Deadman’s Fingers Leshy

Family: Leshy

Huge plant (leshy), undead, neutral

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
HP 55 (10d6+20)
Speed 30 ft., Burrow 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
19 (+4)	9 (-1)	17 (+3)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)

Saving Throws Str +6, Con +4
Skills Athletics +8, Nature +4, Stealth +7 (+8 in fields)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common, Druidic, Sylvan
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Plant Speech. dead plants and fungi
• Plant Form. Small deadman’s fingers mushroom
• Verdant Burst. When the Deadman’s Fingers leshy dies, a burst of primal energy explodes from its body, restoring 13 (3d8) hit points to each fungal creature in a 30-foot radius. This area immediately fills with deadman’s fingers, becoming difficult terrain. If the terrain is not viable for these fungi, they wither after 24 hours.
• Buried Grasp When burrowing, the leshy always keeps at least one finger above ground. While buried in such a way, it gains +2 to its AC and has advantage on grapple checks.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The Deadman’s Fingers leshy attacks three times as an action using either its Necrotic Fingers or Spore Pod attacks.
• Necrotic Fingers. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) bludgeoning damage. On a hit, the target is grappled (escape DC 13). The leshy can only grapple one creature at a time using this attack.
• Spore Pod. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/90 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning damage plus 3 (1d6) poison damage.
• Drag Below While the leshy has a creature of Medium or smaller size grappled, it burrows below the ground’s surface, dragging the grappled creature with it. The creature must hold its breath or start suffocating. If the creature escapes the grapple, it is prone and may escape the earth by using an action.

ABOUT

While not a poisonous or dangerous fungus, the deadman’s fingers nonetheless evoke fear in those that happen across it. The fruiting body of this fungus resembles decaying fingers pushing through the earth, perhaps looking to escape a shallow grave or lying in wait to claim a new victim.

Despite being a largely benign fungus, the association with death and the occult makes the Deadman’s Fingers leshy a popular familiar among the more gothically-inclined magicians. While these leshies prefer to feed on decaying plant matter, when needed they will take matters into their own hands, dragging creatures to an early grave for decomposition.

The scientific name for this fungus – Xylaria polymorpha – refers to the many different forms and shapes the fingers take during the fungus’s life cycle. This morphing ability is reflected in the leshies as well, beyond the normal leshy shapeshifting. The leshy’s fingers may swell at certain times, change color from black to blue, and sprout additional fingers over time.

Druids and scholars alike still argue over the ability of a dandelion to make a wish come true. It is even more unclear if a Dandelion leshy possesses any of this power, or how to access it.

Do you kill the leshy and spread its seeds? Do you allow its seedhead to take flight, bringing your wish along with it? Maybe it is as simple as asking nicely and convincing this proud creature of your need.