Syntherax, the Chaotic Oracle
Large Aberration, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 276 (21d10 + 126)
Speed: 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
Challenge Rating: 15 (13,000 XP for defeating Syntherax)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 18 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 24 |
Saving Throws: Strength + 9, Dexterity + 10, Constitution + 12, Wisdom + 9, Charisma + 14
Skills: Arcana +10, Insight +9, Deception +12, Perception +9, Stealth +10
Damage Vulnerabilities: Psychic
Damage Resistances: Force, Radiant
Damage Immunities: Fire, Necrotic, Psychic
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Stunned
Senses: Darkvision 120 ft., Truesight 60 ft., Blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), Passive Perception 19
Languages: Understands Common and Deep Speech but cannot speak; communicates through telepathy within 120 feet.
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. Syntherax is a 15th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). Syntherax has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): *Minor Illusion*, *Mage Hand*, *Friends*
1st level (4 slots): *Disguise Self*, *Magic Missile*
2nd level (3 slots): *Misty Step*, *Hold Person*
3rd level (3 slots): *Fear*, *Counterspell*
4th level (3 slots): *Dimension Door*, *Greater Invisibility*
5th level (2 slots): *Dominate Person*, *Wall of Force*
6th level (1 slot): *Mental Prison*
7th level (1 slot): *Soul Cage*
8th level (1 slot): *Mind Blank*
9th level (1 slot): *Foresight*
Syntherax can cast *Mental Prison* as a reaction when targeted by an attack to ensnare the attacker in an illusion. It tends to use its higher-level spells strategically, saving *Foresight* for its most challenging opponents and taking advantage of its environment to create diversions and tactical advantages during combat. Before combat, Syntherax frequently casts *Greater Invisibility* on itself to ensure it can maneuver without being targeted until it chooses to reveal itself.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: Syntherax makes three attacks: one with its Mystic Strike, one with Chaotic Grasp, and one using its Arcane Pulse.
Mystic Strike: *Melee Spell Attack*: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 3d12 + 6 force damage. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Intelligence saving throw or take an additional 3d10 psychic damage and have disadvantage on their next attack roll.
Chaotic Grasp: *Melee Spell Attack*: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4d8 + 4 psychic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be confused (as per the Confusion spell) until the end of its next turn.
Arcane Pulse: Syntherax releases a pulse of chaotic energy in a 30-foot radius. All creatures in that area must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save: Take 4d10 force damage and are knocked prone. On a successful save: Take half damage and are not knocked prone.
Mind Rift (Recharge 5-6): Syntherax targets one creature it can see within 60 feet. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 19). On a failed save: They take 7d10 psychic damage and are stunned until the end of their next turn. On a successful save: They take half damage and are not stunned.
Portal Channeling: On initiative count 20, Syntherax can summon a creature from an alternate realm as per the DM’s discretion. The summoned creature appears within 5 feet of any wall and takes its turn immediately after Syntherax’s.
Illusory Reflex (Costs 2 Actions): Syntherax activates an illusion that creates a protective barrier. Until the end of the current round, it gains disadvantage on all incoming attack rolls.
Memory Echo (Costs 1 Action): Syntherax projects a painful memory onto a creature within 60 feet. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 19) or take 4d10 psychic damage and have disadvantage on its next saving throw.
Wondrous Drift (Costs 1 Action): Syntherax shifts 15 feet in any direction, becoming momentarily invisible until the start of its next turn. As it moves, it creates a shimmering distraction that forces all creatures within 10 feet to succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 2d6 psychic damage, mistaking the distraction for Syntherax.
Reality Distortion: The battlefield shifts, creating a temporary illusionary terrain. Choose a point within the lair; all creatures within 30 feet must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or become restrained in the illusory terrain until the end of their next turn.
Chaotic Surge: Syntherax calls upon the chaotic magic surrounding it. All creatures within 60 feet must make a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or take 4d10 force damage and be blinded until the end of their next turn.
Mind Horror: Echoes of past spellcasters reach out. Each creature within 30 feet of Syntherax must make a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn.
Appearance
In the heart of the ethereal realm, Syntherax, the Chaotic Oracle, stands as a striking figure against a solid white background. This towering entity reaches an imposing height of 8 feet, boasting an elongated, slender build that teeters between the corporeal and the ethereal. Its silhouette is a mesmerizing blend of humanoid form and otherworldly grace, often swaying as if caught in an unseen breeze.
The creature’s coloration is an iridescent masterpiece, showcasing swirling hues of luminescent blue, pink, and green. These colors ripple across its form like an ever-changing aurora, creating a captivating spectacle that enchants and unnerves the observer. The vibrant patterns dance in response to its movements, enhancing the sensation of fluidity and unpredictability.
Syntherax’s surface features a unique fusion of textures—part smooth, part crystalline—giving it an enigmatic allure. Its body appears to shimmer with an inner light, revealing intricate fractal patterns along its crystalline exoskeleton, creating a depth that invites a lingering gaze. These patterns pulse gently, echoing its chaotic energy.
The creature’s face is a surreal composition devoid of solid features. Outlines flicker and dissolve like smoke, rendering it enigmatic and mysterious. Its eyes are hollow, glowing orbs that draw in light, reflecting the fears of those who dare to meet its gaze. At times, a mouth manifests briefly, its contours crafted from lines of radiant light, conveying an emotion that is both beguiling and menacing.
From its elongated, shimmering arms extend delicately sharp fingers that glisten with arcane energy, hinting at its dual capacity for manipulation and combat. Rather than traditional legs, Syntherax hovers gracefully above the ground, supported by ethereal tendrils that undulate elegantly. These tendrils serve both as a means of locomotion and tools for interaction, enhancing its ghostly presence.
Adding to its allure, the creature is adorned with crystalline filaments along its back that pulsate with rhythm, crackling with untamed magical energy. These filaments capture chaotic strands of magic from the surrounding atmosphere, further enhancing its mystery. Occasionally, fleeting images of alternate realities shimmer through its crystalline body, revealing abstract glimpses that tantalize the imagination.
Syntherax embodies fluid motion, gliding silently with a graceful posture that speaks to its otherworldly nature. The slightest shift in its form can evoke both beauty and trepidation, as it effortlessly teleports, disappearing from sight and reappearing unpredictably.
The creature radiates a subtle aura of bioluminescent patterns that ripple softly, reflecting its emotions and intentions. Surrounding it is a palpable energy that creates a static sensation in the air, enhancing the sense of mystery and allure. Tiny motes of light drift from its body, completing the vibrant tableau and adding an ethereal beauty to this captivating being.
In its dynamic pose, Syntherax stands as a paragon of chaos and wonder, an embodiment of the Heart of Ambrosia that is both mesmerizing and daunting.
Tactical Information
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life
In the ethereal expanse of the Heart of Ambrosia, Syntherax reigns supreme as its chaotic oracle and protector. This enigmatic creature thrives on the unpredictable ebb and flow of magic coursing throughout its realm, existing as both guardian and observer. Syntherax looms in the shadows, its form a constant flickering presence, swelling and contracting as it absorbs the chaotic strands of ancient magic that pervade the chamber.
Motivated by a desire to maintain the balance of creation and destruction, Syntherax is fiercely territorial but exhibits a strange curiosity about those who venture into its domain. Unlike typical predators, it does not immediately seek to eliminate intruders; rather, it delights in studying their motives, behaviors, and aspirations. Syntherax seems to find joy in the confusion and fear of those who wander too close to its sanctuary, savoring their reactions as they become ensnared in its intricate web of illusion and mind tricks.
Despite its chaotic nature, Syntherax is not utterly malevolent. If approached with genuine reverence or curiosity, it may engage in cryptic conversations, offering insights that are obscure yet laden with prophetic foreboding. Social interactions, when they occur, are riddled with metaphor and riddles that challenge the minds of those who would seek its wisdom. Feeding on the residual energies of the chamber rather than physical nourishment, it often communes with the ambiance of swirling magic rather than hunting in a traditional sense.
Combat Behavior
When combat begins, Syntherax initially adopts an air of nonchalance, allowing intruders to perceive it as a mere figment of their imagination, a distraction in the workings of reality. As foes make their approach, however, its hollow eyes glint with anticipation, and the creature springs into action with chilling efficiency. It calmly assesses the situation, targeting the most capable adventurers, especially those who wield magic or have strong willpower, keenly aware that their actions threaten its chaotic harmony.
The first move may involve an eerie silence as it unleashes Mind Rift, summoning a wave of confusion that disrupts the fabric of reality for its target. Simultaneously, it weaves Ambrosial Delusions into the fabric of the encounter, causing chaos to ripple across the battlefield, converting friend into foe and twisting perception in favor of Syntherax’s whims.
Syntherax is adept at manipulating space and time, using Arcane Pulse to unleash a torrent of force that not only deals significant damage but can also knock foes prone, effectively turning the battlefield into a treacherous landscape. It cleverly positions itself amidst the chaos, deftly using Arcane Displacement to elude attacks while leaving behind an illusory remnant that exacerbates confusion among its enemies.
When overwhelmed by numbers, Syntherax remains calculated and composed. It will retreat into the shadows, using its Wondrous Drift to escape rather than go into a desperate fight; however, it doesn’t shy away from retaliating and exploiting the environment to create advantageous circumstances, such as summoning chaotic creatures through Portal Channeling. It thrives on upheaval and will not fight unfairly; instead, it ensures every confrontation is an intricate dance of wits, gradually eroding its foes’ resolve until they falter.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions
In non-combat situations, Syntherax can be an enigma. When approached by adventurers, it exudes an air of both wisdom and mischief. It projects an unsettling calm, speaking in a manner filled with riddles and metaphors that provoke thought rather than yielding direct answers. If adventurers express genuine respect for its home and the chaotic beauty of the Heart of Ambrosia, Syntherax may grant them insights into their destinies or pieces of valuable arcane knowledge.
Any threats or aggressive postures are met with disdain, as Syntherax responds to brashness with an equal measure of derision and illusion, morphing into a cacophony of voices and shifting forms that disorient and unsettle. It might offer a gleeful warning, “You tread where dreams dwell and nightmares heed; into the unknown, your thoughts proceed.”
Should diplomacy falter and the adventurers persist in hostility, Syntherax might structure delusions tailored to their fears, creating psychological turmoil that compels them to reconsider their actions. It views itself as a curator of chaos—perceiving attempts at negotiation not as opportunities for compromise but rather as a game where it holds the upper hand. Faced with cornering hostility, it will vanish into ethereal mists, leaving a trail of mirages behind to confuse pursuers, all while smiling in the knowledge that their struggle only feeds its chaotic existence.
Thus, each encounter with Syntherax becomes a blend of mind games and metaphysical dilemmas, encapsulating the delicate balance between confrontational chaos and profound revelation.
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