Heron Priest

Medium humanoid (titanspawn), neutral evil

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
10 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 17 (+3)

Armor Class 11 (14 with mage armor )
Hit Points 22 (5d8)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Constitution +2, Charisma +5
Skills Deception +5, History +2, Insight +4, Persuasion +5
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Termanan, plus any two other languages
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Special Traits

  • Spellcasting. The heron priest is a 5th-level spellcaster. Their spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). They know the following sorcerer spells:
  • Sorcery Points. The heron priest has 5 sorcery points. They can spend 1 or more sorcery points as a bonus action to gain one of the following benefits:
    • Extended Spell: When casting a spell that has a duration of 1 minute or longer, the heron priest can spend 1 sorcery point to double its duration, to a maximum duration of 24 hours.
    • Heightened Spell: When casting a spell that forces a creature to make a saving throw to resist its effects, the heron priest can spend 3 sorcery points to give one target of the spell disadvantage on its first saving throw made against the spell.

Actions

  • Slap. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 (1) bludgeoning damage.

Tactics

Heron priests prefer not to lower themselves to violence, relying on their powers of persuasion to convince enemies not to fight.

Description

Heron priests are birdlike humanoids who serve as clergy and ambassadors for the Jack of Tears. These strange costumed creatures hold embassy for the Laughing Man in foreign lands, acting as recruiters to ensure that the dark krewes are filled to quota. When seen on the streets, they are usually surrounded by two to six merry converts.

On occasion, these priests accompany groups of new recruits on bone boats across the Blood Sea to the Blood Bayou.

Ministers of the Jubilee. Heron priests are seven-foot tall birdfolk with white feathers. They dress in white robes highlighted with colorful embroidery that gives the heron priests the appearance of playing cards. When outside their embassies, these priests wear or hold colorful humanoid masks over their beaked faces to conceal their avian features. While in the streets of their assigned cities, the heron priests preach what they call “the Jubilee,” a call to the depressed and downtrodden to revel in the joy of the carnival. Those who join the Jubilee are loaded into the bone ships of the bone bosuns and sent to where they are hideously transformed and conscripted into the krewes of the Jack of Tears.

Well-Mannered Ministers. The heron priests are well schooled in the arts of deception and etiquette. While each embassy of the Laughing Man is expected to meet certain recruitment quotas, the heron priests do not draw down the ire of the locals by drawing undue attention. A heron priest may be reserved and secretive, politely inviting those interested to discuss the Jubilee in the privacy of the embassy. However, in less restrictive areas the heron priests preach the Jubilee freely with little regard for who might overhear.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Creature Collection 5e Copyright 2020 Onyx Path Publishing, Inc.