Homebrew Will-o'-Wisp Species Details
Will-o'-wisps are malicious spectral undead creatures that appear as torches or lanterns seen floating through their homelands. These creatures display exceptional levels of intelligence. They revel in luring travelers away from safe paths, bewildering them.
Ethereal Lights
The will-o'-wisp appeared to be nothing more than a hazy ball of light, colored white, blue, violet, green, or yellow, glowing as brightly as a flaming torch. As such, it was easy to mistake one for a lantern, torch, or dancing lights. Especially within the foggy biomes they tend to inhabit. They tend to take on a brighter hue whenever they are engaged in combat, even changing hues.
In fact, their faintly glowing bodies were just transparent balls of spongy matter, measuring 1 foot (30 centimeters) wide and weighing around 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms). Although they have no vocal organs, will-o'-wisps could vibrate to emit a ghostly sound, with which they could speak the languages it knew in life.
Altering Brightness
These creatures could alter the brightness or dimness of their bodies glow. This ability is used to confuse their prey. A will-o'-wisp could even extinguish its glow, becoming for all intents and purposes invisible to all except creatures who see invisible objects. They typically did the latter whenever they were surprised or frightened.
Homelands
Will-o'-wisps are typically found in deserted, dangerous places where ones movement could get inhibited. Such as dense forests, bogs, fens, swamps, as well as swampy dungeons. Will-o'-wisps were typically found singly, in pairs, or in "strings" of orbs. These creatures subsisted upon the powerful emotions that are associated with fear, panic, and death. They would often seek to lure creatures away from safe paths, into perilous situations so they could feast upon their desperate emotions.
Will-o'-Wisp Traits
These spectral undead creatures that appear as lights seen floating through their biomes luring travelers away from safe paths, with great intelligence and skill.Ability Score Increase
Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Alignment
Will-o'-wisps love freedom, trickery, and self-expression, so they lean strongly toward chaos. Their extended time in this world has made them bitter, vicious, and dangerous, thus are more often evil than not.
Size
A typical Will-o'-wisp ranges around a 1 foot wide spectral sphere. Your size is Tiny.
Speed
Your base flying speed is 50 feet (hover).
Languages
You can speak and read Common and one other language it knew in life. Although they have no vocal organs, will-o'-wisps could vibrate to emit a ghostly sound, with which they could speak.
Darkvision
You have superior vision in the dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Spectral Defense
As a spectral undead being Will-o'-wisps gains certain resistances and immunities, as listed:
- Damage Resistances: Acid, Cold, Fire, Necrotic, Thunder; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
- Damage Immunities: Lightning, Poison
- Condition Immunities: Exhaustion, Grappled, Paralyzed, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained, Unconscious
Shock
You know the Shocking Grasp cantrip. Additionally, it has a reach of 10 feet.
Consume Life
As a bonus action, the will-o'-wisp can target one creature it can see within 5 feet of it that has 0 hit points and is still alive. The target must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw against this magic or die. If the target dies, the will-o'-wisp regains 3d6 hit points.
Ephemeral
The will-o'-wisp can't wear or carry anything. You can squeeze through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide.
Incorporeal Movement
The will-o'-wisp can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 1d10 force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
Variable Illumination
The will-o'-wisp sheds bright light in a 5- to 20-foot radius and dim light for an additional number of feet equal to the chosen radius. The will-o'-wisp can alter the radius as a bonus action.
Invisibility
As an action, the will-o'-wisp and its light magically become invisible until it attacks or uses its Consume Life, or until its concentration ends (as if concentrating on a spell).
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