Mycologian Sovereign
Medium Fey, Neutral Good
Armor Class: 16 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 136 (16d8 + 64)
Speed: 30 ft., Climb 30 ft.
Challenge Rating: 8 (3,900 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 20 | 16 |
Saving Throws: Dexterity +8, Constitution +7, Wisdom +9
Skills: Stealth +9, Nature +5, Perception +9, Insight +9
Damage Vulnerabilities: Fire
Damage Resistances: Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Poison
Condition Immunities: Poisoned, Charmed
Senses: Truesight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 19
Languages: Common, Sylvan, understands Druidic
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. The Mycologian Sovereign is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). The Mycologian Sovereign has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): Druidcraft, Poison Spray, Thorn Whip
1st level (4 slots): Entangle, Goodberry, Healing Word
2nd level (3 slots): Barkskin, Spike Growth
3rd level (3 slots): Plant Growth, Speak with Plants
4th level (3 slots): Blight, Freedom of Movement
5th level (2 slots): Cone of Cold, Wall of Thorns
Special notes about the spellcaster’s spellcasting abilities: The Mycologian Sovereign often casts its spells before combat to prepare the battlefield, using Plant Growth to manipulate terrain and entangle foes. It may also employ Goodberry to heal itself or allies in prior skirmishes, reflecting its role as both a guardian and a devourer of corruption. The Sovereign is adept at blending its spellcasting with its innate fungal powers to create a challenging encounter for any adventurers who dare to invade its domain.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Mycologian Sovereign makes three attacks: one with its Mycelium Grasp and two with its Bioluminescent Tendrils.
Mycelium Grasp: Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d10 + 5 bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 17). While grappled, the target is also restrained.
Bioluminescent Tendrils: Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 2d8 + 4 slashing damage. On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or take an additional 1d8 poison damage and be poisoned until the end of its next turn.
Spore Cloud (Recharge 5-6): The Mycologian Sovereign releases a cloud of spores in a 30-foot radius sphere centered on itself. Each creature in that area must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is blinded and poisoned for 1 minute. They can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effects on themselves on a success.
Mushroom Shield (Recharge 6): Once per encounter, the Mycologian Sovereign can create a massive shield of glowing mushrooms that absorbs up to 30 damage. If the shield is destroyed, the Sovereign regains hit points equal to half the absorbed damage. The shield lasts until it is depleted or the Sovereign dismisses it (no action required).
Spore Burst (Recharge 4-6): As an action, the Mycologian Sovereign releases a burst of spores in a 20-foot radius. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 3d10 poison damage and is incapacitated until the end of its next turn. A successful saving throw results in half damage and no incapacitated effect.
Choking Mycelium: The Sovereign activates the ground beneath one creature it can see within 60 feet. The target must make a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be restrained by tendrils of mycelium until the end of its next turn.
Slither Away (Legendary Action): The Mycologian Sovereign moves up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Summon Sporeling (Costs 2 Actions) (Legendary Action): The Sovereign summons a Sporeling (CR 1) in an unoccupied space within 30 feet.
Choking Mycelium (Costs 3 Actions) (Legendary Action): The Sovereign uses its Choking Mycelium ability without expending a turn.
Tangled Growth (Lair Action): The ground in a 30-foot radius within its lair becomes difficult terrain until initiative count 20 on the next round. Creatures that start their turn in this area must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 1d8 necrotic damage.
Illusory Spores (Lair Action): The Sovereign can cause an area within its lair to fill with shimmering spores, creating a space that obscures vision (as if in darkness) until the end of the Sovereign’s next turn.
Healing Decay (Lair Action): The Mycologian Sovereign draws in the ambient energy from its lair and regains 10 hit points.
Appearance
The Mycologian Sovereign rises majestically to a height of 7 feet, its slender, graceful form exuding an ethereal elegance. Standing upright with a regal posture, its silhouette seems to blend seamlessly with the verdant surroundings of the forest, emanating a sense of tranquility and command.
Draped in deep mahogany brown skin, the Sovereign is adorned with an enchanting array of bioluminescent blue speckles that pulse rhythmically, almost as if breathing in harmony with the heartbeat of the forest. These mesmerizing azure hues are particularly vibrant at the crown of its head, where iridescent mushroom caps bloom, transitioning from rich cobalt blue at the base to a soft teal at the tips, creating a regal crown that shimmers in ambient light.
The creature’s skin is semi-translucent, revealing intricate networks of mycelium beneath the surface, alluding to its deep connection with the earth. As one gazes upon it, they might notice the smoothness of its texture, interspersed with slightly tacky patches reminiscent of damp soil, a reminder of its profound ties to the woodland it inhabits.
Its face is a haunting vision, characterized by large, almond-shaped sapphire eyes that emit a soft glow, capturing onlookers with their depth and beauty. Delicate antennae arch gracefully from its brow, enhancing its almost plant-like complexion. Instead of traditional teeth, its lips form a gentle line, hinting at a nurturing nature, while fine, soft protrusions inside the mouth serve the purpose of absorbing nutrients.
The Mycologian Sovereign’s limbs are elongated and slender, each arm terminating in dexterous fingers that echo the delicate tendrils of fungi, enabling it to interact with the world around it. Its legs possess a strong yet elegant build, allowing for swift, silent movement through the forest. The feet are notably shaped like mushroom caps, perfectly designed for stealth and stealthy navigation across tangled underbrush.
An extraordinary feature of the Sovereign is the radiant fungal caps that adorn its head, cascading down like a halo that changes color with its moods, creating an ever-shifting display of blues. Pulsing veins of bioluminescent spores run along its limbs and back, creating an enchanting glow that echoes the pulse of its environment. A soft hum resonates from its body, harmonizing with the sounds of the forest at twilight, reinforcing its connection to the natural world.
In a striking pose, the Mycologian Sovereign stands poised, embodying both grace and strength. Wisps of glowing spores continuously drift from its mushroom caps, forming an ethereal aura around it, enveloping the creature in a mystical light and underscoring its otherworldly essence—a guardian of the Terralune Glades in perfect symbiosis with its lush, green realm.
Tactical Information
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life
Nestled within the heart of the Terralune Glades, the Mycologian Sovereign is a creature that embodies the rhythms and cycles of its environment. Each morning, as the first rays of dawn flicker through the dense canopy, the Sovereign emerges from its hidden groves. It does so gracefully, moving between the towering blue fungi and the rich underbrush, ensuring that every spore and mycelial thread remains in harmony. The Sovereign acts as both a caretaker and a thriving part of the ecosystem, meticulously tending to the thriving fungal colony that signifies both its power and responsibility.
The Sovereign is intrinsically motivated by the balance of its forested domain. It shares a symbiotic relationship with the fungi and plants around it, finding sustenance by absorbing the corruptive energies and toxic wastes left by intruders and malefic entities. This act not only nourishes the Sovereign but strengthens the very land it protects. Day-to-day, it can be seen distributing healing spores to wilting flora—restoring vibrancy to the land, ensuring the interwoven relationships between plant and creature are preserved.
Socially, while the Sovereign primarily keeps to itself, it can often be found interacting with various fungal creatures that inhabit the glades. It acts as a figure of authority, guiding lesser beings such as Sporelings and Shroombeasts in their simple duties to maintain the network of life beneath the forest floor. While it is known to communicate through an array of bioluminescent signals and pheromones—a form of language only beings attuned to the forest can comprehend—its behavior is predominantly shrouded in an air of mystery. Its temperament is stoic yet protective; reclusive yet commanding respect from its followers.
Combat Behavior
When the peace of the Glades is shattered—be it from reckless adventurers or invading creatures—the Mycologian Sovereign transitions seamlessly from a benevolent guardian to a master strategist in the field of combat. Initially, it observes from the shadows, understanding how best to utilize its environment to its advantage. Upon determining the intruders’ intentions, the Sovereign will engage by laying traps with its Choking Mycelium, swiftly ensnaring the closest threats to keep them at bay.
Once combat is initiated, the Sovereign prefers guerilla tactics, remaining hidden among dense fungal growths while employing its potent Spore Cloud to blind and poison foes. It uses its mystical abilities to summon lesser creatures from the glades, sending Sporelings and Shroombeasts forward to engage the party, causing chaos and confusion while maintaining a safe distance itself. The Sovereign is particularly cunning in combat, aware of each creature’s strengths and weaknesses; thus, it often targets spellcasters or those wielding potent ranged attacks to diminish the party’s capacity to retaliate.
Should the tide of battle turn against it, the Mycologian Sovereign showcases its tactical brilliance—utilizing its Mushroom Shield to absorb damage while healing itself, then retreating temporarily into the shadows if threatened, regrouping, and striking again from a place of safety. It uses the environment to facilitate escapes, disappearing within the foliage and sending out disorienting spore clouds to cover its retreat.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions
In non-combat encounters, the Mycologian Sovereign embodies the traits of a wise steward deeply tied to the land. Approaching this powerful creature is a delicate affair; it can sense when it is approached with malice or ignorance. Intruders found within its territory who display aggression will be met with a menacing display of spores illuminating in vibrant shades—clear warnings of the Sovereign’s displeasure. However, those who approach with respect and a willingness to understand the ecological tapestry of the glades may find a potential ally.
In situations where diplomacy is possible, the Sovereign has a rich and ethereal aura. Its communication may come through gentle pulsations of light from its bioluminescent caps, an expression of hope or caution, guiding adventurers toward understanding the importance of the balance of nature. The creature would listen to adventurers’ requests and pleas, bring forth images constructed from spores revealing the state of the glades as they have suffered or thrived due to actions taken by outsiders.
Should the characters offer gifts of nature, such as rare herbs that promote growth or tools for maintaining balance within the ecosystem, the Sovereign may be swayed into cooperation. In times of desperation, it could provide magical healing components or grant crucial information on the forest’s dangers, provided that the adventurers earn its trust. However, if those unwelcome intruders prove to harbor destructive intentions, the Mycologian Sovereign would not shy away from fiercely protecting its sanctum, employing guardianship over nurturing instincts, reinforcing the idea that harmony with nature demands respect and reverence.
