Spectre of Doubt
Some poets write of shadows that argue with the soul, voices that convince you reason is an enemy. Scholars call them cognitive revenants—fragments of minds that hardened into will. In folklore they appear where oaths were broken, verdicts reversed, and hope ground to dust.
MediumUndead(Psychic Undead)·CR 12·Chaotic Evil
Spectre of Doubt
psychiccontrollerundeadincorporealsocial-manipulator
HP168AC17SPD30 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover), incorporeal moveCR12 (8,400 XP)|InsightPersuasionDeceptionIntimidation
STR
10
DEX
18
CON
18
INT
18
save
WIS
20
save
CHA
16
save
Incorporeal Movement. The spectre can move through creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. If it ends its turn inside an object, it takes 10 () force damage.
Aura of Doubt. The spectre exudes an Aura of Doubt in a 30-foot radius. A creature that starts its turn in the aura must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or gain one level of fear. Levels of fear stack and have escalating mechanical consequences: first level imposes disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls; second level grants disadvantage and incapacitates for 1 round at the start of the creature's turn; third level causes a creature to flee the spectre for rounds. A creature can shake out one level of fear by spending an action to make a Wisdom check, removing one level on a success. Magical immunity to fear blocks the aura's effect.
Soul Binding. Mind Leash. If the spectre reduces a creature to 0 hit points with Spellbound Grasp it can attempt to bind the creature's soul. The target makes a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure the target is bound: while bound the spectre can issue telepathic commands to the soul and use it as a thrall to fuel Domination Whisper once per day. A bound soul requires a remove curse, dispel evil and good, or the destruction of the spectre plus a ritual to be freed.
Logical Chill. Logical Chill. The spectre has advantage on saving throws against spells or effects that would cause it to change course or abandon its plan (charm, compulsion, fear) because it is fueled by cold reasoning.
Spellbound Grasp. Melee Spellbound Grasp. Melee Weapon Attack: to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 18 () psychic damage and the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or gain one level of fear (see Trait: Levels of Fear). While affected by any level of fear from the spectre, the target has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks. If the target is reduced to 0 hit points by this attack, its soul is not freed and instead the spectre attempts to bind it (see Aftermath).
Domination Whisper. Domination Whisper. The spectre inhales deeply and speaks directly into the minds of up to three creatures it can see within 60 feet. Each target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed and mentally dominated for 1 minute. While dominated a creature is compelled to obey subtle commands from the spectre in ways that seem reasonable and nonobvious to bystanders (the spectre cannot command obviously suicidal acts). A dominated creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. On a successful save, the creature is frightened of the spectre for 1 minute.
Mind Rend. Mind Rend (Recharge 5-6). The spectre tears at the rational arc of a single creature within 90 feet that can see it. The target must succeed on a Intelligence saving throw or take 45 () psychic damage and be stunned until the end of its next turn as intrusive doubts and crushing despair interrupt thought. On a success, the target takes half damage and is not stunned.
Paranoid Reflex. Paranoid Reflex. When a creature within 30 feet attempts to force movement on the spectre, the spectre can impose disadvantage on that creature's attack or check by whispering doubt (once per round).
Sibilant Thought. Sibilant Thought. The spectre sends a whisper to one creature it can see. That creature must succeed on a Wisdom save or have disadvantage on its next attack roll.
Erode Resolve (Costs 2 Actions). Erode Resolve. The spectre targets one creature that is frightened or charmed by it. The target takes 14 () psychic damage and has disadvantage on saving throws until the end of its next turn.
Commanding Presence (Costs 3 Actions). Commanding Presence. The spectre uses a brief Domination Whisper on a single target ( Wisdom save). The target is compelled to spend its next action moving away from its allies or dropping a held item if the spectre chooses and fails its save.
2nd level
Mirror Image (Cairn)Illusion— Mirror Image (Cairn entry produces illusory duplicates over time causing questions of identity). As a 2nd-level D&D adaptation the spectre conjures three illusory duplicates that last 1 minute. Each time the spectre is targeted by an attack, roll to determine whether a duplicate is hit. The duplicates create narrative effects that can cause a target to need a DC 17 Wisdom save when attempting to determine the true spectre.
3rd level
Telepathy (Cairn)Divination— Telepathy (Cairn spellbook entry: Telepathy allows two creatures to hear each other's thoughts no matter how far apart. In Cairn casting, a caster invests Magic Dice and may hear the thoughts of the last possessor. In D&D use as a 3rd-level effect: the spectre establishes a telepathic link with up to three targets within 120 ft. for 10 minutes. Targets may attempt a DC 17 Wisdom save to end the link. While linked the spectre can speak into the targets' minds and read surface thoughts. Casting costs no material components when used by the spectre.
4th level
Masquerade (Cairn)Illusion— Masquerade (Cairn spellbook effect: alters appearance and voice to match a touched character; extended use causes tics). As a 4th-level D&D adaptation the spectre may assume the exact appearance and voice of any humanoid whose corpse or possessions it has touched within the last 24 hours. The illusion lasts 1 hour or until the spectre uses it again. Creatures interacting with the illusion require a DC 17 Wisdom (Insight) check to notice subtle tics.
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