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Coven Aspirant

Only the foolish would bring themselves to the attention of hags, but some aspirants strive to join a hag coven out of a desire for power or companionship.

Recall Knowledge - Humanoid (Society): DC 16
Unspecific Lore: DC 14
Specific Lore: DC 11

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Coven AspirantCreature 2

Medium Human Humanoid 
Source NPC Core pg. 97
Perception +7
Languages Common, Fey, Jotun
Skills Deception +7, Intimidation +5, Medicine +5, Occultism +8, Stealth +7, Survival +5
Str +2, Dex +1, Con +1, Int +4, Wis +1, Cha +1
Items cauldron, dagger, dart (4)
AC 15; Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +9 (shared confidence)
HP 35
Shared Confidence When a coven aspirant is within 30 feet of at least two allies, they and their allies gain a +1 status bonus to Will saves.
Speed 25 feet
Melee [one-action] dagger +8 [+4/+0] (agile, versatile S), Damage 1d4+4 slashingMelee [one-action] fist +8 [+4/+0] (agile, nonlethal, unarmed), Damage 1d4+4 bludgeoningRanged [one-action] dart +7 [+3/-1] (agile, thrown 20 feet), Damage 1d4+4 piercingOccult Prepared Spells DC 18, attack +10; 1st fear, grim tendrils, ill omen; Cantrips (1st) daze, figment, light, prestidigitation, void warp
Witch Hex Spells 1 Focus Point, DC 18; 1st needle of vengeance; Cantrips (1st) shroud of night
Forge Pact [one-action] (auditory, concentrate, linguistic, mental, occult) The coven aspirant forms a temporary coven with two or more willing creatures within 30 feet, all of whom must be able to cast spells. Members of the temporary coven can cast charm, entangling flora, and illusory disguise as 2nd-rank occult innate spells at will, using DC 17 or their spellcasting DC, whichever is higher. The coven is dissolved after 3 rounds or when all but one member is dead, whichever comes first. A creature can be a member of only one temporary coven at a time and can join a temporary coven no more than once per 24 hours.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Unusual Covens

Though rare, covens can form that include non-hags, as long as at least two hags are a part of the coven. Changeling, vengeful nature spirits, intelligent undead, and fiends sometimes ally themselves with hags. The unusual composition of the coven alters the spells granted by the partnership, typically replacing the cursed metamorphosis spell with a spell appropriate to the coven's new member.

All Monsters in "Mystic"

NameLevel
Adept-1
Coven Aspirant2
Cult Leader7
Cultist1
Curse Monger14
Demonologist7
Enchanting Ritualist18
Enigmatic Conspiracist4
False Priest4
God Caller10
Harrow Reader-1
Mirror Seer9
Necromancer5
Spirit Binder11

Mystic

Source NPC Core pg. 96
Hidden secrets and occult powers have an irresistible lure for many. Since the majority of these NPCs are spellcasters, consider using alternative spell lists to adjust their themes.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Crossover Ancestry NPCs

Several of the NPCs elsewhere in NPC Core can fit well in this group: Bone mother (level 6), gourd leshy witch (level 6), tripkee fiend keeper (level 7)

Sidebar - Additional Lore Guests Beware

Most intelligent creatures follow basic customs of hospitality, such as not attacking a guest who has dined under their roof. Even the most sinister fey creature is loath to break such customs, though eating meals with the fey is often fraught with its own dangers. Others have fewer scruples and might employ poisons, curses, or potions as seasoning for unwitting dinner guests.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Mystic Protection

Most mystics aren't particularly skilled in combat and might hire or ensorcel bodyguards, such as the bodyguard (level 1), archer sentry (level 2), musketeer (level 3), tournament combatant (level 5), knight (level 7), or hero hunter (level 13).

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Mystic Rituals

The following are rituals sometimes cast by mystic groups. Those from Monster Core are available only to appropriate celestials and fiends within the organizations.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Sinister Rituals

Most rituals have a simple gp cost and associated skill checks. But what if a desperate NPC is willing to offer something more macabre, such as lives, souls, or worse? Such a nefarious ritual uses a normal ritual as a baseline, but the DCs and proficiency requirements might be reduced or waived entirely, as might any gp cost.