Forest Emperor

The smell of freshly turned soil and bubbling sulfur accompanies this terrible monster, an amalgam of wood and flesh vaguely reminiscent of a giant centaur with bony wooden limbs. Vast draconic wings sprout from the creature’s back, and it bears a serpentine tail ending in a cone-shaped rattle.

Born of Dragons. When a particularly hardy child of Yggdrasil comes across the still-fresh corpse of an adult or older dragon, it attempts to devour the dragon’s heart and metamorphose into a larger and more vicious aberration known as a forest emperor. This process takes one week, and, while transforming, the child of Yggdrasil spins a thick green cocoon of acidic vines around itself. When the forest emperor finally emerges, it is close to starving and attacks and devours any creature that comes within reach of its terrible, gnarled limbs.

Continually Growing. Forest emperors never stop growing, and specimens of gargantuan size have been found residing in the most desolate and treacherous forests and mountains, often in the lairs of dragons they have consumed. Unusually powerful forest emperors have even made it as far as the tangled roots of the World Tree itself, spending their time communing with evil fey spirits and the terrible serpents said to twine about its boughs.

Forest Emperor

Huge aberration, neutral evil
Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 161 (14d12 + 70)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
23 (+6) 12 (+1) 21 (+5) 12 (+1) 20 (+5) 8 (-1)

Saving Throws Con +10, Wis +10
Skills Nature +6, Perception +10, Stealth +6
Damage Immunities acid, cold; bludgeoning from nonmagical attacks
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 20
Languages Common, Giant
Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)

Forest Camouflage. The forest emperor has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in forest terrain.

Keen Smell. The forest emperor has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Rattle. The forest emperor constantly rattles its tail when in combat. Each creature that starts its turn within 60 feet of the forest emperor and that can hear it must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened until the start of its next turn. A creature that succeeds on two saving throws is unaffected by the forest emperor’s rattle for the next 24 hours.

Actions

Multiattack. The forest emperor makes two claw attacks and one tail attack. If both claws hit the same target, the target must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or its hp maximum is reduced by 7 (2d6) and the forest emperor regains hp equal to this amount. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hp maximum to 0.

Acidic Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (3d6 + 6) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) acid damage.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

Toxic Nectar Spray (Recharge 5-6). The forest emperor sprays a 60-foot cone of acid from its flower-ringed eye pits. Creatures in the path of this cone must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 42 (12d6) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

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