Fort Guardian Squab
Large Construct (animated object), Chaotic Good
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 45 (6d10 + 12)
Speed: 30 ft.
Challenge Rating: 2 (450 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 12 | 14 | 1 | 14 | 10 |
Saving Throws: Strength + 5, Dexterity + 3, Constitution + 4, Wisdom + 4
Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +3
Damage Vulnerabilities: Fire
Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities:
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 14, can detect magical disturbances within 30 ft.
Languages: Understands Common and Sylvan but cannot speak
Spellcasting
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Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Fort Guardian Squab makes two attacks: one with its **Fortified Slam** and one with **Cuddle Clutch**.
Fortified Slam: *Melee Weapon Attack:* +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
*Hit:* 1d8 + 3 bludgeoning damage. On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. The Squab’s fluffy, cushion-like form creates an imbalance for the target, potentially leaving them vulnerable for follow-up attacks.
Cuddle Clutch (Recharge 5-6): The Fort Guardian Squab wraps itself around a single target within melee range.
*Grapple:* The target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 13).
While grappled, the target takes 1d6 bludgeoning damage at the start of each of its turns until it escapes from the grapple. The cuddle clutch immobilizes foes, fluffing up and squeezing gently, all while being annoyingly soft.
Whimsical Defense: *Reaction:* When the Fort Guardian Squab is attacked, it can trigger a splash of colorful confetti.
The attacker must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the attacker has disadvantage on its next attack roll against the Squab or any allies within 10 feet. The vibrant colors momentarily distract the attacker, giving the Squab a chance to avoid or deflect the incoming blow.
Blanket Barrier: *Action:* Once per battle, the Fort Guardian Squab creates a protective sheet of magical fabric in a 10-foot radius centered on itself.
All allies within the area gain a +2 bonus to AC until the start of the Squab’s next turn. This ability illustrates the protective nature of the Squab, manifesting from its mystical connection to linens. The barrier is dreamlike, making it harder to focus on attacks near the protected area.
Dreamy Distraction: *Bonus Action:* The Fort Guardian Squab conjures an illusion of a friendly childhood creature (e.g., a teddy bear) within 30 feet.
Creatures in a 15-foot cone originating from the illusion must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on their next attack roll as they become distracted by the charming sight of the imagined creature. The whimsical allure tugs at memories of childhood innocence, providing an opening for the Squab’s allies.
Appearance
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Size and Shape: The Fort Guardian Squab stands at approximately 4.5 feet tall, with a squat and robust build reminiscent of a classic blanket fort. Its overall shape is rounded and plush, giving it a cuddly appearance that belies its fierce protectiveness.
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Coloration: This whimsical creature boasts a lively patchwork of colors, with vibrant hues of blue, pink, yellow, and green dominating its body. Each section of fabric is adorned with playful patterns—polka dots, stripes, and starbursts that seem to dance in the light, celebrating the joy it was created to embody.
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Texture and Surface Features: The outer layer of the Squab is incredibly soft and fluffy, as if it were crafted from the coziest blankets imaginable. It has a texture that resembles a mixture of plush fabric and lightly crinkled paper, emitting soft whispers of crinkling sheets as it moves. Spontaneous fringe-like appendages dangle from its limbs, adding an element of whimsy and resembling the strands of yarn on an unfinished knitting project.
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Facial Features: The Fort Guardian Squab has oversized, button-like eyes that gleam with an innocent yet determined spirit. The eyes are made of round, glossy material, each twinkling with the reflections of a child’s dreams. Its mouth is uniquely stitched shut, creating a curious and static expression, but the Squab conveys its emotions through body language rather than speech—puffing up proudly to display confidence or drooping slightly to show sorrow.
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Limbs and Appendages: Its arms and legs are stout and taper into delicate fringe-like ends that hint at its ability to manipulate objects without sharp edges. The arms are slightly longer, perfect for wrapping around targets in its Cuddle Clutch attack. The Squab’s legs are short and robust, enabling strong, rooted stances, while its movements are quick and nimbly executed despite its bulky appearance.
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Special Features: Each Squab bears a small, triangular flag atop its head, embroidered with the playful emblem of a teddy bear resting on a crescent moon. In moments of excitement, the flag flutters cheerfully, and when in use, a burst of colorful confetti springs forth, adding to its whimsical charm.
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Posture and Movement: The Fort Guardian Squab typically stands upright, giving a confident posture in defense of the Pillow Vault. It moves with a gentle, shuffling gait—a mixture of playful hops and soft waddles, which allows it to maintain an air of approachability while still showcasing its readiness for action.
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Additional Notable Traits: Every movement it makes creates a gentle rustle of fabric, evoking nostalgia and intrigue, reminiscent of soothing lullabies. Occasionally, a faint shimmer—a trace of imaginary magic—can be seen glimmering around its edges, hinting at the mystical energies that conjured it into existence, and a soft, reassuring glow emanates from its eyes when it prepares to use its magical abilities. The Squab’s very essence is a blend of childlike wonder and fierce loyalty, making it a delightful yet formidable guardian of dreams.
Tactical Information
Tactical Information for Fort Guardian Squab
Combat Behavior:
The Fort Guardian Squab employs a mix of cunning and whimsy in combat, adhering to a strategy that reflects both their protective nature and playful demeanor. Here’s how they would generally behave during encounters:
Initiative and Positioning:
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Ambush Tactics: Squabs lay in wait among their environment, blending seamlessly with discarded linens until intruders approach. They roll for initiative with the intent to surprise unsuspecting characters, receiving advantage on their first attack if remain hidden until the moment of engagement.
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Create Opportunities: When the battle begins, Squabs aim to position themselves between the adventurers and the Pillow Vault. This involves selecting locations near cover and high ground to utilize terrain to their advantage. If outnumbered initially, they’ll prioritize creating space through their magical abilities.
Engagement Tactics:
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Target Selection: Squabs prioritize the most aggressive or threatening intruders based on perceived threat levels. They may initiate combat with their Fortified Slam on the closest physical attacker that poses the most risk to their allies.
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Group Coordination: Once engaged, they communicate non-verbally with each other, using body language to indicate when to use Cuddle Clutch on the strongest enemies while others create distractions or barriers. Squabs attempt to grapple foes that attempt to breach into the Pillow Vault, utilizing their Cuddle Clutch repeatedly.
Defensive Maneuvers:
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Whimsical Defense Use: After their initial engagement, a Squab may react to an attack by triggering Whimsical Defense, saving its allies from a critical hit. They focus on staying near allies, ensuring they can affect as many creatures as possible within the 10-foot radius.
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Blanket Barrier: When a Squab sees its allies in peril or with low HP, it uses Blanket Barrier strategically to protect them. As the battle continues, especially if an ally is grappled or under sustained attack, Squabs take turns activating this ability to protect and bolster their squad’s resilience.
Special Abilities:
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Dreamy Distraction: When faced with multiple combatants, particularly powerful ones, they often employ Dreamy Distraction as a psychological tool. This ability can tip the scales simply by affecting the opposing party’s morale. Squabs will flank these enemies and attempt to create illusions that hinder attacks, redirecting foes’ focus away from their more vulnerable squad members.
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Miniature Fortitude: When overwhelmed by fear-based debuffs or charm spells, the Squabs exhibit a surprising courage due to their Miniature Fortitude, often rolling with advantage against these effects. This resilience contributes to their strong defensive capabilities, emboldening them as they sense their purpose is to protect the innocent dreams housed within the Pillow Vault.
Narrative Interactions:
In addition to outright combat behavior, Fort Guardian Squabs engage adventure parties through playful interactions, reflecting their whimsical nature. When approached non-aggressively:
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Childish Banter: They may initiate light-hearted conversation, using exaggerated body language to convey a sense of joy or sadness that contrasts with the seriousness of the moment. Their stitched mouths mean they communicate more with gestures, smiles, and movements, turning even the most serious inquiries into a charming dance of fabric and fun.
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Facilitators of Imagination: Squabs might invite intruders to share stories of their childhood play, calming tension and making potential foes reconsider their aggressive intent. If adventurers exhibit a genuine spirit of play or promise to protect the Pillow Vault, they might even allow a trial or negotiation rather than an outright battle.
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Playful Consequences: When adventurers break the laws of the Pillow Vault, the Squabs respond not just with hostility but imaginative penalties—perhaps the adventurer’s gear might be playfully swapped out or altered to resemble childhood toys, lending levity to their actions.
Conclusion:
The Fort Guardian Squab embodies a rich blend of combat tactics and narrative interactions designed to elevate the whimsical nature of childhood. Their strategy involves careful positioning and cooperation among allies while leveraging playful abilities to transform the battlefront into an arena of creativity; ultimately ensuring that encounters are memorable experiences of imaginative charm and gentle irreverence.
