Whispering Veilkeeper
Medium Aberration, Neutral Evil
Armor Class: 15 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 73 (11d8 + 22)
Speed: 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)
Challenge Rating: 4 (1,100 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 16 |
Saving Throws: Strength +2, Dexterity +7, Constitution +5, Wisdom +6, Intelligence +7, Charisma +6
Skills: Arcana +7, Deception +6, Insight +6, Stealth +7
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant
Damage Resistances: Necrotic, Psychic
Damage Immunities: none
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 15, Truesight 30 ft.
Languages: Common, Deep Speech, Abyssal
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. The Whispering Veilkeeper is a 7th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The Whispering Veilkeeper has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): *Eldritch Blast, Minor Illusion, Thorn Whip*
1st level (4 slots): *Disguise Self, Cause Fear, Mage Armor*
2nd level (3 slots): *Misty Step, Calm Emotions*
3rd level (3 slots): *Fear, Vampiric Touch*
4th level (2 slots): *Phantasmal Killer, Shadow of Moil*
– **Cantrips**: Can be cast at will and do not expend spell slots.
– **1st-level spells**: Can be used four times before needing to take a long or short rest.
– **2nd-level spells**: Can be used three times before needing to take a long or short rest.
– **3rd-level spells**: Can be used three times before needing to take a long or short rest.
– **4th-level spells**: Can be used twice before needing to take a long or short rest.
The Whispering Veilkeeper prepares its spells in deep solitude within the shadows of the Ironveil, allowing it to use illusions and dark magic to ensnare the unwary. It often casts *Mage Armor* before combat to enhance its defenses.
Actions & Abilities
Shadow Grasp (Melee Attack): *Melee Weapon Attack:* +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. **Hit:** 1d8 + 3 necrotic damage. On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be restrained until the end of its next turn as shadow tendrils wrap around it.
Whispers of Madness (Ranged Attack): *Ranged Spell Attack:* +4 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. **Hit:** 2d6 psychic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be confused, unable to take reactions until the end of its next turn.
Veil of Shadows (Recharge 5-6): The Veilkeeper creates a 20-foot radius of shadowy mist that envelops the area in whispers. Creatures within this area must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, they suffer disadvantage on Wisdom and Intelligence checks until the end of their next turn, and attacks against the Veilkeeper have advantage due to the disorienting whispers.
Evasive Flicker (Defensive Action – Reaction): When the Veilkeeper is attacked, it can use its reaction to teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space within dim light or darkness, becoming lightly obscured until the start of its next turn.
Appearance
In the eerie stillness of the night, the Whispering Veilkeeper emerges, a towering specter standing at an awe-inspiring height of 7 feet. Its slender, elongated form amplifies the illusion of a wraithlike entity, seemingly hovering a mere inch above the ground, cloaked in an element of the unknown. The creature’s silhouette is striking, tapering dramatically at its extremities and exuding an aura of both allure and dread.
Draped in a deep obsidian robe, the Veilkeeper melds seamlessly with shadows, its surface appearing almost featureless. The dark fabric ripples with iridescent patterns that shift between hues of violet, blue, and green, transforming its appearance into a living tapestry of arcane chaos. This stunning play of color captures the observer’s gaze, evoking an overwhelming sense of fascination intertwined with apprehension.
Its surface tells a haunting tale, mimicking the fluidity of liquid shadows. The mesmerizing texture, smooth yet unstable, hints at a barely contained energy waiting to spring forth. A face of chilling simplicity dominates its visage, adorned with an expressionless white mask that lacks any discernible emotion. However, its glowing red eyes pulsate with feverish intensity, drawing attention with their insatiable hunger, as they absorb the very light around them. In fleeting moments, tortured faces seem to flicker across the mask’s surface, remnants of lost souls forever trapped within its grasp.
The Veilkeeper’s limbs, elegantly elongated and spindly, culminate in claw-like fingers that exude an aura of menace. These appendages, akin to ethereal whips, enable it to ensnare unsuspecting prey or manipulate the shadows with unsettling precision. Without visible legs, its body appears to dissolve into the darkness, contributing to its spectral, fluid movement.
As it glides through its environment, the Veilkeeper maintains an upright, regal posture that commands a palpable sense of authority. Its motions—smooth and graceful—evoke the image of a predator ready to strike, as it shifts seamlessly from shadow to shadow, creating an illusion of teleportation that keeps onlookers perpetually guessing.
Surrounding the creature is a constant, whispering mist that plays harmoniously with the darkness. The echoes of fragmented voices trickle through the air, amplifying the fears and desires of those nearby, adding an unsettling energy to its presence. The mesmerizing patterns woven across its robes are akin to chaotic fractals, constantly shifting and shifting, while occasional bursts of necrotic energy generate a slight distortion in the space around it.
The combination of its distinctive colors, haunted features, and supernatural grace culminates in a being that is both hauntingly beautiful and terrifyingly otherworldly. With each passing moment, the atmosphere becomes laden with a foreboding energy, leaving an indelible mark on all who dare to behold the Whispering Veilkeeper.
Tactical Information
Whispering Veilkeeper Combat and Narrative Behavior
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life
In the murky depths of the Ironveil, where reality teeters on the brink of madness, the Whispering Veilkeeper lurks as a ghostly sentinel, a haunting embodiment of ambition gone awry. It thrives on the whispers of the forgotten and the desires of the ambition-driven souls who stray too close to the heart of shadow.
Motivated by an insatiable hunger for power and knowledge, the Veilkeeper spends its days weaving illusions and subtle manipulations. It stalks the peripheries of unwary travelers’ minds, sowing seeds of doubt, tempting them with half-truths and slippery promises that echo in their ears. It meticulously observes their weaknesses, cataloging fears and insecurities while hidden among the shifting shadows.
Social interaction for the Veilkeeper is an act of solitary artistry; it has no peers or allies, for it has long-forgotten any semblance of camaraderie in its tragic transformation. Instead, it revels in luring individuals into the haunted corridors, where their minds become instruments of its design. While it might appear as a mere observer, its taunting whispers beckon those stricken by ambition to unknowingly feed its insatiable need for psychological torment. Feeding upon fear, the Veilkeeper guiltily delights in its cache of tortured memories and harvested dreams, relishing each manifestation as a moment of cruel victory.
Combat Behavior
When confronted in combat, the Whispering Veilkeeper is a master of deception and psychological warfare, always looking to tilt the playing field in its favor. It first assesses its opponents, lurking just beyond the fringes of their line of sight, allowing its eerie whispers to fill the air, probing for vulnerabilities.
Upon the initiation of conflict, it employs its Shadow Whisper ability to blanket the area in a miasma of disorienting fog. The unsettling ambiance serves as an initial strike, dealing not only psychic damage but inflicting an overwhelming blindness upon its foes. As chaos envelops the battlefield, the Veilkeeper retreats into shadows, using its ghostly form to remain elusive.
The Veilkeeper is particularly adept at targeting spellcasters and those who show strength of will. It may use Confounding Energies as a dual threat, incapacitating the minds of opponents while simultaneously inflicting necrotic damage. In situations involving multiple adversaries, it prefers to isolate targets by manipulating the environment with its Lair Actions, turning the surroundings into treacherous terrain and causing players to become disoriented.
When outnumbered or pressed hard, the Veilkeeper will artfully exploit its Defensive Retreat ability, vanishing into the shadows before reappearing unexpectedly. It often leads adventurers into traps—encouraging them to chase it deep into its lair’s convoluted passages, only to ensnare them in illusory perils as they enter the depths of despair.
In moments of fierce battle, the creature’s cunning nature shines through. It knows no honor, evading combat when it senses defeat and planning its revenge through whatever means necessary, whether that be directly confronting the players again or whispering to haunt their days thereafter.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions
In non-combat scenarios, the Whispering Veilkeeper’s demeanor is unsettlingly calm, its voice a haunting echo resonating in hidden recesses. Erratic and shrouded in shadows, it communicates through cryptic riddles and enticing promises that prey upon the desires and ambitions of those it encounters. It indulges in psychological games, hinting at forbidden knowledge and lost power, luring adventurers with the allure of answers for their deepest questions.
If approached diplomatically, the Veilkeeper glides through conversation like a serpent among shadows. It will not present itself directly, but rather communicate through whispers that reverberate through the air, encouraging adventurers to reveal their intentions. However, it remains cold and calculating; any hint of weakness is immediately capitalized upon with punishments of fear-inducing visions and disturbing illusions of personal failure.
If threatened or cornered, the Veilkeeper will respond with arrogance, attempting to deflect attacks through deceit. It may feign interest in a parley, demanding sacrifices in exchange for its elusive knowledge or freedom in truth. However, should negotiation falter or if the adventurers do not comply, it swiftly morphs from seducer to tormentor. The Veilkeeper’s innate understanding of despair allows it to exploit the emotional vulnerabilities of those before it, casting doubt on their very purpose and instigating fear and chaos even in their final moments.
In every interaction, the Whispering Veilkeeper’s malevolence is palpable, its lingering presence a reminder that in the web of knowledge and ambition, it is not the seeker but the shadows that often hold dominion in the end.
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