The Leannán sídhe is a legendary fairy of Irish lore, a muse and predator in one. She seeks mortals to enthrall, offering boundless inspiration while exacting a deadly toll on their vitality. Her presence turns artistry into obsession, and her lovers often pay with their lives.
Appearance
A stunningly beautiful, ethereal woman with luminous skin and eyes that shimmer with otherworldly fire. Her hair flows like liquid night, and delicate, fleeting wings may glimmer in moonlight. She radiates an aura of both irresistible allure and subtle menace.
Behaviour
Seductive and capricious, she alternates between tender attention and cold detachment. She forms obsessive bonds with chosen mortals, inspiring bursts of genius while slowly sapping their life force.
Habitat
Secluded glens, misty forests, and hidden valleys—often near sacred or magical sites. Her territory shifts with the seasons and her whims, and she can vanish into the Otherworld at will.
Modus Operandi
The Leannán sídhe approaches artists or dreamers, offering enchantment and inspiration. Mortals enthralled by her experience genius paired with rapid physical decline. Those who resist may face illusory torment or beguiling trickery designed to draw them back under her thrall.
Motivation
Driven by a desire for artistic devotion and emotional intensity, she seeks profound connections that leave indelible marks on her subjects. Ultimately, she consumes vitality while perpetuating her legendary influence over mortal creativity.
A radiant fey muse whose love bestows genius—and steals life.
Lore
Leannán sídhe are beguiling muses of the Otherworld, haunting places steeped in creativity and emotion. Mortal artists, poets, musicians, and dreamers are irresistibly drawn to them, for their presence ignites brilliance: masterpieces spring from trembling hands, visions flow like water, and inspiration becomes a constant fire.
Yet their devotion demands a price. A Leannán sídhe feeds upon mortal passion and vitality, consuming it as naturally as mortals breathe. Her chosen lover or muse produces works of staggering beauty, but exhaustion gnaws deeper each day. Some consider this a curse; others believe a life of incandescent genius is worth any cost.
Despite their predatory nature, Leannán sídhe often protect the mortals they favor—destroying rivals, guiding creative paths, and granting boons of talent or insight. But each gift entwines the mortal further, drawing them into a bond that is equal parts devotion, obsession, and doom.
Leannán Sídhe
Medium Fey, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class 16 (glamour-woven skin) Hit Points 110 (13d8 + 52) Speed 40 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
10 (+0)
18 (+4)
18 (+4)
14 (+2)
16 (+3)
22 (+6)
Saving Throws Dex +8, Wis +7, Cha +10 Skills Deception +10, Insight +7, Performance +12, Persuasion +10, Stealth +8 Damage Resistances psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks Damage Immunities charm Condition Immunities charmed Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 13 Languages Common, Sylvan, Elvish, telepathy 60 ft. Challenge 8 (3,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +4
Traits
Fey Glamour.
Creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against the Leannán sídhe if they can see her and are within 30 feet of her.
Muse’s Boon (1/Day).
The Leannán sídhe grants a willing creature a surge of supernatural talent. For 24 hours, the creature gains proficiency in one skill of her choice and adds +2d4 to Performance, Persuasion, or artistic checks. At the end of the duration, the creature must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or gain 1 level of exhaustion.
Inspiring Presence.
Allies within 10 ft. of the Leannán sídhe gain a +2 bonus on saving throws against being frightened or charmed.
Innate Spellcasting.
Charisma is the Leannán sídhe’s spellcasting ability (spell save DC 18, +10 to hit). She needs no material components.
At will:
charm person, detect thoughts, minor illusion, suggestion
3/day each:
calm emotions, enthrall, invisibility, mirror image, phantasmal force
1/day each:
fear, greater invisibility, hypnotic pattern, major image
Actions
Enthralling Touch.
Melee Spell Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 6) psychic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. A creature repeats the save at the end of each of its turns.
Life-Drain Kiss (Recharge 5–6).
The Leannán sídhe targets a willing or charmed creature within 5 ft. The target takes 21 (6d6) psychic damage and must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or gain 1 level of exhaustion. She regains hit points equal to half the psychic damage dealt.
Glamour Bolt.
Ranged Spell Attack: +10 to hit, range 60 ft. Hit: 17 (3d8 + 4) psychic damage.
Reactions
Beguiling Step.
When a creature misses her with an attack, the Leannán sídhe teleports up to 15 ft. to an unoccupied space she can see.
Legendary Actions
The Leannán sídhe can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Glimmering Step.
She teleports up to 20 ft.
Enthralling Glance.
A creature she can see within 30 ft. must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until the end of its next turn.
Illusory Veil (Costs 2 Actions).
She becomes invisible until the start of her next turn or until she attacks or casts a spell.
Tactics
A Leannán sídhe fights like a dancer—fluid, evasive, and dangerously enchanting. She opens combat with hypnotic pattern, mirror image, or enthrall to disable multiple foes, then isolates a vulnerable target for Life-Drain Kiss. She prefers movement and misdirection over direct conflict, using Glimmering Step to reposition constantly.
When defending a beloved artist or muse, she becomes fiercely protective and ruthless, eliminating rivals with sudden glamour and psychic force.
Habitat & Society
Leannán sídhe most often haunt moonlit glades, faerie crossings, ring-forts, abandoned amphitheaters, or ruins steeped in lingering emotion. They are solitary fey who choose only one mortal at a time, but their influence can shape entire artistic movements or cultural eras.
Motivations
A Leannán sídhe seeks passion above all—artistic, emotional, or spiritual. She hungers for creation that burns bright and dies young: songs that wound, poems that bleed, dreams that consume their makers. To her, mortal brilliance is nourishment, devotion is currency, and inspiration is the sweetest of feasts.
The muses of Irish folklore are beautiful and enchanting, offering inspiration to those who accept and return their affections—only to ultimately drag them down into madness and death. Prepare yourselves for the leannán sídhe!
This gorgeous lady of the Aos Sí takes on lovers that have inspired—and more importantly brief—lives, although historically there is at least one dude leannán sídhe. Give one of these fey some affection and intimacy to get some artistic juice in return, and then go insane and die! Quite a deal but not one made lightly because if a leannán sídhe makes this offer, beautiful as they might be, if it is refused they become enslaved to the person that spurned them. Should the offer be accepted however the leannán sídhe takes them, both in life and death, unless a replacement can be found.
Let’s take a few moments to dig into the Aos Sí (‘people of the barrows’, known more recently as ‘daoine sídhe’, or if you’re in Scotland then ‘daoine sìth’, or often simply ‘the sídhe’ although the latter gets confused between the mounds in which they dwell and the creatures themselves).
They are fairies, elves, ancestors, and nature spirits that live either beneath fairy mounds, across the Atlantic Ocean, or in what Fifth Edition would call the Feywild (an invisible world astride the Material Plane). It’s thought that they’re the watered down derivations of the Tuatha Dé Danann (‘People of the Goddess Danu’), deified ancestors of Irish folklore, perhaps those that retreated to the Otherworld (again, ‘Feywild’) in the face of defeat by foreign invaders.
It’s common to appease the Aos Sí with simple offerings (apples, baked goods, berries, milk), though it is a practice best done carefully so as not to offend lest they draw unwanted, aggressive, and unpleasant attention. Even speaking of them can be dangerous so they’re frequently referred to as the ‘Good Neighbors’, ‘Fair Folk’, or just ‘The Folk’. Most are fetching but not all, and when they aren’t attractive they are typically ugly unto the point of horror.
Aos Sí fiercely guard their homes (fairy mounds, rings of nature, hawthorn trees, groves of trees, or lakes) and anyone that impolitely settles there are retaliated against, convinced and intimidated into leaving. Invaders might be kidnapped or even have their offspring replaced with changelings. In Gaelic mythology the realm of the Aos Sí is closest to the Material Plane at sunrise and sunset, making it easier to find and interact with them, but certain yearly celebrations (Beltane, Midsummer, and Samhain) can also draw them out of hiding. All of these practices and beliefs are collectively known as Creideamh Sí or the ‘fairy faith’.
Leannán Sídhe Medium fey, chaotic neutral Armor Class 15 (natural armor) Hit Points 57 (10d8+12) Speed 30 ft., burrow 10 ft., fly 20 ft.
Innate Spellcasting. The leannán sídhe’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma. The leannán sídhe can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
At will: druidcraft
3/day each: invisibility, misty step
1/day: pass without trace
Inspired Infatuation. The leannán sídhe uses its bonus action and action to target a humanoid it can see within 30 feet that can both see it and hear it. The target makes a DC 18 Charisma saving throw or falls madly in love with the leannán sídhe and becomes charmed. Whenever the charmed target makes an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw that is not against the leannán sídhe, it gains a +1d8 bonus.
While the target is charmed by the leannán sídhe, once per day the fey can give it any command short of an activity that would result in certain death. When the leannán sídhe does so, the charmed target may make a DC 18 Charisma saving throw to resist. At the end of every long rest the charmed target makes a Charisma saving throw against the leannán sídhe (DC 10 + 1 per previous successful save) or its Wisdom score is permanently reduced by 1.
The charmed target dies if this reduces its Wisdom score to 0. A target remains charmed until it makes 5 successful consecutive saving throws, the leannán sídhe dies, or the fey chooses a new humanoid to charm with Inspired Infatuation.
Magical Devotion. A humanoid that successfully makes its initial saving throw against the leannán sídhe’s Inspired Infatuation trait 3 times in a row gains a measure of control over the fey (as the geas spell).
Magic Resistance. The leannán sídhe has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Speak with Beasts and Plants. The leannán sídhe can communicate with beasts and plants as if they shared a language.
ACTIONS Multiattack. The leannán sídhe attacks four times with its unarmed strike or twice with nature strike.
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6+1) bludgeoning damage.
Nature Strike. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8+3) thunder damage.
Leanan sidhe are regal fey who pride themselves as patrons of the arts. By establishing a magical link with a talented mortal performer or artist, the leanan sidhe enhances her target’s skill, but slowly feeds on his life energy.
Many tragic stories of talented artists who have a creative burst and then fall into obscurity or suddenly die can be attributed to the inf luence of these creatures.
A leanan sidhe prefers to avoid direct combat and relies on her minions and devotees to protect her all of whom hope to become her next special project, despite the cost of this arrangement.
Life Drain (Ex) A leanan sidhe immediately knows if a creature uses her skill blessing or spell blessing. As a standard action at any range, she can expend one use of mythic power to drain 1 point of Constitution from that creature. The leanan sidhe heals 5 hit points or gains 5 temporary hit points for 1 hour (up to a maximum number of temporary hit points equal to her full normal hit points) each time she uses this ability.
Skill Blessing (Su) As a standard action, a leanan sidhe can create a special token that takes the form of a masterwork artisan’s tool for one Craft or Perform skill. The intended recipient of this tool gains a +4 bonus on skill checks made with the token. Like with a cursed item, the recipient prefers to use the token, refuses to get rid of it, and finds that it returns if stolen or discarded. The leanan sidhe can destroy the token as a standard action at any range. She can have a number of tokens in existence equal to her mythic rank.
Spell Blessing (Su) A leanan sidhe may enhance the magic of a willing humanoid spellcaster by touching him for 1 full round. The blessing allows the target to recall a number of spell levels each day equal to twice the leanan sidhe’s mythic rank. This recalling works like a pearl of power, except it works for spellcasters of any class (spontaneous casters recover spent spell slots). The leanan sidhe can end this blessing as a standard action at any range. The number of blessed creatures she can have at the same time is equal to her mythic rank.
Unearthly Grace (Su) A leanan sidhe adds her Charisma modifier as a racial bonus on all her saving throws and as a deflection bonus to her AC.
ECOLOGY
Environment any land
Organization solitary or retinue (1 plus 3-7 guards and sycophants of 1st-3rd level)
A breathtaking figure steps from the twilight mist—an ethereal muse with luminous eyes, hair drifting as if underwater, and a presence equal parts wonder and dread. A faint scent of ink, crushed petals, and old dreams follows her like a veil.
Defense
AC 22, touch 17, flat-footed 16 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 deflection, +1 natural) hp 95 (10d6+50) Fort +8, Ref +12, Will +13 DR 10/cold iron Immune charm effects from fey; Resist cold 10 SR 19
Offense
Speed 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (good)
Melee • Dream-touched kiss +12 melee touch (1d4 Cha damage, see Passion’s Price)
Constant — tongues At will — charm person (DC 20), detect thoughts (DC 21), hypnotism (DC 20), minor image (DC 21) 3/day — heroism, suggestion (DC 22), major image (DC 22) 1/day — greater heroism, deep slumber (DC 22), phantasmal killer (DC 23)
Sorcerer-Bloodline-Style Spells The leannán sídhe casts additional spells as a spontaneous Charisma-based caster (CL 10th; concentration +17). She knows the following spells: • 1st (6/day) — expeditious retreat, feather fall, charm person • 2nd (5/day) — hideous laughter (DC 22), enthrall, invisibility • 3rd (4/day) — hold person (DC 23), haste • 4th (2/day) — charm monster (DC 24), crushing despair (DC 24)
Statistics
Str 10, Dex 20, Con 20, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 25 Base Atk +5; CMB +5; CMD 22 Feats Combat Casting, Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Finesse, Persuasive, Skill Focus (Perform [poetry]) Skills Bluff +24, Diplomacy +22, Disguise +22, Fly +18, Knowledge (arcana) +15, Knowledge (local) +15, Perception +18, Perform (poetry) +28, Sense Motive +18, Stealth +18, Use Magic Device +20 Languages Common, Sylvan; tongues SQ change shape (humanoid, alter self, unlimited), fey glamour
Ecology
Environment temperate forests, mist-shrouded ruins, abandoned theaters, artist cities Organization solitary or “court” (1 leannán sídhe + 1–4 inspired mortals) Treasure standard (often includes poems, paintings, musical scores, enchanted quills, faerie inks)
Special Abilities
Muse’s Boon (Su)
A leannán sídhe may choose a single willing mortal as her Chosen Artist. While the bond lasts, the mortal gains: • +4 competence bonus on Craft and Perform checks • +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saving throws vs. fear, and skill checks related to artistic creation • The ability to reroll a skill check related to art 1/day
This benefit radiates with intoxicating brilliance. However, accepting the boon marks the mortal: the leannán sídhe always knows the Chosen Artist’s emotional state and approximate location.
Breaking the bond requires a DC 24 Will save and leaves the mortal fatigued for 24 hours.
Passion’s Price (Su)
Every kiss or deeply intimate exchange with a leannán sídhe inflicts 1d4 Charisma damage (Will DC 24 halves). For each point of Charisma lost this way, the mortal gains a fleeting surge of genius, granting: • +2 insight bonus on the next Craft or Perform check (stacks up to +10)
This damage cannot be healed while the boon remains active.
Inspiration Drain (Su)
If a mortal with the Muse’s Boon refuses the leannán sídhe’s company or betrays her trust, she may, as a standard action, attempt to drain their creative essence.
Range 30 ft.; Will DC 24 negates. On a failure: • 1d6 Charisma drain • The target becomes shaken for 1 hour • For 24 hours, the target suffers a –4 penalty on artistic skill checks
A leannán sídhe typically reserves this for heartbreak or abandonment.
Compulsion Spells (Su)
Her enchantment spells are infused with intoxicating fey allure. Any creature affected by one of the leannán sídhe’s compulsion spells suffers a –2 penalty to resist further charm or compulsion effects from her for 24 hours.
Tactics
Before Combat
The leannán sídhe uses invisibility, detect thoughts, and major image to assess artists and intruders. She avoids physical confrontation unless her Chosen Artist is endangered.
During Combat
She prefers to control the battlefield through illusions and enchantments. • First round: haste, hypnotism, or deep slumber • Second: suggestion or hold person • Against strong-willed foes: phantasmal killer or crushing despair • If cornered: shifts shape and seeks height, flight, or cover
The leannán sídhe rarely kills unless driven to desperation; she prefers to incapacitate or beguile.
Morale
If reduced below 25 hp, she uses invisibility and flight to escape into mist, foliage, or moonlight. She may return later—either furious or heartbroken.
Lore
Knowledge (Nature or Local)
DC 15 — This creature is a leannán sídhe, a fey muse who grants inspiration to mortals. DC 20 — Her gifts elevate artists to impossible brilliance, but carry dangers: obsession, exhaustion, or spiritual depletion. DC 25 — A leannán sídhe marks her chosen, and her magic is tied to intense romance or devotion. Rejecting her can be perilous. DC 30 — In rare cases, artists who survive the bond produce works of legendary status—paintings that weep, songs that enthrall nations, or poems that stir revolutions.
Description
Leannán sídhe drift through mortal lands in search of dreamers, poets, painters, and visionaries—those whose inner worlds burn brightly enough to attract fey attention. They are not predators, nor are they benefactors. They are muses incarnate, creatures of love, longing, inspiration, and the terrible beauty of unrestrained creation.
Some artists bless the day they met their muse. Others curse it.
Rumors speak of masterpieces born from their touch—works said to contain fragments of the fey realm, shimmering with otherworldly life.
Many bards whisper:
“You don’t find a leannán sídhe. She finds you—when you dream deeply enough.”
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