Innate Spellcasting. The baku’s innate spellcasting ability is Intelligence. It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components:
At will: Invisibility, Sleep
3/day each: Dream, Modify Memory
Dream Claws. A baku’s melee weapon attacks are magical.
Dream Eater. A baku can feed upon the dreams of any single sleeping creature within 100 feet. Alternatively, the baku can feed upon the dreams of a creature that it manages to put to sleep with it’s innate spellcasting. When a baku feeds in this way, it can elect to consume only nightmares or all dreams. If it only consumes nightmares, the target creature is immune to the effects of the nightmare spell, the Nightmare Haunting ability of the night hag, and other similar attacks for that duration of sleep. If the baku instead feeds on all of the creature’s dreams, that creature is fatigued upon waking and does not gain any benefits it would have received from sleep or a short or long rest, such as natural healing or the ability to regain spells after resting.
Ethereal Jaunt. As a bonus action, the baku can magically shift from the Material Plane to the Ethereal Plane, or vice versa.
Keen Smell. The baku has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Mental Drain. When a baku attacks with a melee weapon attack, it can choose, as a bonus action, to deal 3 (1d4) points of psychic damage on that attack. If the target of the melee weapon attack succeeds a DC 17 Charisma save, they take none of the psychic damage.
Change Shape. The baku magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the baku’s choice).
In a new form, the baku retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d6 + 5) slashing damage.
Description
Baku are bizarre, solitary creatures who eat the creativity, dreams, fears, and nightmares of humanoid creatures. They resemble tapir with large tusks, shaggy hair and long tails.
Baku do not like eating thoughts about their kind, and usually cease when the humanoid they are feeding on starts to think about them. For this reason, baku keep to themselves and are quiet, floating in the evening air of decently populated areas and sapping the dreams from the sleeping residents. Creatures who are fed on by baku find themselves well-rested and feeling at peace upon awakening. Despite their connection to dreams, baku do not sleep.
Given their relationship with dreams and nightmares, baku are mortal enemies of night hags. Though usually calm and gentle creatures, baku who encounter night hags will fight them relentlessly.
Baku tusks can be sold for a good price on the black market, as it is believed that they can be crushed up into a fine powder that acts as a depressant.