Demon Trap: Hezrou
The area is filled with a sense of foreboding and dread. An onyx altar caked with blood and scratched with occult symbols squats in the center of the space. On the altar rests a fire-blackened skull wearing a jeweled crown.
Instead of a ghost possessing a book, a hezrou possesses a crown. The trap has the following alternate feature:
Crown. The crown is possessed by a demon instead of a ghost. A detect magic spell cast on the crown reveals auras of abjuration and conjuration magic; a detect evil and good spell reveals the presence of fiends. Spells and magical effects that target undead have no effect on the trap, while effects that target fiends work normally. Otherwise, the trap functions identically to a Ghost Trap . If a creature dies while possessed by the demon, its soul is dragged to the Abyss; the creature can’t be resurrected by any means short of a wish or true resurrection spell.
If a possessed creature takes damage, it makes a Charisma
saving throw
. On a success, a Success is triggered.
- If the book is destroyed or is the target of Turn Undead, banishment , dispel evil and good , or dispel magic while inhabited by the ghost, the ghost appears within 5 feet of it. If the ghost is reduced to 0 hit points, the ghost is destroyed. The book is an object with AC 11, 15 hit points, and immunity to poison and psychic damage.
Potential Outcomes
Critical Failure or Failure. The triggering creature makes a Charisma saving throw . On a failure, the ghost that inhabits the book possesses the creature, and the trap is disabled.
The possessed creature is unconscious . The ghost enters the creature’s body and takes control of it. The ghost can be targeted only by effects that turn undead, and it retains its Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. It grants its host body immunity to being charmed and frightened . It otherwise uses the possessed creature’s statistics and actions instead of its own. It doesn’t gain access to the creature’s memories but does gain access to its proficiencies, nonmagical class features and traits, and nonmagical actions. The ghost can’t use limited-use abilities or class traits that require spending a resource.
Success or Critical Success. The ghost leaves its host. If the book is within 60 feet, the ghost is forced back into it, and the trap resets. Otherwise, the ghost appears next to the target. The target is then immune to this ghost’s Possession for 24 hours.