Chordeva

Medium humanoid (shapechanger), neutral evil

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)

Hit Points 45 (6d8 + 18)

Speed 30 ft. (human), 40 ft., climb 20 ft. (were-cat); 40 ft., climb 40 ft., hover 20 ft. (astral cat, see Shapechanger)

STR 11 (+0) · DEX 15 (+2) · CON 16 (+3) · INT 12 (+1) · WIS 13 (+1) · CHA 15 (+2)

Saving Throws Dex +4, Wis +3, Cha +4

Skills Deception +4, Insight +3, Medicine +3, Perception +3, Stealth +6

Damage Vulnerabilities radiant

Damage Resistances necrotic

Condition Immunities prone (astral cat only)

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13

Languages Common plus one regional tongue

Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Traits

Shapechanger. Chordeva has three forms—human, astral cat (Tiny), and were-cat (Small). She can use a bonus action to magically transform into one of the other forms or back to her human form. Her statistics are the same in each form except where noted. Equipment she is wearing or carrying doesn’t transform. She reverts to human form if she dies.

1 Astral Cat. The form is semi-ethereal. It can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch without squeezing and has resistance to all damage except force, psychic, and radiant. While in this form, Chordeva can’t make weapon attacks. Any damage she takes in astral cat form instantly appears on her sleeping human body.

2 Were-Cat. In this fully material form, Chordeva’s speed becomes 40 ft. and she gains the Multiattack and Claw/Bite actions shown below.

Heavy Gaze. A creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of Chordeva and can see her eyes must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on its next attack roll or ability check before the end of its turn. A creature that succeeds is immune to this effect for 24 hours.

Water Aversion. Chordeva can’t cross or enter running water and takes 5 acid damage if she ends her turn submerged or in heavy rain. While suffering this damage, she can’t maintain astral cat form.

Kiss of Death (Astral Cat Only). If Chordeva ends her turn occupying the same space as a sleeping creature, that creature must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 7 (2d6) necrotic damage and have its hit-point maximum reduced by the same amount. The reduction lasts until the creature finishes a long rest.

Actions

Multiattack. Chordeva makes two Claw attacks and one Bite attack.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) necrotic damage, and Chordeva regains hit points equal to the necrotic damage dealt.

Hypnotic Glare (Recharge 5–6). Chordeva fixes her glowing eyes on one creature within 30 feet that can see her. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed in this way, the creature is incapacitated and visibly drowsy. The creature can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Bonus Actions

Change Shape. Chordeva uses her Shapechanger trait.

Reactions

Slip Through the Crack (Astral Cat Only). When Chordeva is hit by an attack she can see, she halves the damage against her by moving up to 10 feet and passing through a solid object or Tiny opening. She must end this movement in an unoccupied space she can see.

Lore

A witch who becomes a black cat, slips into the homes of the sick, licks their lips, and drains their life-force until they die.

Chordeva is a vampiric witch who, by day, looks no different from an ordinary woman: she might be a young wife, the mother of a household, or a lonely old crone, subject to the usual ailments and the march of time. Folk wisdom notes only her unnaturally heavy gaze, but no direct anatomical differences exist. But at night, once the witch falls asleep, her soul slips out and takes on an astral shape—a cat, most often black. This non-physical body can squeeze through the tiniest cracks, barely reflects light, and lets out a distinctive meow that local watchmen describe as a mourner’s wail. In rare moments of threat or open confrontation, Chordeva shifts into a third state—a fully physical were-cat. Such a creature measures roughly 27–43 inches (68–109 cm) in length and weighs 29–55 pounds (13–25 kg).

Legend says a woman becomes Chordeva after mastering dark magic. The creature’s territory is always a village or settlement where the sick, the elderly, pregnant women, or newborns live—places where life energy is easiest to steal. In human form the witch keeps to herself, avoiding suspicion and the tribal justice that could follow. Her chief hunting method in astral cat form is simple: slip into a house and perform the ritual “kiss of death.” The being licks the sleeper’s lips, causing a slow decline that regular medicine can barely trace.

From Vampire Bestiary 5E, p. 40 · Fern Flower Press