Dungeons & Dragons 2024 (D&D) Monster/NPC: Soul-Snatching Aranea

SGttEH 367

Traits

Contortion. The aranea can move through a space as narrow as 5 inches wide without squeezing.

Devour Soul. The aranea can eat the soul of a creature it has killed within the last hour, provided the creature has one. The devouring requires the aranea to be within 5 feet of the corpse for at least 10 minutes, after which it gains a number of Hit Dice (d10s) equal to half the creature's Hit Dice. Roll those dice, and increase the aranea's current hit points and hit point maximum by the total. For every four Hit Dice the aranea gains in this way, its attacks deal an extra 3 ( 1d6 ) damage on a hit. The aranea retains these benefits for 7 days. A creature whose soul is devoured by the aranea can be restored to life only by a wish spell.

Evasion. If the aranea is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, the aranea instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.

Innate Spellcasting. The aranea's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: mage hand, minor illusion, prestidigitation, thaumaturgy

3/day each: blur, major image, silence

1/day each: mislead, phantasmal killer

Sntacher's Mimicry. The aranea can perfectly imitate the voices of creatures whose souls it has devoured. The voice doesn't come from the aranea directly, echoing from its general direction instead. To discern the sound as unnatural and coming from the aranea, a creature can use its action to make a DC 17 Investigation check to inspect it, locating the origin of the voice on a success.

Spider Climb. The aranea can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Web Walker. The aranea ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.

Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the aranea knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.

Actions

Multiattack. The aranea makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its legs.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 26 (4d10 + 4) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the creature finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0. In addition, the aranea regains hit points equal to half the damage dealt.

Leg. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.

Mimic Spell (3/ Day). The aranea casts a spell of 5th level or lower with a verbal component and a casting time of 1 action it has heard cast within the last hour, without expending a spell slot or material components.

Bonus Actions

Skitter. The aranea moves up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks

Web (Recharge 5-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one creature. Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 17 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; 20 hp; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).

Reactions

Yelp. After a creature the aranea can see hits it with an attack, the aranea can yelp in pain in the voice of one of the attacker’s loved ones. The attacker must make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it takes 9 ( 2d8 ) psychic damage and can’t target the aranea with any attacks or effects until the end of its turn.