Drowned Maiden

Medium undead, neutral evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 90 (20d8)
Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15 (+2) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 18 (+4)

Saving Throws Dex +6, Cha +7
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

ACTIONS

  • Multiattack. The drowned maiden makes three Hair attacks. She can replace one attack with a use of Draining Kiss.
  • Hair. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) slashing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 16) if it is a Large or smaller creature. She can grapple up to three creatures at a time. The hair holding a creature can be attacked and destroyed (AC 15; 15 hp; immunity to necrotic, poison, and psychic damage).
  • Draining Kiss. One creature within 5 feet of the maiden and that she is grappling must make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, the target takes 10 (3d6) psychic damage, and its Strength is reduced by 1d6. On a success, the target takes half the damage, and its Strength isn’t reduced. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if its Strength is reduced to 0.
  • Illusory Appearance. The maiden covers herself and anything she is wearing or carrying with a magical illusion that makes her look like another creature of her general size and Humanoid shape. The illusion ends if the maiden takes a bonus action to end it or if she dies. The changes wrought by this effect fail to hold up to physical inspection. Otherwise, a creature must take an action to visually inspect the illusion and succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check to discern that the maiden is disguised.

BONUS ACTIONS

  • Reel. The drowned maiden pulls each creature grappled by her up to 15 feet straight toward her.

ABOUT

A drowned woman floating in the water, her long hair drifting around her, suddenly rises! Her hair strikes out like dozens of watery snakes.

Raging Romantics. Drowned maidens are piteous, but terrifying, undead. They are created when a woman dies in water due to a doomed romance, often from unrequited love or drowned by a philandering partner. Either way, the drowned maiden awakens from death, seeking vengeance. Even as she dishes out retribution, a drowned maiden anguishes over her tragic fate.

Beckoning for Help. The maiden lurks in the silent depths where she died—usually deserted docks, bridges, or coastal cliffs. She waits to pull the living to the same watery grave in which she is now condemned. Using her ability to disguise herself as a living person, she silently beckons victims from afar, acting as if in danger of drowning. When a victim is within range, the maiden uses her hair to pull her victim close enough to drain its strength with a magical kiss. Victims soon weaken and drown.

The victim’s final vision is the drowned maiden’s tearful lament over the loss of life.

Death to Betrayers. Desperate individuals may bargain with drowned maidens. Sometimes maidens release pleading victims who promise to return to her lair with the person who caused the maiden’s death. Embracing and drowning her betrayer releases the maiden from undeath.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Tome of Beasts 1 ©2023 Open Design LLC; Authors: Daniel Kahn, Jeff Lee, and Mike Welham.

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