Soul Reaping. When Valthor reduces a creature to 0 hit points, he can choose to capture its soul, preventing it from being resurrected by anything short of a Wish spell. Valthor gains temporary hit points equal to the creature's hit dice.
Soul Manipulation. Valthor can manipulate the captured souls he possesses. He can hold up to three souls at a time. As a bonus action, he can release one soul to gain advantage on his next attack roll, saving throw, or ability check.
Spellcasting. Valthor is a 12th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). Valthor has the following spells prepared:
- Cantrips (at will): Chill Touch, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Toll the Dead
- 1st level (4 slots): Mage Armor, Shield, Ray of Sickness
- 2nd level (3 slots): Mirror Image, Misty Step, Hold Person
- 3rd level (3 slots): Counterspell, Dispel Magic, Vampiric Touch
- 4th level (3 slots): Blight, Phantasmal Killer, Shadow of Moil
- 5th level (2 slots): Cloudkill, Danse Macabre
- 6th level (1 slot): Circle of Death
Multiattack. Valthor makes two Soul Reaper Scythe attacks or casts one spell and makes one Soul Reaper Scythe attack.
Soul Reaper Scythe. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) slashing damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic damage. If the target is reduced to 0 hit points by this attack, Valthor can immediately capture its soul.
Soul Drain (Recharge 5-6). Valthor targets one creature he can see within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or take 36 (8d8) necrotic damage, and Valthor regains hit points equal to half the necrotic damage dealt. If the target is reduced to 0 hit points by this attack, Valthor captures its soul.
Soul Bind (Recharge 5-6). Valthor can use one of his captured souls to curse a target within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Soul Shield. When Valthor is hit by an attack, he can expend one captured soul to gain +4 to his AC until the start of his next turn, including against the triggering attack.
Valthor can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Valthor regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.
- Cantrip. Valthor casts a cantrip.
- Soul Leech. Valthor drains life from one creature he can see within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or take 10 (3d6) necrotic damage. Valthor regains hit points equal to the necrotic damage dealt.
- Shadow Step (Costs 2 Actions). Valthor magically teleports, along with any equipment he is wearing or carrying, up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space he can see that is in dim light or darkness.
Description
Valthor the Soul Reaper is a figure cloaked in an aura of dread and malevolence, his very presence exuding the cold touch of death. Tall and gaunt, Valthor's appearance is almost skeletal, with sharp, angular features that are accentuated by his sunken cheeks and hollow eyes. His skin is pallid and stretched tight over his bones, giving him the appearance of someone who has long since transcended the boundaries of life and death.
His eyes, once perhaps a deep brown, now glow with an unsettling, ghostly blue light, as if the very souls he has reaped reside within them. Valthor's gaze is piercing and unrelenting, capable of making even the bravest adventurers feel as though their very soul is being scrutinized and judged. His hair is long, black, and stringy, often hanging limply around his face, further adding to his ghastly appearance.
Valthor is always dressed in his Soulbound Robes, dark and flowing garments that seem almost alive, shifting and whispering with the souls bound within them. The robes are adorned with intricate patterns and symbols of necromancy and soul magic, their fabric shimmering with a faint, ethereal glow. These robes are not only a symbol of his power but also serve to protect him from harm, granting him resistance to necrotic energies.
In his right hand, Valthor wields the Soul Reaper Scythe, a menacing weapon with a long, dark handle and a wickedly curved blade. The scythe is forged from an unknown metal that absorbs light, making it appear as though it is carved from shadow itself. Runes of power are etched along the blade, glowing with a dull, ominous light that intensifies when the scythe is used to claim a soul. This weapon is both a tool and a symbol of Valthor's mastery over death and soul manipulation.
Valthor's demeanor is cold and calculating. He speaks in a low, whispery voice that seems to carry the echoes of the souls he has reaped, sending shivers down the spines of those who hear it. His words are measured, each one chosen with care, and he rarely shows any emotion beyond a faint, cruel smile when he sees fear in his enemies. He is a master of deception and manipulation, often using his knowledge of souls to exploit the fears and weaknesses of others.
As a member of the Inner Circle of the Cult of the Eclipsed Sun, Valthor is fiercely loyal to Morgath, though his loyalty is born out of respect for Morgath's power rather than any true allegiance. Valthor sees himself as the ultimate collector of souls, believing that by mastering the essence of life and death, he can achieve a form of immortality that transcends even undeath.
Lair and Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Valthor can take a lair action to cause one of the following effects:
- Soul Siphon. Valthor can drain the life force from up to three creatures of his choice that he can see within 30 feet. Each target must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or take 13 (3d8) necrotic damage, and Valthor regains hit points equal to half the total necrotic damage dealt.
- Soul Cage. Valthor can trap a target within 60 feet in a cage of souls. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be restrained until the end of Valthor's next turn. While restrained in this way, the target also takes 10 (3d6) necrotic damage at the start of each of its turns.
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