Keen Smell. The bakeneko has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Pounce. If the bakeneko moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the cat can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.
Innate Spellcasting. The bakeneko's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16). The bakeneko can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
3/day each: Bestow Curse, Charm Person, Pass without Trace, Remove Curse, Slow
1/day each: Animate Dead, Dominate Person
Vexing Escape. (1/Day) As a reaction when Bakeneko takes damage, it reduces that damage to 0 and teleports up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+3 (5) slashing damage and the target is cursed if it is a creature. The magical curse takes effect whenever the target takes a short or long rest. The cursed target can't regain hit points, and its hit point maximum decreases by 4 (2d4) for every rest. If the curse reduces the target's hit point maximum to 0, the target dies.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack:+5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d10+3 (8) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. If a creature's saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is blinded and deafened while it is poisoned. An affected creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Change Shape. The bakeneko magically polymorphs into a Small or Medium humanoid, or back into its true form. Other than its size, its statistics are the same in each form. If the bakeneko dies, it reverts to its true form.
Escape. The bakeneko can take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action on each of its turn.
Description
A bakeneko is formed after a fiendish presence takes over a cat that has lived for over 13 years. After their masters have died, a bakeneko will pose as their master while slowly eating the corpse.
Bakenekos are cautious creatures and will avoid interaction with humanoids to not blow their cover. After fully consuming their previous master, a bakeneko will try to find a new master to kill, slowly eat, and pose as. While preferring to eat humanoids it has killed, a bakeneko is not above stealing fresh corpses from graveyards or morgues.
Due to their weaker bodies, they are generally less violent than their Nekomata cousins. If forced into combat, a bakeneko will attack but will also always look for an opportunity to escape. They prefer to slowly kill their victims with curses and poison, over direct damage. Bakenekos are also known to use wolves and other wild animals to hunt for them.
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