Cold Aura. aura 5 ft., including the space the zhen occupies; When a creature starts its turn in the aura, the creature must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 10 (2d6 + 3) cold damage on a success and half as much on a failure.
Sense Bodily Warmth. The zhen can sense the presence of living creatures up to 5 miles away by detecting their body heat. It knows the general direction they're in but not their exact locations.
Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny skyfish, a cylindrical creature with a diameter no larger than a gold coin. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.
Multiattack. The zhen makes two bite attacks. If both attacks hit the same creature, the zhen uses its Kiss of Death.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 14 (4d6) cold damage, or 7 (2d6) cold damage if the zhen has half of its hit points or fewer.
Kiss of Death (Recharge 5,6). The zhen places its muzzle on a creature within 5 feet of it (or one that is occupying the zhen's space): the creature must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw, taking cold damage equal to the amount of cold damage they received on the zhen's current turn. Additionally, the creature develops temporary neuralgia (not applicable to constructs, oozes, plants, or the undead); whenever it attempts an action in combat, it must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it loses its action and can't use reactions until the start of its next turn. A long rest cures the neuralgia, provided the creature rests next to a source of warmth for the duration.
Backlit Invisibility. When the zhen is in direct sunlight, it turns invisible until its concentration is broken or its contact with sunlight is interrupted somehow (such as by the darkness spell).
Description
Skyfish are tiny creatures that live in the stratosphere. They resemble flutes with long, whip-like tails, and they feed upon solar radiation. Skyfish are essential portions of the Material Plane’s biosphere owing to their ability to dampen the sun’s scorching rays, but skyfish colonies can be disrupted by heightened volcanic activity and interference by civilizations (namely those that burn fuel). When a portion of the stratosphere becomes uninhabitable to skyfish, they assume a migratory pattern called a zhen and descend to the surface, hunting for sources of heat. Zhens are often personified as manifestations of nature’s wrath, especially in corners of the D&D universe where technology is well-developed and natural resource consumption is high, and they often assume the form of a long snake with an equine head. Equal parts majestic and terrifying, zhens have been known to prey upon living creatures, stealing their body heat, turning them into grotesque ice sculptures.
Shout-out to The World of Farland for the neuralgia rules.
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