Boginka Matriarch

Medium fey, chaotic evil

Armor Class 21 (natural armor)

Hit Points 350 (28d8 + 196)

Speed 50 ft., swim 50 ft.

STR 20 (+5) · DEX 26 (+8) · CON 24 (+7) · INT 18 (+4) · WIS 22 (+6) · CHA 24 (+7)

Saving Throws Dex +15, Wis +13, Cha +14

Skills Deception +14, Perception +13, Stealth +15, Insight +13, Arcana +11

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

Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened

Senses Truesight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 23

Languages All languages, telepathy 300 ft.

Challenge 17

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the Boginka fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.

Innate Spellcasting. The Boginka's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 22, +14 to hit with spell attacks). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: detect thoughts, invisibility, major image, suggestion, phantasmal killer

3/day each: dominate person, harm, modify memory, mass suggestion

1/day each: dominate monster, feeblemind, power word stun

Magic Resistance. The Boginka has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Shapechanger. The Boginka can use her action to polymorph into a Small or Medium female humanoid or beast, or back into her true form. Her statistics, other than her size, are the same in each form. Any equipment she is wearing or carrying transforms with her. She reverts to her true form if she dies.

Luring Aura. Hostile creatures that start their turn within 30 feet of the Boginka must make a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is charmed until the start of its next turn. While charmed in this way, the creature can't attack the Boginka or target her with harmful abilities or magical effects.

Cursed Presence. Creatures that start their turn within 60 feet of the Boginka and can see her must make a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is cursed for 1 minute. While cursed, the creature has disadvantage on all attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws. A creature that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to this effect for 24 hours.

Actions

Multiattack. The Boginka makes four attacks: two with her Claws or Bewitching Gaze and two with her Hair Snare.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 24 (4d8 + 8) slashing damage plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage.

Hair Snare. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target.

Hit: The target is grappled (escape DC 23). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the Boginka can't use Hair Snare on another target.

Bewitching Gaze. The Boginka targets one creature she can see within 120 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed in this way, the creature is under the Boginka's control and can't take reactions. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Captivating Song (Recharge 5–6). The Boginka sings a haunting melody. Every humanoid within 500 feet of her that can hear the song must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 hour. While charmed in this way, a target is incapacitated and has a speed of 0. The effect ends for a target if it takes any damage or if it witnesses the Boginka attacking or damaging any of its allies.

Reactions

Vengeful Curse. When the Boginka is damaged by a creature within 120 feet of her that she can see, she can force that creature to make a DC 22 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is cursed for 8 hours. While cursed, the creature subtracts 1d6 from all attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks. Additionally, the Boginka regains hit points equal to half the damage dealt.

Legendary Actions

The Boginka can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature's turn. The Boginka regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.

- Move. The Boginka moves up to her speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

- Attack. The Boginka makes one Claw or Hair Snare attack.

- Misty Escape (Costs 2 Actions). The Boginka transforms into a cloud of mist until the start of her next turn. In this form, she gains resistance to all damage, and she can’t be grappled or restrained. She can pass through small holes, narrow openings, and even mere cracks, though she treats liquids as though they were solid surfaces.

## Description

### Appearance

The Boginka Enchantress and Boginka Matriarch are powerful and ancient fey beings. In their true form, they appear as tall, slender women with an eerie beauty marred by unsettling features such as elongated limbs, sharp claws, and eyes that glow with an otherworldly light. Their long, flowing hair seems to move on its own, capable of ensnaring victims. They often adorn themselves with garments made of natural elements like leaves, bones, and stones.

### Personality

Boginkas are cunning and manipulative, delighting in beguiling mortals and bending them to their will. They are driven by a desire to exert control and wreak havoc on those who cross their paths. Despite their malevolent tendencies, they can be reasoned with if approached carefully, and they may strike bargains that serve their interests.

Lore

Boginki are female demonic beings whose main purpose is to pursue pregnant women and to replace or kidnap newborns.

Boginki are most often depicted as several hideous women—tall, thin, with sagging breasts, swollen bellies, and long, disheveled hair. Often, they have the legs of geese, chickens, or dogs; teeth like pig tusks; a hooked nose; and long arms with three claw-like crooked fingers. Occasionally, Boginki appear as beautiful young maidens. They can assume almost any form: mist, cats, dogs, frogs.

Frequently, they are women who, for various reasons, died during childbirth. Children kidnapped by these beings from their parents turn into Boginki. Women who have committed suicide, as well as mothers who have killed their own children, often become these evil spirits.

From The Witchwood Bestiary 5E, p. 41 · Fern Flower Press