Hag, Gwrach

Family: Hags

Medium fey (hag), chaotic evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 126 (16d8 + 32)
Speed 30 ft., 60 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	16 (+3)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)	16 (+3)	20 (+5)

Skills Perception +6, Stealth +6
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 16
Languages Common
Proficiency Bonus +3
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Ethereal Sight. The gwrach can see 60 feet into the Ethereal Plane when it is on the Material Plane, and vice versa.
• Fey Ancestry. The fey has advantage on saving throws against being charmed and can’t be put to sleep magically.
• Incorporeal Movement. The gwrach can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
• Keen Hearing. The gwrach has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The gwrach makes three melee attacks, only one of which can be a Bite attack.
• Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage. Instead of dealing damage, the gwrach can grapple the target (escape DC 15).
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing creature, or a creature that is grappled by the gwrach, incapacitated, or restrained. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. If the target is humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 16 Charisma saving throw or be charmed by the gwrach for 1 minute. While charmed in this way, the target is infatuated with the gwrach. The target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and the gwrach regains hit points equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if its hit point maximum is reduced to 0.
• Paralyzing Gaze. The gwrach targets one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. If the target can see the gwrach, it must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If the target’s saving throw is successful, or if the effect ends on it, the target is immune to this yeti’s gaze for 1 hour.
• Invisibility (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The gwrach magically turns invisible until it attacks, casts a spell, or until its concentration is broken, up to 1 hour (as if concentrating on a spell). Any equipment the gwrach wears or carries is invisible with it.
• Keening Wail. Once per day, the gwrach can emit a keening wail. Each creature within 30 feet of the gwrach must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a target’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to the gwrach’s Keening Wail for the next 24 hours.

ABOUT

The gwrach is a horrifying undead creature with a harpy-like appearance. She appears as an emaciated, hideous woman with long, knotted black hair, bone-thin arms and legs, a pallid, corpse-like complexion, and tattered leather wings.

The gwrach is a feared hag associated with impending death. She is often found near water sources, such as rivers, streams, or crossroads, lurking in the shadows and waiting to make her presence known to her unfortunate victims.

The appearance of a gwrach is a terrifying omen, warning individuals of their imminent demise or the death of someone close to them. She is known to suddenly leap from hiding and startle her victims, causing them to feel a sense of dread. Sometimes she silently stalks her targets, making them feel uneasy until she chooses the moment to reveal herself.

When the victim finally locks eyes with her, the gwrach presents herself in all her horrible glory and unleashes a blood-curdling shriek. The cries of “My husband! My husband!” or “My child! My little child!” resonate with haunting finality.

Despite her chilling calls that mourn the loss of a child, she harbors a more sinister aspect. She takes delight in capturing and drinking the blood of young children, but she does not kill them. Instead, she leaves them terrified and drained of blood, often appearing pale and sickly when they return home. There are even tales of her directly visiting cribs to feed on the blood of babies, causing them to grow weaker and sicker over time.

The gwrach is not invulnerable and can be repelled with physical force, making it the only way to ward her off or protect others from her dark intentions.