Spes Magna Games

As promised, here’s part two of my trip through the Celtic Mythos from the AD&D Deities & Demigods. Today, I bring you the Wild Hunt converted to D&D 5E.

Called by Evil. “The Wild Hunt exists in all lands where Druids and their deities dwell. It is a physical manifestation of ‘life force’ that always take on the same form. The Hunt is made up of one huge black-skinned man with antlers growing from his head and his pack of hounds.” The Wild Hunt “appears whenever there is evil in the land”, always arriving after sundown. The Wild Hunt “begins ten miles from the source of evil that ‘summons’ it”, and it races toward the source of that evil.

Call of the Hunt. The Wild Hunt confines itself to a 10-mile radius around the initial location of its prey, around the evil which summoned it. As the Wild Hunt races, the Master’s horn and the hounds’ baying “can be heard for miles in the night.” Those who end up too close to the Wild Hunt, whether by accident or design, may fall under the Hunt’s spell, joining it as either predator or prey.

One More Chase.. Neither the Master nor the hounds can die for long. If slain, the Master and the hounds “disappear in the darkness and appear somewhere else the next night, proving that the force that creates the Hunt is eternal.”

Master of the Hunt
Large fey, neutral

“The Master has jet black skin and glowing green eyes. His head is crowned by a set of stag antlers, and he wears a suit of black leather. The Master never speaks.”

Armor Class 20 (leather armor, natural armor)
Hit Points 142 (15d10+60)
Speed 45 ft.
Ability Scores STR 23 (+6), DEX 18 (+4), CON 19 (+4), INT 18 (+4), WIS 19 (+4), CHA 18 (+4)

Saving Throws DEX +9, STR +11
Skills Athletics +11, Perception +9, Survival +9
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Sylvan (doesn’t speak)
Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)

Legendary Resistance. If the Master fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance. The Master has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Master Hunter. The Master has advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track a target. It can also move through nonmagical difficult terrain with no extra movement cost. The Master can pass through nonmagical plants without being slowed by them and without taking damage from them if they have thorns, spines or a similar hazard.

Skillful Evasion. Opportunity attacks against the Master are made with disadvantage.

Spellcasting. The Master is a 15th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). Its verbal components consist of growls, hoots, and other animal noises. The Master knows the following ranger spells:

1st level (4 slots): ensnaring strike, hunter’s mark, jump
2nd level (3 slots): darkvision, find traps
3rd level (3 slots): protection from energy, water walk
4th level (2 slots): freedom of movement, locate creature

Trackless. The Master can use the Hide action as a bonus action on its turn. It cannot be tracked by nonmagical means unless it chooses to leave a trail. In a natural terrain, the Master gains a +10 bonus to Dexterity (Stealth) checks as long as it remains motionless and takes no actions.

Actions

Multiattack. The Master can attack twice on its turn with its spear.

Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 5 ft. and range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (1d8+9) piercing damage, or 14 (1d10+9) piercing damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack. If the creature hit by the Master with its spear is below it’s maximum hit points, the creature takes an extra 5 (1d10) piercing damage. The Master fights with a +3 spear. If thrown, the Master’s spear flies back to its hand immediately after the attack.

Hunter’s Awareness. The Master becomes supernaturally aware of the region around it. It can sense the types of creatures within 1 mile of it. This ability does reveal the creatures’ location or number.

Whirlwind Attack. The Master can make a melee attack against any number of creatures within 5 feet of it, making a separate attack roll for each target.

Reactions

Uncanny Dodge. When an attacker that the Master can see hits the Master with an attack, the Master can use its reaction to halve that attack’s damage against it.

Legendary Actions