Metsavaimud

Medium fey (shapechanger), neutral

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12)

Speed 30 ft.

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

Skills Animal Handling +8, Perception +8, Stealth +7, Survival +8

Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 18

Languages Common, Sylvan; can communicate with beasts

Challenge 4

Traits

Shapechanger. The Metsavaimud can use its action to polymorph into a Medium or Small humanoid, a wolf, a bear, a snake, or back into its true form. Its statistics, other than its size and speed, are the same in each form. In any form, it retains a feature resembling rotten wood (such as a limb or tail). Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

Magic Resistance. The Metsavaimud has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Forest Guardian. The Metsavaimud can communicate with plants and has advantage on Charisma checks to influence plants and forest animals.

Actions

Multiattack. The Metsavaimud makes two attacks with its Claws.

Claws (Beast or True Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage.

Curse of Misfortune (1/Day). The Metsavaimud targets one creature it can see within 30 feet that has harmed forest creatures or disrupted the natural harmony. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on all ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws for 1 hour. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each hour, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Reactions

Protective Swarm. When the Metsavaimud is hit by an attack, it can call upon nearby birds to distract the attacker. The attacker must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or have disadvantage on the triggering attack roll.

Lore

Shapeshifting forest spirits who can turn into animals or appear in human or hybrid forms.

Metsavaimuds are helpers of the Leshy—the forest spirit—who can also take on the appearance of ordinary people, usually a shepherd boy herding a flock of hares in the woods.

But not everything is perfect with these spirits. Sometimes after transforming, they look like an ordinary person from the front, but from behind, they have the appearance of a rotten tree trunk or they have a tail. They can also appear in the form of animals: a wolf, a bear, or a snake. Yet again, some part of the Metsavaimud will resemble rotten wood—this is a unique characteristic of this spirit.

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