Abhartach

Medium undead (dwarf), chaotic evil

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 102 (12d8 + 48)
Speed 25 ft.

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

Skills Perception +5, Stealth +5
Saving Throws Str +8, Con +8, Cha +7
Damage Resistances fire, necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t wood
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive perception 15
Languages Common, Dwarvish
Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Buried Upside-Down. If the abhartach is buried upside-down while it is incapacitated in its resting place, the abhartach is paralyzed until it is moved right-side up.
• Innate Spellcasting. The abhartach s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15). The abhartach can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • At will: minor illusion
  • 3/day each: magic weapon, stone shape
  • 1/day each: divination, invisibility
• Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the abhartach fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
• Regeneration. The abhartach regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn’t in sunlight or running water. If the abhartach takes radiant damage or damage from holy water, this trait doesn’t function at the start of its next turn.
• Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the abhartach has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
• Turn Immunity. The abhartach is immune to effects that turn undead.
• Undead Nature. The abhartach doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The abhartach makes two attacks, either with its Bite or its Battleaxe
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage. The target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and the abhartach regains hit points equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.
• Battleaxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage or 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage if used with two hands.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS

The abhartach can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The abhartach regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Move. The abhartach moves up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Bite (Costs 2 Actions). The abhartach makes one bite attack.
• Horrifying Gaze (Costs 3 Actions). The abhartach fixes its gaze on one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

LAIR ACTIONS

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the abhartach can take a lair action to cause one of the following magical effects:

• Dark Miasma. The abhartach releases a dark miasma in a 20-foot radius centered on itself. The area becomes heavily obscured for 1 minute, or until the abhartach is destroyed, dispelled, or uses a bonus action to end it.
• Grasping Shadows. The abhartach summons shadowy tendrils that extend from the ground in a 20-foot radius centered on a point within 60 feet of it. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be restrained by the shadows until the end of their next turn.
• Shadow Step. The abhartach magically teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space of dim light or darkness that it can see.

ABOUT

This dwarf stands about four feet tall, with pale skin and sharp fangs protruding from its mouth. Its eyes glow with an eerie red hue, and it is clad in tattered garments.

The abhartach (AV-har-TATCH) is an undead creature known as a vampire dwarf. According to legends, the abhartach was a cruel dwarf possessing powerful magic. After being killed and buried, it returned each time more evil than before, terrorizing the local populace. Desperate to end its reign of terror, the chieftain sought advice from a druid. They learned that the abhartach could be permanently defeated by killing it again and burying it upside down.

The abhartach has an insatiable thirst for blood and will demand sacrifices from local villagers. They seek out subterranean lairs, favoring deep and dark places. Abhartachs are introverted creatures, rarely seeking contact with their own kind or other creatures. The undead existence of an abhartach fills it with misery, and it spreads death and suffering in an attempt to alleviate its own torment. They have an intense cultural hatred of the undead and despise what they have become.

Abhartachs are formidable combatants, skilled in wielding weapons and draining the life force of their victims. They relish combat and often engage opponents simply for the love of battle. Their physical strength and enhanced abilities make them deadly adversaries.