Brute. A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when the bugbear hits with it (included in the attack).
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the Bugbear has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Avatar of Fear. The Bugbear Nightmare has disadvantage on saving throws against being frightened. While frightened, they create an aura of fear in a 30 feet sphere centered on themselves. Any creature within the aura at the start of their turn becomes frightened of the bugbear nightmare. The fear effect wears off on them when they begin their turn outside of the aura or they begin their turn out of line of sight of the Bugbear Nightmare.
Spellcasting. The Bugbear is a 7th-level spellcaster. its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The Bugbear Nightmare has the following wizard spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, message, minor illusion, toll of the dead
1st level (4 slots): color spray*, disguise self*, arms of Hadar, dissonant whispers
2nd level (3 slots): invisibility*, mirror image*, phantasmal force*
3rd level (3 slots): major image*, fear*
4th level (1 slot): phantasmal killer*
*Illusion spell of 1st level or higher
Displacement (Recharges after the Illusionist Casts an Illusion Spell of 1st Level or Higher). As a bonus action, the illusionist projects an illusion that makes the illusionist appear to be standing in a place a few inches from its actual location, causing any creature to have disadvantage on attack rolls against the illusionist. The effect ends if the illusionist takes damage, it is incapacitated, or its speed becomes 0.
Multiattack. The bugbear makes two melee attacks
Claw. Melee weapon attack: +6 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 +4) slashing damage.
Description
A bugbear nightmare is both a blessing and a curse to bugbear gangs. Treated as an aspect for the god of fear and cowardice, Skiggaret, Gangs will lock up a Bugbear Nightmare, symbolizing their ability to control their fears and being greater warriors for it. However, they dare not harm the nightmare for fear of inciting Skiggaret’s curse on themselves, or worse, releasing the god back into the world. Yet gangs that are driven to the brink of defeat, left with few options, will be left with no choice but to unleash a Bugbear Nightmare on their enemies, and prey the twin gods give them strength enough to overcome Skiggaret and drive the madness back into the darkness from which it came.
Nightmares minds are so fractured, they instill fear on those around them. Proximity alone is enough to drive someone into madness. Often Nightmares are locked up at the bottom of a well in the deepest part of a Bugbears den. Even the head that act as guards near its prison can be heard whispering strings of madness.
Little is known as to what causes a bugbear to go mad so terribly they become a Nightmare. Some say they are assaulted in their dreams by the ghost of all those they have slain. Others say they were destined from birth to be the body for Skiggaret, much like a profit. Gangs that are faced with one prioritize containing them, and never bother with giving it more than what it requires to survive. They leave it locked away, and never speak of it out in the open. Only ever reminding each other when it is time to feed, ‘it’.
Bugbear Nightmares appear thin and frail, yet they remain as powerful in body as the most formidable of their species. The hair has fallen off their bodies, making them appear as if they were pale naked giants. They become so accustomed to the darkness that their eyes are able to make out the finest details even in pitch black night, and the sun becomes another object of their fear. Their minds are so broken, they are continuously babbling; sometimes it is in a language that is understandable, but other times it hardly resembles a language at all, or at least one that few if any can understand.
I love goblinoids and especially bugbears. I felt like they should have had a creature similar to the nilbog, but more representative of the gods they worship, or in this case, fear. I'm going to try to fit this into my Red Hand of Doom homebrew campaign.
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