Buy me a coffee“Cariad Ysbryd, The Ethereal Guardian”
“Cariad Ysbryd sings peace to the living—and destruction to the undead.”
“She drifts between the trees like moonlight through mist, her voice a balm to the wounded—unless your heart beats with malice.”
A Cariad Ysbryd appears as a softly glowing elven woman, weightless and incorporeal, cloaked in flowing, diaphanous garments that shimmer with natural hues—soft greens, moonlit silvers, and florals. Her ethereal form radiates a gentle, soothing light, and her serene features are fixed in an expression of quiet empathy. Pale strands of spectral hair move as if underwater, and she is never without her haunting, wordless melody, which emanates from her like wind through ancient trees.
Behavior
A Cariad Ysbryd is a guardian spirit, pacifist by nature, intervening only when life is in danger or when her territory is defiled by evil. She prefers nonviolence, using her supernatural Calming Song to de-escalate conflicts. When she does engage, it is always as a healer or protector—except when confronting a banshee or destructive undead, where she shows unrelenting wrath.
She avoids prolonged interaction with mortals unless needed, choosing instead to watch, guide, and heal from the shadows, often mistaken for a dream or hallucination by those she aids.
Habitat
A Cariad Ysbryd is bound to a specific location—typically a woodland glade, sacred grove, or ancient ruin—within a 5-mile radius of the site of her death. This territory always appears untouched and unnaturally serene, even if towns or roads lie nearby. Her presence subtly influences nature, calming beasts, preventing wanton violence by intelligent creatures, and causing wounds to heal faster over time.
The land itself may resist corruption while she remains; fires sputter, blades dull, and raised voices falter within her influence.
Modus Operandi
The Cariad Ysbryd acts as a silent sentinel, watching over her territory through her lifesense, able to detect the health and emotional state of every living and undead creature within her domain. When she senses violence, disease, or suffering, she appears silently, singing as she floats toward the source.
She administers healing via positive energy, calms hostile intentions, and vanishes once peace is restored. If creatures persist in cruelty or evil acts, she may resort to her Tune of Wrath, especially against undead or evil-aligned foes.
She does not seek treasure or reward, but accepts gifts left in gratitude—often found as minor trinkets or tokens scattered across her domain.
Motivation
In life, a Cariad Ysbryd was a good-aligned elven woman—healer, bard, druid, or caretaker—whose love for life was so great that her soul refused to pass on. Instead, she remains to serve and protect, not out of vengeance or unfinished business, but from pure devotion to the living world.
Her greatest hatred is reserved for banshees, twisted undead who embody all she opposes: sorrow turned to rage, love twisted into hate. In a banshee, she sees her dark reflection—and will abandon all else to destroy it.
Cariad Ysbryd 5e
Cariad Ysbryd, Pathfinder
Cariad Ysbryd 3.5
Cariad Ysbryd
Medium Undead (Incorporeal), Always Neutral Good
Challenge: 7 (2,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus: +3
Armor Class: 15 (natural armor, incorporeal form)
Hit Points: 97 (13d8 + 39)
Speed: 0 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)
Ability Scores
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 16 (+3) | — | 16 (+3) | 18 (+4) | 20 (+5) |
Saving Throws
Wis +7, Cha +8
Skills
Insight +7, Medicine +7, Nature +6, Religion +6, Perception +7, Performance (song) +11
Damage Resistances
Acid, Fire, Lightning, Thunder; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities
Cold, Necrotic, Poison
Condition Immunities
Charmed, Exhaustion, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained
Senses
Darkvision 120 ft., Lifesense (see below), Passive Perception 17
Languages
Elvish, Sylvan, Common (understood, rarely spoken)
Incorporeal Movement.
Cariad Ysbryd can move through creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. She takes 5 (1d10) force damage if she ends her turn inside an object.
Lifesense.
Cariad Ysbryd can sense the presence and condition of all living or undead creatures within 5 miles of her. As a bonus action, she can focus on up to 13 creatures to track their location and emotional or physical condition. This effect is blocked by nondetection, mind blank, or similar magic.
Restorative Presence.
Good-aligned creatures that complete a long rest within Cariad Ysbryd’s territory regain all spent Hit Dice and are cured of diseases and conditions as if affected by greater restoration. Bards who remain within her domain for at least 7 consecutive days gain a +2 bonus to Charisma (Performance) checks when using Bardic Inspiration or Bardic Music for the same duration afterward.
Turn Resistance.
Cariad Ysbryd has advantage on saving throws against effects that turn undead.
Magic Resistance.
Cariad Ysbryd has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Innate Spellcasting.
Cariad Ysbryd’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16). She can cast the following spells innately, requiring no material components:
- At will: calm emotions, detect evil and good, lesser restoration, healing word (as 3rd-level spell)
- 3/day each: remove curse, greater restoration, dispel evil and good
- 1/day each: heal, mass suggestion, banishment
Actions
Incorporeal Touch.
Melee Spell Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature.
Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) force damage plus 7 (2d6) radiant damage. Undead take an additional 7 (2d6) radiant damage.
Instead of dealing damage, Cariad Ysbryd may choose to heal a living creature for the same amount.
Calming Aura.
Any creature that starts its turn within 60 feet of Cariad Ysbryd and can hear her song must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be affected as if by the calm emotions spell. This is a magical, mind-affecting aura. A creature that succeeds is immune to the aura for 24 hours.
Song of Power (Recharge 5–6).
Cariad Ysbryd unleashes a song imbued with spiritual energy. She chooses one of the following effects:
- Tune of Balm. All living, nonhostile creatures within 30 feet are affected as if by heal, remove fear, and neutralize poison. Each creature regains 70 hit points and ends one disease, fear, or poison effect.
- Tune of Wrath. All undead and creatures of evil alignment within 30 feet must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. A banshee that fails the saving throw is destroyed.
Tactics and Behavior
Cariad Ysbryd avoids combat and seeks peaceful resolutions through calming magic and healing. She intervenes only when violence threatens her domain or when undead creatures encroach on her territory. If forced into combat, she uses her Calming Aura and spells to suppress hostilities. Against undead foes, she uses Tune of Wrath without hesitation, prioritizing the destruction of banshees above all.
She will always move toward the most wounded or distressed creature and will not hesitate to place herself in danger to protect innocents.
Optional Feature: Guardian of Grace
If you wish to make Cariad Ysbryd a recurring guardian spirit, she reforms at the place of her death at dawn if destroyed, unless her resting place has been desecrated by evil magic (such as through unhallow, blasphemy, or dispel good and evil).
Treasure
Cariad Ysbryd does not seek wealth, but gifts of gratitude from travelers—such as blessed charms, heirlooms, or bardic instruments—may be found gently resting among the flowers in her domain. These are often minor wondrous items with restorative or protective enchantments.
Cariad Ysbryd
This faintly glowing elven maiden drifts through the air, her serene face framed by a crown of wildflowers. Her ethereal song calms the savage and heals the wounded, while her incorporeal touch burns undead with radiant energy.
Cariad Ysbryd CR 7
XP 3,200
Always neutral good Medium undead (incorporeal, extraplanar)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., lifesense; Perception +20
Defense
AC 19, touch 19, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +2 deflection, +4 incorporeal)
hp 97 (13d8+39)
Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +12
Defensive Abilities incorporeal, calming song, restorative aura, lifesense, turn resistance +2
DR 10/magic; Immune undead traits
SR 18
Offense
Speed fly 50 ft. (perfect)
Melee incorporeal touch +9 (1d6 plus 1d6 positive energy; undead take an additional 1d6 positive energy damage)
Special Attacks calming song, positive energy touch, song of power (1/day)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 13th; concentration +18)
- Constant—calm emotions (DC 17)
- At will—detect good, lesser restoration, sanctuary (DC 16), stabilize
- 3/day—remove curse, remove disease, remove fear, greater restoration
- 1/day—heal, banishment (DC 20), mass cure moderate wounds (DC 19)
Statistics
Str —, Dex 16, Con —, Int 16, Wis 18, Cha 20
Base Atk +6; CMB —; CMD 21 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Alertness, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Iron Will (B), Mobility
Skills Heal +26, Knowledge (nature) +19, Knowledge (religion) +19, Perform (sing) +27, Perception +20, Sense Motive +20, Stealth +19, Survival +2 (+4 in forests)
Languages Elven, Common, Sylvan; understands all languages it knew in life
Special Abilities
Calming Song (Su)
Cariad Ysbryd emits a constant melodic aura in a 60-ft. radius. This functions as calm emotions (Will DC 17 negates, CL 13th). Creatures that save are immune to this effect for 24 hours. The effect ends immediately if she uses song of wrath.
Positive Energy Touch (Su)
Her incorporeal touch deals 1d6 damage plus 1d6 positive energy damage. Undead take an additional 1d6 positive energy damage. As a standard action, she can instead heal a living creature for 1d6+5 hit points.
Restorative Aura (Su)
Good-aligned creatures remaining within her 5-mile territory for 7 consecutive days recover from diseases and curses as if under the effects of remove disease and remove curse. Bards gain a +3 bonus on Perform (sing) checks for a duration equal to their stay.
Lifesense (Su)
Cariad Ysbryd senses the presence, health status (unharmed, wounded, dying), and alignment (good/evil only) of all living and undead creatures within a 5-mile radius. She can track up to 13 creatures simultaneously, knowing their direction and distance. This ability is blocked by mind blank, nondetection, and similar magic.
Song of Power (Su) (1/day)
Cariad Ysbryd sings one of the following supernatural tunes as a standard action:
- Tune of Balm: All living creatures within 30 feet are affected by heal, neutralize poison, and remove fear (CL 13th).
- Tune of Wrath: All undead and evil creatures within 30 feet take 6d6 positive energy damage (Fort DC 17 half). A banshee that fails its saving throw is destroyed outright.
Turn Resistance (Ex)
+2 bonus on saving throws against effects that turn, rebuke, or command undead.
Tactics
Cariad Ysbryd prefers to avoid combat, using her calming song and spells like sanctuary and calm emotions to pacify threats. She supports allies with healing and restorative magic. When confronting undead or evil foes, she opens with banishment or mass cure moderate wounds to aid allies. Against a banshee, she immediately uses her Tune of Wrath to devastating effect. She fights by hovering and striking with her positive energy touch to harm undead or heal allies.
Ecology
Environment any, often ancient forests, sacred groves, or ruined elven sites
Organization solitary (guardian of a specific territory)
Treasure double (gifts, minor magic items, relics of worship)
Lore
Cariad Ysbryd are rare, benevolent spirits of elven women who choose to remain in the mortal world to nurture and protect life. They oppose destructive undead like banshees and aid all living creatures within their domain, bringing healing and calm. Their song pacifies violence and encourages harmony, and their presence is a blessing to any land they haunt.
Cariad Ysbryd
A faintly glowing beautiful elven woman, dressed in her finest clothes, floats through the air. She bears a serene expression and constantly sings a beautiful, wordless song.
Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.
A cariad ysbryd, or ghost lover, is the spirit of a good elven female who has chosen to remain among the living to perform good deeds. While technically undead, they love all living things and only harm creatures who destroy life, especially undead. Cariad ysbryd hate one form of undead above any other: the banshee. If a cariad ysbryd encounters a banshee, she will abandon everything in her efforts to destroy her opposite, and vice versa.
A cariad ysbryd is content to improve the health of the inhabitants of the territory she calls home, an area five miles in diameter around the spot where she died. A cariad ysbryd can sense the health of every creature in her territory. If intruders harm any living thing within that area (including each other), or if one of them is already suffering in some way, she makes her way to them to heal the wounded, singing her calming song to quell any violence.
A cariad ysbryd’s home appears to be untouched wilderness, even if there are settlements near her home, because her song prevents destructive acts by Intelligence creatures. She does not interfere in the natural cycle of life and death (including the violent but necessary acts of predators).
While a cariad ysbryd doesn’t seek out treasure, she does not refuse gifts, so many minor valuables may be found scattered around her domain.
- A cariad ysbryd is 5 to 6 feet tall and weightless.
- A cariad ysbryd speaks the languages that it knew in life.
| Cariad Ysbryd | |
| Medium undead (Incorporeal) | |
| Hit Dice | 13d12 (84 hp) |
| Initiative | +7 |
| Speed | Fly 50 ft. (good) (10 squares) |
| Armor Class | 15 (+3 Dexterity, +2 deflection), touch 15, flat-footed 12 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +6/ – |
| Attack | Incorporeal touch +9 melee (1d6 plus 1d6 positive energy) |
| Full Attack | Incorporeal touch +9 melee (1d6 plus 1d6 positive energy) |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Song |
| Special Qualities | Darkvision 60 ft., incorporeal traits, lifesense, restorative spirit, Spell Resistance 18, +2 turn resistance, undead traits |
| Saves | Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +12 |
| Abilities | Strength -, Dexterity 16, Constitution -, Intelligence 16, Wisdom 15, Charisma 17 |
| Skills | Heal +26, Hide +19, Knowledge (nature) +19, Knowledge (religion) +19, Perform (song) +27, Listen +20, Spot +20, Survival +2 (+4 in aboveground natural environments) |
| Feats | Alertness, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Iron Will (B), Mobility |
| Environment | Any |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating | 7 |
| Treasure | Double standard |
| Alignment | Always neutral good |
| Advancement | 14-26 HD (Medium) |
| Level Adjustment | – |
COMBAT
A cariad ysbryd would rather prevent combat than win it, a philosophy her song enforces on her surroundings. She uses her tune of wrath sparingly, for it prevents her from using her tune of balm in the same day. However, when a cariad ysbryd fights a banshee, she uses her tune of wrath without hesitation.
A cariad ysbryd’s incorporeal touch attack infuses a target with positive energy. undead foes (even incorporeal ones) take an additional 1d6 points of damage. The cariad ysbryd can channel this positive energy into living creatures as well, healing up to 1d6 points of damage. The cariad ysbryd can control its positive energy enough to avoid healing living foes (dealing only the base damage).
Calming Song (Su): A cariad ysbryd constantly sings a calming melody as a free action. This song affects all creatures within 60 feet of the cariad ysbryd like the calm emotions spell (Will DC 19 negates, effective CL equals the cariad ysbryd’s Hit Dice). This is a sonic, mind-affecting compulsion effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Deathless (Ex): Like living creatures, deathless are harmed by negative energy and healed by positive energy. Evil clerics can turn or destroy deathless creatures as good clerics turn or destroy undead. Good clerics and paladins can rebuke, command, or bolster deathless. Deathless creatures gain the same benefits from consecrate and hallow spells as undead do by desecrate and unhallow spells, and they are hindered by desecrate and unhallow spells as undead are by consecrate and hallow.
Evil casters can be stunned by overwhelming auras of deathless creatures as good casters can be stunned by overwhelming undead auras. Use the “evil elemental or undead” line in the detect evil spell description when deathless are in the area of a detect good spell. Deathless are healed by disrupt undead and damaged by unholy Water as undead are damaged by Holy Water. Deathless are not affected by disrupting weapons.
Spells that have greater than normal effect against undead creatures–including chill touch, magic stone, searing light, sunbeam, and wall of fire–do not have these enhanced effects against deathless creatures. Deathless take only 1d6 points of damage per two caster levels from searing light. Spells such as command undead, control undead, create undead, create greater undead, and halt undead do not affect or create deathless creatures.
Lifesense (Su): A cariad ysbryd can mystically sense every living or undead creature within her territory (an area up to 5 miles across). If strangers enter her territory she immediately senses it. If a living creature is wounded or damaged within her territory the cariad instantly senses it.
As a standard action, a cariad ysbryd can link her lifesense to living or undead creatures within her territory, but to no more than 1 creature per Hit Dice the cariad possesses. This allows her to monitor the direction and distance to the creature(s) and any conditions affecting them: unharmed, wounded, disabled, staggered, unconscious, dying, nauseated, panicked, stunned, poisoned, diseased, confused, or the like. A cariad ysbryd can stop lifesense-monitoring as a free action; otherwise the monitoring will continue until the monitored creature dies, leaves the cariad’s territory, or the cariad ysbryd is destroyed.
Any effect that opposes divination spells, such as the nondetection spell, will also oppose a cariad ysbryd’s lifesense. Lifesense can penetrate barriers, but 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it.
Restorative Spirit (Su): Good-aligned creatures who remain within a cariad ysbryd’s territory (an area up to 5 miles across) for over a week heal as if long-term care were administered by the cariad ysbryd. bards that spend more than a month within range of this ability gain a +3 bonus to Perform checks used in conjunction with Bardic Music for a length of time equal to the length of time they spent near the cariad ysbryd.
Song of Power (Su): Once per day, as a standard action, a cariad ysbryd can sing a song of great power. She can sing one of two tunes, chosen at the time of singing.
Tune of Balm: All living creatures within 30 feet of the cariad ysbryd are affected by a combination of the heal, remove fear and Neutralize poison spells.
Tune of Wrath: All undead and creatures with the Evil subtype within 30 feet of the cariad ysbryd take 6d6 damage (Fort DC 17 halves the damage). A banshee affected by a cariad ysbryd’s tune of wrath takes 6d6 damage if it succeeds on the save and is destroyed if it fails.
Skills: A cariad ysbryd has a +8 racial bonus on Heal and Perform (song) checks.
Cariad Ysbryd as Deathless
If you are using Book of Exalted Deeds in your campaign, cariad ysbryd are deathless rather than undead.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #186 (1992).