Monster Monday: Occult Owl of Painful Wisdom

RPG monsters

Some monsters won't attack you on sight, but can be quickly antagonized. They work well as either a weird creature to seek out or as a remarkable enemy.

Occult owls are about twice the size of an ordinary owl. A strange third eye glows in the middle of an occult owl's forehead, leading to legends that magical researchers use them to store and recall obscure knowledge. Indeed, those who encounter occult owls often report hearing voices in their heads.

Occult owls will deal no melee damage; only psychic damage from an aura of strange whispers and a focused psychic lightning attack from their third eye. Even this they'll use more to discourage enemies from attacking; if seriously injured an occult owl will simply fly away.

Mystical Owl by jubjubjedi

For stats, I'm going to use bits and pieces from the air elemental and the salamander. It'll get two psychic lightning attacks, each dealing about 14 damage, plus its aura of psychic damage dealing 2d6 damage. This makes the occult owl deal more damage than those monsters, which will be offset by fewer resistances and immunities.

OK, let's do this!

Stat block

Homebrewery stat block:

Occult Owl

medium beast, lawful

  • Armor Class 15
  • Hit Points 90 (12d8 + 42)
  • Speed 5 ft., fly 60 ft.
    STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
    13 (+1) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 15 (+2) 7 (-2)
  • Skills Insight +5, Perception +4
  • Damage Resistances Psychic
  • Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 15
  • Languages Common, Elvish, Giant Owl, and Sylvan
  • Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Maddening Whispers. Any creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of the occult owl takes 7 (2d6) psychic damage.

Actions

Multiattack. The occult owl makes two attacks.

Psychic Lightning. +7 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8+5) lightning damage plus 4 (1d8) psychic damage.

View the art for this monster here

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