Spes Magna Games

See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. (The Gospel According to St. Matthew 18:10)

Not all angels are celestial agents “sent forth into the planes to further” some god’s agenda for weal or woe. Not all angels “are destroyers”. The guardian angel’s task is simple: to protect some mortal from harm. Most often, the guardian angel watches over a child. The guardian angel spends much of its time observing both unseen and unheard its charge. When it needs to intervene, it does so carefully so as to have the least direct influence on events. This does not mean the guardian angel cannot take direct action when necessary. While it lacks the power of, say, the deva, the guardian angel is not a foe to be trifled with lightly.

Guardian Angel
Medium celestial, lawful good

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 105 (14d8+42)
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
Ability Scores STR 16 (+3), DEX 16 (+3), CON 16 (+3), INT 15 (+2), WIS 18 (+4), CHA 18 (+4)

Saving Throws Wis +7, Cha +7
Skills Insight +7, Perception +7, Persuasion +7, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances poison, radiant; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
Senses truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)

Angelic Weapons. The guardian angel’s weapon attacks are magical. When the guardian angel hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 3d8 radiant damage (included in the attack).

Innate Spellcasting. The guardian angel’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15). The guardian angel can innately cast the following spells, requiring only verbal components:

* At will: detect evil and good, detect poison and disease, sanctuary
* 1/day: dispel evil and good

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

Actions

Multiattack. The guardian angel makes two attacks using its spear, or one attack with its fire bolt.

Holy Fire. Ranged Spell Attack: +7 to hit, range 120 ft. Hit: 27 (6d8) fire damage plus 13 (3d8) radiant damage.

Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) piercing damage plus 13 (3d8) radiant damage, or 7 (1d8+3) plus 13 (3d8) radiant damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack. As a bonus action, the guardian angel can teleport the spear back to its hand. It can do this in between attacks with the spear.

Superior Invisibility. The guardian angel magically turns invisible (as invisibility but requiring no concentration). Any equipment the guardian angel wears or carries is invisible with it. While invisible, the guardian angel has advantage with Stealth checks.

Tags: 5E D&D, Catholic, monsters

The warlike servants of Vlaakith, the lich-queen, strike fear into the hearts of most creatures. Githyanki knights who distinguish themselves in Vlaakith’s service may be chosen for a horrifying honor. Through a sinister ritual that reportedly no mortal creature can witness and remain sane, the lich-queen transforms the knight into a githyanki doorkeeper, a twisted undead monster that towers above the tallest human. Gaunt, even withered, its flesh hardened and torn, the githyanki doorkeeper’s fingers end in keys that serve to focus its psionic abilities.

Githyanki Doorkeeper
Large undead, lawful evil

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 97 (13d10+26)
Speed 30 ft.
Ability Scores STR 21 (+5), DEX 14 (+2), CON 15 (+2), INT 18 (+4), WIS 19 (+4), CHA 17 (+3)

Saving Throws Con +6, Int +8, Wis +8
Skills Arcana +8, Intimidation +7, Investigation +8, Perception +8
Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses darkvision 90 ft., passive Perception 18
Languages Gith
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)

Incorporeal Form. At the beginning of its turn as a bonus action, the githyanki doorkeeper and its necrotic greatsword can become incorporeal. It remains incorporeal until the beginning of its next turn. While incorporeal, the githyanki doorkeeper can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object. While incorporeal, some of its characteristics change, as shown below:

* Armor Class 12
* Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)
* Ability Scores STR 1 (-5), DEX 14 (+2), CON 15 (+2), INT 18 (+4), WIS 19 (+4), CHA 17 (+3)
* Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder
* Damage Immunities necrotic, poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
* Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained

Innate Spellcasting (Psionics). The githyanki doorkeeper’s innate spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells requiring no components:

* At will: mage hand (the hand is invisible)
* 5/day: knock (touch range only), plane shift (self only)
* 3/day each: invisibility (self only), jump, misty step, nondetection (self only), tongues
* 1/day each: plane shift, telekinesis

Actions

Multiattack. The githyanki doorkeeper makes two attacks, using its necrotic greatsword and/or its withering blast if corporeal, or its withering touch and/or its withering blast if incorporeal.

Necrotic Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (3d6+5) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.

Withering Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (4d6+2) necrotic damage plus 7 (2d6) cold damage.

Withering Blast. Ranged Spell Attack: +8 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (3d6+4) necrotic damage plus 7 (2d6) cold damage.

Tags: 5E D&D, monsters, undead

I had fun with the Scythian wolf last post, so why not take 1658’s The History of Four-Footed Beasts and Serpents out for another spin? Is there any such thing as too many woodcuts by Edward Topsell?

The bear-ape lives in forested mountain regions. Omnivorous and shy, the bear-ape seldom poses a threat to travelers unless provoked. Bear-apes live in close-knit family groups. While the bear-ape is a beast, its intelligence ought not be underestimated. It is a clever beast, able to learn from experience and make use of very simple tools.

Bear-Ape
Medium beast, unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 33 (6d8+4)
Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.
Ability Scores STR 16 (+3), DEX 14 (+2), CON 14 (+1), INT 6 (-2), WIS 12 (+1), CHA 7 (-2)

Skills Perception +3
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages —
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Keen Smell. The bear-ape has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Actions

Multiattack. The bear-ape makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) piercing damage.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d4+3) slashing damage.

Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 25/50 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) bludgeoning damage.

The galeopithicus appears to be a combination of cat and monkey with a long, spiky tail. It is aboreal and nocturnal, and most are quite playful, although what a galeopithicus finds amusing probably irritates or even endangers others. The galeopithicus poses a special danger to creatures relying on metal armor and metal weapons.

Galeopithicus
Small fey, any chaotic

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 18 (4d6+4)
Speed 25 ft., climb 25 ft.
Ability Scores STR 12 (+1), DEX 17 (+3), CON 12 (+1), INT 9 (-1), WIS 13 (+1), CHA 10 (+0)

Skills Acrobatics +5, Perception +3
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-wooden attacks
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Sylvan
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

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

There, Not Here. When the galeopithicus takes the Disengage action or succeeds in a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to escape a grapple, it may magically teleport, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 25 feet to an unoccupied space it can see, doing so as a bonus action.

Actions

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4+3) slashing damage.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4+3) piercing damage.

Reactions

Heat Metal (Recharge 6). If the galeopithicus hits a creature wearing metal armor with its tail, the creature must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or the creature’s metal armor is affected by heat metal. The heat metal effect lasts for 1 minute without need for concentration.

Ichneumon is a fierce predator with a burning hatred for reptilian creatures of all sorts, especially dragons. Fast, cunning, and stealthy despite its size, the ichneumon hunts out reptilian lairs. Its hatred does not blind it to dangers nor lead it to suicidal action. The ichneumon prefers to prey on eggs or wyrmlings whenever possible. Against more formidable creatures, ichneumons hunt in packs. While it might seem that the ichneumon would make a useful ally for adventurers seeking to defeat a dragon, this is not necessarily so. Ichneumon are greedy for treasure, and this in part explains their preference for hunting dragons.

Ichneumon
Large monstrosity, neutral

Armor Class 15
Hit Points 93 (11d10+33)
Speed 50 ft., climb 30 ft.
Ability Scores STR 17 (+3), DEX 21 (+5), CON 16 (+3), INT 10 (+0), WIS 14 (+2), CHA 11 (+0)

Saving Throws Dex +8, Con +6
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +8
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, lightning, poison
Condition Immunities frightened, poisoned
Languages Draconic
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

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

Reptile Slayer. When the ichneumon hits a reptilian creature with a melee weapon attack, that attack deals an additional 10 (1d10+5) damage if the reptilian creature is below its hit point maximum.

Actions

Multiattack. The ichneumon makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d12+5) piercing damage.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8+5) slashing damage.

Tags: 5E D&D, monsters

Things I’ve done recently:

1. Eulalia! Have you ever wanted to play your own version of a Redwall story? Of course you have, and now you can using 5E D&D. This PDF not only presents several different animal player character races, it also retools the collaborative character creation and campaign major location system found in the excellent Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures and Further Afield.

2. The Valley of Rooz. Over a Facebook 5E D&D group, a fellow named Benjamin Ruse posted a picture his 4-year-old son drew. Mr. Ruse reports that his son told him, “Daddy, I drew this map for you so I can play with you and the guys. See? It has a castle and a crazy river and the X is where the treasure is! It’ll be a great adventure!” I used the map as the basis for a very short 5E D&D adventure suitable for 1st-level characters.

Lastly, here’s the Scythian wolf, the picture of which comes from The History of Four-Footed Beasts and Serpents, published in 1658. Check out the book on the delightful Public Domain Review.

Medium monstrosity, any chaotic

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 22 (4d8+4)
Speed 40 ft.
Ability Scores STR 13 (+1), DEX 16 (+3), CON 13 (+1), INT 4 (-3), WIS 13 (+1), CHA 7 (-2)

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances cold, slashing from nonmagical attacks
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages understands one or two languages but cannot speak, read, or write
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Keen Hearing and Smell. The Scythian wolf has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

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

Pounce. If the Scythian wolf moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits with a claw attack on the same turn, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the wolf can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) piercing damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) piercing damage.

Tags: 5E D&D, game play, monsters

Well, I might not have posted consistently on-time, but I’m finishing on time. Here’re the last two days of the OSR Christmas Calendar. If you’ve never watched the short film from where the image below comes, you’re wrong. Click on the image to start being right.

Evil things hide in the dark. They haunt lightless places, hungering and waiting for a chance to terrorize and hurt, and children are all too often these monsters’ preferred prey. If only champion toys were more common.

1E Stats

Frequency: Very rare
No. Appearing: 1-12
Armor Class: 3
Move: 12″
Hit Dice: 3+3
% in Lair: 90%
Treasure Type: Nil
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attack: 1-8
Special Attacks: See below
Special Defenses: See below
Magic Resistance: Standard
Intelligence: Average
Alignment: Any good
Size: S
Psionic Ability: Nil
Attack/Defens Modes: Nil
Level/XP Value: IV/185 XP + 4 XP/hp

A champion toy appears to be a normal toy, usually some sort of stuffed animal such as a bear or a dog. Indeed, much of the time, a champion toy is nothing more than a child’s plaything. At night, in darkness, or when evil is near, however, a champion toy comes alive to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Legends say that champion toys are brought to life by the spirits of holy warriors who died in battle.

A champion toy can detect evil at will. It makes all saving throws as a 5th-level fighter with a +2 bonus on the dice. A champion toy is immune to all diseases, including magical ones. It can use cure light wounds twice per day and cure disease once per day to heal another creature. When within 10 feet of a noncombatant or otherwise helpless creature, a champion toy continually emanates protection from evil in a 1″ radius.

It attacks with natural weapons or a perhaps a toy weapon. Regardless, its attacks are treated as a magical weapons for determining what creatures it can damage, and a champion toy’s attacks inflict double damage (2-16) against the undead and evil extraplanar creatures.

A champion toy is fearless. It cannot be affected by fear or similar magic, and it never fails morale checks. When reduced to fewer than 6 but more than 0 hero points, a champion toy attempts a saving throw versus death magic. If it succeeds, it immediately recovers 3d4+3 hit points (but its hit point total cannot exceed its normal amount).

5E Stats

Tiny celestial, any good

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 18 (4d4+8)
Speed 30 ft.
Ability Scores STR 10 (+0), DEX 18 (+4), CON 14 (+2), INT 11 (+0), WIS 16 (+3), CHA 15 (+2)
Saving Throws STR +2, DEX +5, CON +4, INT +2, WIS +5, CHA +4
Skills Perception +5
Condition Immunities charmed, diseased, exhaustion, frightened
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Celestial, Common
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Champion Aura: When within 10 feet of an incapacitated creature, the champion toy and the incapacitated creature are affected by protection from evil and good. The champion toy does not have to concentrate to maintain this effect.

Champion Fortitude: If damage reduces the champion toy to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is necrotic or from a critical hit. On a success, the champion toy drops to 1 hit point instead.

Champion Weapons: The champion toy’s melee attacks are magical. When the champion toy hits a fiend or an undead with a melee attack, the attack deals an extra 9 (2d8) radiant damage.

False Appearance: While the champion toy remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary toy.

Innate Spellcasting: The champion toy’s innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 11). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components.

At will: detect evil and good
2/day: cure wounds (other creatures only)
1/day: lesser restoration (other creatures only)

Actions

* Champion Attack: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, depending on the champion toy’s specific form of attack.

Tags: 1E AD&D, 5E D&D, monsters, OSR Christmas Calendar