Gaunt One

Medium aberration, neutral evil

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 75 (10d8 + 30)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	15 (+2)	16 (+3)	15 (+2)	12 (+1)	4 (-3)

Skills Stealth +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages understands Undercommon but can’t speak
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Special Traits

• Keen Hearing. The gaunt one has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.

Actions

• Multiattack. The gaunt one makes two claw attacks. If both attacks hit a Medium or smaller target, the target is grappled (escape DC 14).
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
• Extract Heart. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one humanoid grappled by the gaunt one. Hit: The target must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 22 (5d8) piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If this damage reduces the target to 0 hp, the gaunt one kills the target by extracting and devouring its heart.

Actions

• Multiattack. The greater ghast of Leng makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws. If both claw attacks hit a Medium or smaller target, the target is grappled (escape DC 15). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, the greater ghast can automatically hit the target with its claws, and the greater ghast can’t make claw attacks against other targets.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.
• Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.

About

This corpse-like creature’s flesh is gray, its body is emaciated, and its skin is pulled tight across its skeleton. A strange, writhing tentacle protrudes slightly from its gaping mouth.

Undead Appearance. At first glance, gaunt ones appear to be some form of undead creature, leading many to underestimate them. Their skin is pale, shrunken, and withered, and their teeth are yellow and jagged with receded gums.

Hunger for Hearts. Gaunt ones have an inherent hunger for hearts and often sit quietly for hours, listening for the heartbeats of nearby creatures. A gaunt one grabs hold of its prey and worms its tentaclelike tongue into the creature’s mouth to extract the creature’s heart. Insatiable, a gaunt one continues to eat the hearts of creatures it finds until there is nothing left to harvest. Lacking readily available food, it moves on.