Smoke Guardian

Large aberration, neutral evil

Armor Class 16
Hit Points 19 (2d10 +12)
Speed 10 ft., fly 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	18 (+4)	13 (+1)	7 (-2)	12 (+1)	7 (-2)

Damage Resistances Acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical weapons.

Damage Immunities Poisoned
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Understands common and the language of its creator; speaks none.
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

ACTIONS

• Grapple. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6+2) bludgeoning damage and opponent grappled and constricted.
• Constriction. A successful attack by the smoke guardian can lead to a constriction attack. In the round following the successful attack, the victim must make a Strength save (DC 12). If this save fails, the victim is constricted by the guardian for 2d6 points of damage per round. A victim can make additional Strength saves every round to escape constriction, but escape becomes more difficult as the creature tightens its grip. The DC to escape the grapple, therefore, increases by 2 for each round after the first that the victim is constricted.

ABOUT

These creatures are magical in nature and are born only from certain ceremonial candles used by the lords of law and evil. These candles, always green in color, put forth a faded green light and smoke incessantly. The smoke gathers above the candles, never moving many feet from them unless a powerful wind is blowing. If left alone for several hours, the smoke takes on a sentience born of the evil imparted into the candles. The user of the candles is then able to communicate basic commands to these creatures, instructing them as guards or assassins.

Constant Guardians. These creatures are rare and almost always used as guardians of rooms, portals, treasure, and the like. Once they attune themselves to an area, they remain there until dispelled or destroyed. They are always given a command word that drives them back, as they are not always able to discern master from foe.

Dim-Witted and Deliberate. The smoke guardian is slow, both mentally and physically. It always takes it a round or two to realize that intruders have entered its protected area. Once noticed, however, the smoky cloud descends upon its victim, attacking anyone that falls into its grasp. The smoky guardian can attack up to four targets in a 12-foot area simultaneously, trying to constrict each target separately. It attacks by coiling tendrils of thick smoke around the victim, lifting him off the ground a few feet and squeezing him until he is crushed to death.