Wag-By-The-Way

Tiny fey (familiar), neutral good

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 21 (6d4 + 6)
Speed 25 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
3 (-4)	16 (+3)	12 (+1)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)

Skills Perception +4, Stealth +5
Damage Vulnerabilities cold
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Sylvan
Proficiency Bonus +2
Challenge 1/4 (25 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Familiar. The wag-by-the way can serve another creature as a familiar, forming a telepathic bond with its willing master, provided that the master is at least a 3rd-level spellcaster. While the two are bonded, the master can sense what the wag-by-the way senses as long as they are within 1 mile of each other. If its master causes it physical harm, the wag-by-the way will end its service as a familiar, breaking the telepathic bond.
• Fey Ancestry. The fey has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put it to sleep.
• Innate Spellcasting. The wag-by-the-way’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 11). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • At will: minor illusion, mage hand
  • 3/day each: prestidigitation, dancing lights
• Susceptible to Holy Symbols. While the wag-by-the-way is wearing or touching a holy symbol, it automatically fails saving throws against effects that turn Fey.
• Tail Wagger. The wag-by-the-way’s tail wags incessantly. The wag-by-the-way has advantage on ability checks and saving throws made against effects that would knock it prone or shove it.

ACTIONS

• Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
• Disapproving Cough. The way-by-the-way coughs with disapproval. Each creature of the wag-by-the way’s choice that is within 60 feet of the wag-by-the way and can hear its cough must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the wag-by-the way’s Disapproving Cough for the next 24 hours.

ABOUT

Wag-by-the-way is a tiny humanoid creature with the appearance of an old man, though greatly reduced in size. Its legs are short and crooked, and it possesses a long, catlike tail that constantly wags. It wears blue breeches and a red coat, and sometimes a pirnicap on its head.

The wag-by-the-way is a reclusive and diminutive fey creature that resides in the hearths of human homes, acting as a guardian and protector. They are known to inhabit the borderlands, hidden away in the hearths of ancient castles.

Wag-by-the-way serves as a guardian of the household it adopts, looking after the safety, health, and well-being of its human family. It is usually friendly, though it can be antagonistic to guests who don’t adhere to good manners. It performs domestic duties and tends to the hearth, as its cold-blooded nature requires proximity to warmth.