Gryllus, Preening

Medium fiend, neutral evil

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 45 (7d8 + 14)
Speed 25 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
12 (+1) 8 (–1) 15 (+2) 9 (–1) 10 (+0) 15 (+2)

Damage Resistances thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities exhaustion
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Abyssal, Common, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Brass Head. A gryllus requires its brass head as a focus for its innate spells. If this brass head is removed or destroyed, the gryllus cannot use its innate spellcasting until it acquires a new one and mounts it on its back. A gryllus generally keeps its brass head strapped to its back so tightly that any ability check to remove it is made with disadvantage.
  • Innate Spellcasting. The preening gryllus’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). The gryllus can innately cast the following spells, requiring its brass head as the only material component.
    • At will: detect magic, sanctuary
    • 1/day each: command, healing word (2nd level)

ACTIONS

  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage and the target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or contract skinshine (page 124).
  • Bark. Ranged Spell Attack: +4 to hit, range 50 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (4d6) thunder damage and each creature within 5 feet of the target (including the target) must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

ABOUT

The lowest class of gryllus are those that have few minions and no prestige among their kin. These grylluses attempt to remedy this lack with increased attention to their appearance. They wear the most opulent clothing they can find, even if it’s torn or bloodstained. Preening grylluses possess less power and less magic than grylluses of higher castes, and they are acutely aware of their deficiencies. This leads them to plan particularly inventive atrocities in the hopes of gaining more attention and higher status, but their plans often go awry due to their lack of foresight and poor impulse control. Their furious rages at their own failure to advance make preening grylluses poor leaders and dangerous allies. This horridly deformed creature walks on thick human legs sprouting from the side of an arched torso. Its face is a toothy maw beneath piggish eyes. The creature is draped in a bizarre collection of fine fabrics, beneath a brass humanoid head strapped to its humped back.

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Sandy Petersen’s Planet Apocalypse, © 2021, Petersen Games.

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