Ccoa

Tiny elemental, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 18 (natural)
Hit Points 64 (16d4 + 32)
Speed 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (cloud-form only)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	23 (+6)	14 (+2)	17 (+3)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)

Saving Throws Dex +9, Int +6, Wis +5
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Auran, Common
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Shapechanger. The ccoa can use its action to polymorph into the form of a dark storm cloud or back to its cat-like form. In cloud form, the ccoa appears as a swirling 10-foot-tall black storm cloud with a 30-foot radius. The cloud form has a fly speed of 40 ft., can move through a hostile creature’s space and stop there, and move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.
• Regeneration (cloud Form Only). While in cloud form, the ccoa regenerates damage taken. The ccoa regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn. The ccoa only dies if it is slain in cat-form.

ACTIONS

• Bite (Cat-Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage. The target must also make a DC 16 Charisma save or become overwhelmed by hopelessness for 1 minute. During this time, the target cannot attack or target any creature with harmful Abilities, Spells, or other magical Effects.
• Ice Stare (Cat-Form Only). The ccoa can set its otherworldly gaze on a single target within 60 feet causing patches of ice to crystallize on its exposed flesh. The crystallized patches deal 22 (5d8) points of cold damage and reduce the target’s speed by 10 feet until the start of its next turn. A successful DC 16 Constitution save halves the damage and the target’s movement is unaffected.
• Hailstorm (Cloud-form only). Ranged Spell Attack: +10 to hit, 120 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (3d6) bludgeoning plus 14 (3d6) cold damage.
• Lightning Blast (Recharge 5-6). While in cloud form, the ccoa can target a single creature within any space it occupies with a bolt of lightning. The targeted creature and each creature within 5 feet of that point must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 27 (5d10) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Outdoors in stormy conditions, the damage increases to 38 (7d10) lightning damage.

REACTIONS

• Vaporize (Recharge 5-6). If an opponent successfully strikes the ccoa’s cat-form, the creature can use a reaction to vaporize itself, instantaneously assuming its cloud form and ignoring any damage from the attack.

ABOUT

Ccoa are tiny shape-changing beings that manifest from dark storm clouds that roam the lofty peaks marking the sacred rifts through which mortals attempt to cross into the spirit kingdoms. When confronting mortals, these dark clouds coalesce into small, feline creatures. Slightly larger than a cat but more bestial in appearance, the ccoa is covered with a thick coat of coarse gray fur streaked with black stripes that run the length of its torso. Eerily, its eyes glow with a soft green phosphorescence and its long jaws grimace with rows of broad pointed teeth or less frequently, small tusks.

Supernatural Agents. Some ccoa act as agents for more powerful spirits or gods; others mask their allegiances and intentions. They enjoy teasing and toying with mortals when they enter their domains, even those that share an alliance with their spirit masters. They are intolerant of trespassers, and upon first sighting them, attempt to drive them off or even slay them. Some ccoas enter pacts with priests or warlocks, viewing them as channeling the same eldritch powers they themselves wield.

Mercurial Extortionists. Ccoas frequently use their powers to humble the efforts of civilized folk by sweeping through fields and villages and demolishing homes and crops. Mortals can attempt to appease a ccoa’s malicious behavior by presenting it with offerings and gifts; however, ccoas are mercurial creatures that may as graciously accept or violently reject an identical offering from one moment to the next. Some may ask for precious metals, incense, or wine, while others demand obscure items like a couatl feather or a baby’s tears; rarely can mortals simply guess the object of the ccoa’s desire. Failure to deliver the offering earns the ccoa’s wrath, but if the gift is delivered before sunset the following day, the ccoa grants its boon, such as exposing an enemy’s weakness, aiding it in combat, blessing a harvest, influencing the weather, or revealing an unknown location or forgotten secret.