Shadow Raven

Tiny beast (titanspawn), neutral

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
2 (-4)	15 (+2)	10 (+0)	10 (+0)	13 (+1)	11 (+0)

Armor Class 12
Hit Points 2 (1d4)
Speed 10 ft., fly 50 ft.
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Titan Speech
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

Special Traits

• Gift of Tongues. The shadow raven can understand the literal meaning of any spoken language that it hears.
• Incorporeal Movement. The shadow raven can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
• Light Sensitivity. While in bright light, the shadow raven has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
• Shadow Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede the shadow raven’s darkvision.
• Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the shadow raven can take the Hide action as a bonus action.

Actions

• Strength Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 necrotic damage, and the target’s Strength score is reduced by 1d3. The target becomes unconscious if this reduces its Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest.

Tactics

Shadow ravens do not normally attack other creatures; their role is to gather and observe, then report back to their master. Solitary shadow ravens, or even small flocks of them, always seek to escape attackers rather than fighting back. Even if a large flock is assaulted, it typically flies away. If a flock of shadow ravens has no avenue of escape, it may swarm attackers, using incorporeal beaks to incapacitate aggressors before flying away.

Description

A shadow raven is a large, yet oddly indistinct bird, standing perhaps 18 inches high, yet swathed in darkness. Blood-red eyes glimmer within the folds of midnight that make up its form, and its wings are little more than wisps of shadow.

Shadow ravens do not like brilliant lights; sudden flashes can scare them away, at least for a time.