Relict Minion: Snuffer

A snuffer in a sinuous, segmented horror comprised of oily flesh grown about rusty iron plates. The aberration superficially resembles a monstrous centipede with a multitude of short, crimson tentacles instead of legs. Its eyes and toothless gap of a mouth are fused to a set of rune-scribed shears with anfractuous growths wrapped around the handles to work the implement akin to mandibles. A clutch of prehensile cilia at its back end works in a fair imitation of a hand.

Malignant Manifestations. The Relict didn't intend to create the first snuffer. The envious construct long wished for the ability to sleep and dream as mortals do. After a generation of alchemical experimentation she discovered a reagent, the fumes of such send her into a trance state. While not truly asleep the Relict experienced a vision of a lightless void, choked with incomprehensible things writhing against one another like an infinite clutch of worms. One of the cyclopean beings grew tired of its blindness and set itself aflame so it might see.

The vision abruptly ended, and much to her surprise the Relict discovered a mass of alien tissue growing amid random parts in her workshop. By dawn's breaking the first snuffer finished gestating and the construct gained a loyal tool against the living. Unfortunately , she found the process to be repeatable.

Silent Killers. The snuffers feed off of breath, preferring to suckle it directly from the lungs of their prey. The Relict uses the aberrations' uncanny dietary requirement to remove societal rivals and other trouble makers via assassination. The crawling horrors prove quite adept at creeping into a target's home in the dead of night, by passing locks and other defenses, and then suffocating the unlucky soul in their bed. Often times, those that discover the bodies the next morning thing the victim merely died in their sleep.

Snuffer

large aberration, chaotic evil

Armor Class 16

Hit Points 102 (12d10 + 36)

Speed 30ft

Climb 30ft

Str 11 Dex 19 Con 16 Int 13 Wis 14 Cha 10

Skills Perception +5, Stealth +7

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Senses darkvision 60ft, passive Perception 15.

Languages ignan, primordial.

Challenge 6 (2300 XP)

Breath Hound.

The snuffer can detect any creature that takes a breath within 10ft of it.

Innate Spellcasting:

The snuffer's innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: dissonant whispers, knock, silence

1/day each: blindness/deafness, darkness, pass without trace

Urban Camouflage.

The snuffer has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in urban terrain.

Spider Climb:

The snuffer can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Actions

Multiattack:

The snuffer either three bite attacks as one action.

Bite:

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.

Stealth Breath (Recharge 6):

The snuffer inhales all the air in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw, taking 28 (4d12) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If a creature fails by 5 or more they are also rendered unconscious for 1 minute. If the creature takes any damage or an action is taken to rouse them the creature regains consciousness.