Cotton Candy Wraith
Medium Undead, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 45 (6d8 + 18; average 52)
Speed: 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)
Challenge Rating: 2 (450 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 18 |
Saving Throws: Dexterity +5, Wisdom +3, Charisma +6
Skills: Deception +6, Stealth +5, Perception +3
Damage Vulnerabilities: None
Damage Resistances: None
Damage Immunities: Poison, Psychic
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 11
Languages: Understanding Common (cannot speak)
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. The Cotton Candy Wraith is a 5th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The Cotton Candy Wraith has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): *Minor Illusion*, *Friends*, *Dancing Lights*
1st level (3 slots): *Charm Person*, *Silent Image*
2nd level (2 slots): *Suggestion*, *Mirror Image*
3rd level (1 slot): *Hypnotic Pattern*
The Cotton Candy Wraith often uses its spells to create distractions or illusions, enticing adventurers with visual spectacles reminiscent of its carnival origins. Before combat, it may cast *Silent Image* to manifest a delightful image, drawing attention while setting up for an ambush. Spells that rely on charm effects are frequently invoked when enemies are nearby, further amplifying its lethal charm and whimsical terror.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Cotton Candy Wraith makes two attacks: one with its **Spectral Touch** and one with its **Sugar Tangle**.
Spectral Touch: *Melee Spell Attack:* +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. *Hit:* 10 (2d6 + 3) psychic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or have its speed reduced by half until the end of its next turn. *Description:* The Wraith reaches out with a phantom limb, touching its target with a jolt of energizing yet disorienting psychic energy, invoking feelings of nostalgia that lingers even after the attack.
Sugar Tangle: *No Attack Roll Required.* Whenever a creature begins its turn within 10 feet of the Cotton Candy Wraith, it must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or become restrained by ethereal strands of cotton candy. A restrained creature can use its action to make a Strength check against a DC 13 to free itself. *Description:* The Wraith’s essence manifests into tangle-like strands that caress, ensnare, and bind unwary foes, leaving them vulnerable and disoriented.
Sugary Allure: *No Attack Roll Required.* The Cotton Candy Wraith can exude a 15-foot aura that draws creatures in towards it. Creatures within this aura must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until the start of the Wraith’s next turn. *Description:* A captivating aroma of sweetness fills the air, luring creatures closer, entrancing them with the promise of carnival delights that masks the Wraith’s true intentions.
Cotton Candy Burst (Recharge 5-6): Each creature in a 20-foot radius centered on the Wraith must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Creatures that fail the save are also charmed until the end of their next turn, moving towards the Wraith if they are able. *Description:* The Wraith releases a dazzling explosion of sugar-laden energy, creating a spectacle that both dazzles and disorients, leaving creatures entranced and vulnerable as they drift towards the source.
Ethereal Escape: When the Cotton Candy Wraith is hit by an attack, it may immediately move up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks. *Description:* As a spectral entity, the Wraith can slip through the fabric of reality momentarily, evading attacks while leaving behind a trail of shimmering confetti.
Haunting Laughter (Recharge 6): Each creature within 30 feet that can hear the Wraith must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn. A creature that succeeds on this saving throw is immune to the Wraith’s Haunting Laughter for 24 hours. *Description:* The Wraith emits a chilling giggle that echoes through the air, resonating with the essence of lost joy, instilling fear in those who remember the good times that have now faded into despair.
Appearance
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Size and Shape: The Cotton Candy Wraith is medium-sized, resembling a floating cloud of fluff that drifts gracefully in the air. Its amorphous shape can expand and contract, conveying an illusion of being both small enough to embrace an unsuspecting child and large enough to envelop an entire group.
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Coloration: Its body shimmers with pastel hues that blend seamlessly from soft pinks to pale blues and delicate lavenders. The mixture creates a visually captivating ripple of colors, reminiscent of both fresh cotton candy and the fading lights of a forgotten carnival.
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Texture and Surface Features: The Wraith’s exterior appears fluffy and inviting, creating an illusion of tenderness. Despite its soft appearance, it crackles subtly with energy, resembling static electricity, and gives off a faint effervescence, making it both captivating and unsettling. Each movement leaves behind wisps of sparkling sugar and confetti that fade into the air, hinting at its sugary origins.
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Facial Features: The face of the Cotton Candy Wraith lacks a defined structure, taking on a shadowy form with hollow voids where eyes might normally be. These empty spaces glimmer with playful mischief and embody the essence of carnival lights. Occasionally, a smile forms, composed of softly glowing sugary strands that drift whimsically, evoking an unsettling yet innocent allure.
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Limbs and Appendages: While the Wraith does not possess traditional limbs, ethereal, skeletal-looking appendages occasionally flicker into view within its body, resembling elongated fingers that swirl elegantly through the air. These spectral arms extend when it reaches out to charm or ensnare its prey, adding an eerie grace to its movements.
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Special Features: The Wraith’s most prominent feature is its ability to exude a sparkling aura that draws nearby creatures closer. This shimmering halo resembles a galaxy of sugar particles swirling about, offering both beauty and danger. Glimpses of spectral motifs occasionally manifest through the mist of its form, signifying the joy and despair of the fairground it once inhabited.
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Posture and Movement: The Cotton Candy Wraith hovers in the air with an upright posture, embodying an ethereal elegance as it sways and dances in a mesmerizing fashion. Its movement is fluid and graceful, akin to how cotton candy spins on a stick, creating an entrancing spectacle that mesmerizes those nearby.
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Additional Notable Traits: As the Wraith moves, faint echoes of distant carnival music can be heard, adding an auditory layer to its presence. The sound of childlike giggles plays softly in the air around it. The creature also has the power to manipulate the environment slightly, causing a gentle breeze that carries the scent of sweetened sugar, further enchanting those who dare to approach. The combination of its visual and auditory effects creates a haunting and whimsical atmosphere, embodying the bittersweet nature of nostalgia intertwined with danger.
Tactical Information
Tactical Combat Information for Cotton Candy Wraith
Combat Behavior
The Cotton Candy Wraith prefers to exploit its enchanting abilities and ambush its foes. It uses the environment of an abandoned fairground to its advantage, often lurking among the remnants of carnival games or behind distorted funhouse mirrors, before striking when the enemy is distracted.
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Initial Engagement:
- The Wraith will start combat by utilizing its Sugary Allure, creating a charmed effect on one or more players within a 15-foot radius. It aims to draw adventurers closer, capitalizing on their fascination and leading them to the edge of danger.
- If the initial charms are successful, the Wraith might wait for those charmed to approach while targeting those who remain unaffected.
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Area Control:
- Once engaged, the Cotton Candy Wraith will hover strategically over areas densely populated with enemies and use Sugar Tangle to restrain those trying to escape its influence, making them easy targets for its attacks.
- If multiple enemies are present, it may prioritize isolating one or two individuals with Sugar Tangle, rendering escape attempts difficult.
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Mobility and Positioning:
- The Wraith will use its flying ability to stay out of melee reach. It can hover above dangerous terrain or near obstacles to force players to maneuver around, which may trigger its abilities.
- It will frequently reposition itself to maximize the number of targets affected by Cotton Candy Burst, ensuring it remains within striking distance of the players but at a safe altitude.
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Final Resort:
- When health drops below 20 Hit Points, the Wraith becomes more defensive. It will prioritize using Cotton Candy Burst to create chaos, hoping to charm and damage multiple enemies simultaneously.
- The Wraith may also strategically retreat to a vantage point where it can regenerate its abilities or lure players into traps or ambushes.
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Escape Strategy:
- If the tide of battle turns against the Wraith, it will utilize its evasiveness, flying away and attempting to mislead players into conflict with other ghostly remnants of the fairground, such as spectral clowns or carnival illusions.
Narrative Interactions
When players encounter the Cotton Candy Wraith outside of combat, its approach is whimsical yet foreboding, encouraging rich dialogue and descriptions:
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Whimsical Interaction:
- As players first spot the Wraith, it may engage them in light-hearted banter, enticing them with promises of joy, laughter, and indulging in the nostalgia of childhood.
- It could mimic the sounds of laughter and carnival music, evoking fond memories of better times and tempting players to dance or partake in forgotten games.
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Moral Dilemma:
- The Wraith might present itself as a misunderstood entity—a remnant of lost joy seeking companionship. It begs players to help restore the fairground’s magic by cleaning or rediscovering lost treasures of joy.
- Making allies with it may open opportunities for healing or further quests tied to rebuilding the location, while also carrying the risk of enchantment.
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Manipulative Charm:
- As they engage with the Wraith, players may find that charm and sweet-talk are not enough; it could demand offerings of fun or the sharing of their own childhood memories in exchange for assistance.
- If players refuse or attempt to challenge the Wraith’s nature, it responds with a brief surge of terror, showing its darker abilities, warning them of the consequences of neglecting joy.
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Backstory Revelation:
- Successful investigation or insight checks may reveal fragmented tales of the Wraith’s past as a spirit of delight, encouraging players to empathize with its plight. This could offer opportunities for empathetic roleplay and strategies to ‘heal’ the Wraith rather than fight.
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Environmental Influence:
- Whenever the Wraith is near, players may have to contend with heightened emotions—random nostalgia attacks, sudden fits of joy or sadness, and even surreal visions of their childhood. This enhances its role not just as an obstacle but as a pivotal influence on the narrative atmosphere.
Summary
The Cotton Candy Wraith provides players with varied combat and narrative interactions that blend charm, psychological challenges, and the balancing acts of joy and fear, appropriately tuned to its challenge rating. Whether in combat or conversation, this creature promises to enhance the storytelling experience, drawing players into a web of nostalgia and danger.
