Hedgehog Man

Medium monstrosity, Chaotic Neutral

Armor Class 16

Hit Points 97 (13d8 + 39)

Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

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

Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +5, Cha +6

Skills Animal Handling +8, Intimidation +6, Perception +5, Performance +6

Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing

Damage Immunities Poison, Charmed, Poisoned

Gear Black Oak Bagpipes

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages Common, Sylvan

Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)

Traits

Spiked Defense. Any creature that grapples Hans or hits him with a melee attack from within 5 feet takes 5 (1d10) Piercing damage.

Actions

Multiattack. Hans makes three attacks: one with his Dissonant Bagpipes (or Spellcasting) and two with his Spiked Club or Quill Volley.

Spiked Club. Melee Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) Bludgeoning damage, and the target is Prone.

Quill Volley. Ranged Attack: +6 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) Piercing damage, and the target is Poisoned.

Dissonant Bagpipes. Magic Attack: +6 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d10 + 3) Psychic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be Stunned until the end of its next turn.

Spellcasting. Hans casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (Spell Save DC 14):

At Will: Animal Friendship (beasts only; PHB, p. 239)

1/Day Each: Conjure Animals (manifests as a swarm of ethereal, spectral boars; PHB, p. 254), Dominate Beast (PHB, p. 265)

Bonus Actions

Command the Sounder. Hans commands up to two friendly beasts within 60 feet that can hear his bagpipes to immediately use their Reaction to move up to half their speed and make one melee attack.

Call the War-Rooster (1/Day). Hans blows a piercing whistle, summoning a giant rooster (use the Griffon stat block; MM’25, p. 159) to an unoccupied space within 30 feet of him. It rolls its own initiative and acts as a loyal mount or independent ally.

Reactions

Quill Retaliation. When a creature misses Hans with a melee attack, he abruptly turns his back and bashes them with his quills. The attacker takes 9 (2d8) Piercing damage and is pushed 10 feet away.

Lore

A youth born half human and half hedgehog from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Hans My Hedgehog.

Near the edge of a dark forest lived a well-to-do farmer. He had everything a man could want—money in the bank, good land, a fine house, and a beautiful wife—yet he wasn’t happy. Anyone who passed him on the road could see the gloom on his face. For all his riches, one thing was missing: he and his wife had no children. Whenever he went to town with his buddies for a drink, they mocked him, asking why he still had no kids and when he was finally going to produce an heir.

One night, after another round of teasing, the farmer stormed home in a fury and blurted out to his wife, “I want a child, I don’t care how—even if it’s a hedgehog!” His wife only shook her head. “Oh, husband,” she sighed, “that wish can’t bring any good.” Sure enough, their baby was born half hedgehog on top and half boy underneath.

From Grimm Legends Bestiary 5E, p. 24 · Fern Flower Press