Brukolak

Large undead, chaotic evil. Vrykolakas

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Hit Points 172 (15d10 + 90)

Speed 30 ft.

STR 24 (+7) · DEX 14 (+2) · CON 22 (+6) · INT 8 (−1) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 10 (+0)

Saving Throws Str +11, Con +10, Wis +6

Skills Perception +6, Stealth +6

Damage Resistances Necrotic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Damage Immunities Poison

Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Poisoned

Senses Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16

Languages Understands Common but can't speak

Challenge 11

Traits

Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the Brukolak to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the Brukolak drops to 1 hit point instead.

Keen Hearing and Smell. The Brukolak has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Sunlight Hypersensitivity. The Brukolak takes 20 radiant damage when it starts its turn in sunlight. While in sunlight, it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

Regeneration. The Brukolak regains 15 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn't in sunlight. If the Brukolak takes radiant damage, this trait doesn't function at the start of the Brukolak's next turn.

Brutal Claws. The Brukolak's claw attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.

Actions

Multiattack. The Brukolak makes three attacks: one with its Bite and two with its Claws.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) slashing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or be inflicted with a festering wound. Until the wound is treated with magic such as lesser restoration or heal, the target loses 5 (1d10) hit points at the start of each of its turns due to blood loss and disease.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature.

Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic damage. The target's hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and the Brukolak regains hit points equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

Piercing Scream (Recharge 5–6). The Brukolak emits a terrifying scream. Each creature within 60 feet of the Brukolak that can hear it must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 27 (6d8) psychic damage and is frightened for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't frightened. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Reactions

Unyielding Retaliation. When the Brukolak takes damage from a creature within 10 feet of it, it can make a Claw attack against that creature.

### Weaknesses

Severing the Head. If the Brukolak takes slashing damage from a critical hit with a silvered weapon, its head is severed, and it dies instantly. The head must then be burned with fire.

Defeating the Brukolak

To permanently destroy a Brukolak, adventurers must:

Reduce it to 0 hit points, mindful of its Undead Fortitude.

Sever its head with a slashing critical hit from a silvered weapon.

Burn the severed head with fire to prevent regeneration.

Failing to perform these steps may result in the Brukolak regenerating and returning to haunt them.

Lore

An undead revenant — someone who died unnaturally and returned as a blood- drinking corpse.

Brukolak is an especially dangerous type of vampire. Legends offer no precise explanation of how this kind of vampire came into existence. Some assert that it stems from the last will of a person who died an unnatural death—that is, before dying, they turned to the devil to avenge their killer. Their spirit never found peace, and thus they rose as a monster. Additionally, a burial mistake was made when the body was interred in unconsecrated ground, not blessed by the church. There's also a version that a Brukolak is the swollen corpse of someone struck by lightning. According to folk beliefs, the bodies of those killed by lightning do not decompose and, over time, rise from their graves.

As described above, a Brukolak appears bloated, with taut, tough skin that's hard to pierce or cut. They possess extremely sharp and quite large claws capable of tearing apart any flesh, even well-protected. In some stories, it's mentioned that even iron armor doesn't save one from the beast's attack. Brukolaks have gray, cloudy eyes; they see well and navigate in the dark. These vampires hunt predominantly at night; they cannot tolerate sunlight, which is lethal to them. Their hearing is exceptionally keen: their sizable ears perfectly capture the slightest sound vibrations. For instance, a Brukolak can hear its victim's heartbeat from many kilometers away. A distinctive feature of the Brukolak is that each night it emits a piercing scream once. The creature's height can reach up to 8 feet, attesting to its formidable strength.

From The Witchwood Bestiary 5E, p. 44 · Fern Flower Press