. The lunarchidna can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the lunarchidna has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Web Walker. The lunarchidna ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Spellcasting. The lunarchidna is a 8th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The lunarchidna has the following wizard spells prepared: Cantrips (at will): minor illusion, mage hand, poison spray, ray of frost 1st level (4 slots): color spray, detect magic, magic missile, shield 2nd level (3 slots): alter self, suggestion, web 3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fireball, major image 4th level (2 slots): black tentacles, confusion
Actions
Multiattack. The lunarchidna makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or its hp maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hp maximum to 0.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage.
Web (Recharge 5-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one creature. Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action the restrained target can make a DC 13 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 5; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).
Lunar Beam (Recharge 5-6). The lunarchidna flashes a beam of moonlight in a 30-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
