Displacer Beast

Overview

This monstrous predator takes its name from its ability to displace light so that it appears to be several feet away from its actual location. A displacer beast resembles a sleek great cat covered in blue-black fur. However, its otherworldly origins are clear in its six legs and the two tentacles sprouting from its shoulders, both ending in pads tipped with spiky protrusions. A displacer beast’s eyes glow with an awful malevolence that persists even in death.

Unseelie Origins

Displacer beasts roamed the twilight lands of the Feywild for ages, until they were captured and trained by the Unseelie Court. The warriors of the court selectively bred the beasts to reinforce their ferocious and predatory nature, using them to hunt unicorns, pegasi, and other wondrous prey. However, it didn’t take long for the displacer beasts to use their malevolent intelligence to escape their masters.

Love of the Kill

Displacer beasts kill not just for food but also for sport. They target prey even when not hungry, often toying with their victims to entertain themselves until they are ready to eat. After killing its prey using its tentacles, a displacer beast drags the corpse to a quiet place where it can feed without distraction.
Displacer beasts hunt alone or in small prides that demonstrate skill at setting ambushes. A single beast will strike and withdraw, luring prey into a densely wooded area where its packmates wait. Packs of displacer beasts hunting near trade roads recall the frequency and schedule of regular caravans, laying down ambushes to pick off those caravans.

Prized Guards and Pets

Intelligent evil creatures favor displacer beasts as pets, but a displacer beast enters such an alliance only if it appears beneficial. A displacer beast might guard a vault or act as a bodyguard for a prominent individual.

Displacer Beast CR: 3 (700 XP)

Large monstrosity, lawful evil

Armor Class: 13

Hit Points: 85 (10d10 + 30)

Speed: 40 ft

STR

18 +4

DEX

15 +2

CON

16 +3

INT

6 -2

WIS

12 +1

CHA

8 -1

Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Passive Perception 11

Languages: None

Challenge Rating: 3 (700 XP)

Avoidance. If the displacer beast is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.
Displacement. The displacer beast projects a magical illusion that makes it appear to be standing near its actual location, causing attack rolls against it to have disadvantage. If it is hit by an attack, this trait is disrupted until the end of its next turn. This trait is also disrupted while the displacer beast is incapacitated or has a speed of 0.

Actions

Multiattack. The displacer beast makes two attacks with its tentacles.
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 feet, one target. Hit: 1d6 + 4 bludgeoning damage plus 1d6 piercing damage.

Lifespan

30 years

Average Weight

500 pounds

Average Length

9 feet