The Astral Harbinger
Huge Celestial, Neutral Evil
Armor Class: 22 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 360 (40d12 + 120)
Speed: 50 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
Challenge Rating: 21 (40,000 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 26 |
Saving Throws: Strength + 12, Dexterity + 11, Constitution + 13, Wisdom + 14, Charisma + 15
Skills: Arcana +12, Insight +14, Deception +15, Perception +14
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant damage
Damage Resistances: Psychic damage, magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage
Damage Immunities: Poison, disease
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Stunned
Senses: Truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 24
Languages: Understands all languages; speaks Celestial and telepathically communicates to all creatures within 120 feet.
Spellcasting
**Spellcasting.** The Astral Harbinger is a 15th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 22, +13 to hit with spell attacks). The Astral Harbinger has the following spells prepared:
**Cantrips (at will):** *Guidance, Minor Illusion, Eldritch Blast*
**1st level (4 slots):** *Detect Magic, Shield of Faith, Disguise Self*
**2nd level (3 slots):** *Misty Step, Darkness, Hold Person*
**3rd level (3 slots):** *Counterspell, Fear, Haste*
**4th level (3 slots):** *Dimension Door, Greater Invisibility, Phantasmal Killer*
**5th level (2 slots):** *Synaptic Static, Hold Monster*
**6th level (1 slot):** *True Seeing*
**7th level (1 slot):** *Etherealness*
**8th level (1 slot):** *Mind Blank*
**9th level (1 slot):** *Foresight*
**Special notes:** The Astral Harbinger may cast spells with verbal components using its cosmic voice, which echoes and resonates, making it difficult for listeners to discern the words. Before combat, it often casts *True Seeing* to gain insight into the desires and fears of its challengers, potentially altering its approach based on their strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, it often preemptively casts *Darkness* to enhance its own *Cosmic Resonance* ability, creating chaotic environments where its foes are at a disadvantage.
Actions & Abilities
Astral Blast: *Ranged Spell Attack:* +12 to hit, range 120 ft., one target.
*Hit:* 5d10 force damage.
Additionally, if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 22 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away from the Harbinger.
Cosmic Grasp: *Melee Weapon Attack:* +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
*Hit:* 3d12 + 6 necrotic damage.
The target must succeed on a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage on its next attack roll.
Portal of Trials (Recharge 5-6): The Astral Harbinger opens a shimmering portal that forces all creatures in a 30-foot radius to make a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is teleported to a random unoccupied space within 500 feet, and must use its turn to return to its original location on its following turn. On a successful save, the creature takes 4d10 psychic damage and is not teleported.
Eclipse Manifestation (Recharge 5-6): The Harbinger conjures an area of magical darkness in a 60-foot radius centered on a point it can see within 120 feet. The darkness lasts for 1 minute or until dispelled. Creatures within this darkness suffer disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight and take 2d10 necrotic damage at the start of their turns unless they leave the area.
Multiattack: The Astral Harbinger makes three attacks: one with its **Cosmic Grasp** and two **Astral Blasts**.
Cosmic Shield: When the Harbinger is hit by an attack, it can use its reaction to gain a +5 bonus to its AC against that attack, potentially causing the attack to miss. If the attack misses, the attacker takes 3d6 psychic damage.
Teleport (3 per round): The Harbinger magically teleports to an unoccupied space it can see within 60 feet. It may use this action to reposition strategically in battle.
Astral Whisper (Costs 2 Actions): The Harbinger targets one creature it can see within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed, the target is compelled to heed the Harbinger’s whispers and must roll a d6 at the start of each of its turns: on a roll of 1-3, it must use its action to dash toward the Harbinger, and on a roll of 4-6, it may act normally.
Judgment Ray (Costs 3 Actions, Recharge 5-6): The Harbinger unleashes a beam of judgment in a straight line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 22 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 6d10 radiant damage and is blinded until the end of its next turn. On a success, the target takes half damage and is not blinded.
Eclipsing Shadow (Lair Action): The harbinger calls forth shadows in its lair, filling the area with magical darkness for 1 minute. Creatures inside the lair must succeed a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn.
Celestial Feedback (Lair Action): The distortions of the Astral Gate cause a backlash of energy. Each creature of the Harbinger’s choice within the lair must make a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or take 3d10 force damage and be pushed 15 feet away from the Harbinger until the end of their turn.
Reverberating Echo (Recharge 5-6, Lair Action): A ripple in the fabric of reality echoes throughout the lair. All creatures in the lair must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or be incapacitated until the end of their next turn as they are overwhelmed by visions of their possible fates.
Appearance
The Astral Harbinger is an awe-inspiring entity that stands at an impressive 15 feet tall, with a slender and elongated build that gives it a majestic, otherworldly silhouette. Its humanoid shape transcends conventional anatomy, featuring disproportionately long limbs that taper delicately, creating an ethereal appearance as if it were a wisp of cosmic energy intimately tied to the universe itself.
The colors that adorn the Harbinger’s skin are a mesmerizing tapestry of deep purples, electric blues, and shimmering silvers, reminiscent of a boundless night sky. This vibrant coloration shifts fluidly, flowing like liquid starlight and creating an enchanting spectacle that captivates the beholder. As light dances across its smooth, glass-like surface, it reveals a multitude of constellations and swirling galaxies, creating an illusion of life and motion, as if the cosmos itself is woven into its very being.
The creature’s face strikes an imposing figure, defined by an unsettling void-like depth that lacks traditional features but emanates a profound sense of sentience. Its large, glowing eyes shine in bright silver, exuding both ancient wisdom and a hint of malice, drawing you closer while simultaneously commanding respect. Rather than a mouth, its smooth facial surface allows for a solemn expression that creates an air of mystery and intrigue.
Two long, slender arms extend gracefully toward the ground, their fingers resembling the tendrils of dark nebulae. These delicate appendages are capable of intricate movements, suggesting an unsettling grace that belies their eerie appearance. The Harbinger’s legs are equally slender, providing it with an agile posture as it glides effortlessly, hovering above the ground rather than walking in a conventional manner.
Crowning the Astral Harbinger is a halo of crystalline shards that pulse with radiant energy, akin to celestial comets illuminating a dark sky. This stunning crown serves as a source of the cosmic power it wields, enhancing its regal and daunting presence. Wisps of prismatic light trail from its fingertips, leaving a faint, glowing trace that emphasizes its ethereal nature.
The Harbinger maintains an upright posture, embodying both majesty and an underlying menace. Its movements are fluid and graceful, akin to swimming through an unseen medium, with each motion reflecting serene confidence. Surrounding the creature is a thin aura of shimmering light that pulsates in rhythm with its presence, casting ethereal patterns onto the ground. In moments of heightened emotion or divine judgment, this aura can flare dramatically, revealing the awe-inspiring cosmic energy contained within.
The air around the Astral Harbinger crackles with a palpable tension, woven with the threads of fate and destiny. Shadows linger at the edges of its form, hinting at the dark cosmic powers it harbors within. This striking creature is not merely a sight to behold but an experience, an encounter with the vast mysteries of the universe, embodied in a striking, luminous figure against a solid white background. Its essence captivates the imagination, presenting a vivid representation of the cosmic essence it embodies—beautiful yet unsettling, majestic yet mysterious.
Tactical Information
Tactical Information for the Astral Harbinger
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life:
In its natural environment, the Astral Harbinger exists as a transcendent being that mediates the ebb and flow of cosmic energies. Typically residing near the Astral Gate, the Harbinger paradoxically embodies both the chaos of the cosmos and the wisdom ingrained within the ages. Shimmering on the precipice of existence, its very essence draws forth ancient energies that allow it to maintain this charged nexus point.
Often, it spends its days observing the small mortal affairs that occur in the vicinity of the gate, fascinated by their ambitions and desires. The Harbinger is a monumental figure in both lore and power, often attracting seekers of knowledge and power who wish to commune with the divine. It may interact with these mortals indirectly, casting visions and riddles to test their resolve and assess their intentions. In its encounters with mortals, the Harbinger nurtures an ambiance of curiosity and enigmatic omniscience, sometimes providing cryptic guidance or sowing the seeds for future trials.
Social interactions with the nearby constructs made from cosmic energy are marked by a pseudo-sentience, as these beings vibrate harmoniously with the Harbinger’s own essence. Though they lack true communication, they serve as guardians of the gate, assisting the Harbinger in maintaining balance and observing intruders who might disrupt the sanctity of the cosmic rift.
Combat Behavior:
When faced with challengers, the Astral Harbinger approaches combat as a grand cosmic game. Its initial behavior may be to test foes mentally before ever resorting to physical confrontations. Often, it would begin by manifesting its Astral Judgement ability, assessing the character of those seeking passage or knowledge through fearsome visions and psychic trials.
In combat, it prefers to maintain a distance, using Portal of Prophecy to teleport around the battlefield, avoiding melee encounters while creating tactical advantages. The Harbinger understands the power of psychological warfare, sometimes opting to create an area of magical darkness using its Eclipse Manipulation to disorient adventurers, forcing them to contend with the shadows rather than with it directly.
If odds are against it, the Harbinger may retreat strategically, keen on picking foes apart one by one while healing itself through Soul Absorption of fallen foes. It views combat not merely as a matter of strength but of nuance and fate. Being cunning, it would target vulnerable spellcasters first, intent on disrupting enchantments that could threaten its existence.
When engaged in dire circumstances, the Harbinger may unleash Cosmic Resonance—fighting back against those who harm it with a wave of psychic energy that scales with its own injuries. This could incapacitate nearby aggressive combatants, providing it the room to operate from safety while maintaining a sense of control and grandeur over the encounter.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions:
In non-combat encounters, the Astral Harbinger embodies a complex personality woven with ambition, wisdom, and an unsettling sense of malice. When adventurers approach the Harbinger, it manifests a presence that oscillates between crooning whispers and authoritative declarations, enticing them with both thrilling challenges and foreboding truths.
Should mortals approach diplomatically, the Harbinger might speak in riddles, encouraging them to ponder the nature of fate and their personal desires. It sees well past the surface, often addressing the deepest fears and motivations of its visitors. In doing so, it instills poignant reflections that may guide or confuse adventurers, testing their resolve through dialogue as much as through combat.
Attempts at bribery or simple offerings would only amuse the Harbinger, a being who knows well that mere material wealth cannot sway cosmic truths. Instead, those who already possess knowledge, secrets, or forgotten lore may find themselves able to bargain with the Harbinger, trading esoteric insights for continued safety or favor.
If threatened directly, the Harbinger demonstrates a calm but chilling demeanor. It may respond with amusement or disdain, asserting that mortals do not yet comprehend the forces they toy with by reaching for its power. Should it feel cornered or pressured, the Harbinger might resort to Eclipse Manipulation, enveloping the area in darkness, and shattering the attempt at direct confrontation with waves of psychic terror, thus asserting its dominion over the cosmic balance it embodies.
In all its interactions, the Astral Harbinger reflects a vast tapestry of existence, guiding the players through a narrative rich with the threads of fate, choice, and the luminous mystery of the cosmos that it tirelessly guards. It thrives not just on chaos, but on the exploration of fate itself—providing both trials and profound realizations as it shapes the destinies of those who dare encounter its splendor.
