Black Rose Bush

Beguiling Aroma. The pungent fragrance of the black rose bush has a potent, persuasive effect on creatures of nearly all types. Only those with the strongest fortitudes— or those with elvish blood— are able to resist its charms. As elves can withstand the bush’s most effective tool for gathering food, it seeks to destroy them any chance it can. Some even whisper the bush’s origins lie in ancient history as an elven botanist’s experiment gone terribly wrong.

Extended Reach. Supplementing its more subtle weapon are a number of incredibly strong, prickly vines that can lash out many feet and snare unsuspecting prey from a distance. The vines then drag the hapless victim closer to the bush to allow the soothing fragrance to quiet its struggles, or simply squeeze the life out of it so the bush may feed. Unlike most plants whose roots gather nutrients from the soil, black rose bushes gain sustenance from the blood of their unfortunate victims as it seeps into the earth from the many puncture wounds inflicted by the bush’s sharp thorns. As result, scavengers, such as a shambling mound or an otyugh, are sometimes attracted to the bush by the prospect of free meals. The bush will often take advantage of these creatures, using them for added protection from adversaries who wield fire or try to attack the bush from a distance.

Charming Fragrance. Any creature within 5 feet of the black rose bush must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be charmed by the black rose bush’s intoxicating aroma. Charmed creatures may attempt to make the save again at the end of each of their next two turns. If they fail both of those saving throws, they may not attempt another save for 24 hours, unless they are instructed by the black rose bush to do something directly against their nature (e.g. kill themselves). The black rose bush can convey simple commands, such as “Find me food,” or “Protect me,” by pheromones (smell) to targets it has charmed. A successful save means the creature is immune to the effects of the fragrance for the next 24 hours.

Multiattack. The black rose bush makes four attacks with its vines.

Thorny Vines. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 35 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage and 5 (2d4) piercing damage. The target is grappled (escape DC 13). Until the grapple ends, the target is restrained and has disadvantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws and the bush can’t use the same vine on another target. Each turn the target is grappled, the vine deals 5 (2d4) piercing damage and pulls it 10 feet toward the bush’s body.