False Hydra

The ideas and much of the flavor text of this homebrew came from http://goblinpunch.blogspot.com/2014/09/false-hydra.html.

The False Hydra is a beast many don't believe exists. It is only discussed in the pale glow around a campfire or the candle light at a child's bedside, a story meant to dissuade lying and cheating. But it is very real, and very dangerous.

Some say that they are grown from gods tears that have fallen to earth. Others say they are primordial and as ancient as the gods themselves. Still others believe they are the result of a mad wizards spell gone wrong. But it does not matter, for the effect is the same.

Description

The Hydra has pearl white skin and a large bulbous body with long spindly necks that twist up at impossible angles. Its heads almost resemble a horse but with vaguely human like fears with its white skin stretched tight against its deformed skull. It has neither eyes nor a nose but where its eyes should be lie two black holes, stretching into its skull. Its mouth extends away from the rest of its face with large weathered and cracked teeth, a long dry tongue flicks in and out. Its skin is covered in dirt and muck from when it burrows through the ground searching for its next prey.

Song

While the Hydra sings no one can directly interact or remember it, but that does not mean that it is completely immune to being detected. It can be seen in mirrors and while it can cut through fey ancestry quite easily those with fey lineage have an easier time breaking through its effects with magic. Feline animals can also see through the illusion quite easily.

Even the general population is not completely immune to the song of the Hydra. While the Hydra may suppress the memories they are not erased, such as in modify memory. People may begin to feel a sense of anxiety when there is a disconnect between the message of the song and what they actually see. Eventually their brains will begin to revolt against the song and attempt to warn themselves of the danger they are in.

These spells can see completely or partially through the Hydra's charm, but they don't stop the charm from working after they look away. Some may require a saving throw to work and others may work without one.

Arcane Eye

Detect Evil and Good

Dispel Evil and Good

Foresight

Protection from Evil and Good

See Invisibility

True Seeing

The Hydra must end its song to eat and so puts itself at risk, to minimize the risk it often attacks people who are alone and drags them underground to eat them without risk of being discovered. If the Hydra ever drops below half its HP or takes more than 1/10 its HP in one turn it ends its song and can not start it again until returns to above half its hit points. However, if someone forces the Hydra to stop singing they have advantage on resistancing the effect for for one round.

Eating

The hydar absorbs the basic memories of whatever it eats and as it grows

Aging

The more the Hydra consumes the stronger and larger it becomes, the more heads it grows. Depending on how much it eats and how long it has been alive a different stat block should be used, up to DM discussion. While a young hydra might be a walk in the park an adult hydra strikes fear into even the most seasoned adventures.

Young False Hydra

At this point the hydra has only recently hatched and begun to consume. It may only eat animals such as livestock and stray cats and dogs but it is still dangerous and will eat humanoids too if it gets the chance. It still only has one head and two arms that can emerge from the soil on the same spot, extending around 5ft up into the air. However, even if its body is small its hunger remains enormous.

Adolescent False Hydra

At this point in the hydra's life it is now consuming the general population of whatever town it is in. It may have between 2 and 4 heads that now can stretch out of the soil like eyes on a potato. It has grown more confident and reckless with its powers, consuming people that are more likely to cause problems if they are gone. Any adventures would start to notice strange occurrences throughout the local area

Strange Occurrences

1d6 Occurrence 1 All but one candle is lit in the lampposts on the main street. No one can remember who lights them. 2 The town beggars normal spot is vacant leaving a thin blanket and a had with a few copper pieces in it. 3 Someone seems to run into something no one can see and then absentmindedly walks around it. 4 Bells rang the day before at this time, why not now? 5 Two fighting cats in a back alley way simultaneously start to hiss as something and then run away. 6 A vendors stall or a store lies unattended, people avoid going into it.

The general population would begin to feel a sense of unease as their minds desperately try to break from the hydra's charm. They may act emotionally when confronted with places and objects that were owned or frequented by their lost families, neibors, or friend.

At this point the Hydra would most likely live in the sewers or naturally occurring tunnels beneath the town, it would also start to carve its own series of intricate, maze like tunnels and catacombs for its home. They would most likely have access points in sewers, cellars, or abandoned homes.