A twisted figure wrapped in servant finery the cleft coachman’s visage matches its name. The fey’s lower jaw juts several inches out from the face with bloodless lips barely covering the teeth beneath. Its nose sits like a wedge between deep-set eyes. The curve of its shoulders gives the appearance of a hunchback where none exists and its legs end in oversize hooves reminiscent of a swine’s. They often wear a flowing opera cape and fashionable hat atop a bald head. In one hand it clutches a whip fashioned from the hide of thunderchargers.

Sniveling Servants. The devotion and deference cleft coachmen show to Waning Nobles borders on sickening. They scrape and fawn over the lovely fey and allow any amount of abuse to be shoveled onto them. As a whole, they believe that the absolute devotion will one day be rewarded, though this is not likely the case.

Cruel Hearts. Abused by their betters coachmen go out of their way to abuse those they consider lesser in return. They regularly bully common fey, resorting to physical violence to get what they want. Cleft coachmen treat mortals even worse, attacking them with sadistic glee. They throw half-dead victims to thunderchargers to devour or drag victims behind their reaping coaches until only scraps of meat remain.

Animal Lovers. The hatred of living things does not extend to the thunderchargers. Coachmen treat the insectoid steeds with a parental air, doting on their every need and ensuring they are not driven too hard. When a beloved charger perishes they are beside themselves with grief and cure some of its hide to add to their whips as a memento. This tenderness extends to nearly all beasts, and thus cleft coachmen loathe trophy hunters like no others.

Cleft Coachman

Medium Fey, neutral evil

Armor Class 16 (studded leather armor)

Hit Points 60 (8d8 + 24)

Speed 30ft

Str 13 Dex 17 Con 16 Int 10 Wis 13 Cha 16

Skills Animal Handling +5

Condition Immunities blinded, deafened

Damage Immunities thunder

Damage Resistances lightning

Senses darkvision 120ft, passive Perception 11

Languages understands sylvan, but cannot speak.

Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Innate Spellcasting.

The cleft coachman spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It requires no material components to cast its spells.

At will: Light, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Minor Illusion (disguising a thundercharger as a normal horse only) Unseen Servant

3/day each: Guiding Bolt

Actions

Multiattack:

The cleft coachman makes two attacks as one action.

Whip:

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4+3) slashing damage plus 9 (2d8) thunder damage, and the creature must make a DC 16 Constitution save or be deafened for 1 minute.

Cackling Stomp (Recharge 5-6):

All creatures within 10ft of the cleft coachman must make a DC 13 Constitution save or take 18 (4d8) lightning damage and be blinded for 1 minute. On success creatures take half as much damage and are not blinded.

Reaping Coaches.

Not every waning noble wishes to ride in the saddle so lavish coaches have been designed for those of delicate tastes. These gilded vehicles, supported with polished bone, are specifically designed with the thundercharger’s innate abilities in mind. A pair of thunderchargers can booming gallop in unison and take the carriage along with them. In addition, reaping coaches are immune to thunder damage and extend this trait to those riding inside it. Likewise, within the conveyance creatures cannot be blinded or deafened by effects from outside it.