Spes Magna Games

This Christmas Eve, don’t forget the tomte’s bowl of porridge topped with a buttery pat.

Tomte

This fey creature appears as an elderly man the size of a young child. It wears simple albeit often brightly colored clothing. One seldom encounters a tomte, and this encounter most often occurs on or near a farm or perhaps in a barn or livestock pen.

A farmer who believes a tomte resides on his property enjoys a mixed blessing. If the tomte is treated well, it helps protect the farm and its creatures from harm. Unfortunately, the tomte has a short temper and is easily offended. An angry tomte may pull pranks on the farm’s residents, break farm equipment, or even harm livestock.

Small fey, neutral

Armor Class 12 (16 with barkskin)
Hit Points 18 (4d6+4)
Speed 25 ft.

STR 16 (+3), DEX 14 (+2), CON 13 (+1), INT 11 (+0), WIS 13 (+1), CHA 12 (+1)

Saving Throws STR +5
Skills Athletics +5, Perception +3, Stealth +4
Damage Immunities cold
Condition Immunities charmed
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common, Sylvan
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Great Strength. The tomte possesses supernatural strength. It counts as one size larger when determining its carrying capacity and the weight it can push, drag, or lift. The tomte makes Strength checks and Strength saving throws with advantage.

Innate Spellcasting. The tomte’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 11). The tomte can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components:

At will: barkskin, druidcraft, light, mending, shillelagh, speak with animals
3/day each: animal friendship, cure wounds, expeditious retreat, silent image
2/day each: animal messenger, enlarge/reduce (self only), invisibility
1/day each: bestow curse, plant growth

Actions

Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) bludgeoning damage, or 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning with shillelagh

Tags: 5E D&D, Christmas, monsters

The sokwe arrive from the skies in strange craft made of metal and glass. From these craft drop thunderous bombs and project destructive blasts of energy. When the craft land, the sokwe emerge, protected by remarkable armor and bearing uncanny weapons. Ape-like and intelligent, the sokwe strike with speed and ferocity.

Sokwe
Large beast, neutral evil

Armor Class 18 (power armor)
Hit Points 67 (9d10+18)
Speed 35 ft., 35 ft.

STR 20 (+5), DEX 14 (+2), CON 16 (+3), INT 11 (+0), WIS 12 (+1), CHA 10 (+0)

Skills Athletics +7, Perception +3
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Sokwe
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

High-Tech Weapon. Roll 1d10. The sokwe is armed with either a dual phaser (1-5), a blaster rifle (6-8), or a pulse cannon (9-10).

Power Armor. The sokwe wears a suit of power armor. In addition to providing excellent protection, servo-motors in the armor grant advantage on Athletics checks. While wearing power armor, the sokwe counts as one size larger when determining its carrying capacity and the weight it can push, drag, or lift (1,200 pounds and 2,400 pounds, respectively).

Actions

Multiattack. The sokwe makes two fist attacks.

Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8+5) bludgeoning damage.

High-Tech Weapon

Dual Phaser. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 50/200 ft., one or two targets. Hit: 13 (2d10+2) fire damage. Nota Bene: A dual phaser can be fired twice with the Attack action. Both attacks must be at the same target or at a second target adjacent to the first target.

Blaster Rifle. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 24 (4d10+2) lightning damage.

Pulse Cannon (Recharge 4-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 35 (6d10+2) force damage.

Tags: 5E D&D, monsters

And, at long last, here’s Wastri the Hopping Prophet in all his splendor!

Since Wastri is a deity, albeit a Material Plane demigod, he should almost certainly have lair actions and regional effects as well. Given his preference for swamps, the lair actions and regional effects of the ancient green dragon are a good starting point.

Wastri the Hopping Prophet
Medium humanoid (human), lawful evil

Armor Class 21
Hit Points 255 (30d8+120)
Speed 45 ft., swim 30 ft.

STR 18 (+4), DEX 22 (+6), CON 19 (+4), INT 10 (+0), WIS 20 (+5), CHA 11 (+0)

Saving Throws STR +10, DEX +12, INT +6, WIS +11, CHA +6
Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Skills Acrobatics +12, Athletics +10, Deception +6, Perception +11, Persuasion +6, Religion +6, Stealth +12
Senses passive Perception 21
Languages Common, Bullywug
Challenge 19 (22,000 XP)

Amphibious. Wastri can breath air and water.

Assassinate. During his first turn, Wastri has advantage on attack rolls against any creature that hasn’t taken a turn. Any hit Wastri scores against a surprised creature is a critical hit.

Bane of False Humans. As a bonus action, Wastri can expend a spell slot to cause his melee weapon attacks to magically deal an extra 10 (3d6) radiant damage to a non-human humanoid target on a hit. This benefit lasts until the end of the turn. If Wastri expends a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the extra damage increases by 1d6 for each level above 1st.

Evasion. If Wastri is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, Wastri instead takes no damage if he succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if he fails.

Sneak Attack. Once per turn, Wastri deals an extra 14 (4d6) damage when he hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of Wastri that isn’t incapacitated and Wastri doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.

Innate Spellcasting. As a demigod, Wastri has innate magical abilities. His innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14). He can innately cast the following spells as a 15th-level caster, requiring no material components.

At will: command, comprehend languages, detect evil and good, gate, geas, teleport, true seeing
1/day each: Wastri’s croak, dampness, plague of warts

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the Wastri fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

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

Spellcasting. Wastri is a 15th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 19, +11 to hit with spell attacks). Wastri has the following cleric spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): guidance, light, resistance, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
1st level (4 slots): bane, cure wounds, guiding bolt, protection from evil and good, sanctuary
2nd level (3 slots): hold person, protection from poison, warding bond
3rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, protection from energy, water walk
4th level (3 slots): control water, freedom of movement, guardian of faith
5th level (2 slots): insect plague, scrying
6th level (1 slot): word of recall
7th level (1 slot): symbol
8th level (1 slot): antimagic field

Standing Leap. Wastri’s long jump is up to 30 feet and its high jump is up to 15 feet, with or without a running start.

Unarmored Defense. While Wastri is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, his AC includes his Wisdom modifier.

Actions

Multiattack. Wastri makes two attacks when he takes the Attack action.

Skewer of the Impure. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d10+7) piercing or slashing damage. Nota Bene: The Skewer of the Impure is a magic glaive. It has a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls. It requires attunement by a human for its magic to function.

Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d6+6) bludgeoning damage.

Conjure Frogs (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). Wastri conjures eight giant frogs, which appear in unoccupied spaces the priest can see within 60 feet. Each beast disappears when it drops to 0 hit points. The summoned frogs are friendly to Wastri and Wastri’s companions. Roll initiative for the summoned frogs as a group, which has its own turns. They obey any verbal commands Wastri issues to them (no action required). If Wastri doesn’t any commands to them, they defend themselves from hostile creatures, but otherwise take no actions. The frogs remain until killed or until Wastri takes a short or long rest.

Legendary Actions

Wastri can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Wastri regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Attack. Wastri makes one attack.

Cantrip. Wasti casts a cantrip.

Detect. Wastri makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Move. Wastri moves up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Tags: 5E D&D, Deities & Demigods, monsters

In the Tome of Horrors by Frog God Games, we find the killer frog, a delightful monster hearkening back to the early years of D&D. I like Frog God’s take on the killer frog. It remains true to its roots. It’s small and attacks with claws and a fanged bite. There’s no mention, however, of killer frogs being “specially bred mutants” (to quote AD&D’s Monster Manual). Specially bred by whom? Well, by followers of Wastri, of course!

(Nota Bene: That link above is an affiliate link.)

My Wastri’s killer frog, domesticated and trained to hunt in packs, starts with Frog God’s version as the base. The italicized description below comes directly from the Tome of Horrors.

This frog stands partially erect and has dark-green skin fading to light on its underbelly. A trio of defensive horn-like protuberances just upward, one from its nose and each brow, and its smiling countenance reveals sharp fangs lining its entire gum line.

Wastri’s Killer Frog
Small beast, unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 16 (3d6+6)
Speed 20 ft., swim 30 ft.

STR 13 (+1), DEX 14 (+2), CON 15 (+2), INT 3 (-4), WIS 10 (+0), CHA 7 (-2)

Skills Perception +2, Stealth +4
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

Amphibious. The killer frog can breathe air and water.

Keen Smell. The killer frog has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Pack Tactics. The killer frog has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the killer frog’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

Standing Leap. The killer frog’s long jump is up to 20 feet and its high jump is up to 10 feet, with or without a running start.

Actions

Multiattack. The killer frog makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) piercing damage.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) slashing damage.

Tags: 5E D&D, monsters

Not too long ago, WotC rebooted the classic U1-U3 Series of modules, adding in some retooling of other nautical-themed material, all released in the 200+ page long Ghosts of Saltmarsh. Ghosts introduces into 5E D&D several new monsters, including bullywug croakers (a sort of bullywug bard) and giant-frog-riding bullywug royals.

(Nota Bene: That first link above is an affiliate link for the U1-U3 Underwater Series bundle for 1E AD&D.)

As mentioned in my last post, Wastri admires amphibians for their ability to survive both on land and in the water. This versatility shows that amphibians point toward a better way of living. This leads to a paradox at the heart of Wastri’s dogma. Untainted humanity is the superior state of being while at the same time untained humanity is imperfect. A perfected humanity would be like Wastri himself, a hybrid of human and amphibian, which explains why Wastri’s Hopefuls engage in rigorous conditioning aimed at greater proficiency with jumping and swimming.

Among Wastri’s followers are found many bullywugs and grungs. Ramenos, the bullywug’s deity, might object to his creatures honoring Wastri. Ramenos is an Abyssal power and the lesser deity somnolence, intoxication, and decay, a portfolio that seems at odds with Wastri’s patronage of amphibians, bigotry, and self-deception. Bullywugs that demonstrate exceptional zeal for Wastri may be promoted to the rank of Skewer.

Wastri’s Hopeful
Medium humanoid (human), lawful evil

Armor Class 12 (leather armor)
Hit Points 9 (2d8)
Speed 30 ft.

STR 10 (+0), DEX 12 (+1), CON 10 (+0), INT 10 (+0), WIS 11 (+0), CHA 10 (+0)

Saving Throws WIS +2
Skills Athletics +2 (+4), Religion +2
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Bullywug
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

Froggish Aspirations. When making a Strength (Athletics) check to jump or swim, the Hopeful’s proficiency bonus is doubled.

Actions

Glaive. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d10) slashing damage.

Net. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 5/15 ft., one target. Hit: Target is restrained. A net has no effect on creatures that are formless, or creatures that are Huge or larger. A creature can use its action to make a DC 10 Strength check, freeing itself or another creature within its reach on a success. Dealing 5 slashing damage to the net (AC 10) also frees the creature without harming it, ending the effect and destroying the net.

Wastri’s Skewer
Medium humanoid (bullywug), lawful evil

Armor Class 16 (hide armor, shield)
Hit Points 22 (4d8+4)
Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft.

STR 14 (+2), DEX 14 (+2), CON 13 (+1), INT 8 (-1), WIS 12 (+1), CHA 8 (-1)

Skills Stealth +4, Survival +3
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common, Bullywug
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Amphibious. The bullwug can breath air and water.

False Humanity’s Foe. The bullywug has advantage on any attack roll against a dwarf, elf, gnome, or halfling.

Speak with Frogs and Toads. The bullywug can communicate simple concepts to frogs and toads when it speaks in Bullywug.

Swamp Camouflage. The bullywug has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in swampy terrain.

Standing Leap. The bullwug’s long jump is up to 20 feet and its high jump is up to 10 feet, with or without a running start.

Actions

Multiattack. The bullywug makes two melee attacks: either one with its spear and its bite, or two with its spear.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) bludgeoning damage.

Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing damage, or 6 (1d8+2) piercing damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack.

Tags: 5E D&D, monsters