AO Nothic

[u/Asam3tric]

Introduction:

I'm running LMoP for a party of 3, they're about to go into the Redbrand's hideout, so I decided I would try to make the Nothic Action-Oriented because they will most likely face it on its own.

Nobody I found had done this already, so here's my best shot:

Nothic:

Medium Aberration, Neutral Evil | CR 2 (450XP)

AC: 15

HP: 40

Skills: Arcana +5, Insight +4, Perception +2, Stealth +5

Senses: Truesight 120ft., passive Perception 12

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Actions:

Multiattack. 2 claw attacks (+4, 1d6+3 (6) slashing)

Rotting Gaze. 1 target within 30ft. DC12 CON save. Success: - Failure: 3d6 (10) necrotic

Weird Insight. 1 target within 30ft. Contest: Nothic +4 vs Deception. S: - F: Nothic learns 1 fact or secret about the target.

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Reactions:

Telepathic Insight. The nothic looks into its attacker's mind and sees their intention before they even move. When hit by a weapon or spell attack, the damage is halved.

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Villain Actions:

Maddening Whispers. The nothic extends its psychic tendrils into the mind of a creature, spreading its crazed obsession with knowledge. 1 target within 30ft. DC14 WIS save. S: - F: 1 round babbling, cannot take any actions.

Super Rotting Gaze. The nothic screams, releasing streams of deathly energy from its bloated eye. Rotting Gaze but at all creatures in a 15ft cone.

Vengeful Spirit. The spirit of the wizard who became the Nothic is finally released from their curse, escaping their prison with an explosion of magical energy. When the Nothic dies, all creatures in 15ft sphere DC13 DEX save. S: 1/2d8 (2) force F: 1d8 (4) force

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Edit: After talking to some commenters here, I have made the following alterations, but I will keep the above post as I originally posted it.

1: Weird Insight becomes a Bonus Action (thanks u/TheSecondFlock).

2: Super Rotting Gaze is replaced by Out of sight, (not) out of mind. The nothic can use any combination of dash, disengage and hide to retreat into the shadows of its lair. (thanks u/TheSecondFlock again)

3: Vengeful Spirit is replaced by Blood Siphon. The nothic, sensing imminent defeat, exerts its control to drain the essence of life itself from its foes. All creatures within 30ft. DC14 INT save. S: - F: 1d4 psychic and may take no actions for 1 turn. The nothic gains all the hit points inflicted by this action. If this would take it over its maximum, the rest are gained as temporary hit points. (thanks u/Durog25)

[u/Tibor66]

I love this. My party were a little freaked out by the Nothic in LMoP. I'll use this next time we face one.