Balamuten

Medium fey, neutral evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points 136 (16d8 + 64)

Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft.

STR 18 (+4) · DEX 12 (+1) · CON 18 (+4) · INT 10 (+0) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 16 (+3)

Saving Throws Str +7, Wis +5

Skills Athletics +7, Perception +5, Stealth +4

Damage Vulnerabilities Fire

Damage Resistances Cold; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages Common, Sylvan, Aquan

Challenge 6

Traits

Amphibious. Balamuten can breathe air and water.

Grasping Tide. When in water, Balamuten's melee reach increases by 5 feet due to his ability to manipulate water.

Water Camouflage. Balamuten has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide while underwater.

Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, Balamuten has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Actions

Multiattack. Balamuten makes two attacks: one with his Slam and one with his Grasping Wave or uses Lure of the Deep and makes one Slam attack.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.

Grasping Wave. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft. (in water only), one target.

Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 15). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained and pulled 5 feet toward Balamuten at the start of each of its turns.

Whirlpool (Recharge 5–6). While submerged, Balamuten creates a swirling whirlpool in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on himself. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage and is pulled 15 feet toward Balamuten. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't pulled.

Lure of the Deep. Balamuten targets one humanoid he can see within 30 feet of him. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by Balamuten for 1 hour. While charmed in this way, the target feels compelled to approach Balamuten by the most direct means possible, though it doesn't put itself in obvious danger (such as jumping into a whirlpool). The target can repeat the saving throw if Balamuten or his allies harm it.

Reactions

Watery Escape. When Balamuten takes damage, he can use his reaction to submerge into water, moving up to half his swim speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Behavior and Tactics

Balamuten prefers to fight in or near water, where he can leverage his natural abilities. He uses Grasping Wave to restrain foes and pull them into the water, attempting to drown or incapacitate them. His Whirlpool is a powerful area attack that can disrupt enemy formations and bring multiple targets within his reach.

He uses Lure of the Deep to isolate opponents, targeting those who seem most susceptible to his charm. On land, Balamuten is less effective due to his slow movement and Sunlight Sensitivity, so he avoids prolonged engagements out of the water.

If confronted in daylight or away from water, Balamuten may attempt to retreat, using Watery Escape if possible to return to a safer environment.

Lore

A water-dwelling humanoid with a bloated face, goose-like skin, and a large belly, inhabiting large lakes and abducting women he desires.

Balamuten is a water spirit whose head resembles a jug with a bloated face, and his body is covered in goosebumps. If you manage to spot him, you'll immediately notice his short, thin, crooked legs and huge belly. All in all, he's frightening and unattractive.

In folklore, there's an account of Balamuten recorded verbatim from a woman who claims to have seen him: “He is scary and unattractive, and his eyes are very, very evil. His skin is either white or has a greenish tint—I couldn't quite tell. He surfaced right in front of me, on that lake over there.”

From The Witchwood Bestiary 5E, p. 22 · Fern Flower Press