Diabolical Leader: While the Waning Princes are happy to grant madmen patronage for amusement’s sake they reserve true power for deviants with a streak of narcissism and megalomania. They invest these individuals not only arcane might but implant direfly eggs into their very marrow. After a month of agony, from one waning moon to the next, the warlock becomes a waning scion; a living hive and high priest combined. The scion controls their cult through charisma, debauchery, and violence when needed. To outsiders, however, they model themselves as town elders or wise recluses. At least, until their flock grows large enough. Then they usurp local authority and work to bring their patron’s armies to the material plane.

Sniveling Slave: However, a scion is merely a mortal and the dark fey never let them forget this fact. To a Waning Prince these cult leaders are treated like a favored pet, at least as long as they keep the otherworldly noble happy and entertained. A waning scion always scraps and grovels before their patron and members of its court. In turn the fey go out of their way to humiliate the warlock with deeming tasks or inattention. The scion takes all this in stride, however, as they well know they could be easily replaced at the first sign of failure, rebellion, or even on a whim. With a snap of the fingers, a Waning noble can make the direflies within a scion’s body devour them from the inside. Though, for most high priests, this grisly fate would be a blessing compared to how they end up.

Waning Scion

Medium humanoid, lawful evil

Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor)

Hit Points 58(9d8+18)

Speed 30ft

Str 9 Dex 14 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 11 Cha 18

Saving Throws: Wis +3, Cha +7

Skills: Arcana +4, Deception +7, History +4, Persuation +7

Damage Resistances: lightning, thunder

Senses blindsight 30ft, passive Perception 11

Languages Common, Sylvan

Challenge 5 (1800 XP)

Aegis of Insanity

The waning scion is immune to the Confusion spell and like effects, such as an umber hulk's Confusing Gaze. In addition, the scion may force a creature that cast or used a confusion effect on it to make a Charisma saving throw DC 15 or suffer from confusion as per the spell for 1 minute. Aegis of Insanity does not function if the scion's swarm of direflies familiar is dead.

Direfly Nest

The Waning Princes grant the scion a swarm of direflies as a familiar. The swarm gains all the benefits of being a familiar as per the spell Find Familiar. In addition, the swarm can enter the scion's square and enter its body, gaining full cover when doing so. If the swarm is reduced to 0 hit points it can be resummoned by the scion after a short rest.

Inate Spellcasting

The waning scion's spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). He requires no material components to cast its spells.

At will: disguise self, mage armor (self only)

Spellcasting

The waning scion is a 7th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The waning scion has the following warlock spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): Create Bonfire, Friends, Infestation

4th level (2 slots): Bestow Curse, Blight, Enthrall, Hellish Rebuke, Hex, Mirror Image, Sickening Radiance, Thunder Step

Actions

Direfly Sting.

Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 30/60 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10+4) psychic damage.

Sickle.

Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6+1) slashing damage.