Forger of Tanglebriar
Level 16Attacks
Abilities
30 feet. DC 35 will
As Frightful Presence, plus a creature frightened by the aura becomes suspicious; it doesn't count any other creature as its ally and can't Aid or flank. On a critical failure, the creature also can't be a willing target for harmless or helpful magic.
Effect: Aura of Disquietude
A creature hit by a vilderavn's melee attack becomes cursed. It takes 2d6 bleed that's difficult to stanch.
The DC to stop the bleeding using Administer First Aid is 35, and healing the creature to full HP doesn't automatically end the bleeding.
Removing the curse ends the bleeding.
The vilderavn takes on the appearance of a Small or Medium humanoid, wolf, dire wolf, or hybrid with both raven and wolf parts. The vilderavn can only use their jaws attack when in a form with a wolf's head, and their talon attack in a form with raven qualities. They can instead assume their raven knight form: a Medium humanoid in black full plate carrying a greatsword. They can use their jaws or talon Strikes only in a form that has that body part, and their greatsword only in knight form.
Requirements The Forger's last action was a successful Strike with their trident against a Medium or smaller creature
Effect The Forger attempts to Reposition the creature, which remains impaled on the trident. The creature takes (3d8+16)[piercing] damage (DC 37 fortitude save) regardless of the result of the Reposition attempt. If the creature is Repositioned into a space occupied by a fungal forge, that fungal forge is triggered and uses its Defile and Pollute reaction.
If the vilderavn kills a humanoid with a critical hit using their jaws Strike, they rip out and devour the target's heart and soul as part of the attack.
While the target is dead, the vilderavn can Change Shape into the target's form, gaining a +4 status bonus to Deception checks to impersonate the target.
If magic would resurrect the creature, the caster must succeed at a DC 34 counteract check to extract the target's soul from the vilderavn; otherwise, the spell fails.
In their true form, a vilderavn is a great raven with a wingspan of 6–8 feet. Adaptable shapeshifters, they can change to the fighting forms of a snarling wolf, a hybrid of both wolf and raven, and a tall humanoid in black armor with a massive greatsword. More sinister is their ability to assume a humanoid guise suited to insinuating themselves into the retinues of boastful mortal rulers. With historical knowledge and clever rumormongering, they goad the proud into squabbles, feuds, and ultimately wars. The vilderavn stays at the ruler's side until victory is within grasp, the war almost won, then exacts the cruel stroke of betrayal. Their magic turns the mortals against each other, and the vilderavn's sword falls swiftly.