Mote Weaver

Resting atop a nest of wooden legs, the mote weaver’s core is a rot-dessicated gourd riddled with seeping holes with the appearance of weeping eyes. Captured starlight glitters cold within the squash and carries with it motes of stolen fate which power both the construct and its magic. As one might expect, a crude grin has been carved in the gourd and filled with sharpened bone. Whatever meat the mote weaver consumes is incinerated by its inner-light. Its uncanny limbs resemble those of the harvestman who employ them, though it always has more than eight and an odd number at that.

Insidious Whisperer. Empowered by stars of ill-portent the mote weaver enjoys manipulating those it encounters toward their doom. The construct lures the innocent from their homes so they can be snatched by pluckers or abused by other fey. It might convince a maid to fill her water at a bank where a clutch of snakes are hidden, or stoke the embers of rage in a drunk husband’s breast as he staggers home late. Worse yet, it can focus its stolen power to ensure terrible outcomes. An adder's bite is instilled with luck, while the unlucky victim’s fortune takes a downturn at the same time.

Mote Whisperer

Small construct, chaotic evil

Armor Class 15

Hit Points 65 (10d8 + 20)

Speed 30ft

Climb 30ft

Str 6 Dex 16 Con 15 Int 14 Wis 8 Cha 15

Skills Deception +4, Persuasion +4, Stealth +5

Dammage Immunities radiant

Damage Resistances thunder, lightning

Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, exhaustion, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned

Senses darkvision 60ft, passive Perception 9.

Languages common, dwarven, elvish, sylvan; telepathy 60ft

Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Death Throes:

When the mote weaver dies, it explodes in a burst of searing starlight. Each creature within 5 feet of it must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) radiant damage on a failed save and is outlined in starlight granting attacks against the creature Advantage for the next minute. On success, a creature takes half as much damage and is not outlined.

Innate Spellcasting:

The mote weaver’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). it can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At Will: cause fear, detect thoughts, hunter's mark, moonfire

Actions

Bite:

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10+3) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) radiant damage.

Wax:

The mote weaver may instill a creature it can see within 60ft with good luck. The creature gains 1d4 to all attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks until the start of the weaver’s next turn.

Reactions

Wane:

After using Wax the mote weaver must use Wane on a creature it can see within 60ft with bad luck. That creature musty succeed on a DC 12 Charisma save or subtract 1d4 from all attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks until the start of the weaver’s next turn.

Optional Rule: Star Squash Soup. The fragments of the mote weaver's gourd still carry a faint trace of captured fate after death. It can be boiled down into a soup that once consumed grants a creature the ability to gain Advantage on one roll of their choice before the next moonrise. A single mote weaver can product 1d4 servings of star Squash Soup after death. Preparing Star Squash Soup is a DC 12 Intelligence (Cook's Utensils) or DC 15 Wisdom (Survival) check.