Files
murder-mystery-oneshot/prints/xarrul.md

147 lines
4.0 KiB
Markdown
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters
This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.
# Xarrul — The Unbound Fiend
**Look:** Material: tall smoke-shadow with amber eyes and surgical claws. Ethereal: charred-paper skin, orange cracks, aristocratic face, patient half-smile.
**Vibe:** Dry, amused, exact; manipulates perception and context but never makes a false factual statement or breaks a promise.
- Killed Orenn to trigger lockdown, remove the watcher, and open the house's internal seals
- Wants the Guest's mutable body so it can become a permanent resident of the world
- Compact forbids another kill before the exchange finishes except direct defense; it pushes mortals to kill instead
- One HP pool across planes; only reducing it to 0 while Ethereal destroys it permanently
---
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA | AC | HP | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +1 | +3 | +2 | +3 | +2 | +4 | 15 | 78 | 30 ft., fly 30 ft. |
**CR 5. Saves:** DEX +6, CHA +7, WIS +5. **Skills:** Stealth +9, Deception +7, Perception/Insight +5.
**Resist:** cold, fire, lightning; nonmagical bludgeoning/piercing/slashing. **Immune:** poison; poisoned, exhaustion.
**Senses:** darkvision 120 ft., passive 15. **Telepathy:** 60 ft.
**Planar Traits**
- **Ethereal Jaunt (bonus action).** Shift Material ↔ Ethereal after lockdown begins.
- **Ethereal Restoration.** Start Ethereal turn: regain 1d4 HP.
- **Deathless Slip.** At 0 Material HP: instead 1 HP and shift Ethereal; cannot be stopped. No protection at 0 Ethereal HP.
- **Slip Between (reaction).** After Material damage, shift Ethereal; Jaunt unavailable until next turn.
- **Stored Incursion (pre-lockdown, 1 charge).** Manifest Material for 3 rounds without Jaunt/Slip, then snap back Ethereal. Tonight's charge is spent killing Orenn.
- **Shadow Cloak.** In dim light/darkness: advantage Stealth and bonus-action Hide.
- **Voice Thief.** Perfectly mimic a recently heard voice; project it to one creature within 30 ft. (DC 15 WIS or it believes Xarrul's chosen source/direction).
- **Cunning Predator.** Advantage against frightened, charmed, or surprised creatures.
**Actions**
- **Multiattack.** Two Claws.
- **Claw.** +6 to hit, 5 ft.; 10 (2d6+3) slashing + 3 (1d6) necrotic.
- **Brand of Spite (Recharge 56).** +7 to hit, 5 ft.; 7 (2d6) necrotic and branded. Xarrul knows location across planes, has advantage, and Claws add 1d6 necrotic. One target; *Remove Curse*, *Greater Restoration*, or Xarrul's death ends.
- **Visions of Spite.** Branded target seen within 30 ft.; DC 15 WIS. Fail: 7 (2d6) psychic + paralyzed through end of its next turn; success half.
- **Waking Dream.** Branded target in sight; rewrite memory of last minute, no save/damage. Hard evidence, curse removal, restoration, or Xarrul's death breaks it.
- **Whisper of Ruin (Recharge 6).** Heard within 30 ft.; DC 15 WIS or frightened 1 minute and compelled to one named next-turn action; repeat save end of turn; success grants 24-hour immunity.
**Kill Chain:** Brand → Visions → two adjacent auto-crit Claws. Break with curse removal, paralysis removal, forced distance, or planar pressure.
**Lair Action (initiative 20; choose one)**
- **Veil Flicker:** Encounter area DC 13 WIS or disadvantage on attacks until next initiative 20.
- **Ethereal Pull:** One target DC 14 CHA or partially shifted; disadvantage on attacks and saves until its next turn.
- **Shadow Surge:** All encounter lights become darkness for 1 round; Xarrul Hides.
**Against Rebinding**
- **Before capture:** attack Litany readers and the planar anchor. Shadow Surge breaks sightlines; Whisper makes a reader drop a leaf; move sideways through any open angle.
- **After capture:** no physical attacks or fresh hostile effects cross the adapted circle. Voice Thief and speech remain; an existing Brand still carries Visions/Waking Dream.
- Bargain at the stations: **Dalla—Nessa is still being drained; Haddon—Bren and “the living weight comes first”; Rennt—Haddon knew the command line was dead.** One break deals 2d6 psychic to the other active ritualists and may cascade.
---