Buy me a coffeeAlkonost
The Alkonost is a legendary bird in Slavic mythology. It has the body of a bird with the face of a woman. The name Alkonost came from the name of Greek demi-goddess Alcyone transformed by gods into a kingfisher. The Alkonost reproduces by laying eggs on the sea-shore then putting them into the water. The sea is then calm for six or seven days at which point the eggs hatch, bringing a storm. She lives in paradise but goes into our world to deliver a message. Her voice is so sweet that anybody hearing it can forget everything. Unlike Sirin, another similar creature, she is not evil.
Small monstrosity, neutral
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 17 (5d6)
Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 (+0) | 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 7 (-2) | 14 (+2) | 13 (+1) |
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Damage Resistances lightning
Languages Common
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Special Traits
- One with Wind. An alkonost is immune to the effects of magical and natural wind, including effects that would force it to move, impose disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks, or force it to land when flying. In addition, its weapon attacks do an extra 2 (1d4) lightning damage if it is within 1 mile of a lightning storm.
Actions
- Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) slashing damage.
- Charged Melody (Recharge 6). The alkonost sings a beautiful melody. Each creature within 30 feet of it that can hear the melody must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw or take 7 (2d6) lightning damage the next time it moves.
About
Graceful birds with the face of a beautiful man or woman flock on the edges of dark clouds. Their plumage is the color of storms, ranging from light gray to dark slate with a green or violet hue shimmering on the eldest.
Singers for the Storm God. An alkonost’s song is heard only as a precursor to a massive storm. On land, they are the harbingers of electric storms, tornadoes, and powerful winds. At sea, they fly with the seabirds ahead of hurricanes and squalls. Sailors consider their song a beautiful reckoning – a reminder that every soul has a black wave waiting to claim it.
Druid’s Ally. Alkonost sometimes roost in the sacred groves of druids. There, the enigmatic creatures lay their eggs, an act normally coinciding with a tremendous electrical storm in the area. They guard both grove and eggs until the young hatch several weeks later. Some alkonost might choose to serve a good-aligned, nature- or fey-focused spellcaster as a familiar. Such alkonost have the following trait.
Familiar. The alkonost can serve another creature as a familiar, forming a magic, telepathic bond with that willing companion. While the two are bonded, the companion can sense what the alkonost senses as long as they are within 1 mile of each other. While the alkonost is within 10 feet of its companion, the companion shares the alkonost’s One with Wind trait. At any time and for any reason, the alkonost can end its service as a familiar, ending the telepathic bond.
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Creature Codex. © 2018 Open Design LLC; Authors Wolfgang Baur, Dan Dillon, Richard Green, James Haeck, Chris Harris, Jeremy Hochhalter, James Introcaso, Chris Lockey, Shawn Merwin, and Jon Sawatsky.