Aitvaras

Small fey, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

Hit Points 85 (10d6 + 40)

Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR 10 (+0) · DEX 22 (+6) · CON 18 (+4) · INT 14 (+2) · WIS 12 (+1) · CHA 16 (+3)

Saving Throws Dex +9, Cha +6

Skills Perception +4, Stealth +9

Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Damage Immunities Fire

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages Common, Sylvan; telepathy 60 ft.

Challenge 4

Traits

Fiery Form. The Aitvaras can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. A creature that touches the Aitvaras or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 5 (1d10) fire damage.

Magic Resistance. The Aitvaras has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Rejuvenation. If the Aitvaras starts its turn touching the ground, it regains 10 hit points.

Innate Spellcasting. The Aitvaras's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

- At will: Detect Magic (PHB p. 231), Invisibility (PHB, p. 254), Mage Hand (PHB, p. 256)

- 1/day each: Fly (PHB, p. 243), Suggestion (PHB, p. 279)

Mischievous Charm. The Aitvaras can attempt to distract a creature it can see within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on the next attack roll or ability check it makes before the end of its next turn.

Actions

Multiattack. The Aitvaras makes two attacks: one with its Fiery Touch and one with its Tail Whip.

Fiery Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 10 (1d6 + 6) fire damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or catch fire. Until someone takes an action to douse the fire, the target takes 5 (1d10) fire damage at the start of each of its turns.

Tail Whip. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

Hit: 7 (1d4 + 6) bludgeoning damage, and the target must make a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Fiery Breath (Recharge 5–6). The Aitvaras exhales fire in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Reactions

Evasive Flight. When the Aitvaras is targeted by an attack, it can use its reaction to move up to half its flying speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

### Description

An Aitvaras is a mischievous, flying spirit often appearing as a fiery serpent or small dragon, though it can also take the form of a black cat or crow. Known for stealing treasures from unsuspecting neighbors, it brings wealth—such as money, milk, and honey—to those it attaches itself to, but always at someone else's expense. The Aitvaras flies through the air, often unseen, and can enter homes through chimneys, scattering sparks over rooftops as it passes.

Despite its penchant for mischief, the Aitvaras is drawn to offerings of scrambled eggs, its favorite dish. Some tales suggest that one can lure or capture an Aitvaras using this delicacy. However, harboring an Aitvaras can bring misfortune and illness to a household, and the spirit is notoriously difficult to banish once it has settled in.

### Behavior and Tactics

The Aitvaras prefers to avoid direct confrontation, relying on its speed and agility to evade attackers. In combat, it stays airborne, using Fiery Touch to ignite foes and Tail Whip to keep enemies at a distance. It employs Fiery Breath to scorch multiple opponents when threatened. Its Evasive Flight allows it to reposition quickly, making it a challenging foe for ground-based adversaries.

If severely threatened or outmatched, the Aitvaras will attempt to flee, using its Innate Spellcasting to become invisible or to fly away at greater speeds.

Lore

A mischievous flying spirit—often a fiery serpent, crow, or cat—sneaks through chimneys to steal money.

Aitvaras is a flying spirit appearing as a fiery serpent or dragon (sometimes as a black crow or cat), a ghostly being. According to legends, he can bring people wealth—especially money, milk, and honey—but he steals all this from neighbors. He emerges from the clouds, flies through the air, and, scattering sparks over the roof, enters homes through the chimney. He often appears openly or secretly at night and can take on the forms of living people, but only for a short time. In one story, it's said that this spirit loved to play pranks on a man and often transformed into his wife when she was away. In other tales, these spirits could torment wives and entice strong-willed men into committing bad deeds. Aitvaras's favorite activities include braiding horses' manes, sending nightmares to people, and other harmful mischief.

In old records, you can find intriguing information about this spirit. If someone wanted to acquire an Aitvaras to become rich, they would keep a black rooster for seven years. In the eighth year, this rooster was supposed to lay an egg and hatch an Aitvaras from it. The rooster's egg was elongated, larger than a regular chicken egg. And what could emerge from this egg? A worm as long as a grass snake would crawl out. It would start flying through the air, bringing home money, grain, and milk. But here's the problem: if such a "little bird" was kept in the house, everyone would start to get sick. Every morning, the mistress had to fry scrambled eggs to feed the Aitvaras. However, there's a little secret that some wealthy merchants knew. To avoid falling ill, they used a decoction of valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) as a remedy.

From The Witchwood Bestiary 5E, p. 6 · Fern Flower Press