Palcheokgwi 팔척귀

Large undead, neutral

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points 117 (13d10 + 39)

Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)

STR 20 (+5) · DEX 14 (+2) · CON 16 (+3) · INT 12 (+1) · WIS 15 (+2) · CHA 17 (+3)

Saving Throws Wis +5, Cha +6

Skills Insight +5, Perception +5, Stealth +5

Damage Vulnerabilities radiant

Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Damage Immunities necrotic, poison

Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages understands Common and one regional dialect but can’t speak

Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)

Traits

Incorporeal Movement. Palcheokgwi can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Attendant Wraithlets. Two Tiny undead orbit Palcheokgwi. While at least one wraithlet remains, ranged and melee attack rolls against Palcheokgwi are made with disadvantage. Each wraithlet has AC 13, 10 hit points, immunity to poison and necrotic damage, and shares Palcheokgwi’s condition immunities. A wraithlet destroyed in this way reforms after Palcheokgwi finishes a long rest.

Eerie Footfalls. A steady “pho-pho-pho” drumbeat emanates from Palcheokgwi. A creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of Palcheokgwi and can hear the sound must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened until the start of its next turn. A creature that succeeds on the save is immune to Eerie Footfalls for 24 hours.

Unwilling Foe. If no creature has damaged Palcheokgwi since the end of its last turn, its attacks deal half damage (rounded down).

Actions

Multiattack. Palcheokgwi makes two Tree-Trunk Blows.

Tree-Trunk Blow. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) force damage, or 8 (1d10 + 5) if Unwilling Foe is active.

Wraithlet Touch (Recharge 5–6). Each wraithlet swoops through a creature of Palcheokgwi’s choice within 30 feet. The creature must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Creatures that can’t see the wraithlets have disadvantage on this save.

Bonus Actions

Somber Pace. Palcheokgwi moves up to half its speed. If it ends this movement in an area of bright light, it immediately becomes Invisible until it moves or takes an action.

Reactions

Fade with the Attendants. When a wraithlet is reduced to 0 hit points, Palcheokgwi can move up to 30 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.

Lore

Long-legged and tree-trunk strong. It strides with wide steps and mutters to itself with a “pho-pho-pho-

Palcheokgwi (팔척귀) literally means “Eight-Cheok Ghost” (gwi translates as “ghost” or “demon,” while a cheok is an old Korean foot-length). The name highlights the spirit’s defining trait—its towering height—which makes it stand out even among Korea’s many other apparitions.

A record in the Seungjeongwon Diaries describes Palcheokgwi as roughly ten feet (3 m) tall. Its legs are unnaturally long, and its trunk is said to look like a straight, weathered tree. The strangest detail is that two smaller ghosts perch on its left and right sides. They orbit around the big spirit in slow circles, and then all three vanish at once.

From Korean Bestiary 5E, p. 86 · Fern Flower Press