Hu Hsien

Continuing with the 2nd edition Oriental Adventures conversions.

Armor Class 12

Hit Points 120 (16d8 + 48)

Speed 30 ft., 40 ft. in tiger form

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

17 (+3) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 18 (+4)

Skills Arcana +4, Deception +6, +5, +4

Damage Resistance cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t crystal

Damage Immunities fire

Damage Vulnerabilities lightning

Senses 60 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages Common, Spirit Tongue

Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Shapechanger. The hu hsien can use its action to polymorph into a Medium fox-humanoid hybrid, or into a Medium humanoid, or back into her true form, that of a Small fox. All forms are always female and her fox persists through each form. Her statistics, other than her size, are the same in each form. Any equipment she is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. She reverts to her true form – a fox – if she dies.

Innate Spellcasting. The dryad’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14). The dryad can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: druidcraft (with the additional ability to throw her voice as a ventriloquist) invisibility, alter self (fox tail persists), chameleon, know history, comprehend languages, apparition, detect thoughts, hypnotic pattern
3/day each: possess, servant horde, creation
1/day each: ancient curse (as bestow curse except duration is permanent and it affects an entire family), mirage arcana

Ethereal Sight. The hu hsien can see 60 feet into the Ethereal Plane when she is on the Material Plane, and vice versa.

Keen Hearing and Smell. The hu hsien has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Pounce (Hybrid Form Only). If the hu hsien moves at least 15 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the hu hsien can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.

Speak with Beasts and Plants. The hu hsien can communicate with beasts and plants as if they shared a language.

Yokai. As a spirit, hu hsien has advantage on saving throws against all enchantment effects except those of other yokai. Yokai can sense any passages to Gaki-do and the Ethereal plane within one mile.

Actions

Multiattack (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). In humanoid form, the hu hsien makes two wakizashi attacks or two yumi attacks. In hybrid form, it can attack like a humanoid or make two claw attacks.

Bite (Fox or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack:+5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage.

Claw (Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack:+5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage.

Wakizashi (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Longbow (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.

Fatal Charm. One male humanoid the hu hsien can see within 30 feet of her must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be magically charmed for 1 day. The charmed target obeys the hu hsien’s verbal commands. If the target suffers any harm or receives a suicidal command, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success. If the target successfully saves against the effect, or if the effect on it ends, the target is immune to this hu hsien’s Charm for the next 24 hours.

The hu hsien can have only one target charmed at a time. If she charms another, the effect on the previous target ends.

Draining Kiss. The hu hsien kisses a creature charmed by it or a willing creature. The target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw against this magic, taking 32 (5d10 + 5) psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

DESCRIPTION

Lesser spirits who are cousins of the hengeyokai, the hu hsien are a race of shapeshifting foxes — cunning, clever, and capable of endless mischief.

A hu hsien has two basic forms, and can shapechange freely between them. Its primary form looks like a normal fox with rust- colored or silver fur. Unlike a normal fox, however, a hu hsien fox can walk on its hind legs and hold items in its front paws. The hu hsien’s second form is that of a human maiden. She has exceptional beauty and grace. Her hair is long and flowing, and she wears long, silken robes. But unlike a normal maiden, the hu hsien’s human form has a foxlike tail. The lovely hu hsien usually takes care to hide the tail beneath her robe.

The hu hsien can speak all languages common to the area she inhabits, as well as the language of animals.

Combat

Hu hsien delight in their ability to manipulate and torment hapless humans. They are noted for their trickery, and a character who scoffs at their existence is among the hu hsien’s favorite victims.

She suffers double damage from electrical-based attacks. She greatly fears thunderstorms, since the Celestial Emperor sometimes sends the Thunder God to punish the hu hsien for her wicked ways.

The hu hsien sustains herself by draining the life force of human victims. To do so, she must assume human form and trick a human into spending time with her, generally by using her fascinate power to cause the victim to fall hopelessly in love. Thereafter, each day the victim spends with the hu hsien results in the loss of one experience level, similar to the effects of an energy drain. The victim, totally blinded by love, is not aware of what is happening and does not realise what has befallen him. Once this process begins, the victim only can be saved if the hu hsien is driven away or destroyed by others.

Habitat/Terrain

Hu hsien typically make their lairs near the outskirts of human villages. They sometimes occupy abandoned houses, using their magical powers to create the illusion of great wealth and luxury. Occasionally, their lair is a normal fox den, but the enchanted interior looks like a great mansion. Many times an unfortunate traveler has dined and slept in a grand hall, only to awaken in the cramped space under the floors of an old house, the guest of a hu hsien.

Hu hsien are not entirely cruel and ungrateful. They have been known to reward people who show them generosity or treat them kindly. Such rewards usually involve success at examinations, good fortune, or rescue in a moment of great danger.

Hu hsien are particularly attracted to scholars, both as allies and victims. A scholar who befriends a hu hsien, usually with regular tributes of gems and coins, may sometimes petition the lovely fox-creature’s help in matters of academic research. The scholar lights sticks of incense in his study, then leaves the room for the night. When he later returns, the scholar will discover a particular volume protruding from the stacks on his shelves, or a particular document displayed on his desk. This volume or page contains the information he sought, courtesy of the hu hsien.

Hu hsien value wealth, and frequently acquire great treasure caches. Because of this, some wealthy people attribute their own material success to the worship of this lesser spirit. Near their mansions, they construct clay shrines in honor of the hu hsien, bearing the image of a fox embracing an ornately-dressed human. Tributes of gems, coins, and prayer are offered daily at these shrines.

Ecology

Though hu hsien obtain all sustenance from human victims, they have a weakness for wine of any type. Once intoxicated, they revert to their primary fox form.