Neak Ta

Small fey, neutral good

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 90 (12d6 + 48)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
13 (+1)	19 (+4)	18 (+4)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	19 (+4)

Skills Stealth +7
Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, paralyzed, petrified
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages telepathy 100 ft.
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Immutable Form. The neak ta is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.
• Innate Spellcasting. The neak ta’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • At will: calm emotions, mending, telekinesis
  • 3/day each: create food and water, cure wounds (as a 3rd level spell slot)
  • 1/day each: heroes’ feast
• Regeneration. The neak ta regains 5 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
• Ward. The neak ta has a bound ward that is a community hall, inn, or tavern. While within its ward it can use its Cyclonic Fury and Merge with Ward actions. If the ward is destroyed while the neak ta is bound with it, the neak ta dies. If the ward is destroyed any other time the neak ta loses its Regeneration, Merge with Ward action, and permanently suffers disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The neak ta makes three hurled object attacks.
• Hurled Object. Ranged Spell Attack: +7 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
• Cyclonic Fury (Recharge 5-6). The neak ta magically gathers a mass of debris and loose objects and sets it rapidly swirling in a 20-foot radius around itself. A creature that ends its turn in the area or enters the area for the first time on a turn must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) bludgeoning damage and is blinded until the end of its next turn on a failed save, or half as much damage and isn’t blinded on a successful one. The cyclonic fury lasts for as long as the neak ta maintains concentration (as if concentrating on a spell), for up to 1 minute.
• Merge with Ward. While within or adjacent to its ward, the neak ta can merge with the building. While merged the neak ta is immune to damage and can’t be targeted and can sense the entire interior and surrounding area of the ward with its own senses. It can emerge as an action, appearing in any unoccupied space within or adjacent to its ward.

ABOUT

Neak ta are a type of kami (nature spirit) that dwell in urban areas, particularly smaller settlements based around one particular common building. Neak ta speak telepathically, but can’t make any audible noises, as they lack a mouth. They display their emotions on the billboard-like sign that makes up their face; their emotion appearing as cartoon-like images on the sign. A neak ta is stands 3 feet tall, and weighs around 60 pounds.

Social Anchors. Neak ta bond with community buildings, preferring the jovial nature of an inn or tavern. Multiple neak ta can inhabit a larger edifice, sometimes taking over individual floors of a structure. These larger conglomerations of kami happily refer to themselves as ‘parties’ and do their best to entice visitors to their particular ward. Communities typically develop around the ward of a neak ta, the kami becoming something of an anchor for the development of a settlement.

Neak ta do this unintentionally, simply finding a communal location that appeals to them, and settling into it as a ward, not considering the long-term ramifications for a growing village.

Communal Guardians. The presence of notable oni or other evil creatures is enough to keep a neak ta guarding its ward indefinitely. The tiny creature’s love of the people it protects ensure that it will not leave them if such evils are nearby. Conversely, oni see the ward of neak ta’s as sites of powerful significance, to be defiled as a means of proving their superiority. Yeren oni are the natural enemies of small community (village-sized or smaller) dwelling neak ta.