Byleth

Large fiend (demon), lawful evil

Armor Class 19 (natural armor)

Hit Points 256 (19d10 + 152)

Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR 22 (+6) · DEX 14 (+2) · CON 26 (+8) · INT 20 (+5) · WIS 18 (+4) · CHA 24 (+7)

Saving Throws Dex +8, Con +14, Int +11, Wis +10, Cha +13

Skills Arcana +11, Insight +10, Intimidation +13, Perception +10, Persuasion +13

Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Damage Immunities poison

Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned

Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 20

Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.

Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Byleth fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

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

Magic Weapons. Byleth’s weapon attacks are magical.

Fearsome Entrance. When Byleth appears in an encounter, blaring trumpets and discordant music erupt from invisible feline musicians. Each creature of his choice that can hear the music within 120 feet of him must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or take 27 (6d8) thunder damage and become frightened of Byleth for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Regal Etiquette. A creature that addresses Byleth in a manner he deems disrespectful has disadvantage on the first saving throw it makes against one of his abilities before the end of its next turn.

Spellcasting. Byleth is a 17th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 21, +13 to hit with spell attacks). He requires no material components.

At will: detect thoughts (PHB, p. 231/262), suggestion (PHB, p. 279/321)

3/day each: dimension door (PHB, p. 233/262), dominate person (PHB, p. 235/266), hold monster (PHB, p. 251/285), lightning bolt (PHB, p. 255/292)

1/day each: dominate monster (PHB, p. 235/265), earthquake (PHB, p. 236/267)

Actions

Multiattack. Byleth makes three Soulflame Greatsword attacks, or two Soulflame Greatsword attacks and one Loving Gaze.

Soulflame Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 24 (2d8 + 6 slashing plus 2d8 psychic) damage.

Loving Gaze. Ranged Spell Attack: +13 to hit, range 60 ft., one creature. On a hit, the target takes 14 (4d4) psychic damage and must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by Byleth for 1 minute. While charmed in this way, the target is incapacitated and its speed is 0. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If the target succeeds on the saving throw, it is immune to Loving Gaze for 24 hours.

Poisonous Breath (Recharge 5–6). Byleth exhales toxic fumes in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 21 Constitution saving throw, taking 45 (10d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature that fails the save is also poisoned for 1 minute; it can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the condition on itself on a success.

Acoustic Devastation (Recharge 6). Byleth unleashes a ruinous blast of sound. Each creature of his choice within 60 feet that can hear him must make a DC 21 Constitution saving throw, taking 55 (10d10) thunder damage and being pushed up to 30 feet away on a failed save, or half damage and no push on a success. A creature that fails the save is deafened for 1 minute.

Bonus Actions

Between Heartbeats. Byleth magically teleports, along with his mount and anything he is wearing or carrying, up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space he can see.

Reactions

Regal Riposte. When a creature within 10 feet of Byleth hits him with a melee attack, Byleth can make one Soulflame Greatsword attack against that creature.

Legendary Actions

Byleth can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Byleth regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Between Heartbeats. Byleth uses Between Heartbeats.

Loving Gaze (Costs 1 Action). Byleth uses Loving Gaze.

Soulflame Slash (Costs 2 Actions). Byleth makes one Soulflame Greatsword attack.

Lore

A fallen angel who, to the accompaniment of a feline orchestra, manipulates human passions, possesses absolute mathematical knowledge, and demands perfect cold-blooded composure from the summoner.

According to legend, Byleth bears the title “the Mighty and Terrible King”; some sources go further, calling him the “King of Hell,” and give him the ordinal number 13.

Visually, his appearance is always both ceremonial and intimidating. Before the king himself becomes visible to the conjurer, the air fills with blaring trumpet tones and the music of many instruments; Jacques Collin de Plancy, in the Dictionnaire Infernal, writes that the procession is performed by cats blowing horns, creating a frighteningly surreal atmosphere. After this sonic prologue, Byleth emerges as a majestic, ferocious king on a pale horse reminiscent of the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse; his face is furious and terrifying, and later folklore often ascribes feline traits to him—vertical pupils, glowing eyes, or even a cat’s head on a human body.

From Demonic Bestiary 5E, p. 36 · Fern Flower Press