Djuklanush

Large monstrosity, Lawful Neutral

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points 136 (16d10 + 48)

Speed 50 ft.

STR 20 (+5) · DEX 16 (+3) · CON 16 (+3) · INT 10 (+0) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 10 (+0)

Saving Throws Str +8, Dex +6, Con +6, Wis +5

Skills Athletics +8, Insight +5, Perception +8, Survival +5

Senses Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 18

Languages Common, Sylvan (understands but rarely speaks)

Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

Traits

Keen Senses. The Djuklanush has Advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Miracle Fur. A creature that possesses a strand of the Djuklanush's fur can consume it as a Magic action. Doing so replicates the effects of a Greater Restoration spell. The Djuklanush willingly gives a strand only to those who prove themselves pure of heart or who aid it in protecting the Mist King's palace.

Curse of the Dog-Man. The Djuklanush's monstrous form is a curse. If a humanoid willingly kisses the Djuklanush out of genuine love or profound, selfless affection, the curse instantly breaks. The Djuklanush permanently transforms into a neutral humanoid, losing all Monstrosity traits and abilities, and combat ends immediately.

Actions

Multiattack. The Djuklanush makes three attacks: one with its Bite and two with its Fists. It can replace one attack with a use of Spellcasting.

Bite. Melee Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d12 + 5) piercing damage, and the target is automatically Grappled (escape DC 16).

Fist. Melee Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is automatically knocked Prone.

Rock. Ranged Attack: +8 to hit, range 60/120 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage.

Spellcasting. The Djuklanush casts the following spell, requiring no material components and using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (Spell Save DC 13):

At Will: Fog Cloud (cast as a 3rd-level spell, heavily obscuring a 60-foot radius; PHB, P. 276)

Reactions

Blood Revival. When the Djuklanush starts its turn with half its hit points or fewer, a willing humanoid within 5 feet can use their Reaction to take 1 slashing damage and drip their blood onto the Djuklanush's tongue. The Djuklanush instantly regains 40 Hit Points and ends one condition afflicting it.

Lore

The Djuklanush is a legendary creature from Romani folklore—a tragic, morally ambiguous figure in the Roma catalog of spirits. Its name combines the Romani words jukel /juklo (“dog”) and manush (“person”), literally “dog-man.” Every Djuklanush was once an ordinary—often kindhearted—human who angered a witch and paid for it with a curse that twisted both body and fate.

The creature’s look is terrifyingly hybrid. It has an enormous, over-muscled human torso and fully human arms with fine motor control, able to grip, throw, and manipulate objects as well as any person. From the waist down it is canine: digitigrade hind legs built for speed, leaping, and sudden charges. Its head is that of a giant dog, the jaws packed with crushing power and senses far keener than a human’s. The fur is its great miracle—a single hair is said to cure any illness. Beneath the horror of its form, sorrow and intelligence often shine through its eyes.

From The Fairy Tale Compendium · Fern Flower Press