Aura of Annihilation. The book devourer can activate or deactivate this feature as a bonus action. While active, the aura deals 5 necrotic damage to any creature that ends its turn within 30 feet of the book devourer. Undead and fiends ignore this effect.
Incorporeal Movement. The book devourer 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.
Petrifying Gaze. If a creature starts its turn within 30 feet of the book devourer and the two of them can see each other, the book devourer can force the creature to make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw if the book devourer isn't incapacitated. On a failed save, the creature magically begins to turn to stone and is restrained. It must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a failure, the creature is petrified until freed by the greater restoration spell or other magic. After 24 hours of petrification, the creature becomes a Stone Cursed.
A creature that isn't surprised can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If it does so, it can't see the book devourer until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity. The book devourer takes 5 radiant damage when it starts its turn in sunlight. While in sunlight, it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage plus 9 (2d8) necrotic damage.
Withering Gaze. One creature that the book devourer can see within 60 feet of it must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Healing Devour. As an action, the book devourer can consume the knowledge within one book to regain 6 (2d4+2) hit points. While devouring a book the book devourer is considered incapacitated until the beginning of its next turn and thus can not take reactions.
Description
A Book Devourer lives in ancient dwellings of lost knowledge. Be it a lost temple of Oghma or an aging monastery of ancient knowledge, the book devourer haunts areas of abandon knowledge and consume it for themselves. The lair of a Book Devour is often filled with [creature]stone cursed[/creature] of those who used to work among the books. [creature]Shadows[/creature] wander the halls of these ancient places, once ripped from those cursed by stone.
Lair and Lair Actions
While a book devourer is in its lair, they can take lair actions as long as they aren't incapacitated.
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), book devourers can take one of the following lair action options, or forgo using any of them in that round:
- The book devourer targets one Medium or smaller creature that casts a shadow. The target’s shadow must be visible to the book devourer and within 30 feet of them. If the target fails a DC 15 Charisma saving throw, its shadow detaches from it and becomes a shadow that obeys the book devourer's commands, acting on initiative count 20. A greater restoration spell or a remove curse spell cast on the target restores its natural shadow, but only if its undead shadow has been destroyed.
- The book devourer casts phantasmal force (no components required) on any number of creatures it can see within 60 feet of it. While maintaining concentration on this effect, the book devourer can’t take other lair actions. If a target succeeds on the saving throw or if the effect ends for it, the target is immune to the book devourer’s phantasmal force lair action for the next 24 hours, although such a creature can choose to be affected.
- The book devourer creates a fog as in the fog cloud spell. This fog lasts until the beginning of the next lair action.
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Posted May 11, 2019This is a pretty solid creature that I will definitely be using in my upcoming adventure. Nice work!