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Rachis Lantern



Assembled from the bones of failed warlocks and the skull of a dire wolf, a rachis lantern is animated by crackling lightning within the grisly housing. Its bones suffer sylvan runes and are polished to a glossy sheen. Small direfly hives grow in clusters here and there across the construct and creeping vines bind the bones' magic together. The profile of a typical rachis lantern resembles a hulking canine with skeletal human hands for paws.


Deceptive Ambiance. When at rest a rachis lantern may be easily mistaken for a freakish statue and are often used as waning cult icons. More than mere decorations the sentinels keep a silent vigil until stirred into action. Some dark fey also employ them as hunting hounds or ornamentation for their alien estates.


The Price of Failure. A Waning Prince always refers to a lantern by the name of the newest 'disappointment' flayed and added to its frame. After all, one can only bother to remember the name of a displeasing 'pet' for so long. The archfey then infests another warlock with direflies, changing them into the next waning scion to lead the local cult. This is usually done to the most ambitious of the waning devout, who know full well what the price of failure could be.


Rachis Lantern

Large Construct, unaligned

 Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points 112 (15d10+30)

 Speed 40ft

Str 16 Dex 10 Con 14 Int 10 Wis 12 Cha 8

Damage Immunities: lightning, necrotic, poison

Damage Resistances: thunder

Condition Immunities: exhaustion, petrified, poisoned

Senses blindsight 30ft, darkvision 60ft, passive Perception 11

Languages Underastands Common and Sylvan but cannot speak

 Challenge 5 (1800 XP)

Illumination

The rachislantern sheds dim light in a radius of 30 feet.

Actions

Multiattack.

The construct makes two attacks per action; one with its bite and one with its claws

Bite.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) piercing damage.

Claws.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) slashing damage.

Lighting Breath.(Recharge 5-6)

The Rachis Lantern exhales lightning in a 30-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 22 (4d10) lightning damage, or half as much damage on success.

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