Annis Hag, Elder

Innate Spellcasting. The hag's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15). She can innately cast the following spells, without providing material components:

3/day each: disguise self (including the form of a Medium humanoid), fog cloud

Spellcasting. The annis is a 17th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15). It has the following paladin spells prepared:

1st level (4 slots): armor of Agathys, command, compelled duel

2nd level (3 slots): branding smite, hold person, magic weapon

3rd level (3 slots): bestow curse, blinding smite, dispel magic

4th level (3 slots): banishment, death ward, dominate beast

5th level (1 slot): cloudkill, destructive wave, dominate person

Smite (1/Turn). As a bonus action, when the annis hits a creature with a weapon attack, it can expend a 1st level spell slot to deal 9 (2d8) necrotic damage to the target. If the annis expends a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the extra damage increases by 1d8 for each level above 1st (maximum 5d8).

Multiattack. The annis makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (3d6 + 6) piercing damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (3d6 + 6) slashing damage.

Crushing Hug. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 37 (9d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 16) if it is a Large or smaller creature. Until the grapple ends, the target takes 37 (9d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage at the start of each of the hag's turns. The hag can't make claw attacks while grappling a creature in this way.

Despairing Cackle (Recharge 5-6). Each creature within 30 feet of the annis and able to hear the annis must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 20 (4d8 + 2) psychic damage, drop whatever it is holding, and become frightened for one minute. While frightened in this way, a creature must take the Dash action and move away from the annis by the safest available route on each of its turns, unless there is nowhere to move, in which case it needn't take the Dash action. If the creature ends its turn in a location where it doesn't have line of sight to the annis, the creature can repeat the saving throw. On a success, the effect ends. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the annis's Despairing Cackle for the next 24 hours.