Boginki

Medium fey, chaotic evil

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Hit Points 157 (21d8 + 63)

Speed 40 ft.

STR 16 (+3) · DEX 22 (+6) · CON 16 (+3) · INT 14 (+2) · WIS 18 (+4) · CHA 20 (+5)

Saving Throws Dex +10, Wis +8, Cha +9

Skills Deception +9, Perception +8, Stealth +10

Damage Resistances Cold, Fire; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened

Senses Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 18

Languages Common, Sylvan, Infernal

Challenge 9

Traits

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

Change Shape. The Boginka can use an action to polymorph into a Small or Medium female humanoid, beast (cat, dog, frog, etc.), or back into her true form. Her statistics, other than her size, are the same in each form. Any equipment she is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. She reverts to her true form if she dies.

Luring Beauty. The Boginka can choose to appear as a beautiful young maiden. When she does, she has advantage on Charisma (Deception and Persuasion) checks.

Cursed Touch. A creature that touches the Boginka or hits her with a melee attack while within 5 feet of her must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with a draining affliction. While cursed in this way, the creature has disadvantage on Strength and Dexterity ability checks and saving throws. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Actions

Multiattack. The Boginka makes three attacks: two with her Claws and one with her Hair Snare.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.

Hair Snare. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

Hit: The target is grappled (escape DC 18). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the Boginka can't use Hair Snare on another target.

Captivating Song (Recharge 5–6). The Boginka sings a haunting melody. Every humanoid within 300 feet of the Boginka that can hear the song must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed in this way, a target is incapacitated and has a speed of 0. The effect ends for a target if it takes any damage or if it witnesses the Boginka attacking or damaging any of its allies.

Reactions

Vengeful Curse. When the Boginka is damaged by a creature within 60 feet of her that she can see, she can force that creature to make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is cursed for 1 hour. While cursed, whenever the creature makes an attack roll or saving throw, it must roll a d4 and subtract the number rolled from the attack roll or saving throw.

Legendary Actions

The Boginka can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature's turn. The Boginka regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.

Move. The Boginka moves up to her speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Charm. The Boginka targets one humanoid she can see within 30 feet of her. If the target can see the Boginka, it must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by her until the end of its next turn.

Ethereal Jaunt (Costs 2 Actions). The Boginka shifts from the Material Plane to the Ethereal Plane, or vice versa.

Regional Effects

The region containing Boginka's lair is warped by her presence, creating one or more of the following effects:

- Unsettling Atmosphere. Within 6 miles of the lair, sounds seem distorted, and eerie whispers can be heard on the wind.

- Wilting Flora. Plants within 1 mile of the lair wither and become poisonous. Any creature that eats such a plant must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 7 (2d6) poison damage and be poisoned for 1 hour.

- Haunted Dreams. Pregnant women and new mothers who sleep within 6 miles of the lair experience nightmares and may suffer from levels of exhaustion upon waking (DM's discretion).

If the Boginka dies, these effects fade over the course of 1d10 days.

Lore

Boginki are female demonic beings whose main purpose is to pursue pregnant women and to replace or kidnap newborns.

Boginki are most often depicted as several hideous women—tall, thin, with sagging breasts, swollen bellies, and long, disheveled hair. Often, they have the legs of geese, chickens, or dogs; teeth like pig tusks; a hooked nose; and long arms with three claw-like crooked fingers. Occasionally, Boginki appear as beautiful young maidens. They can assume almost any form: mist, cats, dogs, frogs.

Frequently, they are women who, for various reasons, died during childbirth. Children kidnapped by these beings from their parents turn into Boginki. Women who have committed suicide, as well as mothers who have killed their own children, often become these evil spirits.

From The Witchwood Bestiary 5E, p. 38 · Fern Flower Press