Mago

Huge fey, Lawful Evil

Armor Class 16 (sumptuous royal robes)

Hit Points 202 (27d12 + 27)

Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR 14 (+2) · DEX 16 (+3) · CON 12 (+1) · INT 18 (+4) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 20 (+5)

Skills Deception +9, History +8, Intimidation +9, Persuasion +13

Gear Jeweled Scepter of the Ape Court (worth 2,500 gp), Sumptuous Royal Robes.

Senses Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 12

Languages Common, Sylvan, comprehends all spoken languages

Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)

Traits

Lovesick Deterioration. Mago's unrequited love for Babiole has left him emotionally frail and physically exhausted. He has Disadvantage on saving throws against being Charmed. If Mago is Charmed, his movement speed is halved and he is automatically Poisoned for the duration of the effect.

Master of the Animal Horde. Mago's authority over beasts is absolute. Allied Beasts and Fey within 60 feet of Mago cannot be Frightened or Charmed as long as Mago is conscious, and they add 1d4 to their attack rolls.

Actions

Multiattack. Mago makes three attacks using either his Jeweled Scepter or Majesty's Ultimatum. He can replace one of these attacks with Spellcasting.

Jeweled Scepter. Melee Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) Bludgeoning damage plus 9 (2d8) Force damage. If the target is a creature, it is automatically Poisoned until the start of Mago's next turn as the scepter's fey magic saps its vitality.

Majesty's Ultimatum. Magic Attack: +9 to hit, range 60 ft., one creature. Hit: 18 (3d8 + 5) Force damage, and the target is forcefully subjected to courtly etiquette, falling Prone automatically.

Spellcasting. Mago casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (Spell Save DC 17):

At Will: Command (PHB, p. 251), Vicious Mockery (deals 3d4 damage; PHB, p. 337)

3/Day Each: Dissonant Whispers (cast at 3rd level; PHB, p. 264), Conjure Animals (flavored as a spectral horde of macaques and wildcats; PHB, p. 254)

1/Day Each: Dominate Beast (PHB, p. 265), Hold Person (target is Paralyzed for exactly 1 round on a failed save; PHB, p. 286)

Reactions

Outrage. When a creature succeeds on a saving throw against Mago's Spellcasting or Majesty's Ultimatum, Mago screeches in royal indignation. The creature takes 9 (2d8) Psychic damage.

Lore

A cursed princess born as a little monkey who regains her stunning human form through magic and ultimately forgives the cousin who once cruelly rejected her in Madame d'Aulnoy's classic French fairy tale "Babiole".

The tale begins with a queen who had been childless for many years, and no physician could explain why or help her. In her grief and frustration she unfairly blamed the fairy Fanferluche. Instead of looking to nature or fate, the queen spent her days complaining, grumbling, and loudly accusing the fairy, insisting that Fanferluche’s malice had robbed the royal couple of an heir.

At last the queen did become pregnant, but Fanferluche appeared and decided to play a cruel joke on her. Because of the fairy’s curse, the long-awaited princess was born in the shape of a tiny monkey.

From The Fairy Tale Compendium · Fern Flower Press