The Black Breath

Medium undead, unaligned

Armor Class 11
Hit Points 11 (2d8+2)
Speed 0 ft., fly 20 ft. (hover)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
10 (+0) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 1 (-5) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)

Damage Resistances acid; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, unconscious
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 11
Languages
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Air Form. When the creature assumes its air form, it becomes a human-sized cloud of acrid purple smoke. The black breath can enter a hostile creature’s space and stop there. It can move through a space as narrow as 1-inch wide without squeezing.
  • Droplet Form. The black breath is invisible in its droplet form. Once activated, the creature appears as a dark purple mist. A character trying to locate the creature in droplet form must succeed at a DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check. On a success, they realize there is some form of magical trap. On a failure, they trigger the creature to assume its air form and attack.

ACTIONS

  • Paralyzing Acidic Breath. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1 acid damage. When the black breath attacks a creature, if the target is a creature other than an undead, it must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw. If the save is failed, the creature flies into the target’s mouth and fills its lungs. The target is immediately paralyzed and takes an additional 3 (1d6) points of acid damage. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect and expelling the black breath on a success. For each round the victim is paralyzed, the victim takes 3 (1d6) acid damage as the breath begins to eat the victim’s vital organs. A remove curse, dispel magic, or lesser restoration cures the victim’s paralysis and expels the black breath. When being expelled this way, the black breath must make a Constitution saving throw versus the caster’s DC or be destroyed.

ABOUT

Dark Creation. Created by dark magic, the black breath is a creature of necrotic energy. When created, the black breath contains a drop of its creator’s blood and appears as a small, invisible gel. The creature remains inert until it is rubbed on a location or object it is meant to guard. It can then assume its air form and attack. These creatures have tremendous value and are occasionally found on the open market, where they bring anywhere from 500 gp – 1,000 gp.

Relentless Guardian. The black breath exists for the sole purpose of guarding a location or object and will do so forever. Once activated, the creature will not stop attacking until either there are no living creatures it can detect, or it is destroyed. Only after it has killed or driven off all intruders can the creature again assume its droplet form to await the next intrusion.

Solitary Hunter. There can only be one black breath in an area. Should there be more than one, the creatures simply meld together into a single creature.

Undead Nature. A black breath doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

5th Edition Monsters & Treasure of Airhde, 1st Printing, Copyright 2021, Troll Lord Games; Author Stephen Chenault & Jason Vey

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