The Celtic Mythos, Part 2
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
The Master 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. The Master regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Detect. The Master makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Invitation to the Hunt (Costs 2 Actions). One creature that can hear the Master and that the Master can see is invited to the Hunt. The Master chooses whether the invitation is to be predator or prey. In either case, the creature must make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails, it “accepts” the invitation. If invited to be predator, the creature is affected by dominate monster and is under the Master’s control. Each time the dominated creature takes damage, it makes a new Wisdom saving throw. If the saving throw succeeds, the Master’s control ends. If invited to be prey, the members of the Wild Hunt gain advantage on attack rolls against the creature and inflict an extra 3 (1d6) damage with weapon attacks. In either case, the duration is 1 hour.
Motivate the Pack. The Master chooses one member of the Wild Hunt within 60 feet that can hear the Master and that the Master can see. The member chosen may take either the Dash, Disengage, Dodge, or Help action as a bonus action on its next turn.
Pack of the Wild Hunt
Large beast, neutral
There are twenty of these beasts. “The huge black hounds have licks of green fire for tongues and green fire for eyes. These flames do no damage but they make the whole Hunt cast an eerie green glow.”
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 68 (8d10+24)
Speed 45 ft.
Ability Scores STR 19 (+4), DEX 14 (+2), CON 16 (+3), INT 10 (+0), WIS 13 (+1), CHA 10 (+0)
Skills Perception +3
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Sylvan (doesn’t speak)
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Keen Hearing and Smell. The hound has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Magic Resistance. The hound has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Pack Tactics. The hound has advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of the hound’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Wild Hunter. The hound can move through nonmagical difficult terrain with no extra movement cost. It 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. It can move across any liquid surface as if were solid ground.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8+4) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
