More on the Brood

Black chitin horns curl away from the humanoid’s temples and under its pointed ears in the same manner as a ram’s. Likewise, the brood’s facial structure vaguely resembles a goat with a wide-flat nose and pointed chin. The creature is covered in fine, black downy from head to chitin hoof with a head of wild hair. One might mistake the brood for a satyr if not for its straight, human-like legs and blood-red furrow running from nap to sacrum filled with twitching cilia. Despite its aberrant nature, most would describe the brood as becoming. Other humanoids find something sensual and primal about the feral creature that is all too compelling.

The typical brood dresses in flowing, risque clothing. They enjoy the freedom of movement it grants, the attention it garners, and the ease of removal provided. Most brood are proud of their bodies, no matter what ‘flaws’ it might have as every last cell is a gift of the Dark Mother. They are each an example of Her divine perfection and to hide their form is to demean Her grace. Some brood prefer bright, contrasting colors to their dark fur while others lean into an almost gothic attire depending on individual preference.

Bulkier than the rest of its kin, the brood brute wears a simple loincloth of exotic leather and thick, ridged bracers often crafted from a different beast’s hide. Ceaseless training and constant battles have left their fur marred by deep scars where no fur will ever grow again. Its horns are scuffed and cracked, but also thicker along the top and a chitin ridge has grown to cover their brow and the bridge of the nose as well. This gives them the appearance of wearing a helmet at a distance. The brute lugs a length of gem-studded bone with a mace head at one end and a brass bell at the other. When not using the weapon to crush skulls in battle, the brute lends its bell-ringing to brood choruses.

Brood Brute

Medium humanoid (Brood), any alignment (usually chaotic)

Armor Class 11

Hit Points 97 (13d8 + 39)

Speed 30ft

Str 18 Dex 13 Con 16 Int 11 Wis 11 Cha 14

Saving Throws Str +7, Con +6

Skills Athletics +7, Survival +3

Damage Resistances psychic

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10

Languages Common, Deep Speech

Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)

Anathema Bond.

The brood can use the Wisdom (Animal Handling) skill on Aberrations and Monstrosities. The brood's Animal Friendship spell can also affect Aberrations and Monstrosities with an Intelligence of 3 or less.

Feral Regeneration.

The brood brute regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn as long as it has at least 1 hit point. If the brood brute fails to deal damage with a melee weapon, this trait doesn't function at the start of the brood brute's next turn.

Innate Spellcasting.

The brood is a 4th level spellcaster with a spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 spell attack modifier). The brood can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At Will: Shillelagh

1/day: Animal Friendship, Hex

Actions

Multiattack.

The brood brute makes two attacks.

Headbutt.

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) bludgeoning damage. In addition, if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution save or be Incapacitated until the end of its next turn.

Studded Club.

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

Reactions

Chime of the Spheres.

When a friendly brood casts a spell within 30ft of the brood brute, the brute may use its reaction to add +1 DC to the spells cast or give the caster Advantage on a spell attack. This ability does not function of the brood brute is not holding their studded club or if they are Silenced.