Buy me a coffeeAlkonost, Amber-Eyed Songbringer
“Beware the Alkonost: one haunting song from this angelic bird-woman and you’ll surrender your soul with a smile.”
The Alkonost is a breathtaking fusion of avian grace and ethereal beauty. Her body is that of a resplendent bird—often compared to a peacock or phoenix—with iridescent feathers that shimmer in golds, sapphires, and violets. Her head and upper torso are that of a woman, with eyes like molten amber and a hauntingly serene expression. Her voice carries an unnatural allure, every note soaked in arcane magic and emotion.
Behavior:
The Alkonost is a solitary and elusive being, driven by emotion more than logic. She sings not for amusement or malice, but because she must—her songs are compulsive exhalations of her joy, sorrow, or curiosity. Her mood can change the very air around her: bliss brings radiant sunlight and warmth; despair clouds the sky and warps time itself. Though not inherently hostile, she is extremely dangerous to those who listen, as her melodies induce states of ecstasy, trance, or madness.
Habitat:
Alkonosts dwell near the borders of the natural and the divine: enchanted forests, mist-shrouded lakes, and ancient ruins forgotten by time. They prefer areas where nature is untamed and potent—places where the Veil between worlds is thin. Their nests, made of woven silvervine and dream-thread, are hidden in cliffside grottos or the high branches of sacred trees.
Modus Operandi:
The Alkonost does not stalk prey like a beast; instead, she sings. Her haunting lullabies drift for miles, luring the curious, the lonely, and the emotionally vulnerable toward her. Once in her presence, victims are entranced, their wills eroded. Depending on her intent—or mood—they may be granted divine insight, left in blissful stupor, or wander away days later, mind shattered and heart emptied. If threatened, she unleashes her song as a psychic weapon, stunning enemies or bending their minds to her defense.
Motivation:
The Alkonost is driven by an instinctual need to express the ineffable. She sings to release powerful emotions that build up in her being—joy, loss, yearning, even celestial memories. Some say she was once a divine messenger who fell in love with mortal sensation, cursed to feel endlessly and remember eternally. She has no interest in conquest or riches; instead, she collects stories, dreams, and emotions—especially those tinged with sorrow or longing.
Alkonost 5e
Alkonost, Pathfinder
Alkonost
Medium Monstrosity, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 112 (15d8 + 45)
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 (+2) | 18 (+4) | 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) | 15 (+2) | 20 (+5) |
Saving Throws Dex +8, Cha +9
Skills Insight +6, Perception +6, Persuasion +9
Damage Resistances Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Condition Immunities Charmed
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 16
Languages Common, Sylvan, Celestial
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3
Innate Spellcasting.
The Alkonost’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
- At will: calm emotions, minor illusion
- 3/day each: charm person, enthrall, suggestion
- 1/day each: hold person, dominate beast
Magic Resistance.
The Alkonost has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Enthralling Song (Recharge 5–6).
The Alkonost sings a divine melody audible within 60 feet. Each creature of her choice that can hear it must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed in this way, the creature is incapacitated and has a speed of 0. The creature may repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. The effect also ends if the creature takes damage or another creature uses an action to rouse it.
Actions
Multiattack.
The Alkonost makes two melee attacks with her Talons or one Wing Sweep and casts a cantrip.
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.
Wing Sweep (Recharge 4–6).
The Alkonost beats her radiant wings in a wide arc. Each creature within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone and pushed 10 feet away. On a failure by 5 or more, the creature is also blinded until the end of its next turn by a burst of divine feathers and light.
Sonic Screech (Recharge 6).
The Alkonost releases a piercing cry in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. Creatures that fail the save are also deafened for 1 minute.
Legendary Actions
The Alkonost can take 2 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. She regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.
- Song of Bliss. The Alkonost targets one charmed creature she can see within 60 feet. That creature gains 10 temporary hit points and may use its reaction to move up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
- Lingering Note. A fading echo of her song unsettles her foes. One creature within 30 feet that failed a saving throw against Enthralling Song or Sonic Screech has disadvantage on its next saving throw before the start of the Alkonost’s next turn.
Tactics
The Alkonost opens combat with Enthralling Song to disable or distract. She uses flight and illusion to control the field, targeting isolated or vulnerable creatures with suggestion or charm person. If surrounded, she unleashes Wing Sweep and Sonic Screech to escape or break formations. She avoids lethal force when possible, preferring manipulation, awe, and escape. Her goal is not conquest, but emotional imprint — to leave a memory of beauty so intense it cannot be forgotten.
Alkonost
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.