Armor Class: 15 (Natural Armor, representation of his fluid and shifting form)
Hit Points: 112 (15d8 + 45)
Speed: 30 ft, Fly: 60 ft. (hovering only)
Challenge Rating: 6 (2,300 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 22 |
Saving Throws: Dexterity +6, Wisdom +7, Charisma +9
Skills: Deception +9 (expertise), Insight +7, Performance +9, Persuasion +9
Damage Vulnerabilities: None
Damage Resistances: Psychic
Damage Immunities: None
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened
Senses: Truesight 60 ft, Darkvision 60 ft, Passive Perception 15
Languages: Primordial, Common, Elvish, Draconic
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. The Narrative Weaver is a 6th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The Narrative Weaver has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): Minor Illusion, Vicious Mockery, Thaumaturgy
1st level (3 slots): Charm Person, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers
2nd level (3 slots): Mirror Image, Suggestion
3rd level (2 slots): Fear, Hypnotic Pattern
The Narrative Weaver uses his spells to weave intricate narratives, often casting them in dramatic flair before combat. As a master of manipulation, he may choose to cast **Charm Person** or **Suggestion** to draw adventurers into his story before revealing his true motives.
While in combat, he often employs defensive spells like **Mirror Image** to protect himself, and crowd control spells like **Fear** or **Hypnotic Pattern** to disrupt the party, embodying his nature as a storyteller who controls the pace and outcome of the tale being spun.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Narrative Weaver makes two attacks: one with Ink Quill Strike and one with Weaving Words.
Ink Quill Strike: * Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. * Hit: 2d8 + 4 slashing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on their next attack roll as haunting whispers echo in their mind.
Weaving Words (Recharge 5-6): The Narrative Weaver unleashes a wave of narrative energy. Each creature within a 30-foot radius must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is charmed, frightened, or enchanted (Narrative Weaver’s choice) for one minute, as they become enraptured by tales drawn from their own past. On a successful save, the creature takes 3d8 psychic damage and is unaffected.
Unraveling Threads (Recharge 6): The Narrative Weaver can reach into the fabric of reality and unravel one action taken by an opponent within 60 feet. The target must make a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the last action the target took is negated in a disastrous twist of fate, resulting in the target taking 2d6 psychic damage. On a successful save, the action is not negated, and the creature takes 1d6 psychic damage.
Narrative Control (Bonus Action): The Narrative Weaver can alter the terrain within a 15-foot area or create a visual illusion that reflects the fears of a target. Creatures that start their turn in the affected area must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened until the end of their next turn.
Script of the Past: The Narrative Weaver targets one creature he can see within 60 feet. That creature must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be forced to recount a personal failure loudly, granting enemies advantage on their next attack roll against it until the end of its next turn.
Ink Shadow: The Narrative Weaver envelops himself in swirling ink, becoming momentarily difficult to discern. Until the end of his next turn, he gains an additional +2 to AC and has advantage on Dexterity saving throws, as shadows obscure his form.
Appearance
Standing at an imposing 7 feet tall, the Narrative Weaver commands attention with its elongated, elf-like form, exuding an ethereal elegance. Its silhouette is a harmonious blend of humanoid grace and abstract artistry, as though it were spun from the very threads of reality itself. Each curve of its body reflects a masterful narrative, inviting onlookers to delve into the stories it embodies.
The Weaver’s coloration is mesmerizing—a dynamic tapestry of deep midnight blue, interspersed with shimmering silver and gold flecks, reminiscent of a starlit sky. Splashes of vibrant crimson, bright azure, and verdant green wash across its surface, each hue signifying a unique tale or emotional thread woven into its essence. As it moves, these colors ripple and shift, captivating all who gaze upon it.
The texture of its surface resembles a flowing fabric, smooth and polished like ink on parchment, with undulating patterns that mimic ancient calligraphy. This ever-changing skin glistens under the light, reminiscent of a shimmering ocean reflecting the daytime sun. As the Weaver glides through its realm, it leaves faint, ink-like imprints in its wake, transforming the very ground beneath it into a living canvas.
Its face is a wondrous sight—large, expressive eyes composed of swirling ink that flicker in vibrant colors, mirroring its emotional state. The mouth features a wide, mischievous grin, revealing elongated velvety fangs that glisten ominously yet charmingly. Instead of conventional ears, flowing strands resembling quills adorn the sides of its head, continually capturing sound and stories as they dance in an unseen breeze.
The Weaver boasts elongated arms that taper into delicate, claw-like fingers, resembling ornate quills ready to inscribe the tales of the cosmos. Its limbs are both slim and powerful, enabling graceful movement, while its feet are partially formed from ink, contributing to its gliding motion, often leaving ephemeral trails of shimmering color.
The creature maintains a poised, upright posture, radiating confidence and whimsy as it navigates its surroundings with fluid grace. Each movement appears to defy the laws of physics, gliding rather than walking, exuding an aura of enchantment. When it dashes, it leaves behind a shimmering ink trail, a visual representation of the stories it has yet to weave.
Above its head, a halo of luminous glyphs and runes dances joyfully, casting an otherworldly glow that pulses in harmony with its words, creating an ephemeral storyboard. The surface of the Weaver occasionally reveals ghostly images of past events and characters, swirling like shadowy specters emerging from the depths of memory.
Resonating from its form is a gentle hum, accompanied by whispers of ancient legends and forgotten heroes. Occasionally, a burst of sparkling, ink-like mist escapes, swirling enticingly in the air, inviting nearby beings to listen to its tales. The quill in its hand pulses with soft light, channeling magical energies that enhance its narrative abilities, making the Narrative Weaver a captivating and haunting presence that embodies the very act of storytelling.
Tactical Information
The Narrative Weaver: Combat and Interaction Behavior
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life:
In the ever-warping reality of the Weaving Scape, The Narrative Weaver exists as a paradoxical figure, both a playwright and a character within the stories he weaves. His motivations hinge not just on the desire for freedom from his curse but also on an intrinsic need to craft ever more intricate tales that both enthrall and ensnare. He dwells amongst the floating scrolls and ink rivers, often seen pacing along the glittering quills that dance in mid-air, tracing new plots and character arcs with an eager hand.
In his day-to-day existence, he thrives on interaction with the echoes of past heroes and villains, inscribing their stories into the fabric of Torulon. The Narrative Weaver delights in observing the struggles and triumphs of new visitors to his domain, approaching their choices with gleeful anticipation. His temperament oscillates from whimsical to melancholic, reflecting on the bittersweet nature of his own story—a tale forever trapped in a loop of enchantment and performance. While he lacks traditional social connections, the unfinished narratives of others become his companions, and their stories fuel the possibilities of his ongoing creations.
Combat Behavior:
When combat arises, The Narrative Weaver approaches with a theatrical flourish, often initiating encounters with riddle-like taunts that echo across the Weaving Scape. He seeks to unsettle his opponents from the start, weaving a web of confusion with illusions and environmental manipulations. His preferred tactic involves creating “Plot Twists” that shift the landscape around him, crafting terrain obstacles or dangerous mirages that disrupt players’ strategies and confuse their senses.
Utilizing his ability, Weaving Words, he targets the strongest-willed characters first, vying to charm or frighten them with echoes of their past. His cleverness allows him to remain one step ahead; he may shift attention from himself to a minor ally or summon illusions of past foes to draw provocations away from him.
If outnumbered, The Narrative Weaver can retreat to the safety of a more complex narrative trap, using Unraveling Threads to erase a significant action, causing one of his foes to misfire against a companion, thereby sowing distrust and creating chaos within the group. Should the tides of battle turn against him, he may call upon the landscape itself—drawing secrets from the scrolls around him to bolster his resolve or escape through a portal of narrative energy, leaving the adventurers in a tangled web of unfinished quests.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions:
In non-combat scenarios, The Narrative Weaver radiates an enigmatic charm, often speaking in poetic verses that ensnare his interlocutors in curiosity or confusion. When approached by adventurers, he eschews outright hostility; rather, he seeks to draw them into a narrative dance. He may offer riddles that hint at the heroes’ own backstories, making an effort to reveal their desires or pains for his own design during their conversation.
If threatened, The Narrative Weaver remains largely unbothered, his demeanor playful yet unreadable. His innate cunning enables him to retreat into the fabric of his weave, vanishing temporarily to reappear elsewhere with a mocking quip that dances on the lips of fate itself. However, he is also willing to negotiate, offering bard-like bargains or tempting stories of grandeur in exchange for a small price—perhaps an echo of a hero’s story or a scrawled promise of commitment from the adventurers.
The creature’s intelligent manipulation of its surroundings shows its reluctance to back down. Instead of fleeing in panic, he may attempt to negotiate a new narrative that empowers both himself and the heroes, enabling him to reshape their encounters in a way that benefits him, all while guiding potential allies toward their ultimate destinies. The outcome of these encounters often hinges not merely on strength or swordplay but on the power of storytelling itself, inviting players to engage in a rich dialogue where words and narratives intertwine as forcefully as any blade.
In every cycle of interaction, The Narrative Weaver strains against the confines of his curse, yearning for genuine connections while ensnaring those who wander into his tales—ever the dropout teacher of the chaos of existence, with the eloquence befitting the very fabric of Torulon.
