Shinen-Gaki

Medium undead, chaotic evil

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 55 (10d8 + 10)
Speed 0 ft., fly 20 ft. (fly 40 ft. in fiery form)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	17 (+3)	12 (+1)	11 (+0)	12 (+1)	8 (?1)

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities fire, necrotic, poison
Damage Vulnerabilities cold
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, unconscious
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Common, but can’t speak
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Regeneration. The gaki regains 4 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
• Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the shinen-gaki has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight. It cannot use its Circle Aflame ability and creatures in sunlight have advantage on their saving throw against its Burning Tendril.

ACTIONS

• Burning Tendril. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 3 (1d6) slashing damage and 3 (1d6) fire damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw or catch on fire, taking 1d6 fire damage at the beginning of each of its turns for 1d4 rounds. A creature can use an action to attempt a new saving throw to put out the flames, with advantage on the saving throw if they are prone.
• Circle Aflame (Recharges 5-6). The shinen-gaki can move up to its speed, leaving behind a trail of fire in its path. This trail of fire deals 1d6 fire damage to creatures entering it or beginning their turn within it, and any creature damaged by it must make a Dexterity save as if struck by the shinengaki’s
• Burning Tendril. The Circle Aflame lasts 1d4 rounds before burning itself out.
• Fiery Form. The shinen-gaki can turn into a Small ball of flame with a fly speed of 40 ft. In this form, its Burning Tendril deals no slashing damage.

ABOUT

Gaki are the restless spirits of wicked mortals that are condemned to wander the land of the living in the form of misshapen monstrosities as cosmic punishment for their sins. The exact appearance of each gaki varies based on their home culture and the nature of their crimes, but there are several common categories into which they fall.

Jikki-Nikki-Gaki. Spirits of greed, avarice, and gluttony, jikki nikki-gaki retain their basically humanoid form but their flesh is rotten and repulsive, pallid and flaking. Some are bloated and corpulent as a mark of their eternal gluttony, while others are emaciated as through forever starving with a hunger that cannot be satisfied.

Shikki-Gaki. Spirits of faithless and negligent servants, herbalists, healers, and gardeners, and sometimes even the corrupted remnants of kami or other nature spirits, these unfortunates are accursed for the sins of sloth and cruel indifference to the suffering of those around them.

Shinen-Gaki. Spirits of cowardly or treacherous soldiers who abandoned their posts or betrayed their allies, shinen-gaki are most active at night. They resemble burning skeletons, writhing in anger and terror at the same time, but their feet never quite touch the ground as they float on a draft of smoke.

Sunlight causes their fires to grow dim and ashen, and they typically hide themselves during daylight hours. By night, they can transform into hovering balls of flame, often yellow, white, red, or even blue. These burning lights may mislead or attract the attention of the unwary, but close inspection reveals a handful of black spots floating at the center of their fiery mass, like eyespots or even an anguished skull-like mask.