Maegu 매구

Medium fey (shapechanger), neutral evil

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Hit Points 168 (24d8 + 48)

Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.

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

Saving Throws Dex +9, Wis +7, Cha +10

Skills Deception +14, Insight +7, Perception +7, Persuasion +10, Stealth +9

Damage Vulnerabilities fire

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks

Condition Immunities charmed

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17

Languages Common, Sylvan, Elvish, telepathy 120 ft.

Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)

Traits

Shapechanger. Maegu can use a bonus action to polymorph into a humanoid (usually a woman) or into a Large silver-furred fox, or back to her true form. Her statistics are the same in each form, except her speed is 30 ft. while in humanoid form and she can’t make Bite attacks. Any equipment she is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (Maegu’s choice). She reverts if she dies.

Keen Senses. Maegu has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Fox Cunning. Maegu has advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks and on saving throws against being frightened.

Innate Spellcasting. Maegu’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 18, +10 to hit with spell attacks). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: disguise self (PHB, p.233/262), minor illusion (PHB, p.260/298), dancing lights (PHB, p.230/259)

3/day each: charm person (PHB, p.221/249), invisibility (PHB, p.254/281), mirror image (PHB, p.260/299), suggestion (PHB, p.279/296)

1/day each: dominate person (PHB, p.235/266), mislead (PHB, p.260/299), seeming (PHB, p.274/314)

Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If Maegu fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.

Fear of Hounds. If Maegu starts her turn within 30 feet of a hostile dog or wolf (Beast, CR 1 or lower), she must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on attack rolls until the start of her next turn.

Actions

Multiattack. Maegu makes two Claw attacks (or one Claw and one Bite in fox form) or she makes one Fox-Marble Kiss attack.

Claw (Humanoid or Hybrid Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.

Bite (Fox or Hybrid Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) piercing damage.

Fox-Marble Kiss. Melee Spell Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature charmed by Maegu or willing. Hit: 33 (6d10) necrotic damage, and Maegu regains hit points equal to half the amount of necrotic damage dealt. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn. If the target succeeds by 5 or more, it instead swallows the fox marble; the target gains advantage on Intelligence checks and saving throws for 1 hour but is poisoned for the same duration.

Bonus Actions

Shifting Dash (Fox Form Only). Maegu moves up to her speed without provoking opportunity attacks and can move through a space as narrow as 4 inches wide without squeezing.

Reactions

Misty Escape (1/Day). When Maegu takes damage while not in fox form, she can magically turn invisible, teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space she can see, and remain invisible until the start of her next turn or until she attacks or casts a spell.

Legendary Actions

Maegu can take 2 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. She regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.

Detect. Maegu makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Illusory Glimmer. Maegu casts minor illusion or dancing lights.

Claw (Costs 2 Actions). Maegu makes one Claw attack.

Lore

A thousand-year fox capable of taking human form. Considered a variant of the nine-tailed fox,

Maegu (매구) holds a special place in Korean folklore. Said to be a fox that has lived for a thousand years, it can shift between animal and human form, making it one of the most mysterious and powerful spirits. Maegu’s image is anything but straightforward: some tales portray it as a sacred, helpful being, while others cast it as a sinister, blood-thirsty demon. The word “Maegu” itself is native Korean and means “a fox that has lived a millennium and gained spiritual power.”

Unlike the Japanese kitsune stories, where a fox’s strength is shown by how many tails it has, Korean legends focus purely on age: once a fox survives a thousand years, it becomes Maegu—no tail-count involved. In that sense, Maegu is the forerunner of the later nine-tailed fox motif.

From Korean Bestiary 5E, p. 78 · Fern Flower Press