Azeban — The Laughing Shadow in the Brush

Where food goes missing, traps fail, and pride turns to embarrassment, Azeban has already been there—watching, laughing, and learning nothing.

Pantheon: Abenaki / Northeastern Woodlands traditions (North American)
Divine Rank: Minor Spirit / Trickster Entity
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: Mischief, curiosity, petty theft, unintended consequences
Domains (Suggested): Trickery, Nature, Chaos
Symbol: A raccoon’s mask-like face or a small hand clutching stolen food

Lore

In the stories of the Northeastern woodlands, Azeban is not a god of grand design, nor a force of cosmic balance—he is something far more familiar and far more troublesome: a fool with just enough cleverness to cause problems, and just enough luck to survive them.

He most often appears as a raccoon—small, quick-fingered, and bright-eyed with restless intent. Yet behind that simple form is a spirit who speaks, schemes, and meddles in the affairs of mortals and spirits alike. Unlike greater tricksters such as Coyote or Raven, Azeban is neither reliably cunning nor meaningfully wise.

He tries to deceive—and is deceived.
He sets traps—and falls into them.
He boasts—and is immediately humbled.

And still, he returns.

Nature of the Trickster

Azeban is defined not by mastery, but by persistence in folly.

Where other tricksters reshape the world through cunning, Azeban reshapes it accidentally. A failed scheme might spoil a hunt, expose a lie, or unravel careful plans in ways no one intended. His influence is rarely deliberate—but it is never without consequence.

He is:

A meddler in small things that become large problems
A creature of impulse, appetite, and curiosity
A reflection of mortal foolishness, exaggerated and set loose

He does not teach through wisdom.
He teaches through mistakes that cannot be ignored.

Manifestation

Azeban most commonly appears as:

A raccoon standing upright, its hands unnaturally dexterous
A shadow slipping between firelight and treeline
A half-seen figure rifling through supplies before vanishing

When emboldened or agitated, his presence grows subtly uncanny:

Too many hands where there should be two
Laughter echoing from the wrong direction
Objects rearranged in ways no one recalls doing

He never arrives with grandeur.
He is only noticed once something has gone wrong.

Role in the World

Azeban exists in the space between intention and consequence.

He is drawn to:

Camps, caravans, and traveling parties
Places where resources are exposed or poorly guarded
Situations shaped by pride, greed, or carelessness

He rarely seeks harm—but his interference can:

Ruin survival plans
Turn allies against one another
Escalate minor problems into genuine danger

To encounter Azeban is not to face a villain—
it is to lose control of a situation you believed was secure.

Worship & Belief

Azeban is not worshiped so much as accounted for.

Offerings may be left to distract or appease him:

Small portions of food
Shiny or curious objects
Simple items of little real value

These acts are not reverence—they are precaution.

Stories of Azeban endure because they are useful:

They entertain
They warn against arrogance and carelessness
They remind listeners that not all chaos is grand

Some of it is small, persistent… and already nearby.

Narrative Use

Azeban thrives where control begins to slip.

He works best as:

A recurring nuisance that escalates over time
A catalyst for unintended consequences
A false antagonist masking a larger problem

Encounters with Azeban should feel:

Unpredictable
Frustrating
Darkly humorous

And leave players asking:

“Did he mean to do that… or is this about to get worse?”

Azeban 2024 5.5e
Azeban 3.5

Azeban, True Trickster

Small Fey (Spirit), Chaotic Neutral

Armor Class 18 (Preternatural Agility)
Hit Points 238 (28d6 + 140)
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.

Ability Scores

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	22 (+6)	20 (+5)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	20 (+5)

Saving Throws Dex +12, Wis +9, Cha +11
Skills Acrobatics +12, Deception +11, Perception +9, Sleight of Hand +14, Stealth +12
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, prone
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 19
Languages Common, Sylvan; understands all languages but rarely speaks truthfully
Challenge 18 (20,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +6

Traits

Trickster’s Persistence. When Azeban fails an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead. When he does, one creature of his choice within 60 feet has disadvantage on the next d20 roll it makes before the end of its next turn.

Luck Pressure. When a creature Azeban can see within 60 feet fails a d20 roll, Azeban can impose disadvantage on the next d20 roll that creature makes before the end of its next turn. A creature can be affected by this trait only once at a time.

Master of Petty Theft. As a bonus action, Azeban targets one creature within 10 feet. Azeban makes a Sleight of Hand check (+14) contested by the target’s Wisdom (Perception). On a success, Azeban steals one Small or smaller object the target is holding or carrying, or causes it to fall at the target’s feet or appear in an unoccupied space within 30 feet.

Elusive Nuisance. Opportunity attacks against Azeban are made with disadvantage. When Azeban takes damage, he can move up to half his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Small but Everywhere. Azeban can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing and can move through the space of any creature.

Innate Spellcasting (Trickster Magic)

Spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 19, +11 to hit with spell attacks)

At will: mage hand, minor illusion, prestidigitation, invisibility (self only)
3/day each: mirror image, misty step, suggestion, blur
1/day each: major image, confusion, mislead

Actions

Multiattack. Azeban makes two Claw attacks, or one Claw attack and uses Too Many Hands, if available.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (1d6 + 6) slashing damage plus 14 (4d6) psychic damage.

Too Many Hands (Recharge 5–6)

Azeban fractures into a swarm of small, half-real raccoons that spill from shadows, packs, sleeves, and the ground itself, grabbing and vanishing in the same instant.

Each creature of Azeban’s choice within 30 feet must make a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw.

On a failed save, a creature suffers the following effects until the end of Azeban’s next turn:

One held item (Azeban’s choice) is dropped, stolen, or teleported to an unoccupied space within 30 feet
The creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and Dexterity checks
The creature takes 14 (4d6) psychic damage

On a successful save, the creature instead has disadvantage on the next d20 roll it makes before the end of its next turn.

The raccoons vanish immediately after interacting with objects, leaving no physical trace.

Snatch and Scatter (Recharge 6). Azeban targets up to three creatures he can see within 30 feet. Each target must succeed on a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or one held item is teleported to an unoccupied space within 60 feet.

Bonus Actions

Now You See It… Azeban turns invisible until the start of his next turn or until immediately after he makes an attack.

Reactions

Not My Fault. When a creature Azeban can see within 60 feet succeeds on a d20 roll, Azeban forces it to reroll the die. The creature must use the new result.

Legendary Actions

Azeban can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Azeban regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Scurry. Azeban moves up to half his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Petty Theft. Azeban uses Master of Petty Theft.
Trip (Costs 2 Actions). One creature Azeban can see within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or fall prone.
Twist Fate (Costs 3 Actions). One creature Azeban can see within 60 feet must reroll a d20 roll.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Azeban takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects:

A creature of his choice within 60 feet has disadvantage on its next attack roll or ability check
One creature within 60 feet drops a held item
Consumables spoil or become unusable
Illusory movement distracts creatures (Perception checks made with disadvantage until the next round)

Regional Effects

The region within 1 mile of Azeban is warped by subtle misfortune:

Supplies are misplaced or vanish
Simple tasks fail at inconvenient moments
Tracks and paths become unreliable
Small animals watch from nearby shadows

Azeban

The Laughing Trickster, the Many-Handed Raccoon

Deity Overview

Azeban is the trickster spirit of the Northeastern woodlands, a mischievous and unpredictable demigod who delights in pranks, petty theft, and the quiet unraveling of certainty. Unlike greater trickster deities, Azeban is neither a master schemer nor a keeper of hidden wisdom—his plots are often impulsive, flawed, and self-defeating. Yet through these failures, events bend in unexpected ways.

He is revered by those who value wit, improvisation, and subtle deception. Those who please Azeban may find fortune turning in their favor through unlikely means. Those who offend him suffer embarrassment, loss, and a string of inconvenient misfortunes.

Divine Statistics

Pantheon: North American (Woodlands Traditions)
Deity Type: Demigod
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: Trickery, mischief, theft, cunning, unintended consequences
Domains: Chaos, Trickery, Luck, Illusion, Thievery
Cleric Alignments: CN, CG, CE

Symbol: A raccoon’s mask or a small hand clutching stolen food
Favored Weapon: Dart, short sword, or shortbow
Favored Classes: Bard; Rogue; Wizard (illusionist)
Favored Races: Halfling, Gnome, Human

Home Plane: The Beastlands (with strong ties to fey realms)

Dogma

The world is uncertain, and certainty is a lie.

Azeban teaches that success belongs not to the strong or the orderly, but to those who adapt. Plans fail, tools break, and fortune turns without warning. Those who rely too heavily on structure or certainty invite failure.

His followers are encouraged to:

Act with wit rather than force
Exploit opportunity as it arises
Undermine arrogance and overconfidence
Accept failure—and turn it to advantage

Clergy and Temples

Azeban’s faith lacks formal hierarchy. Shrines are rare and typically improvised—small offerings left at campsites, crossroads, or places where something has gone inexplicably wrong.

Titles: Trickster, Mask-Bearer, Hand of Azeban

Clerics of Azeban are uncommon. His faith more often manifests through:

Bards
Rogues
Illusionist wizards

Duties of the Priesthood

Spread mischief and controlled disorder
Humble the arrogant
Protect the vulnerable through deception and indirection
Disrupt rigid systems and predictable patterns

Priests of Azeban often appear as entertainers, wanderers, or opportunists, using humor and trickery as both weapon and shield.

Worship and Rites

Azeban is honored through small, informal acts rather than formal ceremony.

Common Practices:

Leaving food or trinkets as offerings
Carrying raccoon fetishes or mask charms
Performing pranks in his name

Holy Days: None. Any successful deception or unexpected reversal of fortune may be considered an act of devotion.

Servants and Creatures

Azeban maintains no formal divine court. Instead, he is associated with:

Raccoons
Small woodland animals
Minor fey and trickster spirits

These creatures are not bound servants but are often treated as extensions or reflections of his presence.

Manifestations

Azeban most often appears as:

A raccoon behaving with unusual intelligence
A small humanoid figure wearing a raccoon mask
A fleeting presence glimpsed at the edge of vision

His presence is typically recognized only after the fact:

Missing possessions
Failed plans
Sudden reversals of fortune

Signs of Favor and Disfavor

Favor:

Unexpected success
Recovery of lost items
Fortune arising from failure

Disfavor:

Misplaced or stolen belongings
Repeated minor failures
Public embarrassment

Divine Artifact

The Mischievous Mask

This simple mask, resembling a raccoon’s face, is said to have been crafted by Azeban himself.

Powers:

Alter self at will
Polymorph 3/day
+4 luck bonus on Bluff, Sleight of Hand, and Disguise checks
Once per day, the wearer may force a reroll of any d20 roll (must accept the second result)

Curse:
Each use encourages impulsive, chaotic behavior. Over time, the wearer becomes increasingly prone to risk-taking and poor judgment.

Relationships

Azeban maintains no formal alliances.

He is loosely associated with other trickster spirits but is rarely trusted. Lawful deities and beings of rigid order often view him as a nuisance or destabilizing force.

Worshipers

Typical followers include:

Tricksters and thieves
Gamblers and risk-takers
Adventurers and wanderers

Though often seen as unreliable, they are valued for their adaptability, creativity, and resilience.

Appearance

Azeban is most often depicted as:

A small humanoid with raccoon features
A masked figure carrying a satchel of stolen goods
A raccoon standing upright with unsettling awareness

He appears quick, unassuming, and perpetually on the verge of mischief.

Divine Nature

Azeban is not a god of power or dominion.

He is:

The missing tool at a critical moment
The failed plan that leads to unexpected success
The quiet laughter that follows misfortune

He does not control fate.

He interrupts it.

Azeban, the Laughing Trickster

Small Outsider (Chaotic, Extraplanar, Shapechanger, Divine)

Divine Rank 0 (Quasi-Deity)
Hit Dice 20d8+140 (230 hp)
Initiative +14
Speed 50 ft., climb 50 ft.

Armor Class 34 (+1 size, +6 Dex, +8 natural, +7 deflection, +2 divine), touch 26, flat-footed 28

Base Attack/Grapple +20 / +18
Attack Claw +28 melee (1d6+2 plus 2d6 nonlethal)
Full Attack 2 claws +28 melee (1d6+2 plus 2d6 nonlethal)
Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.

Special Attacks Too Many Hands, snatch and scatter, spell-like abilities, steal fortune
Special Qualities Divine traits (rank 0), DR 15/epic, SR 30, evasion, improved uncanny dodge, trickster’s persistence, luck pressure, change shape

Saves Fort +19, Ref +22, Will +18

Abilities Str 14, Dex 22, Con 24, Int 18, Wis 18, Cha 24

Skills Bluff +36, Disguise +36 (+38 acting), Escape Artist +31, Hide +35, Listen +28, Move Silently +35, Open Lock +31, Search +28, Sleight of Hand +36, Spot +28, Tumble +31, Use Magic Device +36

Feats Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Weapon Finesse, Improved Initiative, Combat Reflexes, Skill Focus (Sleight of Hand)

Environment The Beastlands or any temperate forest
Organization Solitary (unique)
Challenge Rating 20
Treasure None (see Mischievous Mask)
Alignment Always chaotic neutral

Divine Traits (Rank 0)

Immune to energy drain, ability damage, and ability drain
Fire resistance 5
+2 divine bonus to AC, attack rolls, saving throws, and checks
Does not age, eat, or sleep
Senses extend to 1 mile

Special Attacks

Too Many Hands (Su)

(Usable once every 1d4 rounds)

Azeban dissolves into a swarm of small, half-real raccoons that spill from shadows, packs, and the ground itself.

All creatures of Azeban’s choice within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 26 Will save or suffer the following effects for 1 round:

One held item is dropped, stolen, or teleported to a space within 30 feet (Azeban’s choice)
The creature takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls and Dexterity-based skill checks
The creature takes 4d6 points of nonlethal damage

On a successful save, the creature instead takes a –2 penalty on its next attack roll, saving throw, or skill check.

Save DC is Charisma-based.

Snatch and Scatter (Su)

(Usable once every 1d4 rounds)

Azeban targets up to three creatures within 30 feet. Each must succeed on a DC 24 Reflex save or have one held item teleported to a space within 60 feet.

Steal Fortune (Su)

Once per round as an immediate action, Azeban can force a creature within 60 feet to reroll a d20 roll. The original result is stored and may be used by Azeban as a replacement for any one d20 roll he makes before the end of his next turn.

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp)

Caster level 20th. Save DCs are Charisma-based.

At will—mage hand, prestidigitation, invisibility (self only), minor image
3/day—dimension door, suggestion, blur, mirror image
1/day—mislead, confusion, persistent image

Special Qualities

Trickster’s Persistence (Su)

Once per round, when Azeban fails an attack roll, saving throw, or skill check, he may treat the result as a success. One creature within 60 feet takes a –2 penalty on its next attack roll, saving throw, or skill check.

Luck Pressure (Su)

When a creature within 60 feet fails a d20 roll, Azeban may impose a –2 penalty on that creature’s next attack roll, saving throw, or skill check (no action required). A creature can be affected only once at a time.

Change Shape (Su)

Azeban can assume the form of a raccoon or a Small humanoid at will, as alter self, except that the duration is indefinite.

Evasion (Ex)

As the rogue ability.

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex)