Siren of the Singing Marsh
Medium Fey, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 15 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 84 (12d8 + 36)
Speed: 30 ft. (walk), 60 ft. (swim)
Challenge Rating: 5 (1,800 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
Saving Throws: Dexterity +7, Wisdom +6, Charisma +8
Skills: Deception +8, Performance +8, Stealth +7, Perception +6
Damage Vulnerabilities: Fire
Damage Resistances: Non-magical slashing, piercing, and bludgeoning damage
Damage Immunities:
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Truesight 30 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages: Understands Sylvan and Common, but does not speak
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. The Siren of the Singing Marsh is a 6th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The Siren has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): *Vicious Mockery*, *Druidcraft*
1st level (4 slots): *Charm Person*, *Fog Cloud*
2nd level (3 slots): *Suggestion*, *Misty Step*
3rd level (3 slots): *Etherealness*, *Fear*
**Special notes about spellcasting abilities:** The Siren often casts *Fog Cloud* to obscure her presence before combat, using her natural abilities to lure adventurers into the haze. She prefers to use *Charm Person* to manipulate her enemies into being more compliant, potentially turning them against their allies. Her use of *Etherealness* allows her to escape when threatened and create confusion during encounters.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Siren makes two melee attacks with her Siren’s Claws.
Siren’s Claws: *Melee Weapon Attack:* +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d8 + 4 slashing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 15). The Siren can grapple only one target at a time.
Luring Harmony (Recharge 5-6): The Siren emits a haunting melody that fills a 60-foot radius. Each creature that hears it must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed in this way, the creature must move towards the Siren on its turn and can’t take any actions to defend itself. The charmed creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Echoing Shout (Recharge 4-6): The Siren releases an echoing scream in a 30-foot line that deals 3d8 psychic damage to each creature in that area, and those creatures must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw. A creature takes half damage on a successful save and is stunned until the end of its next turn on a failed save.
Illusory Marsh (At Will): The Siren can cast *Fog Cloud* centered on herself, creating a thick mist that fills a 20-foot radius. The area is heavily obscured, and creatures inside the mist must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check to pinpoint the Siren or any other creatures within the mist.
Song of Despair: The Siren targets one creature that is charmed or stunned. The creature must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn.
Innocent Whispers: The Siren moves up to half her speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Appearance
Standing tall at approximately 6 feet, the Siren of the Singing Marsh presents a slender, humanoid silhouette that captivates and confounds. Her body flows with an alluring grace, blending elegance with an undercurrent of danger. The faintly raised posture reflects an air of confidence, while her agile build allows her to navigate the treacherous marshland effortlessly.
Her skin is a striking jade green, glistening like dew-kissed leaves. Beneath the surface, luminescent silver veins pulse rhythmically, echoing the enchanting melodies that resonate from her being. This captivating coloration mirrors the vibrant hues of the surrounding flora, with her smooth skin appearing almost moss-like in texture—glistening and soft to the touch.
The Siren’s face is a blend of beauty and menace, framed by cascading water lilies and wispy reeds that entwine seamlessly with her long hair, captivating in its ethereal charm. Large, ocean-blue eyes draw in admirers with their inviting warmth, concealing a depth that hints at predatory intent. Her delicate mouth opens to reveal sharp, glistening fangs, hinting at the creature lurking beneath her enchanting facade—a predator waiting to ensnare.
Her limbs are long and slender, exuding an elegance that speaks of both power and precision. Delicate fingers can morph into razor-sharp claws, extending with lethal grace. The legs are equally lithe, facilitating her silent movement through the marsh. In every gesture, there’s a fluidity that defies ordinary human motion, embodying the essence of her enigmatic realm.
A thin layer of fog twirls around her lower body, enhancing her connection to the Singing Marsh. This mist rises like a living garment, adding to her mystique. As she glides across the marshy ground, her movements mimic the ebb and flow of water, embodying serenity and cunning in each step.
Surrounding her is a magical aura—a vibrant swirl of faintly glowing musical notes that dance like fireflies in the air. These ethereal melodies enhance her enchanting song, creating an atmosphere that lulls and ensnares those who wander too close. Bioluminescent patterns ripple across her skin, amplifying the harmony of her voice while glowing more intensely as she sings, transforming her into a living beacon of beauty and allure.
In a striking pose that captures her essence, the Siren stands poised, her large eyes twinkling with mystery and mischief. The interplay of shimmering greens, glistening silvers, and the constant hum of her enchanting melodies create a vivid tableau against the solid white background. She embodies both the captivating beauty and treacherous nature of her marshy domain, a mesmerizing creature that draws in the unwary while hinting at the dangers that lie beneath her alluring surface.
Tactical Information
The Siren of the Singing Marsh: Behavioral Insights
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life:
The Siren of the Singing Marsh exists in a perpetual state of harmony with her swampy domain. She roams the mists, guided by the bitter-sweet songs of nature, and serves as both protector and predator in the enchanted wetlands.
Her motivations are drawn from a deep sense of guardianship over the marsh and its secrets; she views herself as the last remnant of Elyndra, the minstrel whose voice inspired the spirits of the bog. The Siren finds solace in music, often singing to the wandering willow trees or harmonizing with croaking frogs and buzzing insects. This connection with the swamp’s essence nurtures her abilities while beckoning the lost souls of travelers who unwittingly stumble into her realm.
Socially, the Siren interacts with the spirits of the marsh, who whisper ancient stories to her and share whispers of all who venture too close. Though she is solitary by nature, she finds companionship in these ethereal entities. However, she sees humanoids mainly as trespassers, torn between a longing for connection and the need to protect her territory. She is known to embody the temperament of the marsh itself: tranquil yet obscured by an undertow of menace and mystery, embodying patience until provoked.
The Siren feeds upon the lingering essence of those souls she entices with her melodies, drawing energy from their life force to sustain her existence and the harmony of the Singing Marsh. Occasionally, she may dine on the moss and flora of her realm, using her form to blend seamlessly with the surroundings while foraging. In abandoning her corporeal needs, she weaves a continuous cycle of life and death in her enchanted paradise.
Combat Behavior:
When combat is unavoidable, the Siren of the Singing Marsh becomes the personification of the very mist that cloaks her home. Initially, she may appear to be a delicate figure, drawing in curious adventurers with her mesmerizing song. The moment a foe draws near, she unleashes her Luring Harmony, enchanting those who hear it as they become helplessly drawn towards her entrancing voice. This ability is used strategically to isolate one or two adventurers, rendering them vulnerable to her continued assaults.
As combat ensues, she employs tactical maneuvers, utilizing the dense fog created by her Fog Cloud ability to limit visibility. The Siren dances gracefully through the mist, always moving in a way that keeps her opponents uncertain and fighting blind. Her claws become her main weapon, dealing precise strikes to those who get too close. She is adept at grappling opponents, enjoying the fear and struggling as they realize the peril they are in.
Should the tide of battle shift against her—particularly if she finds herself outnumbered—she relies on her cunning. The Siren will often retreat into the deeper, more treacherous parts of the marsh, weaving through thick underbrush and using her intimate knowledge of the terrain to evade capture. If cornered, she may resort to desperation tactics, using her Echoing Shout to stall her opponents, inflicting psychic damage while momentarily stunning them. If forced to fight, she focuses on spellcasters first, fearing their ability to disrupt her illusions, leaving lesser threats for later.
Her ultimate strength lies in her ability to manipulate the battlefield to her advantage while remaining phantasmal, leaving behind only echoes of her haunting song as she slips away into the mists—a captivating yet relentless force of nature.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions:
In non-combat situations, the Siren is an enchanting yet enigmatic figure, revealing her true nature only to the most observant. Adventurers who stumble upon her may hear the haunting echoes of her song before laying eyes on her. Those who approach her with a sense of calm and reverence may find themselves compelled to listen, as her enchanting melodies can fill one’s heart with both sorrow and peace.
If faced with a direct threat, she is not quick to anger. Instead, she uses her illusionary powers to create distractions, pulling travelers into a web of confusion with shifting visions of the marsh, or even creating illusionary versions of herself to mislead or terrify intruders. The Siren may communicate through her singing, expressing her emotions and intent in a manner that transcends words—a bittersweet melody that conveys both longing and warning.
Attempts at diplomacy may succeed if the adventurers show genuine respect for the marsh and its secrets. If one offers an offering—perhaps a story of loss or a melodic gift—the Siren may relent, sharing borrows of wisdom and the hidden paths of the marsh with them, or even posing riddles about the spirits of the swamp. However, if faced with bribes or insincerity, her demeanor darkens; she may respond with laughter laced with malice, revealing her predatory nature, beckoning the deceivers closer for their punishment.
Ultimately, the Siren of the Singing Marsh is an unpredictable guardian of her territory. She is as likely to enthrall a party as she is to ensnare them in her deadly embrace; her responses are shaped by the adventurers’ intentions, capacities for empathy, and their overall respect for the ancient magic that flows through her domain. She embodies the dance between beauty and danger birthed from her complex history and the haunting call of the marsh she calls home.
