Housebane

Well, Lady Thornfall... it sounds like you've got a Housebane problem... maybe an infestation of two or three of them. They're particularly nasty to get rid of, but you did the right thing by calling Grem-B-Gone. We'll get rid of them for you, and we should be able to keep the structural damage to your house and destruction of personal belongings to a minimum.

— Rylponir Kladbinut, proprietor of Grem-B-Gone Extermination Services

Housebanes are a Gremlin subspecies, the corrupted form of Caretakers. These creatures infest the homes of the Folk all across Cartyrion - mostly in the larger towns and cities, but even isolated farmhouses are not completely immune to being singled out for the destructive attention these creatures bring.

The physical appearance of these creatures is as unwelcome to the urban Folk they torment as their activities. In their normal state, they resemble huge cockroaches, with an insect-like, chitinous exoskeleton coverering their entire body. They are six-limbed; their back four limbs provide locomotion and end in two small clawlike projections. These allow the creature to cling to vertical and inverted surfaces as if they were walking on flat ground. Their lower bodies resemble roach abdomens, but their thorax is held upright. This keeps their two forelimbs free, reminiscent of an insect version of a centaur. These forelimbs end in dexterous hands with which they grip their ubiquitous mauls and work their mischief. Their heads sport four compound eyes positioned so they can see clearly in all directions around and above them.

While their former Caretaker selves possessed the ability to magically preserve fresh food and drink, Housebanes have the innate ability to cause consumables to spoil prematurely, rendering them unsafe for consumption.

Name

Housebane

Type

Fey, Gremlin

Original Nymph

Caretaker

Size

SizeClass, 1ft (30cm)

Habitat

Uncommon: any household of the Folk

Housebanes retain the crafting knowledge their former Caretaker selves possessed. Instead of using these skills to benefit the household which they choose to infest, they employ their talents to turn household objects into hazardous traps. Legs of tables and chairs will be weakened so as to collapse when used. Cupboards, cabinets, and shelves will be similarly sabotaged.

In short, the presence of a single Housebane is enough to render any residence of the Folk a hazardous place to remain. On the rare occasion that two or three of the creatures team up to infest a single household, the threat to the Folk residents is significant.

Fortunately, Housebanes do not possess the ability to evade detection by simply phasing into an extra-dimensional safehouse as their former Caretaker selves did. Instead, they rely on their ability to reduce their size to that of a normal cockroach - no bigger than a half inch (1 cm) in size - to seek safety in inaccessible places within the house. They can shift between this miniscule size and their typical size - still no taller than 1ft (30cm) - at will. They also possess uncanny abilities to detect physical threats and can rapidly dodge attempts to swat them when in either form.

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Gamemaster Notes

Housebanes can infest the homes of any of the Folk, though they are far more likely to be encountered in larger cities and towns, than in lone farmhouses. Most Housebane infestations should consist of a single creature, but 20% of the time, there will be two, and 5% of the time, there will be three.

The first sign of a Housebane being present is likely an accident involving the unexpected failure of a piece of furniture. A stool collapses under the homeowner as he sits down to eat a meal, or an entire table teeters and falls, dumping a full dinner onto the floor. Food stores will then mysteriously go bad overnight, possibly causing illness if not detected. Such events may stop for a day or two, causing the household to believe their troubles were coincidental and short-lived, but then they'll start up again - worse than before.

When trying to deal with Housebanes, detection is the first obstacle. In their miniscule form, the creatures can hide almost anywhere. But while in their normal form, their hard exoskeletons can help lead to detection. If care is taken to stand quietly, a seeker can often detect the slight clacking and skittering sounds given off as the Housebane moves about.

Like all Gremlins (and other Fey), Housebanes are aware that they are functionally immortal, but susceptible to death by accident or violence. Thus, while they are more than willing to enter into brief combat with a would-be exterminator, they will not fight to the death if they have an escape route. They would much rather run away and live to torment another household on another day.

5E-compatible Statblock

Housebane CR: 2

Tiny fey, gremlin, chaotic evil

Armor Class: 14

Hit Points: 28

Speed: 40 ft , climb: 20 ft

STR

12 +1

DEX

14 +2

CON

10 +0

INT

14 +2

WIS

10 +0

CHA

16 +3

Saving Throws: STR+1; DEX+2; CON+0; INT+4; WIS+0; CHA+5

Skills: Deception+5, Intimidation+7, Stealth+4, Sleight of Hand+4

Senses: Darkvision

Languages: Common, Sylvan, Gremlish

Challenge Rating: 2

At will:
Cantrips: Fire Bolt, Mage Hand, Mending, Prestidigitation
2nd Level: Arcane Lock, Knock

1/day:
1st Level: Grease, Spoil Food & Drink (see below)

Spoil Food & Drink:

Level: 1
Range: 10ft
School: Transmutation
Casting Time: 1 Action
Duration: Instantaneous
Save: None

All nonmagical food and drink within a 5-foot-radius sphere centered on a point of your choice within range is spoiled and rendered inedible. Food will give off a foul odor; drink will appear obviously fouled with indeterminate substances. Anyone consuming the food or drink must make a Constitution Save (DC14) or suffer the Poisoned Condition for 1d4 days. (On a failed save, additional attempts can be made after a long rest.)

3/day:
2nd Level: Shrink Self

Shrink Self:

Level: 2
Range: Self
School: Transmutation
Casting Time: 1 Action
Duration: Permanent
Save: None

This spell works in a manner similar to Enlarge/Reduce, except that it can only be used by the Housebane to shrink itself down to the size of a normal cockroach (i.e. about 1/2" (1cm) tall). It can be dispelled at will by the Housebane, allowing it to return to normal size. All items worn/carried by the Housebane are shrunk (and later restored) without changing their characteristics.

Can't Touch This: As a Bonus Action on each of its turns, the Housebane can move 5' without incurring an Attack of Opportunity

Actions

Melee:
Unarmed Strike +4 Dam: 1d4+1
Housebane's Maul +3 Dam: 1d6+1

Reactions

Quick Skitter: When an opponent succeeds in a melee attack that does damage, the Housebane can use its Reaction to halve the damage taken.

PF2E-compatible Statblock

Housebane - Creature 2

UNCOMMONCETINYFEYGREMLIN

Languages	Common, Sylvan, Gremlish
Skills	Crafting+8, Deception+9, Intimidation+11, Stealth+8, Thievery+8
STR +1 , DEX +2 , CON +0 , INT +2 , WIS +0 , CHA +3
Items	Housebane's Maul
AC	18
Saving Throws	Fort 6, Ref 8, Will 6
HP	28
Speed	40ft
Melee	Unarmed Strike: +6 / +2 / -2 Dam: 1d4+1 Housebane's Maul: +5 / +0 / -5 Dam: 1d6+1
Special Abilities	Quick Skitter: When an opponent succeeds in a melee attack that does damage, the Housebane can use its Reaction to halve the damage taken. Can't Touch This: Once per turn, in addition to any regular movement, the Housebame can Step, ignoring any terrain penalties
Spells	Spell Attack Bonus: +7 [Spell DC: 17 Cantrips: Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Produce Flame 1st Level: Lock, , , Magic Missile (see notes), Mending, Purify Food & Drink, Unseen Servant 2nd Level: Invisibility, Knock