A cloying candle burns steady atop the terror’s gourd-like head, its sallow wax dripping down a grinning, rotting face. A tangle of thorned vines with wide, serrated leaves comprises the rest of its hulking body which some say resembles a humanoid too closely. Claws comprised of rusted pitchfork heads jut from the sidewick’s ropey arms. Its legs and feet are not like two tree trunks, they are two tree trunks with flattened bottoms. The candle atop its head burns brighter when prey is near or a spell is directed through it. It burns even brighter still whenever it lances a victim with eldritch flame.

Smoldering Sorrow. The candle atop the sidewick’s head is a mixture of blood honey and the fat of a fairy from either the Summer or Winter court. The poor creature was caught and slowly rendered down by the cult as a living sacrifice to the waning princes. Not only does this ultimate act of depravity earn the scorn of the other courts, but it channels the dead fey’s energy into the rotting gourd the candle is affixed to. When the candle is lit, the magic surges outward growing the rest of the hateful plant within seconds and rendering it subservient to the whomever lit the flame. The candle never expends its fuel, but when it is blown out the dying sidewick goes on a rampage until it withers away. Then only a candle affixed atop the gourd remains, awaiting fresh flame.

Sidewick

Large plant, lawful evil

9 Armor Class 14 (studded leather)

75 (10d10 + 20)

Speed 30 ft

Str 8 Dex 16 Con 15 Int 7 Wis 18 Cha 12

Skills Stealth +5

Damage Resistances lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren't adamantine

Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages -

Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Berserk.

If the sidewick's candled is extinguished it goes Berserk. On each of its turns while berserk, the sidewick attacks the nearest creature it can see. If no creature is near enough to move to and attack, the sidewick attacks an object, with a preference for an object smaller than itself. Once the sidewick goes berserk, it continues until it returns to its dormant state.

Innate Spellcasting.

The sidewick communicates with the candlebearer as long on the sale plane of existence.

Candlebound.

The sidewick rests in its dormant state until a creature lights the candle atop its gourd-like head and becomes the candlebearer. The sidewick returns to life with full hit points and is bound to the candlebearer. As long as the candle burns, any spell that targets the candlebearer may be redirected to the sidewick if it is within 90ft of the candlebearer. On the other hand, the candlebearer may cast spells from the sidewick's square as if it was also in that square as long as the sidewick is within 90ft.

If the candle is extinguished by Gust of Wind, Create Water, or a similar effect, this bond is broken. The sidewick goes Berserk (see above) and loses 10 hit points each round until it dies. At this point it returns to its dormant state and cannot be relit until the next sunset.

Actions

Multiattack.

The sidewick makes two claw attacks.

Claw.

MMelee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Eldritch Burn.

Melee Spell Attack: +6 to hit, reach 90 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d10) fire damage. This attack is only available if the sidewick is bound to a candlebearer