Phantasmic Vanguard
Medium Undead, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 14 (natural)
Hit Points: 13 (3d8)
Speed: 40 ft. (walking), 30 ft. (flying; hover)
Challenge Rating: 1/2 (100 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 16 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 14 |
Saving Throws: Dexterity +5, Wisdom +3
Skills: Stealth +7, Acrobatics +5
Damage Vulnerabilities: None
Damage Resistances: Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: None
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 9
Languages: Understands Common and Infernal (cannot speak)
Spellcasting
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Actions & Abilities
Charming Embrace: – **Type:** Melee Weapon Attack
– **Attack Bonus:** +5 to hit
– **Range:** 5 ft.
– **Target:** One creature
– **Hit:** 1d4 + 3 psychic damage.
– **Effect:** On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by the Phantasmic Vanguard until the end of its next turn, believing it is part of the lively revelry.
Grappling Whirl: – **Type:** Grapple Action
– **Effect:** The Phantasmic Vanguard attempts to grapple a target with its chaotic presence.
– **Grapple Check:** The Vanguard rolls a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (+5).
– **Target:** One creature. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 12).
– **Outcome:** A grappled creature cannot move and is effectively pushed five feet back as the joy and confusion waft around, possibly placing it in danger from another Vanguard.
Twilight Flicker: – **Type:** Bonus Action
– **Effect:** The Phantasmic Vanguard can choose to become ethereal briefly, allowing it to disengage or retreat without provoking opportunity attacks. This can be used once per turn and is not an attack.
Retreating Spirit: – **Type:** Action (Only if not currently grappled)
– **Effect:** The Phantasmic Vanguard can choose to use the Dodge action, giving attackers disadvantage on attacks against it until the start of its next turn.
Pack Tactics: – **Effect:** The Phantasmic Vanguard has advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of its allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated. This reflects their tactical nature of striking from the shadows of chaos together.
Appearance
In a scene imbued with otherworldly elegance, the Phantasmic Vanguards emerge as ethereal specters, gracefully poised against a pristine white backdrop. Each Medium-sized creature possesses a slender, elongated silhouette that captures the essence of a fleeting ballet dancer caught mid-performance, radiating an unsettling beauty that invites both awe and caution.
Their enchanting forms are swathed in a mesmerizing tapestry of vivid colors—iridescent purples, blues, and shimmering golds—that swirl and ripple like cosmic nebulae. As they glide through their spectral realm, these colors flicker and change, leaving trails of glimmering dust reminiscent of confetti from a celestial celebration. The very air quivers with luminous energy, giving life to their attire that appears to be crafted from delicate silks.
Upon closer inspection, their smooth exterior evokes the touch of fine fabric, while the liquid-like aspect enhances the illusion of movement. This shimmering layer appears almost sentient, shifting in response to their graceful maneuvers. Their facial features are strikingly absent of conventional traits; instead, they sport a void-like mask embellished with swirling cosmic patterns that draw the gaze inward, mesmerizing onlookers with their hypnotic spiral.
Defying the physical constraints of lesser beings, the Phantasmic Vanguards glide effortlessly, their elongated arms extending outward like ribbons of light. Each delicate finger tapers into claw-like tips, seemingly translucent and glowing, serving as both ethereal instruments of chaos and mere symbols of their enchanting presence. Remarkably, they possess no visible legs—an elegant choice that allows them to hover and navigate through their surroundings with fluidity and grace.
Their posture is deceptively upright, posing as elegant phantoms captured in a moment of exquisite vitality. With an artistry that melds the agility of a serpent and the grace of ballet, they dart through the air with unpredictable bursts of motion, creating a captivating visual symphony. The dance of their limbs, combined with the ephemeral aura enveloping their forms, renders them nearly invisible against the vibrant backdrop of their energetic display.
Radiant, bioluminescent patterns pulse along their bodies in time with an unseen rhythm, illuminating the surrounding space with an enchanting glow. Wisps of shimmering confetti accompany their movements, enhancing the illusion of unreality, while elusive laughter echoes softly, adding a disorienting layer to their chaotic charm. Shadows cling to their forms like ribbons of smoke, amplifying their mysterious allure as playful harbingers of mayhem.
In this striking, defined pose, the Phantasmic Vanguards embody an enchanting presence—dynamic, ethereal, and profoundly beautiful—forever inviting intrigue while serving as haunting champions of chaos in their cosmic dance.
Tactical Information
Phantasmic Vanguards: Tactical Information and Behavior
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life:
The Phantasmic Vanguards thrive in the ephemeral realm of the Helio-Phantasm, where vibrancy meets chaotic festivity. Amid the swirling colors of merriment and laughter, they flit about like mischievous sprites, weaving in and out of the fabric of the celebrations. Their motivations stem from a desperate yearning for life and joy—echoes of their pasts when they were once part of the revelry as living beings. Yet, this desire is tinged with the darker influence of their vampiric masters, driving them to ensnare and lure new souls into the eternal dance of chaos.
In their natural environment, Vanguards interact primarily with one another, forming ephemeral bonds that wax and wane like the flickers of their ghostly forms. They spend their time choreographing chaotic routines that emblematically tease and belittle unknowing revelers. In these moments, they might mimic the dance of the living or play pranks, such as leading party-goers down hidden paths or inducing exaggerated drunkenness, further enforcing the confusion and mayhem. When “hunting,” their temperament shifts; they become focused and sly, honing in on individuals who straggle away from the thrumming crowd.
Despite the whimsical exterior, the Vanguards are highly vigilant. Their senses are attuned to detect potential threats from adventurers with nefarious intents, ready to retreat swiftly at the first sign of true danger, blending back into the colorful maelstrom of the festivities.
Combat Behavior:
When combat erupts, the Phantasmic Vanguards spring into action with an infectious zeal, embracing their role as agents of mischievous chaos. They prefer to initiate combat by darting in and out of melee competency before launching surprises at isolated targets. Utilizing their Ethereal Dance, they create illusory duplicates that distract and confuse enemies, making it a spectacle befitting their nature—simultaneously chaotic and cunning.
Working in synchrony with one another, the Vanguards capitalize on their numbers during combat. If they can position themselves adjacent to fellow Vanguards, they gain a distinct advantage, honing in on targets that are either unaware or vulnerable on the ground to strike with impunity. They often aim to isolate the party’s spellcasters or damage dealers first, recognizing that eliminating the source of danger allows them to indulge freely in their brand of chaos without immediate reprisal.
Their Teleporting Flare ability supports their hit-and-run tactics, facilitating swift strikes followed by a seamless retreat, ensuring they’re always a step ahead of danger. If the tide turns against them and they find themselves heavily outnumbered, the Vanguards won’t hesitate to use their Veil of Revelry, a clever shield that obscures their movements and confuses their foes, allowing them to regroup and escape into the shadows of the thrumming celebration.
Recognizing their lower hit point threshold, the Phantasmic Vanguards are adept at retreating whenever they gauge the fight is turning against them, absorbing hits through the measured creation of illusory duplicates and retreating behind their ethereal allies, letting the combined pandemonium enact their chaotic escape.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions:
In non-combat situations, Phantasmic Vanguards embody an air of playful mischief, making them both intriguing and unsettling to interact with. They often respond to encounters with an aura of mystery and whimsy, reveling in the emotions of those around them. When approached by adventurers, they might enact a playful dance, twirling around their visitors before teasingly mimicking their actions—yet all while maintaining a careful distance, never revealing their true intentions outright.
Although they lack the ability to speak, their silence speaks volumes as they communicate through gestures, light displays, and the swirling patterns of their ethereal forms. They are excellent at reading the emotions of those nearby, often using their charming silhouettes to evoke laughter or confusion, leading adventurers on wild chases around the ship, urging them into traps or encouraging them to join the festivities.
Should an adventurer attempt to negotiate, it’s likely the Vanguards will respond with eerie laughter or a dance of avoidance—manifesting mischievous games as a form of engagement to gauge whether they are worth more alive or as a new addition to their chaotic party. In scenarios where adventurers pose a real threat to their revelries and attempt to corner them, the Phantasmic Vanguards respond with a quick flicker of lights, darting away into the celebration’s heart, leaving glimpses of their ghostly laughter echoing as witnesses to their mischief.
Overall, the Phantasmic Vanguards exhibit intelligence and cunning regardless of the situation, favoring misdirection and chaos over direct confrontation and outright combat, staying true to the essence of the joyous horrors they embody.
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