Devil, Author

Family: Devils

Medium fiend (devil), lawful evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 204 (24d8 + 96)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
14 (+2)	20 (+5)	18 (+4)	21 (+5)	15 (+2)	17 (+3)

Saving Throws Dex +10, Con +9, Wis +7, Cha +8
Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered
Damage Immunities fire, poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Infernal, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 13 (10,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +5

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Magic Resistance. The author devil has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The author devil makes two pen attacks. Then, if it has blood from at least one target, it uses its Hostile Narration ability.
• Pen. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft. and ranged 20/60 ft, one target. Hit: 7 (1d4+5) piercing damage and 16 (3d10) necrotic damage. If a creature takes necrotic damage this way, the author devil’s pens fill with blood from that target. Each pen may only have blood from one creature at a time. If thrown, the pen teleports back to the devil’s hand immediately after the attack.
• Hostile Narration. The author devil writes narration in its book about the creatures whose blood they have. Each creature who blood is in a pen must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be forced to follow the author devil’s narration. This functions as the suggestion spell except the author devil does not need to concentrate on it, and the target can attempt a new saving throw at the end of each turn, ending the effect on a success.

BONUS ACTIONS

• Friendly Narration. One creature within 120 feet of the author devil can use its reaction to move up to half its speed and then make a melee attack.

ABOUT

This gaunt creature is vaguely humanoid but with unnatural features and four arms. The lower pair hold a heavy codex, while the upper two scribble in it with pens. As it does you hear a voice in your mind say, “The hero beheld the devil in all its glorious splendor.” Just as the Fates weave their tapestries of human lives, author devils scribe the exploits of mortals in their dark tomes.

Chroniclers or Authors? While most people think these devils are only recording events as they happen, some evidence suggests the devils can cause things to happen by writing the events in their books. Some even seek out author devils and make dark bargains with them to get them to add lines to their book.

Constant Narrators. Author devils constantly use their telepathy to narrate the actions of those around them as they write in their books. Sometimes this narration includes the thoughts and motives of those acting, though whether these are actual thoughts or just the devil’s interpretations is debated.

If an author devil is killed on its home plane, it leaves behind its book, which functions as a magical item described below.