Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted

Medium undead, neutral evil

Armor Class 20 (natural armor)

Hit Points 310 (27d8 + 189)

Speed 50 ft.

STR 24 (+7) · DEX 20 (+5) · CON 24 (+7) · INT 18 (+4) · WIS 20 (+5) · CHA 20 (+5)

Saving Throws Dex +11, Con +13, Wis +11, Cha +11

Skills Perception +17, Stealth +11, Nature +12, Insight +11

Damage Resistances Cold; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Damage Immunities Fire, Poison, Necrotic

Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Poisoned

Senses Truesight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 27

Languages Common, Sylvan, telepathy 120 ft., understands all languages of creatures originating from the forest

Challenge 17

Traits

Fiery Aura. At the start of each of Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted's turns, each creature within 15 feet of him takes 14 (4d6) fire damage, and flammable objects in the aura that aren't being worn or carried ignite.

Blazing Heart. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted's heart glows with inner fire. Whenever he takes damage, each creature within 10 feet of him takes 10 (3d6) fire damage.

Forest Bound. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted cannot leave the boundaries of the forest he inhabits. If forced to do so, he immediately reappears in a random location within the forest.

Tree Stride. Once on his turn, Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted can use 10 feet of his movement to step magically into one living tree within his reach and emerge from a second living tree within 120 feet of the first tree, appearing in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the second tree. Both trees must be Large or bigger.

Magic Resistance. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapons. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted's weapon attacks are magical.

Speak with Beasts and Plants. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted can communicate with beasts and plants as if they shared a language.

Innate Spellcasting. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted's innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 19, +11 to hit with spell attacks). He can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

- At will: detect magic, invisibility (self only), speak with animals, speak with plants, druidcraft

- 3/day each: fireball, wall of fire, blight, call lightning, control flames

- 1/day each: fire storm, wrath of nature, investiture of flame, regenerate (self only)

Actions

Multiattack. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted makes three Burning Touch attacks or uses Scorching Ray and makes one Burning Touch attack.

Burning Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

Hit: 21 (3d8 + 7) fire damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 21 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with a blazing mark. While cursed, the target takes 10 (3d6) fire damage at the start of its turn. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the curse on a success.

Scorching Ray. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted casts scorching ray as a 7th-level spell (PHB, p. 273), creating seven rays of fire. He makes a ranged spell attack (+11 to hit) for each ray. On a hit, the target takes 7 (2d6) fire damage.

Heartfire Nova (Recharge 5–6). Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted releases a massive burst of fiery energy from his heart. Each creature within a 30-foot radius centered on him must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 56 (16d6) fire damage and is knocked prone. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't knocked prone.

Reactions

Flame Shield. When Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted is hit by a melee attack, he can use his reaction to burst flames outward. The attacker must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.

Legendary Actions

Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature's turn. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Move. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted moves up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Burning Touch. Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted makes one Burning Touch attack.

Command Nature (Costs 2 Actions). Zhiburinis, Guardian Corrupted calls upon the forest to assist him. He can animate one tree (as per the animate objects spell, treating the tree as a Huge object) or cause vines to grasp at enemies (as per the entangle spell, save DC 19).

Lore

Magic Resistance. Zhiburinis has (+11 to hit) for each ray. On a hit, the advantage on saving throws against target takes 7 (2d6) fire damage.

Zhiburinis is a sinister demon—a terrifying forest spirit who appears in the form of a fiery skeleton, a human figure glowing from within (specifically from the area of the heart).

In ancient tales, it's said that Zhiburinis was once a guardian of the forest—a being of strength and wisdom. Over time, however, as humans delved deeper into the ancient woodland realm and ceased living in harmony with the forest—massively cutting down trees and hunting animals to extinction—Zhiburinis changed, and his essence became distorted.

From The Witchwood Bestiary 5E, p. 100 · Fern Flower Press