Pennagalen

Medium undead, neutral evil

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 45 (7d8 + 14)
Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	16 (+3)	14 (+2)	6 (-2)	12 (+1)	10 (+0)

Saving Throws Wisdom +3
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities frightened, poisoned, prone
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Special Traits

• Exit Host. As a bonus action, the pennagalen exits its host body. Each creature within 20 feet of it that can see it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to this feature for the next 24 hours.
• Poisonous Blood. When a pennagalen or its empty host body takes piercing or slashing damage, each creature within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 4 (1d8) poison damage. A creature that fails its saving throw by 5 or more is also poisoned for 1 minute.
• Regeneration (host form only). The pennagalen regains 2 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
• Sunlight Sensitivity (true form only). While in sunlight, the pennagalen has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
• Undead Nature. A pennagalen doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Actions

• Club (host form only). Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) bludgeoning damage.
• Draining Bite (true form only). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (3d6 + 3) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the creature finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0. A humanoid slain by this attack rises 24 hours later as a pennagalen under this pennagalen’s control, unless the humanoid is restored to life, its body is destroyed, or the pennagalen uses the body as a host body. The pennagalen can have only one pennagalen under its control at a time. If another humanoid rises as a pennagalen, the control of the previous pennagalen ends.
• Inhabit Host (true form only). The pennagalen inhabits its bonded host body if the body is within 5 feet of it. Its statistics remain the same while inhabiting its host body. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying falls to the ground within 5 feet of the host body. While connected to its host body, the pennagalen doesn’t detect as undead when under the scrutiny of features such as a paladin’s Divine Sense or spells such as detect evil and good. In addition, it slowly regains lost hit points, it loses its Sunlight Sensitivity trait, and it can’t use its Draining Bite when inhabiting its host body. While it is outside its host body, the host body is a hollow lump of dead flesh which can be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 20; resistance to bludgeoning damage; immunity to psychic damage). If the pennagalen’s host body is destroyed while it is outside of the body, it can bind itself to a new host body by spending 2 hours consuming the head and entrails of a dead humanoid.