Thornling

Medium plant, unaligned

Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 11 (2d8 + 2)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	12 (+1)	13 (+1)	4 (-3)	8 (-1)	3 (-4)

Condition Immunities blinded, deafened
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius)
Languages understands Sylvan but can’t speak
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• False Appearance. While the thornling remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal thorn bush.
• Mask of the Fey Wild. The thornling can attempt to hide even when it is only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena.

ACTIONS

• Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (2d4 + 1) piercing damage.
• Barbs. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d6 + 1) piercing damage.
• Thorn Burst (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The ground in a 20-foot radius centered on the thornling sprouts spikes and thorns. The area becomes difficult terrain for 1 minute. The thornling cannot move until the effect ends. If the thornling dies, the thorns wither away and the effect ends. When a creature moves into or within the area, it takes 5 (2d4) piercing damage for every 5 feet it travels. The transformation of the ground is camouflaged to look natural. Any creature that can’t see the area at the time the plants appear must make a DC 10 Wisdom (Perception) check to recognize the terrain as hazardous before entering it.

ABOUT

Thornlings appear to be little more than a jumble of thorny vines. These proud fey regard themselves rulers over plant-kind, and cultivate beautiful gardens wherever they choose to settle. Though their vines usually bear only thorns, thornlings sometimes sprout a few tiny flowers on their bodies during the spring. Thornlings in bloom can present a very strange sight to passers-by, as they tend to sprout many different types of exotic flowers at the same time.

Ghastly Rumors. For reasons unknown, thornlings tend to favor planting themselves in and around abandoned homes, farms, and keeps. Left undisturbed, these fey aid in the growth of thorn bushes and vines, covering their claimed properties almost completely in a halo of sharp thorns.

Protective of their gardens, thornlings will lash out at creatures that wander too close to their homes, causing all manner of barbed and entangling plants to sprout from the surrounding area. These sudden and violent growths around destitute buildings lead to rumors of haunting. Clerics that come to face the rumored undead are often caught off guard when they find themselves unable to turn the possessed plants.