Hili

Medium undead (shapechanger), neutral evil

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

Hit Points 120 (16d8 + 48)

Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft. (Tikoloshe); fly 60 ft. (Hili)

STR 17 (+3) · DEX 18 (+4) · CON 16 (+3) · INT 8 (−1) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 10 (+0)

Saving Throws Dex +8, Con +7, Wis +6

Skills Perception +6, Stealth +8

Damage Vulnerabilities fire

Damage Immunities poison, metal weapons

Condition Immunities poisoned

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16

Languages understands the languages of its creator but can’t speak

Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

Traits

Shapechanger. As a bonus action, the Hili magically polymorphs into its Tikoloshe form (Small, hairy humanoid) or its Hili form (Large, skull-headed bird), or back again. Its statistics are the same in each form except for its speeds. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

Keen Sight. The Hili has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Dripping Bile (Hili Form Only). At the start of each of the Hili’s turns while it is flying, caustic bile rains in a 10-foot-radius, 10-foot-high cylinder directly beneath it. Each creature in that area must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. A creature that fails the save is also infected with wasting sickness (see below).

Wasting Sickness. A creature infected by the Hili’s bile or natural weapons takes 7 (2d6) necrotic damage at dawn each day. If the disease reduces the creature to 0 hit points, it dies and can be restored to life only by a resurrection spell or comparable magic. The disease can be removed only by a greater restoration spell or similar magic of 6th level or higher.

Metal Averse. When the Hili is hit by an attack using a nonmagical metal weapon, it can use its reaction to take half damage from that attack instead of being immune, and it can immediately move up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Actions

Multiattack. The Hili makes two attacks: either two Claws (Tikoloshe form) or one Beak and one Talons (Hili form).

Claw (Tikoloshe Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or contract wasting sickness.

Beak (Hili Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or contract wasting sickness.

Talons (Hili Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 15). Until this grapple ends, the Hili can’t use its talons on another target.

Bonus Actions

Shapechange. The Hili uses Shapechanger.

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Lore

A vampiric bird with a skull for a head; bile drips from its body in flight, infecting anyone it touches.

According to the most common tales, a Hili is not a natural spirit at all, but a construct raised by a witch or warlock from a fresh human corpse. In a grisly ritual the eye-sockets and brain are burned out with red-hot iron; then the body is dusted with a special arcane powder that shrivels it down to dwarf-like size. The result is a familiar wholly dependent on its master: in exchange for food and shelter it will carry out any number of errands. The creature is a true Shapechanger. On the ground it appears as a small, hairy humanoid with a bulging brow, usually called a Tikoloshe; in the air it becomes a large, vampiric bird with a skull-like head and black feathers—the form known as a Hili. Yet every witch pays dearly for such a servant: once the blood-binding ritual is complete, someone in the witch’s family is fated to die.

The Hili’s most notorious trait shows while it flies. The bird constantly drips bile and droppings; even the tiniest splash on a person inflicts an incurable wasting sickness. Only exceptionally powerful magic can cure a victim of this curse.

From Vampire Bestiary 5E, p. 48 · Fern Flower Press