Creature Codex: Nightgaunt

The terrible outline of something noxiously thin and bat-winged descends silently from above—a faceless black being with smooth, whale-like skin and horns that curve toward each other. Its barbed tail lashes needlessly as it clutches the air with ugly prehensile paws.

Nightgaunt

Silent Malevolence. Nightgaunts never speak or smile, having only a suggestive blankness where a face ought to be. The beating of a nightgaunt’s membranous wings makes no sound; nor does the tickling grasp of its cold, rubbery paws.

Nightmare Servitors. These mindless aberrations are creations of an elder god of the Great Abyss, who wages inter‑dimensional war with various gods and horrors of the Outer Void. Nightgaunts serve as the advance guard and battle steeds of the ghouls that inhabit the darkest corners of the Shadow Realm and realms of pure dream and fancy. On occasion, they ally themselves with humans and the forces of light against greater chaos and particularly hated demon lords. Such alliances last only so long as is necessary to restore the rule of law and burn out all corruption from a place. Once this is accomplished, they sometimes leave, satisfied in their work, and other times remain to attack the wounded forces of good.

Void Traveler. The nightgaunt doesn’t require air, food, drink, or ambient pressure.

NIGHTGAUNT

Large aberration, lawful evil

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Hit Points 142 (15d10 + 60)

Speed 20 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 18 (+4) 17 (+3) 18 (+4) 4 (-3) 16 (+3) 16 (+3)

Saving Throws Str +8, Con +8, Wis +7, Cha +7

Skills Athletics +8, Intimidation +7, Perception +7, Stealth +11

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, necrotic

Condition Immunities blinded, frightened

Senses blindsight 120 ft., passive Perception 17

Languages understands Common, Abyssal, and Void Speech, but can’t speak

Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)

Flyby. The nightgaunt doesn’t provoke an opportunity attack when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.

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

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

Utterly Silent. The nightgaunt doesn’t make a sound and has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

ACTIONS

Multiattack. The nightgaunt can use its Baneful Presence. It then makes three attacks: two with its clutching claws and one with its barbed tail. If the nightgaunt is grappling a creature, it can use its barbed tail one additional time.

Clutching Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 16) if it is a Medium or smaller creature. Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained. The nightgaunt has two claws, each of which can grapple only one target. While using a claw to grapple, the nightgaunt can’t use that claw to attack.

Barbed Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage.

Baneful Presence. Each creature of the nightgaunt’s choice that is within 30 feet of the nightgaunt and aware of it must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on all attack rolls and saving throws for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the nightgaunt’s Baneful Presence for the next 24 hours.

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But this is where we must stop for now, my friend. My mind, it wanders so at times. Do come see me again, though, for more of the wonders and surprises of Midgard. (OGL)

You can continue on this adventure in the Midgard Worldbook, Midgard Heroes Handbook, Creature Codex, and Creature Codex Pawns!