Traitor’s Heart

Medium undead, neutral evil

Armor Class 14
Hit Points 69 (9d8+18)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	12 (+1)	15 (+2)	8 (-1)	10 (+0)	10 (+0)

Saving Throws Con +4
Damage Resistance bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses blindsight 30ft, passive Perception 10
Languages None
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Special Traits

• Dreadful Beat. Each non-undead creature within 60 feet of the traitor’s heart that can hear it must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1d4 rounds. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the condition on itself on a success. If a target’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to this traitor’s heart’s Dreadful Beat for the next 24 hours.

Actions

• Betrayer’s Pulse. The traitor’s heart targets one creature it can sense within 30 ft. of it. A pulse emanates from the physical heart and engulfs the target, who must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma saving throw against this magic or immediately attack its closest ally. If the target fails the saving throw by 5 or more, it also must flee for 1d4 rounds. A target that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to the Betrayer’s Pulse for the next 24 hours.
• Multiattack. The traitor’s heart can use its Betrayer’s Pulse and make one attack with its spectral fist.
• Spectral Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.

About

A desiccated and blackened heart beats unnaturally within a spectral humanoid form. On every beat, sickly green energy crackles down an ethereal network of veins and arteries, illuminating the body the heart once lived within.

Spontaneously created in areas of overwhelming eldritch power when a traitor’s heart is cut from a corpse and buried upside down in a shallow grave.

The grave, resonant rhythm of the undead heart is unnaturally loud and can strike fear in even the stoutest hero.