Kishi

Large fiend (shapechanger), chaotic evil

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

Hit Points 162 (17d10 + 68)

Speed 40 ft.

STR 18 (+4) · DEX 17 (+3) · CON 18 (+4) · INT 14 (+2) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 18 (+4)

Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +6, Cha +8

Skills Deception +8, Insight +6, Perception +6, Persuasion +8, Stealth +7

Damage Resistances poison

Condition Immunities poisoned

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16

Languages Common, Abyssal, two regional languages

Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

Traits

Shapechanger. The kishi can use its bonus action to polymorph into a Medium humanoid with a single human head or into its true form: a Large two-headed creature with a handsome human face on one side and a hyena’s on the other. Its statistics are the same in each form. Equipment it is wearing or carrying doesn’t transform.

Two-Faced Vigilance. The kishi’s heads face opposite directions, giving it advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks and immunity to being surprised while it is conscious. Creatures don’t gain advantage on attack rolls against the kishi as a result of being unseen by it.

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

Irresistible Charm. While in humanoid form, the kishi has advantage on Charisma (Deception) and Charisma (Persuasion) checks and on saving throws to maintain concentration on enchantment spells.

Mirror Aversion. If the kishi starts its turn able to see its reflection in a polished surface (such as a handheld mirror) within 30 feet, it has disadvantage on attack rolls until the start of its next turn.

Actions

Multiattack. The kishi makes three attacks: two with its Blade or Claw (depending on form) and one with its Hyena Bite.

Blade (Humanoid Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d8 + 4 slashing plus 1d6 necrotic) damage.

Claw (True Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.

Hyena Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (2d10 + 4 piercing plus 2d6 necrotic) damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 15) if it is a Medium or smaller creature. Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the kishi can’t bite another target. The kishi automatically deals 11 (2d10) piercing damage to the grappled creature at the start of each of the kishi’s turns.

Dominating Gaze (Recharge 5–6). The kishi fixes the beguiling eyes of its human face on one creature it can see within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed in this way, the creature regards the kishi as a trusted ally and is incapacitated. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. Once a creature succeeds on the save, it is immune to this kishi’s Dominating Gaze for 24 hours.

Summon Kin (1/Day). The kishi emits a guttural hyena howl. In 1d4 rounds, 1d4 giant hyenas appear in unoccupied spaces within 60 feet of the kishi and act as its allies. They remain for 1 hour, until they or the kishi die, or until the kishi dismisses them as a bonus action.

Bonus Actions

Face Shift. The kishi uses Shapechanger.

Reactions

Locking Jaws. When a creature within 5 feet hits the kishi with a melee attack, the kishi can make a Hyena Bite attack against that creature.

Lore

A demon that appears as a two-headed hyena but can turn into a handsome man. It charms women so they will bear its child.

The very name “kishi” goes back to the Bantu linguistic stratum of Central and Southern Africa, where the words kishi, nkishi, and mukisi originally referred simply to a spirit or a supernatural manifestation of power. Physically, however, the kishi in its humanoid guise is known above all for its head with two faces: in front— the visage of an exceptionally handsome man; in back— the muzzle of a hyena with bone-crushing jaws. The creature’s forward, mask-like face inspires trust, draws eyes, seduces, and thus lowers the vigilance of potential human prey. The rear, true face attacks suddenly; once it bites, folklore says its jaws cannot be forced apart. The kishi’s hair is long and tangled, hiding the hyena-like portion of the head and letting the being pass among humans as a wandering warrior or wealthy guest. Yet legends insist that its genuine demonic form is a gigantic two-headed hyena, one head human and the other a hyena’s.

The kishi’s habitat is as dual as its anatomy. On the one hand, it is said to dwell in hills and caves that overlook villages—lairs described as foul-smelling and heaped with bones. On the other hand, it can be found in settlements, whether villages or towns, where this vampiric creature lives side by side with humans.

From Vampire Bestiary 5E, p. 56 · Fern Flower Press