Equal parts horse and lobster, the xallion’s head consists of a ‘face’ full of feelers around a vertical slash for a mouth, boiled-white eyes, and crusty shell plates that run down its neck, along its back, and end where a tail of grasping tentacles begins. The rest of its powerful, quadrupedal body is covered with mucus-slicked hair. Its four legs appear sturdy, but their boneless nature becomes evident whenever the limbs warp and curl to move swiftly across unsteady terrain. In fact, it looks like the horror should topple when at full gallop, but it rarely does.

Horror on the Hoof. Cultivated by the Gloomriders, xallions used to run free somewhere deep in the far realms. They are not vicious by nature, despite being carnivores, and once bonded to a creature are unsettlingly affectionate. Occasionally a feral herd will find their way to the material plane, where they blend in with the local wild horse population. It’s not long before they find their way into the hearts and minds of mortal folk, but the companionship eventually drives their riders mad.

Xallion

Large aberration, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

Hit Points 102 (12d10 + 36)

Speed 60ft

Str 19 Dex 14 Con 17 Int 3 Wis 14 Cha 8

Damage Resistances: fire, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks Damage Immunities cold, poison

Condition Immunities blinded, frightened

Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 12

Languages understands Deep Speech but but can't speak​.

Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)

Amphibious Mucus.

The xallion can breathe air and water. It extends this ability to any creature riding it.

Rough Rider.

The xallion ignores difficult terrain.

Actions

Multiattack.

The gloomrider makes three attacks.

Bite.

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage. In addition, the creature must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution save or take 13 (4d6) poison damage.

Tail.

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d12 + 4) bludgeoning damage. In addition, the creature is grappled (DC 15). The xallion can only grapple one creature in this way and automatically ends the grapple if it attacks another creature with its tail.

Shapechanger.

The xallion can use its action to polymorph into a horse, or back into its true form. Its statistics, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.