Polong

Tiny fiend, neutral evil

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

Hit Points 18 (4d4 + 8)

Speed 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)

STR 3 (−4) · DEX 17 (+3) · CON 14 (+2) · INT 10 (+0) · WIS 12 (+1) · CHA 15 (+2)

Saving Throws Dex +5

Skills Deception +4, Insight +3, Stealth +7

Damage Resistances necrotic, poison

Condition Immunities frightened

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11

Languages understands the languages of its creator and can communicate telepathically with that creature to a range of 120 ft.

Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

Traits

Incorporeal Movement. The polong can move through creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Veiled Form. The polong is invisible while it isn’t inside a creature and not contained in a vessel.

Keen Hearing. The polong has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.

Nimble Escape. The polong can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of its turns.

Actions

Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature.

Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.

Infest (Recharge 5–6). The polong attempts to seep into the body of one creature it can see within 5 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or become infested. While infested, the target is poisoned and takes 4 (1d8) necrotic damage at the start of each of its turns.

At the end of each of its turns, the target can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. The infestation also ends if the target receives magical healing, takes radiant damage, or is treated with a paste of pepper and garlic (an action that requires a free hand). When the infestation ends, the polong is expelled into the nearest unoccupied space within 5 feet of the target.

Reactions

Skitter Dodge. When a creature the polong can see targets it with an attack, the polong adds +2 to its AC against that attack.

Lore

A tiny spirit familiar raised in a bottle from the blood of a murdered man.

A polong is an artificially created familiar found only in the magical practices of the peoples of the Malay Archipelago. The term “polong,” common on the Malay Peninsula and nearby islands, refers to a malevolent spirit imprisoned in a vessel and answerable only to the sorcerer who made it. Etymologists link the word to the idea of a hidden creature sealed inside a container.

Legend gives the polong a dual form: in its natural state it is invisible, but in documented witchcraft rites it is said to appear as a tiny woman about one inch (2.5 cm) tall—an adult human in perfect miniature.

From Vampire Bestiary 5E, p. 86 · Fern Flower Press