0/0

    Wanyudo, Hellfire Wheel 輪入道

    Large undead (yokai), chaotic evil

    Armor Class 18 (natural armor)

    Hit Points 286 (22d10 + 154)

    Speed 0 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)

    STR 23 (+6) · DEX 18 (+4) · CON 20 (+5) · INT 12 (+1) · WIS 16 (+3) · CHA 14 (+2)

    Saving Throws Str +10, Con +9, Wis +7

    Skills Intimidation +6, Perception +7

    Damage Resistances cold, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

    Damage Immunities fire, poison

    Condition Immunities exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained

    Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17

    Languages Yokai Speech, understands Common (or local dialect)

    Challenge 15

    Traits

    Fiery Wheel Form. Appearing as a massive, flaming cartwheel with an enraged face, Wanyudo hovers above the ground. It can ascend up to rooftops or treetop level freely.

    Nightmare Presence (Critical Glance). Any creature that sees Wanyudo for the first time on a turn, or starts its turn able to see Wanyudo, must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. While frightened in this way:

    • The creature’s speed is halved.

    • It takes 10 (3d6) psychic damage at the start of each of its turns due to horrifying visions.

    A frightened creature can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Once a creature saves or the effect ends, it’s immune to Nightmare Presence for 24 hours.

    Hellish Flame Body. A creature that touches Wanyudo or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet takes 7 (2d6) fire damage. Additionally, Wanyudo can move through any gap of at least 1 foot wide. If it ends its turn in the same space as a creature, that creature must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 10 (3d6) fire damage.

    Sunlight Banishment. At dawn, Wanyudo dissipates in a swirl of flame. Any ongoing effects from its abilities end. It reappears at dusk near the place it vanished, unless destroyed or exorcised.

    Actions

    Multiattack. Wanyudo makes three Spoke Slash attacks or two Spoke Slash attacks and uses Flaming Overrun if available.

    Spoke Slash. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

    Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) fire damage. If the target is frightened, the attack deals an additional 10 (3d6) psychic damage from the victim’s amplified terror.

    Flaming Overrun (Recharge 5-6). Wanyudo moves up to 40 feet in a straight line, passing through creatures’ spaces. Each creature whose space it enters must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half on a success. Any creature failing by 5 or more is also knocked prone.

    Bonus Actions

    Severing Curse (1/Short Rest). Wanyudo curses one creature within 30 feet it can see (and that can see it). The target makes a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or suffers for 1 minute:

    • Speed reduced by 10 feet.

    • It takes 10 (3d6) psychic damage each time it takes the Attack action.

    • It can repeat the save at the end of each turn, ending the effect on a success.

    Reactions

    Rageful Glare. When Wanyudo is dealt damage by a creature it sees, it forces that creature to make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the creature is frightened of Wanyudo until the end of the creature’s next turn and takes 7 (2d6) psychic damage.

    Lore

    This Wanyudo has grown mightier through centuries of rage, now threatening even hardened adventurers. Fiercer flames, stronger illusions, and deadlier curses.

    Afearsome figure of old, Wanyudo (“Wheel Monk”) is deeply rooted in ancient Buddhist notions of karma, retribution, and punishment for one’s sins. He appears as a blazing, oversized wheel of a cart, its center bearing a twisted human face— often likened to a stern monk or the tormented spirit of a sinner condemned to an eternal, rolling inferno. His emergence is bound to Buddhist concepts of justice, and his role is to punish those who break moral laws and commit evil deeds.

    Many accounts of Wanyudo’s origin point to people who committed horrific crimes in life. In one of the most widespread traditions, this yokai was once a pitiless daimyo (feudal lord) or a cruel Buddhist monk, infamous for oppressing the innocent, abusing peasants, and bending authority to personal gain.

    From Yokai Bestiary 5E, p. 58 · Fern Flower Press