Whispershadow
Medium Undead, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 13 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 27 (5d8)
Speed: 0 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)
Challenge Rating: 1 (200xp)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 18 |
Saving Throws: Dexterity +5, Wisdom +4
Skills: Stealth +7, Perception +4, Deception +6
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant Damage
Damage Resistances: Necrotic Damage
Damage Immunities: Poison Damage
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft.
Languages: Understands Common and Celestial but cannot speak.
Spellcasting
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Actions & Abilities
Whispers of the Lost: The Whispershadow can manipulate the ambient sounds of the Whistling Fields to create disorienting whispers that fill a 20-foot radius centered on itself. Creatures in this area must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 12) or become frightened until the end of their next turn. On a successful save, a creature is immune to this effect for 24 hours. Usage: Recharges after a short or long rest.
Whisper’s Lure: The Whispershadow projects a sound from a point within 60 feet, mimicking a voice or familiar sound (like a loved one’s call). Each creature that hears it must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 12) or be drawn to the source of the sound, moving toward it on their next turn. This effect can manipulate allies and foes alike. Usage: Can be used once per encounter.
Ethereal Drift: The Whispershadow can move through the grass with a ghostly grace. As a bonus action, it can become invisible until the start of its next turn or until it attacks. It gains advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks while hiding in the tall grass of the Whistling Fields. Usage: At-will.
Siren’s Scream: The Whispershadow unleashes a haunting wail that echoes through the fields. Each creature within a 20-foot radius must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 12). On a failed save, a creature takes 1d6 psychic damage and is frightened until the end of their next turn. On a successful save, they take half damage and are not frightened. Usage: Can be used once every 3 rounds.
Haunting Presence: The Whispershadow can manifest vague silhouettes of the souls lost in the fields around it, creating an eerie environment. For the duration of the encounter, opponents have disadvantage on attack rolls against the Whispershadow, and no creature can regain hit points while within 30 feet of it. Usage: Can be activated once per encounter; lasts until the Whispershadow is defeated or moves beyond 30 feet.
Ethereal Touch: Melee Weapon Attack +4 to hit. Reach: 5 ft. Hit: 1d8 + 2 psychic damage. Effect: If the target is frightened, it also takes an additional 1d4 psychic damage, as the Whispershadow taps into their fears.
Chilling Grasp: Ranged Spell Attack +4 to hit. Range: 30 ft. Hit: 1d10 necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn. Effect: This attack reflects the lingering, dreadful nature of the whispers and the lost souls.
Shadow Escape: When a creature attacks the Whispershadow, it can use its reaction to become invisible for the duration of the attack. The Whispershadow can then move away without provoking opportunity attacks, appearing elsewhere in the tall grass. Usage: Once per round.
Appearance
In the heart of the Whistling Fields, the Whispershadow emerges as a captivating and enigmatic presence. Standing at a striking 6 feet tall, this medium-sized entity boasts an elongated and slender silhouette that blends the fine line between solid and ethereal. Its form is vaguely humanoid, yet decidedly amorphous, with contours that shift and sway, creating an aura of tranquility and mystery.
Primarily semi-transparent, the Whispershadow is draped in hues of pale gray interspersed with glimmering wisps of silver. These colors play enchantingly across its surface, reminiscent of starlight shimmering in the twilight. The creature lacks traditional coloration, embodying a spectral quality that shifts with the ambient light, giving it an otherworldly charm.
Its surface is a smooth, flowing blend of mist and shadow, exuding a soft sheen akin to silk. The texture mesmerizes onlookers, mimicking the gentle undulation of grass in a breeze. As it moves, patterns ripple across its form, resembling the ebb and flow of a serene landscape, further enhancing its connection to the fields.
The Whispershadow’s face is haunting, devoid of typical features. Instead of a mouth and nose, it possesses two hollow voids where eyes would traditionally be. These abyssal sockets swirl with ever-changing shadows, casting flickers of sorrowful whispers that echo faintly, hinting at the countless lost souls it harbors. Framed by flickering outlines akin to fireflies at dusk, the face speaks volumes without uttering a single word, filling the air with an aura of wistfulness and intrigue.
Its limbs are long and ethereal, tapering into wisps that dissolve into nothingness at their ends. These arms flow gracefully, moving with an elegance that seems free of solid joints. The legs, though humanoid in structure, float just above the ground, evoking the illusion of gnarled branches swaying in an unseen wind. This creature rarely takes on a solid form; it glides through the fields, effortlessly streaming along like rippling grass.
Cascading around its head are shimmering tendrils, reminiscent of mist-like hair, reflecting the vibrant colors of the surrounding grasses. This enchanting feature adds to its ethereal presence, as these strands flicker and dance with the slightest movement. At moments, faint glimmering glyphs shift along its surface, remnants of the lost souls intertwined with its essence, bringing a sense of mystique to its persona.
The Whispershadow maintains a fluid and upright posture, radiating grace and elegance. With each motion, it glides through the air as if floating, embodying an uncanny blend of serenity and otherworldliness. When it chooses to vanish into the grass, it dissolves into a soft mist, melding seamlessly with its surroundings, only to reappear a heartbeat later with effortless abandon.
An ethereal glow emanates from the Whispershadow, softly illuminating the area in a muted light that pulses harmoniously with the surrounding whispers. This bioluminescent aura amplifies its ghostly nature, leaving traces of silver smoke in its wake that enhance the impression that the very wind has come alive. The Whispershadow thus stands as a hauntingly beautiful entity, weaving through the Whistling Fields with an elegance that captivates the imagination, leaving both wonder and trepidation in its path.
Tactical Information
Whispershadow: Combat and Narrative Behavior
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life
The Whispershadow thrives in the pastoral and melancholic landscape of the Whistling Fields. As an entity of sorrow and memory, it drifts gracefully among the swaying grasses, silently observing the movement of the breeze while listening to the disembodied whispers of the past. Its primary motivation is not malevolence, but rather a desperate longing to guide lost souls toward closure and peace, even if it often leads others unwittingly into danger.
The Whispershadow spends much of its time interacting with the environment in subtle ways—whispering warnings to wandering travelers or echoing the thoughts of the bereaved. It often manifests fleeting glimpses of itself, allowing itself to be seen just long enough to instill both awe and fear. While it is not a social creature, it retains a deep connection to the energies of the souls that once inhabited the fields, sometimes responding to their collective emotions as it weaves through the air.
While it does not hunt in the traditional sense, the Whispershadow draws vitality from the emotional energy of those who wander too close to its realm. This is particularly potent when distress or fear is involved. The creature leaves the fields only on rare occasions when strongly motivated to seek out an individual whose sorrow resonates with its own. Despite its ephemeral nature, it protects its territory fiercely, warding off larger threats.
Combat Behavior
When the Whispershadow engages in combat, it uses its surroundings to great advantage. It prefers to observe intruders from a distance, staying hidden among the shivering blades of grass, before using its abilities to manipulate sound and fear. Combat is not a favored endeavor for the Whispershadow; instead, it relies on stealth, subterfuge, and environmental manipulation.
Combat is typically initiated by the casting of Whisper’s Lure, drawing players closer under the guise of a familiar voice or a sound that evokes a strong emotional response. Once players are distracted or drawn near, the Whispershadow will reveal itself, becoming partially visible amongst the swaying grass to create an unsettling silhouette, further fueled by the haunting sounds it can produce with Siren’s Scream to instill fear and disarray.
In skilled hands, the Whispershadow uses Invisibility in Whispers to move stealthily around foes, targeting the more vulnerable individuals, like spellcasters or those showing signs of distress, with its haunting abilities. When confronted with multiple attackers, the Whispershadow prefers to retreat into the thicker grass, making use of Environmental Interaction by rustling grass to further confuse its pursuers before slipping away, appearing to vanish entirely.
It would evade conflict by creating an illusion of unseen threats or by whispering promises of rewards if the party follows the voices deeper into the fields. If pushed into a corner or if combat turns unfavorable, the Whispershadow may resort to feigning madness—a discordant cacophony of voices erupting from within its form to disorient attackers and facilitate an escape.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions
In non-combat scenarios, the Whispershadow bears an enigmatic yet curious demeanor. When approached by adventurers, it does not speak verbally, as its voice is woven into the whispers of the fields. Instead, it communicates through emotional resonances—drawing on the adventurers’ memories, desires, and fears, often using these insights to create lighter moments of connection or deeper feelings of dread.
This hauntingly benevolent creature may respond to threats with a shimmering display of its form, creating illusions of larger threats looming in the distance as a diversion. Should adventurers attempt diplomacy, the Whispershadow may use Whisper’s Lure to echo words of guidance, or it may respond with a soft yet mournful orchestra of voices that reflects the adventurer’s motivations back at them, confusing and intriguing them in equal measure.
The creature is neither inherently violent nor foolish. Fleeing is always a viable option, especially if presented with direct aggression or hostility. Should adventurers display compassion or sorrow, the Whispershadow may choose to guide them safely through the Whistling Fields, relaying echoes of past and present that can reveal pitfalls or treasures hidden within.
In moments of confrontation or interrogation, it might feign ignorance, allowing shadows to dance about it as the whispers grow louder, creating an atmospheric tension that could sow fear or force an emotional confrontation. If cornered, it may attempt to lure even those with their hearts filled with courage into a hidden peril between the whispering grass—a testament to the power of perception in its world.
Thus, the Whispershadow emerges not solely as an opponent, but as a creature woven deeply into the fabric of the Whistling Fields, embodying the sounds and spirits of those forgotten in time, eliciting both awe and trepidation in its encounters.
