Coral Gloomshaper
Medium Fey (Elemental Spirit), Neutral
Armor Class: 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 78 (12d8 + 24)
Speed: 10 ft., swim 30 ft.
Challenge Rating: 5 (1,800 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 18 |
Saving Throws: Strength + 4, Dexterity + 6, Constitution + 5, Wisdom + 6, Charisma + 7
Skills: Perception +6, Stealth +6, Insight +6, History +3
Damage Vulnerabilities: Psychic
Damage Resistances: Cold, Lightning
Damage Immunities: Poison, Psychic
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16, Ethereal Sight
Languages: Sylvan, Aquan, understands Common but cannot speak it
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. The Coral Gloomshaper is a 5th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). The Coral Gloomshaper has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): *Guidance*, *Druidcraft*, *Vicious Mockery*
1st level (3 slots): *Dissonant Whispers*, *Entangle*, *Fog Cloud*
2nd level (2 slots): *Misty Step*, *Hold Person*
3rd level (1 slot): *Fear*, *Water Breathing*
– **Cantrips:** The Coral Gloomshaper can cast its cantrips at will, using them to manipulate or confuse intruders in its domain, reinforcing its themes of sorrow and despair.
– **1st level (3 slots):** The Gloomshaper uses *Dissonant Whispers* to evoke dread from adventurers, while *Entangle* can ensnare interlopers among the temple’s coral, and *Fog Cloud* provides a means to obscure its movements and create an atmosphere of confusion.
– **2nd level (2 slots):** *Misty Step* allows it to reposition amongst the columns of the temple quickly, while *Hold Person* can immobilize a target, reflecting the Gloomshaper’s desire to protect its home against perceived threats.
– **3rd level (1 slot):** *Fear* embodies the Gloomshaper’s melancholy, creating waves of terror, and *Water Breathing* reflects its adaptation to its watery environment, allowing it to interact with its realm seamlessly.
**Special Notes:** The Gloomshaper often uses its spells strategically before combat begins, attempting to disorient and weaken adversaries with psychic illusions and barriers, heightening the dramatic tension and reflecting its tragic existence.
Actions & Abilities
Coral Tendril: *Type:* Melee Weapon Attack:
*Attack Bonus:* +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
*Hit:* 2d8 + 4 slashing damage.
*Special Effect:* On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be grappled (Escape DC: 12) and restrained until the end of their next turn. The Gloomshaper can grapple up to two targets at once.
Riptide Grasp (Recharge 5-6): *Type:* Special Action.
The Coral Gloomshaper calls upon the currents of the temple, creating a spiraling whirlpool of water.
– *Each creature within a 15-foot radius must make a DC 12 Strength saving throw.*
– *On a failed save, a creature takes 1d6 cold damage and is knocked prone, and its movement speed is reduced by half until the start of its next turn. On a successful save, it takes half damage and suffers no additional effects.*
Mournful Lament (Once per Combat): *Type:* Special Action.
The Gloomshaper emits an otherworldly melody that echoes throughout the ruins.
– *Each creature within a 30-foot radius must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw.*
– *On a failure, the creature is frightened until the end of its next turn. Creatures frightened in this way can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success.*
Illusory Whispers: *Type:* Special Action (can be used instead of a melee attack).
The Coral Gloomshaper channels the cries of lost souls, creating haunting illusions that lend confusion.
– *Each creature within a 30-foot radius must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw.*
– *On a failure, the target cannot use reactions until the end of its next turn, and its attack rolls are made with disadvantage. On a success, the target takes 1d4 psychic damage, but no additional effects occur.*
Binding Reef (Lair Action – Initiative Count 20 if no other actions are taken): *Type:* Lair Action.
The Coral Gloomshaper manipulates the corals around it into an entangling mass.
– *Each creature of the Gloomshaper’s choice within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be restrained by the coral vines until the end of its next turn.*
– *While restrained in this manner, the creature takes 1d4 bludgeoning damage at the start of each of its turns.*
Lurching Tide: The Gloomshaper moves up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Eldritch Grasp: The Gloomshaper makes one Coral Tendril attack.
Appearance
Emerging from the depths of an ancient underwater temple, the Coral Gloomshaper stands tall at six feet, its willowy form suggesting both grace and otherworldly sorrow. The creature’s silhouette is reminiscent of a merfolk, but elongated and ethereal, almost like a ghost drifting through time. It hovers effortlessly above the ocean floor, its lower body merging into an amorphous, swirling mist that enhances its spectral appearance.
The Gloomshaper’s skin glistens with a captivating bluish hue, reminiscent of ocean depths, while a soft gradient of iridescent greens and purples play across its limbs, echoing the vibrancy of the coral reefs surrounding its dwelling. This semi-translucent surface reflects the shifting light of its aquatic realm, transforming the creature into a living masterpiece, a moving canvas of color that captivates all who dare approach.
Smooth and gelatinous, the texture of its skin resembles water cascading over a polished stone. Patches of vivid coral and delicate algae cling to its body, creating a breathtaking mosaic that shifts fluidly with each movement. A faint shimmering pattern of bioluminescent lights pulses softly along its form, casting a tranquil yet eerie glow into the surrounding darkness of the ocean—a beacon of both beauty and dread.
The Coral Gloomshaper possesses a hauntingly beautiful face, defined by its large, luminous eyes that glow with an otherworldly light, drawing in those who gaze too long. These deep-set eyes, devoid of pupils, radiate a sadness that seems to echo the depths of the ocean itself. Its mouth is subtly defined—often closed, but when it opens, it releases ethereal melodies that resonate like whispers in the tide. Sharp, ghostly outlines of teeth can be glimpsed, hinting at the creature’s potential danger when threatened.
Graceful, elongated arms cascade from the Gloomshaper’s shoulders, tapering into slender fingers reminiscent of coral branches swaying in the current. Each appendage has remarkable dexterity, allowing for smooth movements as it interacts with its surroundings. This elegant creature lacks traditional legs, instead gliding over the seabed, its lower mist-like body allowing it to navigate effortlessly through the watery environment.
Its movements are fluid and languid, evoking an image of ethereal dance within the currents of the sea. The Gloomshaper holds itself upright, yet exudes a perpetual grace, swaying gently as if in tune with the rhythms of the ocean. When the need arises, it shifts rapidly into sudden, sharp motions, using the surrounding waters to propel itself like a phantom through the ruins—effortlessly striking fear and awe into the hearts of intruders.
Surrounding the Coral Gloomshaper is a faint, mystical mist that evokes the essence of the ocean’s depths, distorting light and enhancing its spectral qualities. This ethereal haze serves as a protective shroud, captivating and disorienting those who dare approach, reinforcing its guardianship of the enigmatic Sunken Colonnade. Fragments of ceremonial garments dangle loosely from its form, drifting gracefully in the unseen currents, amplifying the creature’s ghostly allure.
In its entirety, the Coral Gloomshaper embodies a vivid tableau of sadness and beauty—its striking visual features captivating the imagination while simultaneously evoking feelings of unease. It stands as a testament to the ocean’s mysteries, a haunting guardian of a forgotten world, waiting to share its sorrowful songs with those brave enough to cross its path.
Tactical Information
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life
In the serene, yet melancholic depths of the Sunken Colonnade, the Coral Gloomshaper exists in a state of perpetual watchfulness and reflection. As the embodiment of lost grandeur, it glides through the submerged ruins, a guardian still clinging to its former duty. Typically, the Gloomshaper is solitary, cradling the remnants of the temple and intertwining itself with the flora and fauna that inhabit this submerged world. Its primary motivation is to protect the sanctuary from those who would exploit it, yet it is burdened by an overwhelming sense of sorrow for the lost worshippers and fading magic of the temple.
With its powers suppressed by time, day-to-day interactions often involve the gentle swaying of luminescent tendrils amongst the coral formations, interacting with curious fish and sea creatures. The Gloomshaper is nurturing, sometimes playing guardian to small marine life that takes refuge in the ruins, albeit at a distance, demonstrating a blend of sadness and serenity. It paints the water with delicate bioluminescent displays, enchanting its surroundings, serving as both a lure and a warning to the uninvited.
Despite its ethereal beauty, the Gloomshaper’s temperament can be melancholic and introspective; it often drifts into reverie, whispering mournful melodies that echo throughout the temple. The Gloomshaper is aware of the passage of time and the inevitability of decay yet strives to maintain a semblance of the sanctum’s former glory. It can sense changes within its territory and may respond to disturbances with an eerie calmness, surveying intruders from the shadows before deciding how to engage.
Combat Behavior
When combat erupts within the once-sacred halls of the Sunken Colonnade, the Coral Gloomshaper is swift to react with a blend of defensive instinct and striking beauty. It prefers to assess potential intruders from the shadows, waiting to discern their intentions. If it concludes that they are a threat to its home, it uses subtler means to initiate hostilities; tearing through their thoughts with whispered lamentations that breed confusion.
Its combat strategy revolves around using the environment to its advantage. Initially, it seeks to control the battlefield with abilities like Riptide Grasp, creating fearsome whirlpools that disorient and slow intruders who dare press too close. The Gloomshaper utilizes its Coral Tendril attack not only for damage but also for the ability to grapple foes, pulling them into the depths of despair—both literally and figuratively.
When the Gloomshaper is outnumbered or feels the tide of battle shifting against it, it retreats gracefully into the shadows of the temple, using its intimate knowledge of the terrain to evade capture. However, should it feel cornered, it may unleash its Mournful Lament to frighten off those it cannot overcome. In these moments of desperation, it excels in deception, disguising its movements amidst the flowing currents and coral to effectively confuse and mislead its enemies.
The creature is aware of its strengths and will often focus on disrupting the magic-users or those who seem to radiate a commanding presence. It encourages despair and helplessness, consuming the vibrant emotion of its foes to stockpile its own ethereal aura.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions
In quiet waters, the Coral Gloomshaper approaches interactions with an air of sorrowful majesty. Non-combat situations unfold in an atmosphere heavy with a melodic yearning as the creature regards intruders with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. For adventurers showing respect or an understanding of the temple’s significance, the Gloomshaper may respond with soft, melodious whispers, echoing the history of the lost guardians and the beauty that once was. It may allow them to decipher the lore tablets scattered throughout the temple, sharing pieces of its memory with those who approach with reverence.
Should the adventurers attempt diplomacy, appealing to the wistful nature of the Gloomshaper, it might grant them fleeting insights into its realm, sharing glimpses of its tragic past. The Gloomshaper’s communication relies heavily on emotional resonance—tendrils of bioluminescence swirling in response to the intentions behind spoken words, conveying complex emotions that words alone cannot express.
Conversely, if provoked, the Coral Gloomshaper may become indignant, its sorrow morphing into defensiveness. It would respond with a haunting touch of lament, weaving memories of despair into the minds of the intruders, its voice deep and resonant, promising safety in return for their respect. In moments where diplomacy fails entirely—should it feel cornered or unfairly threatened—it may now flee, blending seamlessly into its surroundings, vowing to protect its home with newfound vengeance.
Ultimately, the Coral Gloomshaper remains a reflection of the duality of beauty and decay, compelling adventurers to consider the cost of their curiosity and the tangled emotions entwined in the ruins of the Sunken Colonnade.
