The Morrígan — Irish Goddess of War, Fate and Sovereignty

The Morrígan — 2024

Medium Celestial (Deity), Chaotic Neutral • CR 38 (epic campaign; PB +12)

AC 31 (divine war armour); HP 962 (52d8 + 728); Speed 60 ft., fly 100 ft.

Saves Str +24, Dex +26, Con +26, Int +24, Wis +26, Cha +27; Skills Deception +27, Insight +26, Intimidation +27, Perception +26, Stealth +26; Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing; Immunities poison; charmed, frightened, poisoned; Senses truesight 180 ft., passive Perception 36; Languages all, telepathy 1 mile.

Traits

Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If she fails a saving throw, the Morrígan succeeds instead.

Divine Shapeshifter. Using Shifting Aspect, the Morrígan becomes a Tiny crow or returns to her normal form. Her equipment merges into her crow form. She retains her ability scores, HP, AC, saving throws and other statistics, except that her size becomes Tiny and her Fly Speed becomes 120 feet. While a crow, she cannot use the War Spear, the Spear legendary action, or a spell requiring Somatic components. She can still use other actions and legendary options that do not require a weapon or hands.

Fate’s Warning (Reaction). When a creature the Morrígan can see within 90 feet is about to make a D20 Test, she can impose Disadvantage on that roll. She must declare this before the d20 is rolled. The creature hears a crow. Using this feature expends her Reaction, so she cannot also cast shield with that Reaction.

Divine Immortality. At 0 HP her present body is defeated; a divine-death condition is required to end her permanently.

Actions

Multiattack. The Morrígan makes three War Spear attacks.

War Spear. Melee Attack Roll: +28, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 38 (4d10 + 16) Piercing plus 27 (6d8) Necrotic damage. Her divine +2 spear has the Finesse property, uses her Dexterity modifier (+14) for attack and damage, and reaches 15 feet through divine power (+14 Dexterity, +12 Proficiency Bonus, +2 magic = +28 to hit). A creature hit twice by her spear on the same turn cannot take Reactions until the start of her next turn.

Battle-Crow Prophecy (Recharge 5–6). Chosen enemies in a 60-foot Cone make a DC 35 Wisdom save. On failure they take 54 (12d8) Psychic damage and are Frightened of her until the end of their next turn; on success they take half damage and are not Frightened.

Bonus Actions

Shifting Aspect. Enter or leave crow form as described in Divine Shapeshifter. Cross the Ford. While in her normal form, teleport to an unoccupied space she can see within 60 feet. Each option requires her Bonus Action; she cannot use both on the same turn.

Legendary Actions

She has 3 Legendary Action uses, spent only after another creature’s turn and recovered at the start of her turn. Spear (1): One War Spear attack. Wingbeat (1): Move up to half her Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. Break Morale (2): One visible creature within 60 feet makes a DC 35 Wisdom save or becomes Frightened until the end of its next turn.

Personal Spellcasting

Charisma; save DC 35, spell attack +27. Her spells require no spell slots or Material components, but retain their printed casting times, Verbal and Somatic components and Concentration. She can maintain only one Concentration spell. Limited uses return after a Long Rest; each spell is cast at its printed level.

Counterplay. The fear effect uses Wisdom saves and cannot be repeated until it recharges; spells and the spear still require sight, range or contact. A creature immune to Frightened remains vulnerable to damage, but not to morale-breaking effects.

The Morrígan — 2014

Medium celestial (deity), chaotic neutral • CR 35 (epic campaign; PB +10 by campaign extrapolation)

Armor Class 29; Hit Points 840 (48d8 + 624); Speed 60 ft., fly 90 ft.

Saving Throws Str +20, Dex +22, Con +23, Int +21, Wis +22, Cha +23; Skills Deception +23, Intimidation +23, Insight +22, Perception +22, Stealth +22; Damage Resistances cold, lightning; nonmagical bludgeoning, piercing, slashing; Damage Immunities poison; Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned; Senses truesight 150 ft., passive Perception 32; Languages all, telepathy 1 mile.

Traits

Legendary Resistance (4/Day). On a failed save she chooses to succeed.

Crow Form (Bonus Action). The Morrígan becomes a Tiny crow or reverts to her normal form. Her equipment merges into the crow. She retains her ability scores, hit points, AC, saving throws and other statistics except for Tiny size and a fly speed of 120 feet. She cannot wield her War Spear, use the Attack legendary action, or cast spells requiring somatic components while in crow form.

Actions

Multiattack. She makes three War Spear attacks.

War Spear. Melee Weapon Attack: +24 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 30 (3d10 + 14) piercing plus 18 (4d8) necrotic damage. Her divine +4 war spear uses Strength (+10) and has supernatural reach: +10 Strength, +10 epic campaign proficiency, +4 magic = +24 to hit; its damage includes +10 Strength and +4 magic.

Cry of Battle (Recharge 5–6). Enemies of her choice in a 60-foot cone make a DC 31 Wisdom save, taking 45 (10d8) psychic damage and becoming frightened until the end of her next turn on a failure, or half damage without fear on a success.

Legendary Actions

Three legendary actions per round, at most one after another creature’s turn. She regains them at the start of her turn. Attack (1): One spear attack. Crow’s Flight (1): Move half Speed. Foretell Disaster (2): A creature within 60 feet that she sees makes a DC 31 Wisdom save or has disadvantage on its next attack roll or saving throw before the end of its next turn.

Innate Personal Spellcasting

Charisma; save DC 31, +23 spell attacks. No spell slots or Material components. Her spells retain normal timing, Verbal/Somatic components and Concentration, and listed uses refresh at dawn.

Counterplay. The Cry of Battle uses a single rechargeable action; protecting allies from frightened conditions leaves her spear and spells to be faced directly. Breaking her line of sight denies several legendary choices.

The Morrígan — Pathfinder First Edition

CR 36 (epic campaign); CN Medium outsider (native, chaotic), divine rank 15 • 56 outsider HD

Init +18; Senses true seeing 180 ft., Perception +79; Languages all, telepathy 1 mile.

Defence

AC 63, touch 33, flat-footed 48 (+14 Dex, +22 natural, +8 deflection, +8 divine armour, +1 dodge); hp 1,036 (56d10 + 672, plus 56 from Toughness); Fort +42, Ref +44, Will +44; DR 15/epic and lawful; SR 46; Immune fear, poison; Resist cold 20, electricity 20, fire 20.

Offence

Speed 60 ft., fly 120 ft. (perfect); Melee +5 longspear +74/+69/+64/+59 (1d8+23 plus 4d8 negative energy, 10-foot reach, cannot strike adjacent targets); Blackthorn Strike (Su) each spear hit deals an additional 4d8 negative-energy damage, or heals undead by that amount instead. The extra damage is not multiplied on a critical hit and is not subject to spell resistance. The attack bonus includes +56 BAB, +12 Strength, +5 enhancement and +1 Weapon Focus; base damage includes 1.5 × Strength (+18) and +5 enhancement. Spell-like abilities caster level 30th, concentration +45, DC 25 + spell level (Cha-based).

War Omen (Su, 1/day). As a standard action the Morrígan releases a 60-foot cone of shrieking crows. Enemies make a DC 53 Will save (10 + half her 56 HD + Cha 15), taking 14d8 sonic damage and becoming shaken for 1d4 rounds on failure; on success they take half damage without the condition. Spell resistance does not apply.

Statistics

BAB +56; CMB +68; CMD 101 (+56 BAB, +12 Str, +14 Dex, +8 deflection, +1 dodge); Feats (28) Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Weapon Focus (longspear), Improved Critical (longspear), Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Alertness, Skill Focus (Intimidate), Skill Focus (Bluff), Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness, Iron Will, Improved Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Improved Lightning Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Improved Great Fortitude, Blind-Fight, Improved Blind-Fight, Quick Draw, Combat Expertise, Improved Feint, Vital Strike, Improved Vital Strike; Skills Bluff +80, Fly +81, Intimidate +80, Knowledge (religion) +71, Perception +79, Sense Motive +73, Stealth +73. Skill Focus adds +6 to Bluff, Intimidate and Perception at 10+ ranks; Fly includes +8 for perfect manoeuvrability.

Crow Shape (Su). As a swift action she becomes a Tiny crow or returns to normal. Equipment merges into the bird; she retains her scores, HP, DR and SR but cannot make spear attacks. Crow form has a fly speed of 120 ft. (perfect), AC 65 (touch 35, flat-footed 50), CMB +68 (Tiny creatures use Dexterity), CMD 99, Fly +85 and Stealth +81. These changes include Tiny size (+2 AC, −2 CMD, +4 Fly, +8 Stealth). She can still use spell-like abilities, and cannot use the swift-action transformation again until her next turn.

Counterplay. Spell-like abilities provoke attacks of opportunity and can be interrupted. War Omen allows a Will save and has only one use per day; physical attacks still require line of effect.

The Morrígan — D&D 3.5e

CR 36 (epic campaign); Medium outsider (native, chaotic), chaotic neutral • 56 outsider HD

Hit Dice 56d8 + 672 (924 hp); Initiative +18 (Dexterity +14, Improved Initiative +4); Speed 60 ft., fly 120 ft. (perfect); Armor Class 63, touch 33, flat-footed 48 (+14 Dex, +22 natural, +8 deflection, +8 armour, +1 dodge); BAB/Grapple +56/+68.

Attack +5 longspear +74 melee (1d8+23 plus 4d8 negative energy); Full Attack +5 longspear +74/+69/+64/+59 (1d8+23 plus 4d8 negative energy). Her hit bonus is +56 BAB, +12 Strength, +5 enhancement and +1 Weapon Focus; two-handed damage includes +18 Strength and +5 enhancement. Blackthorn Strike (Su): A spear hit adds 4d8 negative-energy damage, healing undead instead; the extra dice are not multiplied on a critical hit and are not subject to spell resistance. Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with longspear); Saves Fort +42, Ref +44, Will +44; DR 15/epic and lawful; SR 46; Immune fear and poison; Resist cold 20, electricity 20, fire 20.

Feats (19) Weapon Focus (longspear), Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Initiative, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (longspear), Alertness, Blind-Fight, Skill Focus (Bluff), Skill Focus (Intimidate), Combat Expertise, Improved Feint; Skills Bluff +74, Concentration +68, Disguise +71, Hide +70, Intimidate +74, Knowledge (religion) +68, Listen +70, Sense Motive +70, Spot +70. Bluff and Intimidate each include +3 from Skill Focus; Concentration uses Constitution, not Charisma. Languages all.

Spell-like Abilities

Caster level 30th; Charisma-based save DC 25 + spell level. To cast a spell-like ability defensively or resist distraction, use her separate Concentration skill +68 (Constitution-based); 3.5e has no Pathfinder-style caster-level concentration modifier. Unless its description says otherwise, a spell-like ability takes a standard action, provokes attacks of opportunity and can be disrupted. Limited uses return after rest.

War Omen (Su, 1/day). Standard action: enemies in a 60-ft. cone make a DC 53 Will save, taking 14d8 sonic damage and becoming shaken for 1d4 rounds on failure, or half damage without being shaken on success. No spell resistance.

Crow Shape (Su). As a swift action she assumes Tiny crow form or returns to her normal form; this uses her swift action for that turn. Equipment merges into the bird. She keeps her ability scores, HP, saving throws and other special abilities, but cannot use the longspear. Crow form: fly 120 ft. (perfect), AC 65 (touch 35, flat-footed 50), grapple +60 (Tiny size penalty −8), Hide +78 (Hide +70, plus +8 Tiny size), space 2½ ft., reach 0 ft. She can still use spell-like abilities.

Counterplay. A readied attack can interrupt an SLA; the omen requires a clear line of effect and a failed Will save. The deity’s physical defeat does not cancel an unrelated mortal feud.