Dream Stalker

Medium fiend (demon), neutral evil

Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit points 102 (12d8 + 48)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
19 (+4)	12 (+1)	18 (+4)	11 (+0)	15 (+2)	16 (+3)

Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned
Skills Deception +6, Insight +5, Intimidation +6, Perception +5, Stealth +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Common
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

Special Traits

• Aura of Nightmares. When any other creature that isn’t undead or a construct starts its turn within 30 feet of the dream stalker, that creature must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or take 11 (2d10) psychic damage. Magic Weapons. The dream stalker’s weapon attacks are magical.

Actions

• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
• Invoke Nightmare (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The dream stalker taps into the nightmares of a creature it can see within 60 feet of it and creates an illusory, immobile manifestation of the creature’s deepest fears, visible only to that creature. The target must make a DC 11 Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 11 (2d10) psychic damage and is frightened of the manifestation, believing it to be real. The dream stalker must concentrate to maintain the illusion (as if concentrating on a spell), which lasts for up to 1 minute and can’t be harmed. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the illusion on a success, or taking 11 (2d10) psychic damage on a failure.
• Nightmare Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 17 (4d6 + 3) psychic damage. If the target is unconscious, it takes an extra 10 (3d6) psychic damage and is cursed until the dream stalker dies or the curse is removed. The cursed creature’s hit point maximum decreases by 5 (1d10) whenever it finishes a long rest.

Reactions

• Dream Eater. When an unconscious creature the dream stalker can see within 30 feet of it regains consciousness, the dream stalker can force the creature to make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw. Unless the save succeeds, the creature takes 11 (2d10) psychic damage, and the dream stalker regains hit points equal to the amount of damage taken.

About

The horrible, scarred form of a burned man dressed in a fedora comes creeping towards you, humming to itself.

Dream stalkers are the souls of murders who have died by being burned to death. With such a particular set of circumstances, dream stalkers are very rare. It’s a good thing too, as they are incredibly powerful and extremely difficult to combat.

Dream stalkers are cowards at heart, preferring to strike at the weak and helpless. Dream stalkers are especially fond of playing with their victims, appearing as loved ones in dreams, only to turn on the dreamer.