Bumble

Medium fey (shapechanger), Neutral Evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points 112 (15d8 + 45)

Speed 30 ft., Fly 40 ft. (hover)

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

Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5, Cha +7

Skills Deception +7, Perception +5, Persuasion +7

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages Common, Elvish, Sylvan (can communicate with insects natively)

Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Traits

Shapechanger. Bumble can use a Bonus Action to polymorph into a Large Giant Bumblebee or back into his true Medium humanoid form. His statistics are the same in each form, except his size. Any equipment he is wearing or carrying merges into the new form. He reverts to his true form if he dies.

Swarm Master. Bumble is constantly surrounded by a spectral, buzzing swarm of furious bees. Any hostile creature that starts its turn within 5 feet of him takes 3 (1d6) piercing damage.

Actions

Multiattack. Bumble makes two attacks using his Royal Sting. He can replace one attack with a use of Spellcasting.

Royal Sting. Melee Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage, and the target is Poisoned until the end of its next turn.

Spellcasting. Bumble casts one of the following spells, using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (Spell Save DC 15):

At Will: Mage Hand (PHB, p. 293), Minor Illusion (PHB, p. 298)

2/Day Each: Suggestion (manipulating the target's greed or desires; PHB, p. 293), Web (the webs manifest as thick, suffocating strands of golden honey; PHB, p. 340)

1/Day Each: Insect Plague (manifests as a furious swarm of royal bumblebees; PHB, p. 289)

Reactions

Swarm Deflection. When Bumble is hit by an attack, he can agitate his surrounding swarm to intercept the blow, adding +3 to his AC against that attack. If the attack still hits him, the attacker is swarmed and immediately takes 5 (1d10) piercing damage.

Lore

Gribouille is a seemingly foolish but incredibly kind boy from George Sand's fairy tale "The Story of a True Simpleton Named Gribouille" who learns the language of insects, becomes a great poet, and magically alternates between being a boy and a forget-me-not flower after sacrificing himself to save the kingdom of flowers and birds.

Once upon a time there was a forest ranger who lived deep in the woods. He and his wife had seven children—three girls and four boys. The youngest was named Gribul. They all lived in a pretty cottage with a little garden. The forest belonged to the king, and for loyal service the ranger had been granted a small patch of land and the right to hunt on it. But he was a greedy, spiteful man: he tricked money out of poor people and, for a fee, let the rich hunt wherever they liked. His wife loved money just as much and was cruel to the children whenever no gold was coming in. The children copied their parents; all of them, except Gribul, grew up to be little thieves and swindlers.

From The Fairy Tale Compendium · Fern Flower Press