Furthermore, beholder mages were so innately gifted with magic that they could simultaneously cast spells with each eyestalk that had been dedicated to their arcane studies. This tactic is useful primarily when the beholder intends to use the group for its own purposes, and keeping the leader alive is advantageous to those plans. Upon death, a beholder's skeletal structure would become brittle.[12]. To the average beholder. Beholderkin | Realm of Adventure Wiki | Fandom It is hesitant to form alliances with other powerful groups, and is likely to break off ties with a new ally if it senses even a hint of betrayal or difficulty. [21], The parent would choose one infant who looked most like itself to rear, and either eat or reject the remainder, forcing the survivors to fend for themselves. Lawful evil Beyond the lair entrance lies the vestibule. You've got an extra tapering divider before the Reactions section The floor of the vestibule is usually 15 feet or more lower than the entrance corridor, and the chamber is often inhabited by shriekers, which act as an early warning system. Beholders can produce others of their own kind, but the process has nothing to do with biology and everything to do with psychology. A beholder who wished to learn the Art of arcane spellcasting beyond the simple use of its innate powers faced a number of limitations, the greatest of which being its own antimagic eyesight. Size Thanks to its superior intelligence and its unique way of thinking, the Xanathar is able to efficiently supervise and direct the efforts of many creatures at the same time. 5th Edition Statistics[1] Even a slight variation in the shape of an eyestalk or the texture of its skin is enough for one beholder to consider another a flawed abomination, which should be destroyed. A beholder cant attune to items that require attunement by a spellcaster or a member of a certain class. Beholder 5e Monster Guide for Dungeons And Dragons This was made all the more complicated since more than one variety of beholder existed, each believing itself to be the pinnacle of bodily perfection and they viewed other beholders who differed from this image in even the most minute details as loathsome enemies and inferiors. A human chess player becomes a master by honing the ability to look several moves ahead during a gamewhich is still no match for what a beholder can accomplish with its superior intelligence and awareness. Minions usually guard the entrances to this chamber. Tiusium would collect in chambers in the body, concentrated mostly at the top of the skull, thereby ensuring that individuals would rest in an upright position. The rules for Mounted Combat state: A willing creature that is at least one size larger than you and that has an appropriate anatomy can serve as a mount, using the following rules. However, the persona of a "sane" beholder was just as likely to be considered insane by any non-beholder. Beholderkin Origin Without such knowledge, only a misshapen mishmash of a creature could be dreamed to life. WebSpeed 30 ft.; fly 30 ft. (hover) (Beholderkin only) STR 16 (+3) DEX 10 (+0) CON 15 (+2) INT 16 (+3) WIS 10 (+0) CHA 6 (-2) Damage Immunities psychic Senses darkvision 60 ft., WebThe beholder shoots three of the following magical eye rays at random (reroll duplicates), choosing one to three targets it can see within 120 feet of it: Legendary Actions Bite. [16], Beholder blood was green. (Neutral), Power. Beholder-kin Lawful evil This united group of identical beholders doesnt truly have a hive intelligence, but their personalities and goals are so similar that they can predict and assume each others behavior, much as especially close human siblings can. A beholders natural ability to fly is essential to many of its defenses and habits. After just shy of six months of pregnancy, the beholder gave birth. The Change the name (also URL address, possibly the category) of the page. It features a roster of monsters particularly suited to populating a A beholder often has one or more pets in its lair, mainly because (for whatever reason) it enjoys the company of such creatures. Distinctions WebA zombie beholder of CR5 can deal 45 damage which is instantly fatal to most d6 casters in an average 4-person party of level 4's fighting it and by CR balance is considered a "Hard" encounter for those 4 level 4 PCs. These items are stored somewhere in the lair until theyre disposed ofsometimes by distributing them among the minions as gifts, other times by disintegration. The Monsters Listingintroduces several new types of beholder-kin. The creature resembles an aberration of that kind, which determines certain traits in its stat block. Find out what you can do. Even intruders who dont need light to see have to contend with the beholders superior sensesthe monster can see its opponents before 60-foot darkvision sees it. Favored terrain 4th Edition Statistics[2] WebBeholderkin, Slaad, or Star Spawn. Neither half of the beholder's mind trusted the other, so they hid a lot from each other, creating a very paranoid relationship. A beholder sees in all directions. Fist-sized holes in the floors of these tunnels open into the rooms below, allowing the beholder to spy on creatures in its lair and perhaps target them with eye rays. [25], Beholders were considered adults at the age of two years old and retained their vitality until their ninetieth year. A beholder believes it is superior to all other entities. A spectator (see the Monster Manual) is a kind of lesser beholder summoned from another plane of existence to watch over something, such as a treasure hoard. Mottled (roll twice, ignoring results above 10), Shaded (roll twice, ignoring results above 10), Double iris (roll twice, ignoring results of 20). The beholder, of course, can disintegrate these barriers to gain access to the tunnel. Something does not work as expected? The guild has been in operation for nearly two hundred years, with a different beholder taking over every few decades. When you cast the spell, choose Beholderkin, Slaad, or Star Spawn. I miss the kinship of my identical twin, who disappeared years ago. [24], A lighter-than-air gas was produced inside the bodies of beholders. Upon death, the skin would harden further into a stone-like consistency. After that milestone, most beholders became increasingly frail and their abilities gradually ceased functioning as they should. The main element of an oil sprayer trap is a large tank, filled with oil, embedded into the top of a column or located in a space above the trapped room. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, their respective logos, and all Wizards titles and characters are property of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. The cone is wide enough that the beholder can usually redirect it toward any particular creature trying to escape the area, keeping that target locked down until the monster has killed all the enemies outside the cone. At such a time, the beholders dream-birthing creates a beholder hivea group of newborns that are identical to its own shape but smaller. This started out as a silly idea - I wanted to play a literal Beholder as a PC. Greed. Lieutenants who have their own ambitions, who might come to oppose the tyrant or fear for their safety, are much more likely to flee (or retire) than to confront the beholder. Hard, solid balls that drew in both light through the pupil and magical energy through the iris, which consisted of some sort of translucent crystal. The saving throw for an alternative ability uses the same DC and the same ability score as the spell the eye ray is based on. beholderkin - Search - D&D Beyond An inventive beholder might use an eversmoking bottle to obscure dozens of pit traps in a room, but a more militaristic one might not have a use for it and treat it as clutter. It otherwise adopts the targets statistics. Devious and hidden traps are liable to be lurking around every corner, and might be blatantly obvious in some places, yet no less lethal. WebWhen you cast the spell, choose Beholderkin, Slaad, or Star Spawn. On extremely rare occasions when a beholder dreams of another beholder, the act creates a warp in realityfrom which a new, fully formed beholder springs forth unbidden, seemingly having appeared out of thin air in a nearby space. WebThe spirit manifests physically in an unoccupied space that you can see within range. Niches and pedestals hold smaller objects, while larger objects are suspended from the ceiling or left freestanding in the room. [18], The beholder brain was similar in appearance to that of a humanoid's, but wider,[18] capable of reaching a diameter of up to 4feet (1.2meters). WebBite. This way of thinking could be interpreted as a form of paranoiaand if so, it would be the most extreme form imaginable. Beyond that, this ray has a multitude of uses. Because a beholders minions are typically not able to fly, many of these chambers are connected to others by staircases or gently sloping ramps in addition to the tunnels, so the beholder can easily move its minions around as the need arises. Same as death tyrant, but with mummy rot. @Beholderkin. I sometimes forget that others dont have access to all of my knowledge. WebThe beholder will do its best to keep intruders at a distance, shutting down its center eye so it can zap anyone that comes at it. Source. Some obstacle courses feature low walls to slow enemies even further or a portcullis to trap them in one section of the chamber. Most believe their leader is a member of a long-lived race, perhaps a dwarf or an elf. [8] The same dreaming could result in bodily alterations for the beholder. Not all share the xenophobia of true beholders; though most are still evil and cruel in nature. 2e The preserved corpse of a rival beholder (or any parts it can recover from a battle) would certainly be a prized trophy, as would be the skull of a defeated dragon, the clothing of a famous adventurer the beholder killed, or art objects that are pleasing to its alien senses. It holds sway over a dozen specialized lieutenants. As a result, on rare occasions when a beholder dreams of another beholder, the dream-reality becomes warped and takes on physical form, becoming another actual beholder. Although I am perfect as I am, I can strive to be even better. To those who would seek to conquer beholders or merely understand them, nearly everything about their quarry is unfathomable. A prisoner is stripped of weapons and magic items, thrown into one of the holes, and guarded by minions at all times. Although a beholders specific actions will vary with each encounter, the creatures behavior is largely governed by the tactics discussed below. When these thoughts bubble to the surface, the Xanathar might crack down on its lieutenants, interpreting their mistakes as disobedience, their failures as deliberate attempts to undermine its power, and their successes as challenges to its superiority. If an organization is useful but significantly weaker than the guild, the Xanathar is likely to absorb its members and resources into its guild (either immediately or gradually) so it can keep an eye on threats from within that group. The creature disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or when the spell ends. Rumors occasionally surface about a monstrous crime lord, such as a demon or a dragon, that guides its organization from the shadows. Volo's Guide to Monsters - Cyclopedia - Compendium Frequently, these lairs were carved out by the beholders themselves, using their eye rays to mold the environment for their purposes. Unintelligent foes are regarded as food or pets. Alignment A beholder that has amassed many trophies might set aside an area in its lair dedicated to their display. 5E Xenophobic and vicious creatures, beholders were quick to attack enemies, including anyone they deemed not "like themselves." Intellect Devourer 1e Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage. Eye raysCharm MonsterFlight Type Beholders worshiped Gzemnid[30] and the Great Mother.[31]. For an example of an eye tyrant that leads an organization of humanoids, see the section on the Xanathar Guild. If its lair includes a long, narrow chamber with an uneven floor and multiple terraces, a beholder might turn this area into a killing ground. My first thought was to try and replicate the "monster classes" of 3.5 but that turned out to be a nightmare of balance and game design for a new homebrewer such as myself. After the beholder secures the spoils it desires from its enemies, it allows its minions to divide the remaining booty. [20], The birth process had been witnessed by very few. These large, orb-shaped beings had ten eyestalks and one central eye, each containing powerful magic. The most mundane function of the petrification ray is as a means of decorating a beholders lair with statues. Beholder eyes also had up to twelve lenses, all capable of movement and rotation independent of the others, which was what granted them control over the aiming of their eye rays. Warlock Wizard When the dreamer awakens, it treats the newborns as extensions of its own self in other bodies, and therefore isnt consumed with an urge to kill them. In a seldom-used cavern with a high ceiling, a beholder might erect a wall that doesnt reach the ceiling and build a trapped door into it. 5e Check out how this page has evolved in the past. Beholders and Beholderkin Beholders are one of D&D s most notable additions to the fantasy genre. The pit might be empty, be filled with mud (causing anything trapped in it to eventually drown), or have spikes at the bottom. 4e An intelligent creature is seen as food or a potential minion. Like its predecessors, the beholder uses the Xanathar as a title rather than its personal name (which is Zushaxx). The aberration has just one aspect that is explicitly based on your current state "only one" should be "only once" In Charm Ray, "Onlooker" should be lowercase, "one minute" should be "1 minute", and "affect" should be "effect". Size I must recover an artifact that was stolen from me. Aberrant Darkvision (360 degrees)[1] 10d10 + 50 bandits and 3d6 bandit captains, 10d10 hobgoblins and 2d4 hobgoblin captains, 10d10 + 50 kobolds, 2d4 kobold inventors,** and 2d6 kobold scale sorcerers**. According to those rare few witnesses, the beholder would unhinge its jaw, spit up its womb and bite it off. Although each use of the charm effect lasts only an hour, repeated uses over time against the same target tend to wear down a creatures will, creating a docile servant. In addition to its lieutenants, the Xanathar has many minions with specific jobs. [10], Beholder 'bones' were incredibly porous and lightweight leather-like cartilage that was visually indistinguishable from their skin, but comparatively weaker, almost having the strength and durability of iron. (These features arent shown on the accompanying map, but can be located anywhere you see fit.) Each lieutenant is responsible for operating one of the aspects of guild business, including assassination, blackmail, extortion, mercenaries, slavery, smuggling, spying, and thievery (of these operations, slavery and thievery are the largest). [20], Probably the least understood aspect of beholder biology was the antimagic properties of their central eyes. Although previous Xanathars carefully guarded the facts of their true nature and allowed only a handful of their lieutenants to know the truth, the current Xanathar treats the matter more like an open secret. Language(s) Obstacle Course. A beholder can use its telekinesis ray in conjunction with its antimagic cone to lift a heavy object above the cone and drop it onto an opponent inside the cone; gravity finishes the job, even though the cone negates the beholders telekinetic control. Usually lawful evil For example, if a beholder ate 110pounds (50kilograms) of food, only 10pounds (4.5kilograms) of that would go towards its daily intake needs, and the rest would be digested over the course of the next five days without it needing to eat anything else. WebBeholder 5e 4e 3e 2e 1e 5th Edition Statistics Size Large Type Aberration Alignment Lawful evil Challenge rating General Information Movement Flying Vision Darkvision (360 The skin of a beholder appeared to be made out of a stony substance,[10] as strong and durable as steel, and just as inflexible[11]. A typical arrangement is a network of tunnels running above the main chambers of the lair, each wide enough for the beholder to fly through. A beholders disintegration ray is a useful tool for excavation. However, their sense of hearing was inferior to that of a human,[10] and their sense of taste was notably poor, if not nonexistant. Because there is no limit to the number of zombies a death tyrant can animate and control, it can pack its lair so full of undead that there is little space for anyone to walk, creating a shambling barrier of cadaverous resistance against any invasion. Although beholders lacked the capacity to see color, they had the ability to perceive even in the most darkened environment, under conditions in which a human or similar creature would be rendered blind. To learn spells of a new level, a beholder mage had to permanently sacrifice the innate power of one of its eyestalks to dedicate to that new level. Some even worship the beholder as an angry, capricious deity. A typical simple door trap is a pivoting spiked arm that swings downward to impale an intruder when the door is opened. When the trap is triggered, a valve in the bottom of the tank opens, and oil spews into the room, making the floor slick and igniting if any open flames are present. It is aware of the great library at Candlekeep and the lore stored there, and one of its main objectives is to get an agent into the place that can start sending copies of that information back to the Xanathar for review. WebThe Witness - A Beholderkin Character Race. Among these are the beholders accountant, chamberlain, chief messenger, doctor, fish-keeper, fortune-teller, lawyer, master entertainer, monster trainer, trap-setter, and warden for its private prison. A beholders arrogance is a prominent aspect of its personality. [20] When the child that the parent chose to rear reached adulthood, it typically rejected its parent and left to become independent. A beholder uses its fear ray to psychologically torture and interrogate a prisoner until the creature loses the will to resist. WebBeholderkin have a very wide range of appearances and abilities. Where another creature would ignore the occurrence of two seemingly unrelated events as merely coincidental, a beholder imagines multiple ways they could be related, finding or fabricating a pattern out of supposed or actual randomness. WebThey are twice the size of typical beholders, and differ in appearance as well. The creature resembles an aberration of that kind, which determines certain traits in its stat block. [29], Beholders were not particularly strong but were inherently magical creatures, with each of their eyes possessing an innately magical nature. If a beholders retinue were likened to an army, the grunts would be represented by its lesser minions, intelligent creatures that can talk and usually live in large groups. 5e WebA beholder believes it is superior to all other entities.