Guecubus Guecubu Lore Arcana DC 15: The guecubu is a form of loumara, a demon spawned from a masterless layer of the Abyss in which the dreams of dead gods take form and are given life. These invisible demonic spirits often lurk in abyssal metropolises hoping to hitch a ride on an planar traveler, and are mostly harmless if ignored, though some find their intrusive whispers irritating. Religion DC 10: Streaks of bizarre ritualistic murders in densely populated areas often indicate the influence of a guecubu, a demonic spirit that gradually drives its victims into madness and depravity before finally taking possession of their bodies. While they can be expelled by any ordinary means of exorcism, restraining their victims long enough to complete one can be difficult or impossible without draining their unholy strength with draped holy talismans. Religion DC 15: Guecubus can't harm or be harmed by creatures that can't see them, but are at their most dangerous when rendered vulnerable by a circle of salt. If they can be extricated from the back of the creature they are haunting, a guecubu can be physically forced into a sufficiently large mirror, where it becomes trapped as long as the mirror remains intact. Religion DC 20: Somewhat uniquely among demons, guecubus seem inclined toward fits of religious mania, worshipping the spirit of the Abyss itself. Captured guecubus have been known to claim that the Voice of True Chaos grows clearer and more forceful with each creature they kill. Guecubu Tactics Guecubus preferentially attach themselves to a creature that they suspect harbors bitter resentments and remain silent while they initially observe the creature, eventually beginning to whisper to it when it is alone, imploring it to pursue its cruelest impulses. Once the creature has done enough evil on its own that it would have difficulty seeking aid from authorities, the guecubu begins committing grisly, ritualistic murders with the sleeping creature's body, concealing all evidence if possible and eventually turning it into a cackle-fiend and taking it on a suicidal spree of carnage once it grows bored. Guecubu Cackle-Fiend Medium fiend/humanoid, chaotic evil Armor Class 13 Hit Points 93 (11d8 + 44) Speed 30 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 25 (+7) 16 (+3) 19 (+4) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) Damage Resistances Cold, Fire, Lightning Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 13 Languages Abyssal, Common, Telepathy 120 ft. Challenge 3 (700 XP) Unholy Strength. While restrained, the cackle-fiend has its Strength and Dexterity scores reduced by 1, to a minimum of 1, for each holy talisman draped over it. Sadistic Fixation. The cackle-fiend's attacks deal no additional damage on a critical hit. Instead, on a critical hit the target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or lose a limb of the target's choice. Actions Rending Grasp. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature that can see the guecubu. Hit: 20 (3d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage and the target is pushed up to 15 feet away. A creature killed by this damage is rent limb from limb. Madness Overflowing (Recharge 5-6). Erratic bolts of crackling fire leap from the mouth and eyes of the fiend in a 15 foot cone. Each creature in the area must succeed on DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or take 7 (2d6) fire plus 7 (2d6) lightning damage and be Frightened until the end of the cackle-fiend's next turn.
Click here for a version not obscured by the art. Guecubu Soul Haunt Medium fiend, chaotic evil Armor Class 13 (Natural Armor) Hit Points 105 (14d8 + 42) Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover) STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 4 (-3) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) Skills Deception +6, Insight +7, Stealth +6 Damage Resistances Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Thunder; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks Damage Immunities Poison Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 13 Languages Abyssal, Common Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Lurking Presence. Unless it is encircled with salt, the guecubu is Invisible, immune to any damage dealt by a creature that cannot see it, and can't be Grappled or forced to move. Guecubu Weaknesses. The guecubu has the following weaknesses. Salt-Warded. The guecubu cannot cross a line of salt unless it is Attached to or Possessing another creature. Blessing-Burned. When a creature the guecubu is possessing is targeted by a spell with a divine source, the creature and the guecubu each take 7 (2d6) radiant damage. Mirror-Trapped. A guecubu that is forced to move into the space of Medium or larger mirror must succeed on a DC 20 Charisma saving throw or be imprisoned in the mirror until the mirror is broken. Incorporeal Movement. The guecubu can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object. Actions Multiattack. The guecubu makes three attacks with its Frenetic Claw. Frenetic Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature that can see the guecubu. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage. On a critical hit, the target is Blinded until the end of its next turn. Clutch Back. One humanoid creature in the guecubu's space must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma saving throw or have the Guecubu become Attached to it. On a successful save, the creature becomes immune to this ability for 24 hours. While the guecubu is Attached to a creature, it can mimic that creature's voice, and that creature can't see the guecubu by any means. If a creature the guecubu teleports, the guecubu teleports with it. Profane Sleep. One Sleeping creature the guecubu is attached to must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature ignores the effects of being Incapacitated and acts under the Guecubu's control for the next hour. When the creature wakes or on a successful save, the creature becomes immune to this ability for 24 hours. Reactions Cruelty's Reward. As a reaction when a creature the guecubu is attached to commits an act of cruelty, the guecubu increases the creature's Strength by 1, to a maximum of 25. Then, if the creature has a Strength score higher than 22, it must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma saving throw or become Possessed by the Guecubu and transform into a Guecubu Cackle-Fiend until the guecubu is expelled.
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