Lord Soulis

Medium humanoid (human, warlock), chaotic evil

Armor Class 18 (natural armor, preternatural reflexes)

Hit Points 187 (25d8 + 75)

Speed 30 ft.

STR 16 (+3) · DEX 18 (+4) · CON 17 (+3) · INT 16 (+3) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 20 (+5)

Saving Throws Dex +8, Con +7, Wis +6, Cha +9

Skills Arcana +7, History +7, Intimidation +9, Perception +6, Stealth +8

Damage Vulnerabilities lead (double damage from weapons or objects made of lead)

Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t made of lead

Condition Immunities charmed, frightened

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16

Languages Common, Infernal, Elvish, Sylvan

Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)

Traits

Pact-Bound Regeneration. Lord Soulis regains 15 hit points at the start of his turn if he has at least 1 hit point and hasn’t taken radiant damage or damage from a lead weapon since the end of his last turn. Soulis is destroyed only if he starts his turn with 0 hit points and the above regeneration is suppressed.

Immunity to Steel and Rope. Soulis is immune to the restrained and grappled conditions caused by normal rope, chains, or manacles. In addition, nonmagical steel weapons deal only half damage to him (already reflected in his resistances).

Warlock Spellcasting. Soulis is a 10th-level warlock. His spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). He requires no material components.

At will: eldritch blast (3 beams; +9 to hit, 1d10+5 force per beam; PHB, p. 237/267), mage hand (PHB, p. 256/293), minor illusion (PHB, p. 260/298)

3/day each: counterspell (PHB, p. 228/258), fear (PHB, p. 239/271), misty step (PHB, p. 260/299)

1/day each: dominate person (PHB, p. 235/266), wall of force (PHB, p. 285/338), circle of death (PHB, p. 221/250)

Summon Redcap (1/Day). As an action, Soulis magically calls the redcap Robin to an unoccupied space he can see within 30 feet. The redcap (use the Monster Manual statistics) acts immediately after Soulis in the initiative order and is under his control. The redcap disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or Soulis dies.

Actions

Multiattack. Lord Soulis makes two Hell Pike attacks.

Hell Pike. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 5 (1d10) necrotic damage.

Blood Sacrifice (Recharge 5–6). Lord Soulis plunges his pike into one incapacitated or restrained humanoid within 5 feet. The target must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw, taking 32 (5d10) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. Soulis regains hit points equal to the necrotic damage dealt.

Bonus Actions

Misty Escape (Recharge 4–6). Immediately after he takes damage, Soulis can teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space he can see and becomes invisible until the start of his next turn.

Reactions

Parry. Soulis adds +3 to his AC against one melee attack that would hit him. To do so, he must see the attacker and be wielding his pike.

Legendary Actions

Lord Soulis can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Soulis regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Attack. Soulis makes one Hell Pike attack.

Eldritch Blast (Costs 2 Actions). Soulis casts eldritch blast (PHB, p. 237/267).

Command Redcap (Costs 2 Actions). One redcap Soulis summoned can use its reaction to move up to its speed and make one attack.

Lair Actions

When Lord Soulis is encountered within Hermitage Castle, the fortress assists him. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties) Soulis can invoke one of the following effects; he can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

Lore

A vampire sorcerer who struck a bargain with the Devil and kept a blood-drinking demon familiar.

The figure of William Soulis, lord of Hermitage Castle in Roxburghshire, Scotland, is a classic example of how a real fourteenth-century Scottish feudal baron turned into a supernatural character. According to later legend, this was the very time when Lord Soulis bargained with the Devil and became a vampire.

Historically the House of Soulis had held Liddesdale since the thirteenth century, and William II Soulis served as the king’s pantler, responsible for arranging and supervising the preparation of royal meals. He was described as a large man who was constantly accompanied by a blood-thirsty hobgoblin named Robin Redcap. Lord Soulis abused his position, relishing the chance to inflict not only physical pain but humiliation. He terrorized the people on his estates, kidnapping men, women, and children to torture them and use them in his dark rites—either drinking their blood or sacrificing their lives.

From Vampire Bestiary 5E, p. 94 · Fern Flower Press