River King

Family: Fey Lords

Medium fey, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 190 (20d8 + 100)
Speed 30 ft., swim 60 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
21 (+5)	17 (+3)	20 (+5)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)	17 (+3)

Saving Throws Dex +8, Con +10, Wis +6
Skills Intimidation +8, Nature +7, Perception +6, Stealth +8
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with cold iron weapons
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened
Senses blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Common, Elvish, Giant, Primordial
Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +5

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Amphibious. The River King can breathe air and water.
• Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the River King fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
• Riparian Weapons. The River King’s weapon attacks are magical. When he hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 10 (3d6) poison damage (included in the attack).

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The River King makes two Longsword or Flood Blast attacks.
• Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) slashing damage, or 10 (1d10 + 5) slashing damage if used with two hands, plus 10 (3d6) poison damage.
• Flood Blast. Ranged Spell Attack: +8 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (4d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 30 feet away from the River King and forced prone.
• Grasping Whirlpool (Recharge 5-6). The River King magically creates a swirling vortex of water centered on a point he can see within 60 feet. The vortex appears in the shape of a cylinder that is 15 feet tall with a 10-foot radius. Each creature in the area must make a DC 18 Strength saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 36 (8d8) bludgeoning damage and is restrained. On a success, a creature takes half the damage, isn’t restrained, and can choose to be pushed out of the whirlpool’s space. A creature that chooses not to be pushed suffers the consequences of a failed saving throw. While restrained, a creature is unable to breathe unless it can breathe water, and it must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw at the end of each of its turns or take 18 (4d8) bludgeoning damage. A creature, including the restrained creature, can take an action to free the restrained creature by succeeding on a DC 18 Strength check. A creature with a swimming speed has advantage on the saving throw and on the Strength check to escape.
• Spellcasting. The River King casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (save DC 16):
  • At will: create or destroy water, water breathing
  • 3/day each: freedom of movement, control water
  • 1/day: control weather (as an action)

REACTIONS

• Blade Current. When a creature within 5 feet of the River King stands up from prone, he can make one Longsword attack against that creature.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS

The River King can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The River King regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

• Attack. The River King makes a Longsword or Flood Blast attack.
• Flow. The River King moves up to his walking speed, or swims up to half his swimming speed, without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Ripple (Costs 2 Actions). The River King magically ripples like sunlight on the surface of water. Until the start of his next turn, attack rolls against him have disadvantage.

LAIR

The Court of the River King is a pair of small islands in the middle of a wide, swift river that flows from the mortal realm through a dimension of fey magic. The western keep houses servants, and the eastern is built above the Great Rippling Hall. The Great Rippling Hall is a bubble whose walls and ceiling are the river itself. A driftwood throne dominates the main hall.

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the River King takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the River King can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

• Flash Flooding. The fey river swells and rushes over the land, or the walls of the Hall buckle and allow the torrent in. A 60-foot line of water that is 10 feet wide rushes from a point on a wall the River King can see within 60 feet of him. Each creature in the line must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 20 feet away from the point on the wall, in the direction of the water’s flow, and take 9 (2d8) bludgeoning damage.
• Invoke Drowning. River water fills the mouth and throat of one creature the River King can see within 60 feet of him. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or begin suffocating. A suffocating but conscious target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Any creature can take an action to force the water from the target’s lungs by succeeding on a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check, ending the effect. Otherwise, the effect lasts until the River King uses this lair action again or until the River King dies.
• Imperial Impression. The River King’s commanding and elegant presence in his magnificent lair overwhelms one creature he can see within 120 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Charisma saving throw or be charmed by the River King until initiative count 20 on the next round.

REGIONAL EFFECTS

The region containing the River King’s lair is warped by his magic, which creates one or more of the following effects:

• Rushing Rapids. The currents of rivers and streams within 3 miles of the lair become strong and erratic. Each creature swimming in these rivers and streams has disadvantage on Strength (Athletics) checks to swim, unless it has a swimming speed.
• Stormy Weather. Rain and thunderstorms are common within 6 miles of the lair, and they often build to torrential downpours that obscure vision and cause waterways to overflow their banks.
• Well-Stocked Waterways. Lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams within 10 miles of the lair teem with fish and other wildlife. If the River King dies, these effects fade over the course of 1d10 days.

ABOUT

This powerfully muscled elf lord wears a cloak of foam-trimmed dark blue and a vest of woven green reeds and willow branches.

His crown shines like the sun on a lake, and his flowing hair curls and moves even when there is no wind. An orb of blue light that ripples like water circles his hand.

The River King is a stern ruler with a great love for his people and a quick temper for those who threaten his domain. As much a force of nature as he is a monarch, the River King is known to sometimes forget promises that were made in sincerity, and dealing with him can be perilous at the best of times. “The river may change its course when it wills” is the usual expression among his court when His Rippling Majesty has had a sudden change of heart.