Ali

In the far north, there is a forest of enormous magnawood trees. Amongst them lives a strange creature. Each has a small territory and never leaves it. She is a peaceful hermit, nearly as tall as the giant trees she keeps to.

Ali Gargantuan plant, unaligned Armor Class 15 (natural armour)

15 (natural armour) Hit Points 217 (14d20 + 70)

217 (14d20 + 70) Speed 40 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 22 (+6) 12 (+1) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 8 (-1) Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, frightened

blinded, charmed, frightened Damage Resistances psychic, thunder

psychic, thunder Senses blindsight 600 ft., passive Perception 14

blindsight 600 ft., passive Perception 14 Languages Hum

Hum Challenge 10 (5,900 XP) Hum. Ali emits a loud hum as long as she feels threatened. If a creature starts its turn within 30 feet of Ali, it must make a DC 8 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the start of its next turn. Creatures within 10 feet also take 6 (1d6 + 2) thunder damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. Actions Multiattack. Ali makes three attacks: one stomp and two other melee attacks. Stomp. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target on the ground. Hit: 28 (4d8 + 10) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 25 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. Grasp. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d6 + 6) piercing damage. If the target is Small or Medium, Ali can grapple the target (escape DC 16) and lift it into the air. Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained. Ali can only raise one arm at a time, needing at least one to maintain balance. Also, she can hold only two creatures at a time, one in each set of talons. Slam. Ali lifts a creature she is grappling and slams it into the ground. The target takes 10 (1d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage. Fling. One object held or creature grappled by Ali is throw up to 30 feet horizontally in a direction of Ali's choice and knocked prone. The target takes 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage for every 10 feet it was thrown. If the target is thrown at another creature, that creature must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or take the same damage and be knocked prone.

Her enormous, slender body is supported by spider-like arms, tipped with talons which she uses to grab attackers. Her behaviour has been described as child-like in observation but she becomes a cunning and ruthless killer if she feels threatened.

Utterly Alien. Ali is intelligent and her appearance may seem humanoid but do not be fooled. Her mind could not be more unlike that of a humanoid. She writes in a strange runic language with no obvious structure or purpose. The hum she uses to speak is a similar paradox as no two members ever come close enough to hear each other. Her outer shell is unlike any material known. It has been compared to the shell of an insect and the bark of a tree but is slightly softer than either. Her appearance is black, seeming to suck the light from the air, as if it were not a creature standing before you but a void.

Ancient Souls. Some speculate that Ali was the first creation of the gods, a mistake made before they understood form. The forest was grown around her as a prison so that she could be kept separate from their better creations. All of this is spectulation, though; scholars out of their depth, trying to piece together a puzzle with no solution. The creatures alive today are the only known to exist and tales can be found from millenia past about each one.

Always Exceptions. Ali follows strict rules. She neither leaves her territory nor changes it. She does not attack unless threatened. She never visits others of her kind nor sees them at all. These rules are absolute yet all come with exception. Each creature seems to be unique in one way or another. Perhaps one digs holes, or acts aggressively to intruders. It seems that every time experts determine an absolute rule to her behaviour an exception to it is found soon-after.