Alseid

Medium monstrosity, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 14 (leather armor)
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
Speed 40 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 8 (-1) 16 (+3) 8 (-1)

Skills Nature +3, Perception +5, Stealth +5, Survival +5
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Common, Elvish, Sylvan
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Woodfriend. When in a forest, the alseid leaves no tracks and automatically discerns true north.

ACTIONS

  • Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage, or 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack.
  • Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

ABOUT

Alseids are the graceful woodland cousins to centaurs, with the slender upper body of an elf and the lower body of a deer. Because they are rarely seen far from the wooded glades they call home, they are sometimes called “grove nymphs,” despite being more closely related to elves than nymphs.

Forest Guardians. Alseids see the forest as an individual and a friend. They are suspicious of outsiders who do not share this view. Lost travelers who demonstrate respect for the forest may spot a distant alseid’s white tail; if they chase after it as it bounds away, the sympathetic alseid may lead it toward a road or trail that can carry them out of the forest. Disrespectful strangers may follow the same tail to their doom. Alseids have no compunction about slaughtering trespassers who burn or cut down their forest.

Antlers Show Status. Alseids have antlers growing from their foreheads. These antlers grow very slowly, branching every 10 years for the first century of life. Further points develop only with the blessing of the forest. No fourteen-point imperial alseids are known to exist, but many tribes are governed by princes with thirteen points. Because antlers signify status, alseids never use them in combat. Cutting an alseid’s antlers entirely off or just removing points is a humiliating and grave punishment.

White-Tailed Wanderers. Alseids have a deep connection with forest magic of all kinds, and their leaders favor the druid and ranger classes.

Variant: Alseid Grovekeeper

An alseid grovekeeper has a challenge rating of 2 (450 XP).

Grovekeepers carry the wrath of their primordial home against those who threaten it. The grovekeeper speaks Druidic and has 49 (9d8 + 9) hp. In addition, it gains the following actions in place of the alseid’s Spear and Shortbow:

  • Multiattack. The alseid makes two Thorned Staff or Thorn Bolt attacks. It can replace one attack with a use of Spellcasting.
  • Thorned Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage plus 5 (2d4) piercing damage.
  • Thorn Bolt. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) piercing damage.
  • Spellcasting. The grovekeeper casts one of the following spells, using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 13):
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Tome of Beasts 1 ©2023 Open Design LLC; Authors: Daniel Kahn, Jeff Lee, and Mike Welham.

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