Jangsanbeom 장산범

Large monstrosity, chaotic evil

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Hit Points 135 (18d10 + 36)

Speed 50 ft., climb 40 ft.

STR 19 (+4) · DEX 18 (+4) · CON 18 (+4) · INT 12 (+1) · WIS 16 (+3) · CHA 16 (+3)

Saving Throws Dex +8, Wis +7, Cha +7

Skills Deception +7, Perception +7, Stealth +12

Damage Resistances psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks while the jangsanbeom is in lightly obscured terrain (fog, dim forest, or darkness)

Condition Immunities frightened

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17

Languages understands Common and Sylvan but can’t speak (see Mimicry)

Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)

Traits

Ambush Predator. If the jangsanbeom surprises a creature and hits it with an attack on the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 14 (4d6) damage of the attack’s type.

Mimicry. The jangsanbeom can mimic any voice or sound it has heard, including specific people, babies, or animals. A creature that hears the sounds can tell they are imitations with a successful DC 17 Wisdom (Insight) check.

Preternatural Speed. The jangsanbeom can take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action on each of its turns.

Actions

Multiattack. The jangsanbeom makes three attacks: two with its Claws and one with its Bite.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage.

Voice Lure (Recharge 5–6). The jangsanbeom mimics the voice of a loved one or a distressing cry within 60 feet. Each creature that can hear it and understands the language must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed, a creature is incapacitated and must move up to its speed on each of its turns to approach the jangsanbeom by the safest route. The effect ends early if the creature takes damage or witnesses one of its allies being damaged.

Reactions

Sudden Pounce. When a creature the jangsanbeom can see ends its movement within 30 feet of it, the jangsanbeom moves up to 20 feet and makes one Claw attack against that creature.

Lore

Tiger-sized, with round yellow eyes that glow in the dark. Covered in long, silky white fur and armed with

The name “Jangsanbeom” (장산범) has two parts. “Jangsan” (장산) is the mountain in Busan’s Haeundae District where, according to legend, the creature shows up most often. “Beom” (범) is an old Korean word for a tiger or any big, savage animal. The name instantly links the monster to one of the most powerful and revered beasts in Korean culture and highlights its predatory nature.

The Jangsanbeom’s look is unsettling. Witnesses say it’s roughly tiger-sized and covered in long, silky, snow-white fur. What really unnerves people are its mismatched, unnatural limbs. The front legs resemble those of a big cat, each tipped with long, razor-sharp claws like a sloth’s or bear’s, while the hind legs are thick and clumsy, more bear than cat. Despite that imbalance, it races on all fours with inhuman speed. In the dark its eyes shine bright blue, like car headlights. Most of the time the face is buried in fur, but some claim they glimpsed a twisted, hideous human face—or a muzzle that looks like the Korean shepherd dog, sapsal-gae.

From Korean Bestiary 5E, p. 72 · Fern Flower Press