Xoltlcan, the Dread Guardian of the Underworld
Medium Undead (Spectral), Neutral
Armor Class: 16 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 85 (10d8 + 40)
Speed: 0 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover), teleport 30 ft.
Challenge Rating: 5 (1,800 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
Saving Throws: Strength +4, Dexterity +7, Constitution +7, Wisdom +6, Charisma +8
Skills: Perception +6, Stealth +7, Intimidation +8, Insight +6, Arcana +4
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant damage
Damage Resistances: Necrotic damage, fire damage
Damage Immunities: Poison damage, psychic damage
Condition Immunities: Charmed, exhausted, frightened, paralyzed, stunned
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Ethereal Sight, True Sight 30 ft., Passive Perception 16
Languages: Understands Common and Celestial but cannot speak
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. The Xoltlcan is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). The Xoltlcan has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): *Eldritch Blast*, *Minor Illusion*, *Thaumaturgy*
1st level (4 slots): *Armor of Agathys*, *Shield*
2nd level (3 slots): *Misty Step*, *Hold Person*
3rd level (3 slots): *Fear*, *Lightning Bolt*
4th level (2 slots): *Phantasmal Killer*, *Dimension Door*
5th level (1 slot): *Wall of Force*
The Xoltlcan often casts *Fear* at the beginning of combat to instill dread among its enemies, then follows up with *Lightning Bolt* for high damage in a straight line. Its spectral form allows it to effectively utilize *Misty Step* to reposition itself within battle. Additionally, it can prepare defensive spells such as *Armor of Agathys* and *Shield* before engaging opponents.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Xoltlcan makes three attacks: one with its Shadow Bite and two with its Ghostly Claws.
Shadow Bite: **Melee Weapon Attack:** +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
**Hit:** 2d10 + 5 necrotic damage. On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn.
Ghostly Claw: **Melee Weapon Attack:** +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
**Hit:** 1d6 + 5 slashing damage. If the target is a creature that has taken damage from Xoltlcan in this turn, it must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or be incapacitated until the end of its next turn.
Flame Burst (Recharge 5-6): The Xoltlcan unleashes a devastating wave of spectral flames in a 15-foot radius centered on itself.
Each creature in the area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 4d6 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. Additionally, creatures that fail the saving throw are also blinded until the end of their next turn.
Lightning Bolt (Recharge 5-6): The Xoltlcan directs a lightning bolt that shoots out in a line 60 feet long and 5 feet wide.
Each creature in that line must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, they take 3d10 lightning damage and are stunned until the end of their next turn. On a successful save, they take half damage and are not stunned.
Spectral Hound Summoning: The Xoltlcan summons 1d3 (1-3) spectral hounds. These spectral hounds last for 1 minute or until destroyed. They act on Xoltlcan’s initiative and have their own actions which include a bite attack (melee attack, +6 to hit, 1d8 + 3 force damage).
Guardian’s Ward: When a creature that the Xoltlcan can see attacks a target within 10 feet of it, Xoltlcan can impose disadvantage on that attack roll. This ability represents its protective aspects over souls near the threshold.
Misty Evasion (Costs 1 Action): The Xoltlcan briefly envelops itself in mist, allowing it to vanish and reappear up to 30 feet away in an unoccupied space.
Terrifying Howl (Costs 2 Actions): The Xoltlcan releases a bone-chilling howl. Each creature of its choice within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Conduit of Shadows (Costs 3 Actions): The Xoltlcan channels energy from the Shadow Realm. Until the start of its next turn, it and any spectral hounds gain temporary hit points equal to 2d10 + Xoltlcan’s Charisma modifier as its specter flows and empowers them.
Darkness Advantage: The Xoltlcan has advantage on attack rolls while in dim light or darkness, utilizing its connection to the shadowy realms from which it draws power.
Ethereal Step: The Xoltlcan can enter an ethereal state as a movement action, allowing it to move through walls and solid objects for a turn before re-emerging.
Final Reflection (Optional, upon defeat): Upon reaching 0 hit points, rather than dying, Xoltlcan will reform with the following message: **”In fear, remember, life and death are intertwined; your choices shape the passage of the spirit. What have you learned?”** This insight permits players a moment of reflection and discussion about choices in-game.
Appearance
Under the stark brightness of a white background, the Xoltlcan emerges as a hauntingly beautiful creature, standing approximately 7 feet tall. Its slender, elongated form mimics the skeletal structure of a hound, casting an eerie yet elegant silhouette. The creature’s posture is slightly hunched, radiating both grace and a sense of predatory danger, as if it dances between the realms of shadow and light.
The Xoltlcan is cloaked in a deep, dark purple skin that oscillates subtly with its movements. This spectral hue occasionally unveils flickers of fiery red beneath, creating a mesmerizing interplay of color. Its body is adorned with bioluminescent patterns that resemble a night sky filled with constellations, glowing softly to illuminate its ethereal presence. These luminescent markings pulse with each motion, adding a cosmic essence that captivates the eye.
Touching the surface reveals a smooth, semi-translucent quality to the skin, reminiscent of mist mingling with shadows. This shifting texture gives the creature an almost liquid appearance, as if it were composed of flowing darkness rather than solid matter.
A defining feature of the Xoltlcan is its elongated, spectral face, echoing that of a ghostly hound. Its ember-like eyes glow fiercely with an orange light, drawing in the surrounding darkness and instilling a sense of foreboding. The mouth, capable of emotive expressions, is predominantly a ghastly crescent filled with sharp, shadow-like teeth that vanish and reappear, creating an unsettling, otherworldly grin.
The limbs of the Xoltlcan are remarkably long and slender, tapering into clawed appendages that crackle with arcs of electricity. These limbs blend agility with menace, allowing for swift, fluid movements that weave effortlessly through the shadows. The creature glides rather than walks, its motion resembling smoke trailing on a breeze, enhancing its ghostly allure.
Swirling around the Xoltlcan is a gentle mist that obscures its lower body, contributing to the illusion that it melds into the environment. This ethereal mist emanates a chilling aura, connecting the creature to the underworld.
The Xoltlcan is an enigmatic guardian of the threshold between life and death, its spectral hounds summoned at will, mirroring its skeletal, shadowy characteristics. With its dynamic appearance, bioluminescent features, and graceful yet menacing form, the Xoltlcan is a breathtaking embodiment of mystery and ancient power, poised strikingly against the stark white backdrop.
Tactical Information
Xoltlcan, the Dread Guardian of the Underworld: Combat and Narrative Behaviors
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life
In the shadowy recesses of the underworld, Xoltlcan’s existence is intertwined with the ebb and flow of life and death. As a spectral guardian, its primary motivation is the preservation of order between the realms. While there are no “days” in the underworld, Xoltlcan navigates its domain with a watchful intent, focusing on the souls that wander too close to the threshold of oblivion.
Xoltlcan tends to roam the darkened caverns and tunnels, its silhouette merging with the shadows that dance along the ancient stone. It maintains a semi-loyal pack of spectral hounds that accompany it, serving as both companions and aides in ensuring the souls find their way. Xoltlcan is patient and introspective, taking the role of a guide, anticipating and responding to disturbances.
In moments of solitude, it often reflects on the balance of life and death, contemplating its own existence as a bridge between the two. The air around it thickens with dread, not out of malice, but as a natural manifestation of its presence, instilling awareness in those who chance upon its domain. The spectral hounds, loyal to their master, often act in a protective manner, circling their guardian and warning off intruders.
Combat Behavior
When approached with malice, Xoltlcan’s demeanor shifts seamlessly from watchful guardian to fearsome protector of the dead. Encountering would-be trespassers or souls who defy the order it upholds, the dread guardian initiates combat with a chilling silence, using the element of surprise to instill fear. In the initial moments of confrontation, it unleashes its Aura of Dread, immediately sowing uncertainty among its foes, reducing their courage and focus.
Xoltlcan often favors tactical retreats into the shadows when the tides of battle turn unfavorably, using the environment to its advantage. It may navigate behind cover, regrouping and utilizing Flame Burst or Lightning Bolt when enemies attempt to close the distance. With its Twin Form ability, it may create duplicate forms to mislead and surround opponents, creating confusion while protecting its own essence.
During combat, its spectral hounds are summoned strategically as the Xoltlcan assesses the battlefield. These hounds are treated as extensions of its will, attacking foes, flanking the enemies, and dividing their attention. If Xoltlcan finds itself outnumbered or severely wounded, it will invoke Spectral Hound Summoning for reinforcements or retreat to higher ground, drawing on the shadows to escape and regain control after assessing its adversaries’ strengths.
In combat, Xoltlcan may be heard issuing low, eerie growls like echoes of whispers from the afterlife, urging its spectral hounds to strike while intoning warnings in a voice that resonates with both authority and sadness.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions
Outside the confines of combat, Xoltlcan is a creature steeped in wisdom and melancholy. As the guardian of the underworld’s threshold, it engages in deep contemplation about the nature of life and death. When approached by adventurers, Xoltlcan emerges from the shadows calmly, its ember-like eyes studying each presence with an unnerving yet introspective gaze.
It may respond to threats with a chilling silence, wherein the air thickens with dread, leaving intruders feeling the grave weight of the guardian’s watchful presence. If adventurers display aggression, it is likely to remain still, letting their fears manifest until they feel compelled to reconsider their choices.
In moments where diplomacy can be fostered, Xoltlcan can communicate through ancient, prophetic riddles and cryptic sayings. It speaks in a language that evokes deeper thoughts and introspection, urging those it encounters to understand their motives and their place in the cycle of life. If a party seeks knowledge or guidance, it may share undeniable truths about their past choices and consequences, reflecting the nature of existence itself.
Should the adventurers resort to bribery or deceit, Xoltlcan might regard such actions with an eerie contemplative gaze, often responding with a sarcastic silence that amplifies the weight of their deceit. Should it feel cornered, Xoltlcan may emit an unnatural howl that reverberates through the shadows, summoning spectral hounds to defend it, while concurrently attempting to escape through the barriers of the underworld, leaving behind mist and confusion.
In its interactions, Xoltlcan embodies an air of tragedy and authority, revealing itself not merely as a guardian of the dead, but as a profound reflection of the balance necessary to uphold existence. Whether an adversary or ally, it forever leaves its mark on the souls it encounters, transforming their perspectives on life and the eternal cycle of death.
