Currently, I’m running an old second edition module converted to 5th for my players. There’s a whole lot of new bad guys in it, too, many of which haven’t been seen since the ’80s. I’ve converted a few of those bad guys below for you to enjoy.
Note: if you’re one of my players, stop reading at this point, as thar by spoilers.
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Chabang Man
This lesser golem appears to be a medium-sized humanoid warrior made of sculpted earth. Chabang men are immune to most forms of physical damage. Bludgeoning damage temporarily disables them, while slashing damage splits them into two new chabang men. Chabang men are often created by spellcasters to test the meddle of would-be challengers while the spellcaster observes and notes weaknesses.
Construct Nature. The chabang man does not require air, food, drink, or sleep.
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Chabang Man
Medium construct, unaligned
Armor Class 9 (natural armor)
Hit Points 45 (10d8)
Speed 25 ft. (10 ft. in mud form)
Abilities Str 10 (+0), Dex 9 (-1), Con 10 (+0), Int 3 (-4), Wis 7 (-2), Cha 1 (-5)
Damage Immunities acid, bludgeoning, poison, psychic, slashing; piercing from nonmagical attacks not made with adamantine weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 8
Languages understands the languages of. its creator but can’t speak
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Immutable Form. The chabang man is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.
Magic Resistance. The chabang man has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The chabang man’s weapon attacks are magical.
Squashable. Whenever the chabang man is subjected to bludgeoning damage from a source other than a magical or adamantine weapon, it takes no damage. Instead, it collapses into a puddle of mud. While in its mud form, the chabang man’s movement becomes 10 ft. and it is incapacitated. On its turn, the chabang man can use its bonus action to revert to its original form.
Actions
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d8) slashing damage, or 1d10 slashing damage when wielded with two hands.
Reaction
Split. When the chabang man is subjected to slashing damage, it splits into two new chabang men if it has at least 10 hit points. Each new chabang man has hit points equal to half the original chabang man’s, rounded down. New chabang men start as a puddle of mud; the chabang man is incapacitated and its movement speed becomes 10 ft. while in this form. On its turn, the chabang man can use its bonus action to revert to its original form.
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Lich, Heartless
Lesser, more impatient spellcasters who refuse to put themselves through the trials involved in typical lichdom sometimes turn to a different form of unlife: heartlessness. The Ritual of Heartlessness involves removing the subject’s beating heart and preserving it outside of its body. If the subject survives, it becomes a heartless lich. The heartless lich enjoys the benefits of unlife so long as it heart remains intact and near it. However, if its heart is destroyed, the lich is destroyed as well.
Undead Nature. The lich does not require air, food, drink, or sleep.
A Heartless Lich’s Lair
Because a heartless lich must protect its heart, they tend to cloister themselves in heavily trapped and guarded secret lairs. Like the traditional lich, a heartless lich’s lair is drenched in the unfathomable evil it exudes. A heartless lich encountered in its lair has a challenge rating of 7 (2,900 XP).
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the lich can take a lair action to cause one of the following magical effects; the lich can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row.
- The lich rolls a d4 and regains a spell slot of that level or lower. If it has no spent spell slots of that level or lower, nothing happens.
- The lich targets one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. A crackling cord of negative energy tether the lich to the target. Whenever the lich takes damage, the target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the lich takes half the damage (rounded down), and the target takes the remaining damage. This tether lasts until initiative count 20 on the next round or until the lich or the target is no longer in the lich’s lair.
- The lich calls forth the spirits of creatures that died in its lair. These apparitions materialize and attack one creature that the lich can see within 60 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a success. The apparitions then disappear.
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Lich, Heartless
Medium undead, any evil alignment
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 75 (10d8 + 30)
Speed 30 ft.
Abilities Str 11 (+0), Dex 13 (+1), Con 16 (+3), Int 17 (+3), Wis 14 (+2), Cha 18 (+4)
Saving Throws Con +7, Wis +5
Skills Arcana +6, Perception +6
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks (with its heart) or all (without its heart)
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Common plus up to three other languages
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Heartless. The heartless can survive without its heart in its body so long as its heart remains within 300 feet of it. While the heartless’ heart is out of its body, the heartless is immune to all damage from spells and attacks. Its heart’s AC is 10 and it has 10 hp. The heart has all of the heartless’ normal damage immunities, plus it is immune to psychic damage. If its heart is destroyed, the heartless is destroyed.
Spellcasting. The heartless is a 10th-level spellcaster. its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +7 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following sorcerer spells prepared:
- Cantrips (at will): mage hand, message, minor illusion, firebolt, shocking grasp, true strike
- 1st level (4 slots): burning hands, charm person, expeditious retreat
- 2nd level (3 slots): mirror image, see invisibility
- 3rd level (3 slots): lightning bolt, major image
- 4th level (3 slots): blight, wall of fire
- 5th level (2 slots): cloudkill, hold monster
Turn Resistance. The heartless has advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns undead.
Actions
Paralyzing Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 10 (3d6) cold damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. the target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
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Art by Wizards of the Coast.
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