Menangaal

Menangaals are an unholy curiosity among the scholarly community. There is little to distinguish a menangaal from a normal elf or human. Most appear to the eye as pale humanoids between 5ft and 6ft tall, typically with unkempt black hair, and are often found nude of in a state of partial nudity. While physically, they may be indistinguishable from humans or elves, they will often appear unresponsive to attempts at interaction. There is something unsettling in their presence, even if there is nothing immediately alarming about them. Most individuals who have experienced an interaction with a menangaal have died in the interaction, but those who have managed to escape--if only temporarily--have claimed that they felt a sensation of something evil watching them from a hidden location nearby, and they will often attempt to persuade the menangaal to accompany them to safety. Only later do these victims realize that the evil aura is emanating from the creature itself, used a sort of lure for good samaritans. Once a menangaal has encountered someone, they will not rest until they have devoured an individual's soul, and later, their body. If someone manages to escape and encounter with a menangaal, the creature will continue to pursue their quarry indefinitely, until they have completed the hunt.

While at first, menangaals appear human, they are far from it. Their visage is meant as a lure for those whom they encounter in the wilds of the world, or on the roads, or in small hamlets. When hunting, the menangaal will separate itself at the waist from its body, appearing as if it is tearing its flesh like cloth. Massive black wings protrude from their upper torso and allow them to fly at great speeds across long distances while carrying heavy loads--namely, their victims. The menangaal is a vicious hunter, devouring its prey through a visceral display of dismemberment and gore.

Menangaals must return to their bodies within 48 hours of separation or they begin to rot. This is one of the easiest ways to destroy a menangaal, by destroying the lower half of their body while separated. Once done, the corpse will begin to deteriorate at an incredible rate over the next week.

Manengaal CR: 3

Medium undead, chaotic evil

Armor Class: 14 (Natural)

Hit Points: 46 HP (4d8+28) 4d8+28

Speed: , fly: 40 ft , can hover

STR

14 +2

DEX

16 +3

CON

12 +1

INT

10 +0

WIS

12 +1

CHA

10 +0

Saving Throws: DEX +5

Skills: Deception +4; Intimidation +4

Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant

Damage Resistances: Necrotic, Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing (from non-magical attacks that aren't silvered)

Damage Immunities: Poison

Condition Immunities: Charmed, Exhaustion, Poisoned

Senses: Darkvision (60ft. Passive Perception 11

Languages: Any it knew in life.

Challenge Rating: 3

Spellcasting Variant. A Manananggal with the Spellcasting Variant is CR 4, and its Charisma Ability score is increased to 16. The Manananggal's innate Spellcasting ability is Charisma (Spell Save DC 13), and it can cast the following spells, not requiring material components:

At will: Prestidigitation, Minor Illusion, Detect Magic, Ray of Sickness

1/day: Fear, Enthrall

2/day: Hold Person

3/day: Darkness, Ray of Enfeeblement, Hex

Blood Sense. The Manananggal knows the distance and direction of any enemy that doesn't have all its hit points, within 240 feet of it.
Severance. During the day, the Manananggal appears identical to a living humanoid, and does not register as undead to magical effects despite being an undead creature. At nightfall, the Manananggal must take its turn to change into its true form, at which point bat-like wings erupt from its back, sharp predatory teeth sprout from its mouth, and its torso brutally tears from its lower body. Its statistics, other than its movement speed, are the same in each form. Its lower torso remains standing upright, unmoving until its reconnects with its upper body, or until the upper body is killed. Its upper and lower torso share the same pool of hit points, and if the lower portion is damaged, then the upper portion is immediately aware of the attack. It takes a full turn for the two halves to reconnect. Holy water, ash, or silver dust can be smeared or sprinkled thoroughly on top of the standing lower torso to prevent the two halves from reconnecting ever again.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity. If the Manananggal has not reattached to its lower body by sunrise, it takes 15 radiant damage when it starts its turn in sunlight, and has disadvantage on Attack rolls and Ability Checks while in sunlight.
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the Manananggal to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw equal to 5 plus the damage taken, unless the damage is from a silvered weapon, radiant, or a critical hit. On a success, the Manananggal drops to 1 hit point instead.

Actions

Multiattack (True Form Only). The Manananggal makes two attacks, one of which can be a Bite attack.
Bite (True form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit 1d20+3 , reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) 2d8+3 piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) 1d6 acid damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit 1d20+4 , reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) 2d6+3 slashing damage. Instead of dealing damage, the Manananggal can grapple the target (escape DC 14).
Siphon Blood. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit 1d20+4 , reach 5 ft., one grappled target. Hit: 16 (3d8 + 3) 3d8+3 piercing damage. The Manananggal regains hit points equal to the damage taken by the target.
Bile Attack (Recharge 5-6, True Form Only). The Manananggal exhales acidic bile in a 30-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) 4d6 acid damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one.
Some Mannanangaals have limited spellcasting abilities (see table below).

Basic Information

Anatomy

The menangaal in all respects matches the physical description of a human or elf, following the expected morphology of these two species. While their physical appearance resembles that of a human, their jaws can dislocate to devour their prey, sporting massive razor-sharp teeth that grow as their mouth transmutates.

Genetics and Reproduction

Menangaals cannot reproduce. It is unclear how new menangaals are created.

Growth Rate & Stages

Menangaals do not age, so long as they feed regularly and spend time attached to their lower body.

Ecology and Habitats

Typically, menangaals will nest in wooded areas near well-traveled roads. It is unclear what a menangaal nest looks like, as none have lived to report on this occurance. However, menangaals have been seen to use the clothing of victims and pile them into piles usitable for sleeping.

Dietary Needs and Habits

THe menangaal must eat at least once every two weeks. Typically, they require their weight in raw meat over this time. They can subsist on animal meat, however the flesh of sentient creatures is preferable in order to the menangaal to keep from starving.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Menangaals all have darkvision as a racial ability. In addition, a menangaal can sense when prey is wounded, sensing how close they are to death.

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Height

5 ft to 6 ft

Average Weight

100 - 200 lb

Related Historical Events

• 1723 CE
  Chapter 6: Blood Harvest