Ashstalker Matriarch (Queen)

Echolocation (Silence Panic): The matriarch is eyeless and blind. It cannot use its blindsight while deafened or inside an area of magical silence. If the matriarch starts its turn inside a Silence spell or similar effect, it becomes panicked by the sensory void. It must immediately use its movement, its action (to Dash), and its bonus action (Miasmic Rush) to fly out of the silent area by the shortest, most direct route possible. It cannot make attacks while inside an area of silence.

Keen Hearing: The matriarch has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.

Cloying Miasma: The matriarch is constantly surrounded by a thick, suffocating cloud of toxic gas. A 20-foot-radius aura of heavy fog moves with the creature, centered on its space. The area within the cloud is heavily obscured. Any creature that enters the cloud or starts its turn there must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, it takes 11 (3d6) poison damage and is poisoned until the start of its next turn. On a success, it takes half as much damage and is not poisoned. If a humanoid creature dies inside this miasma, its flesh rapidly rots. At the start of the next round, it rises as an aggressive ghoul that attacks the nearest living target.

Flammable Miasma: If any part of the Cloying Miasma (including its expanded area from Miasmic Backlash or trails from Miasmic Flyby) is exposed to fire damage, a magical flame, or an open spark, the entire cloud ignites in a violent flash explosion and is immediately dispersed. Every creature inside the cloud's area when it ignites must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Because the matriarch has specialized fire resistance, she takes half damage on a failed save, and no damage on a successful save from her own ignited cloud. When the cloud explodes, roll a d6 on the Chaos Magic Wild Surge table below.

Miasmic Flyby: The matriarch doesn't provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy's reach. Additionally, when the matriarch takes the Dash action on its turn, it leaves behind a 10-foot-wide, 10-foot-high trail of toxic gas along its movement path until the start of its next turn. The trail is heavily obscured, and any creature that enters the trail or starts its turn there is subject to the saving throw and damage of the Cloying Miasma trait.

Multiattack: The matriarch makes two attacks: two with its Claws, one with its Claw and one with its Bite, or one Dive-bomb and one Bite.

Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (3d8 + 5) slashing damage. If the target is a Huge or smaller creature and the matriarch moved 20 feet or more straight toward it immediately before the hit, the target takes an extra 13 (3d8) slashing damage.

Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it must succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Dive-bomb: The matriarch flies up to 20 feet toward an enemy and makes one Claw attack against it. If the attack hits, the target must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw, with the following results:

• 21 or higher: The target dodges safely; nothing happens.
• 16–20: The target is knocked prone.
• 15 or lower: The target is knocked prone and grappled (escape DC 16). While the matriarch is grappling a target this way, it cannot use that Claw to make attacks.

Queen's Screech (Recharge 5–6): The matriarch exhales a wall of sonic agony in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 36 (8d8) thunder damage and is incapacitated until the end of its next turn. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage and is not incapacitated.

Aggressive: The matriarch takes the Dash action. She can only use this bonus action if she is flying.

Miasmic Backlash: When the matriarch takes 20 or more damage from a single attack or spell, it violently exhales a burst of pressurized gas from its weeping sores. The radius of its Cloying Miasma immediately expands to 40 feet until the start of its next turn, forcing any creature caught in the newly expanded area to immediately make the saving throw against the miasma.

• Wing Buffet: The Matriarch beats its massive wings. Each creature within 10 feet of the Matriarch must succeed on a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone. The Matriarch can then fly up to half its flying speed (45 feet).
• Chomping Strike (Costs 2 Actions): The Matriarch makes one Bite attack.
• Call the Brood (Costs 3 Actions): The Matriarch lets out a piercing pheromone click. 1d4 Ghouls claw their way out of the nearby earth or drop from the ceiling to defend their Queen, acting immediately on the next initiative count.