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Shadow Symbiote Knight

Challenge
Terrain
str
18
dex
14
con
18
int
12
wis
14
cha
16

AC 17 (half plate)
HP 110 (13d8 + 52; bloodied 55)
Speed 30 ft.


Proficiency +3; Maneuver DC 15
Saving Throws Str +7, Con +7, Wis +5
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder; damage from nonmagical weapons
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Senses blindsight 120 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Common, telepathy 30 ft.

Heart of Darkness. Creatures within 30 feet of the knight have the range of their darkvision reduced by 60 feet, to a minimum of 0.


ACTIONS

Multiattack. The knight attacks twice with its greatsword.

Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.


BONUS ACTIONS

Shadow Tendril. Melee Spell Attack: +6 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (4d6) necrotic damage, and any light source the target wears or carries is suppressed until the end of the knight’s next turn.

Snuff Light. The knight magically extinguishes nonmagical light sources within 30 feet

Combat

The shadow symbiote knight defends its shadow symbiote , targeting creatures that deal radiant damage.


Legends and Lore

With an Arcana or Religion check, characters can learn the following:

DC 10 A shadow symbiote is an intelligence ooze that hates light. Any humanoid can host a shadow symbiote.

DC 15 Shadow symbiotes can assimilate with humanoid corpses, but they prefer living hosts.

DC 20 While a shadow symbiote is inside a host, the only way to harm it is by burning its host body with radiant energy

Description

While it lived, the shadow symbiote knight was a powerful martial champion. In death, it is a puppet of a shadow symbiote.

Signs

1–2 Torches and other light sources dim

3 A long-dead corpse beside a sarcophagus that has been opened from the inside

4 DC 12 Perception check: gray slime around a small hole or crack

5 Creatures' shadows seem to act independently of their owners, making mocking and threatening gestures

6 Areas of darkness chill the body with life-sapping cold. While in darkness, each creature that isn't resistant or immune to cold damage gains a level of fatigue, which is removed only when the creature enters an area of dim or bright light

Encounters

Shadow symbiotes lurk in tombs. They often bond with corpses and graverobbers, using these bodies to roam the world.

CR 0–2 shadow symbiote

Treasure 2 rare books (100 gp each)

CR 5–10 shadow symbiote with shadow symbiote knight

Treasure 300 gp, +1 greatsword

Monster Type Description

Undead are supernatural creatures or spirits that are no longer alive but are still animate. Some have been reanimated by magic spells, such as skeletons . Others, like vampires , are the products of an evil ritual or curse.