Gavun

Large fey, neutral good

Armor Class 18 (natural armor)

Hit Points 171 (18d10 + 72)

Speed 40 ft.

STR 22 (+6) · DEX 14 (+2) · CON 18 (+4) · INT 16 (+3) · WIS 20 (+5) · CHA 18 (+4)

Saving Throws Str +10, Wis +9, Cha +8

Skills Nature +9, Perception +9, Persuasion +8, Stealth +6

Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Senses Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 19

Languages Common, Sylvan; can communicate with beasts and plants

Challenge 9

Traits

Innate Spellcasting. Gavun's innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). He can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: Animal Friendship (PHB, p.212), Druidcraft (PHB, p.236), Speak with Animals (PHB, p.277), Speak with Plants (PHB, p.277)

3/day each: Entangle (PHB, p.238), Healing Word (PHB, p.250), Pass without Trace (PHB, p.264), Plant Growth (PHB, p.266)

1/day each: Conjure Animals (PHB, p.225), Wall of Thorns (PHB, p.287), Awaken (PHB, p.216)

Shapechanger. Gavun can use his action to polymorph into a Large bear (use the statistics of a brown bear but retain his Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as his saving throw and skill bonuses), or back into his true form. His equipment doesn't change with him.

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

Forest Guardian. While in a forest, Gavun is aware of any significant change or harm to his environment, including the presence of intruders and the felling of trees. He can communicate telepathically with beasts and plants within 120 feet of him.

Actions

Multiattack. Gavun makes two attacks with his staff or two claw attacks if in bear form.

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

Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

Claw (Bear Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.

Summon Beasts (Recharge 5–6). Gavun summons beasts to aid him. He magically calls 1d4 brown bears or 1d6 wolves or 2d6 swarms of ravens. The summoned creatures appear in unoccupied spaces within 60 feet of Gavun and act as his allies. They obey his spoken commands and act on their own initiative count. The beasts remain until they are killed or until Gavun dismisses them as a bonus action.

Treefall (1/Day). Gavun causes a nearby tree to fall at a point he can see within 60 feet. Each creature within a 15-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 36 (8d8) bludgeoning damage, is knocked prone, and is restrained under the fallen tree (escape DC 17). On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't knocked prone or restrained.

Reactions

Nature's Shield. When Gavun is hit by an attack, he can use his reaction to cause roots and vines to momentarily shield him, imposing disadvantage on the triggering attack roll.

Lore

A protective forest spirit who maintains order; all animals and birds obey and serve him.

Gavun is one of the elder forest spirits. He takes care of his forest, maintaining order within it. All animals and birds obey and serve him.

From head to toe, Gavun looks like an old grandfather, but not weak or hunched like an ordinary old man. You could say he's quite sturdy and always smiling. Instead of hair, gray moss grows on his head, and his clothing is entirely made from forest plants. However, Gavun doesn't always appear in this form. Most often, he can be encountered as a bear, though with one peculiarity: he spends most of his time walking upright—that is, on his hind legs.

From The Witchwood Bestiary 5E, p. 50 · Fern Flower Press