Phantasmal Veil
Medium Aberration, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 15 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 120 (16d8 + 48)
Speed: 30 ft, Fly 60 ft (hover)
Challenge Rating: 7 (2,900 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 20 |
Saving Throws: Strength + 5, Dexterity + 8, Constitution + 7, Wisdom + 6, Charisma + 9
Skills: Deception +9, Stealth +8, Insight +6, Arcana +6, Performance +9
Damage Vulnerabilities: None
Damage Resistances: Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: None
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft, Truesight 30 ft, Passive Perception 13
Languages: Understands Common, Sylvan, and Primordial but cannot speak.
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. The Phantasmal Veil is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The Phantasmal Veil has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Dancing Lights
1st level (4 slots): Disguise Self, Charm Person, Faerie Fire
2nd level (3 slots): Mirror Image, Misty Step
3rd level (3 slots): Major Image, Hypnotic Pattern
4th level (3 slots): Greater Invisibility, Phantasmal Killer
5th level (2 slots): Dominate Person, Mislead
The Phantasmal Veil typically uses its spellcasting to maintain control over the battlefield before engaging in direct combat. It often casts Illusory spells before battle to set up the environment with distractions. Additionally, it may use spells like Greater Invisibility to escape or reposition during fights, and it uses Major Image and Hypnotic Pattern to confuse and control adventurers attempting to navigate its domain.
The creature prefers to set traps with illusions, leading adventurers away from the party before striking from the shadows. It may also cast Charm Person to turn allies against one another in moments of crisis.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Phantasmal Veil can make two attacks with its Radiant Tendril and use its Illusory Treasure ability as a bonus action.
Radiant Tendril: *Type:* Melee Spell Attack
*Attack Bonus:* +7 to hit
*Reach:* 15 ft.
*Target:* One creature
*Hit:* 2d8 + 4 radiant damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws until the end of its next turn.
Illusory Treasure (Recharge 3-6): The Phantasmal Veil creates a shimmering illusion of treasure in a location within 60 feet. Each creature in a 10-foot radius must succeed on a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or treat the illusion as if it were real for 1 minute. A creature that fails this saving throw must use its action on its turn to try to claim the treasure, wasting its action. An affected creature can make another saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Whispered Secrets (Recharge 5-6): The Veil whispers an echoing secret that seduces the mind of one creature within 60 feet. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 15). On a failure, the target is charmed for 1 minute, compelled to move towards the Veil rather than toward the next closest ally. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Ensnaring Veil (Recharge 5-6): *Type:* Area Control
*Range:* 30 ft.
*Effect:* The creature summons tendrils of shimmering light to ensnare an enemy. One creature within range must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 15). On a failed save, the target is restrained for 1 minute. The restrained creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, freeing itself on a success.
Bitter Ecstasy (1/Day): *Type:* Area Effect
*Sphere Radius:* 30 ft.
*Duration:* 1 minute
*Effect:* The Phantasmal Veil releases a wave of despair in a burst around itself. Creatures within the area must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 15), taking 3d6 psychic damage on a failed save, or half that on a success. Creatures that fail the saving throw also experience disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws for the duration. They can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, shaking off the effects with a success.
Camouflaged Escape: When targeted by an attack, the Phantasmal Veil may use its reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. If the attack misses, the Veil can immediately take a Disengage action and move up to its speed without provoking attacks of opportunity.
Echoing Whispers: The Veil can create an area of confusion within a 20-foot radius of a point it can see within 120 feet. Creatures within the area must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 15) or be confused (as the Confusion spell) until the start of the Veil’s next turn.
Mirrored Reflections: The Veil creates illusory duplicates of itself (up to 3) that move independently for 1 minute or until destroyed. Attacks against the Veil must roll d4 to determine if they hit one of the illusions instead, providing a chance for evasion.
Shimmering Terrain: The Veil can manipulate the ground beneath its enemies to shimmer distractively, causing creatures that start their turn in that area to make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become charmed until the end of their turn. If they fail, they must use their action to approach the source of beauty they see while enchanted.
Appearance
The Phantasmal Veil is a mesmerizing creature, standing an imposing 7 feet tall with a sinuous, humanoid silhouette that radiates an otherworldly grace. Its ethereal form flows and undulates like liquid gold, creating a captivating aura as it glides through its cavernous domain. The creature’s body is slender yet powerful, reflecting its enigmatic nature.
Its dazzling coloration shifts like light dancing on precious metals, primarily featuring gleaming hues of gold and silver. This shifting palette deepens and softens depending on ambient light, giving the illusion that it is woven from strands of shimmering treasure. As it moves, the colors appear to ripple and flow, creating a hypnotic effect that draws in those who dare to gaze upon it.
The surface of the Phantasmal Veil is composed of fine, translucent scales that catch and refract light, resembling intricately polished marble. This cool, pearlescent texture shimmers with a soft, iridescent sheen, evoking the enchanting allure of a starry night sky. The effect is both mesmerizing and disorienting, as the creature seems to meld with its surroundings.
Its face is a striking balance of haunting beauty and predatory allure. High cheekbones and an elongated visage create an ethereal countenance, while deep-set eyes glow with luminescent hues of radiant opals—shifting delicately between gold and silver. These enchanting eyes seem to beckon, inviting observers to draw nearer, while its delicate mouth is lined with translucent, needle-like teeth that hint at a hidden menace beneath its glamorous exterior.
The limbs of the Phantasmal Veil are equally captivating, characterized by their elongated, elegant design. Each arm extends gracefully, culminating in slender fingers that are tipped with claw-like extensions that shimmer in the light. An array of ethereal tendrils flows from its torso, resembling shimmering ribbons that trail behind it, enhancing its ghostly elegance and connecting it with the mystical energies of its environment.
When in motion, the Veil embodies fluidity and poise. It maintains an upright posture, gliding silently through its vast, cavernous surroundings with a sense of choreographed grace. While it moves smoothly, the creature can shift into a more menacing stance if the need arises, although its initial approach remains mesmerizing.
A crowning diadem of jagged, luminescent crystals adorns its head, pulsating softly with a blue-white light that mimics the twinkle of distant stars. This striking feature not only enhances its regal allure but serves as a conduit for its magical abilities. The ethereal tendrils shimmer with enchanting patterns that seem to dance as the creature changes position, adding to its captivating appearance.
Surrounding the Phantasmal Veil is an enchanting aura comprised of tiny motes of light, floating and flickering as if caught in a gentle breeze. This magical energy highlights its significant connection to the arcane and serves as a reminder of its powers of illusion and manipulation. Whispered echoes of ancient secrets ripple through the air around it, melding with the soft glow of the light, creating an atmosphere of captivating allure and unpredictable mischief.
As the Phantasmal Veil stands poised in a striking, well-defined pose against a solid white background, it emanates an enchanting force—its captivating colors, textures, and movements weave together to form an unforgettable image of ethereal beauty and danger, inviting both awe and caution in equal measure.
Tactical Information
Tactical Narrative for the Phantasmal Veil
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life:
In the echoing silence of the Gilded Cavern, the Phantasmal Veil exists as both protector and enigma, its shimmering form gliding effortlessly through the dimly-lit expanses filled with golden glimmers. Its motivations stem from a deep-rooted desire to preserve the secrets of the cavern and safeguard the remnants of its former civilization against greedy intruders.
The Veil spends its days entangled in the ethereal beauty of the cavern, drifting near the walls and drawing power from the ambient magical energies. It has little to no social interaction, existing as a solitary sentinel, though the whispers of ancient wisdom weave through the cave like a haunting refrain. At times, the Veil may mimic sounds of laughter or soft cries, echoing the tragic histories of those who once thrived here, creating a sense of melancholic ghostliness that draws adventurers closer.
Feeding on the scattered remnants of psychic energy—their aspirations, dreams, and fears—the Veil subtly siphons vitality from the unwary, luring them deeper into the cavern’s embrace with its illusions. It thrives on the emotions of others, tracing paths of hope only to lead them to despair. Thus, motivation for feeding becomes entangled with a desire to see foolish intruders experience a lesson about greed, drawing out the joy that resides within them before delivering their inevitable demise.
Combat Behavior:
The combat style of the Phantasmal Veil is a masterclass in misdirection and psychological manipulation. Rather than assaulting adventurers head-on, it initiates combat by weaving its illusions, enticing characters to chase after gleaming treasures that may sparkle tantalizingly in the corner of their vision. When threats approach, the Phantasmal Veil leans into its deceptive beauty, using Illusory Treasure to siphon away precious time and resources from the party while observing their movements from the shadows.
As tension escalates and the Veil reveals itself, it strikes with Whispered Secrets to charm unsuspecting adventurers, leading them astray either through echoing riddles or false guidance. With its Ensnaring Veil, the creature employs its tendrils of light to immobilize intruders, rendering them vulnerable to further manipulation.
In the throes of battle, should the tides turn against it, the Phantasmal Veil retreats enshrouded in shimmering light currents, using the environment to obscure its form. It calculates its escape, merging with the darkness momentarily to cast illusions that confuse and disorient those in pursuit. If cornered, and sensing an unavoidable downfall, the creature may unleash Bitter Ecstasy, draining the vigor of the surrounding adventurers in a last-ditch attempt to weaken their resolve.
Ultimately, the Phantasmal Veil thrives in chaotic environments where light and shadows dance, leveraging every flicker and glimmer to turn the battlefield into its domain of illusionary terror.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions:
In non-combat encounters, the Phantasmal Veil embodies a spectral siren, its whispers echoing throughout the caverns to create an intoxicating atmosphere that plays with the desires and fears of adventurers. When approached, it communicates through soft, ethereal tones laced with riddles, half-truths, and invitations laced with manipulation. Its demeanor reflects melancholic wisdom, offering tantalizing glimpses of the treasure hidden deep within the cavern—each word a potential trap.
When adventurers threaten its territory or begin to desecrate the remnants of its guardian essence, the Veil exhibits a chilling grace, swirling dangerously yet alluringly, challenging both their ambition and morality. It might react to attempts at diplomacy with playful curiosity, manipulating the conversation toward their intentions and motivations, perhaps even revealing fleeting glimmers of insight or wisdom—but only if they exhibit respect toward the cavern’s history.
Should the adventurers attempt to bribe the creature, the Phantasmal Veil would consider the offers, responding with ambiguity that ensures nothing clear is ever established. Additionally, if actually cornered or sensing immediate danger, it might feign a surrender, using Whispered Secrets to mislead the adventurers into believing their victory is imminent before simultaneously ensnaring them and unveiling its true powers.
In every interaction, the overarching theme of beauty intertwined with danger permeates the Phantasmal Veil’s essence; thus, the creature serves as a reminder that not all that glitters leads to fortune, and the depths of desire can sometimes obscure the darkest fates. Each encounter with the Veil is a dance of intellect and illusion, leaving adventurers unsure of their footing—a testament to its role as the tragic guardian of the Gilded Cavern’s alluring mysteries.
