Tengu Elite Commander
Large fey (yokai), chaotic neutral
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 286 (28d10 + 112)
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (wings)
STR 20 (+5) · DEX 18 (+4) · CON 18 (+4) · INT 14 (+2) · WIS 16 (+3) · CHA 16 (+3)
Saving Throws Str +10, Dex +9, Wis +8, Cha +8
Skills Athletics +10, Perception +8, Stealth +9, Acrobatics +9, Deception +8, Survival +8
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 18
Languages Yokai Speech, Common (or local dialect), Auran or Sylvan
Challenge 15
Traits
Skybound Master. The Tengu has advantage on Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks related to climbing, jumping, or aerial maneuvers in mountainous or forested terrain. It can also take the Dash action as a bonus action while airborne.
Supreme Swordsmanship. The Tengu’s melee weapon attacks are magical. Once per turn, when it hits a target with a katana (longsword) attack, it deals an extra 13 (3d8) slashing damage from its superlative technique.
Ethereal Flicker (Recharge 5-6). When the Tengu takes the Dodge action, it partially shifts into swirling illusions or spirit forms. Until the start of its next turn:
Attack rolls against it have disadvantage.
It can pass through creatures’ spaces as if they were difficult terrain, and it takes no damage from moving through their spaces.
Multi-Layered Illusions. The Tengu can cast major image (PHB, p. 258) at will (spell save DC 16), requiring no material components. Additionally, once per day, it can cast mislead (PHB, p. 260) without material components.
Actions
Multiattack. The Tengu makes three attacks in any combination of Katana and Claw, or two attacks and uses Tactical Gust.
Katana (Longsword). Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 11 (1d8 + 6) slashing damage, or 12 (1d10 + 6) slashing if wielded two-handed. If Supreme Swordsmanship triggers this turn, add 13 (3d8) slashing damage once per turn.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage, and if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away.
Tactical Gust (Recharge 5-6). The Tengu conjures intense wind in a 30foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw, taking 24 (7d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. Creatures that fail by 5 or more are knocked prone. The area becomes difficult terrain for creatures of Large size or smaller until the end of the Tengu’s next turn.
Bonus Actions
Wind Step. The Tengu harnesses wind for a swift movement. It flies or leaps up to 30 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.
Illusory Feint (1/Short Rest). The Tengu can move up to half its speed and create a mirror image effect for itself (as mirror image spell, PHB p. 260, no components). The illusions last until the end of its next turn.
Reactions
Perfect Counter. When a creature within 5 feet misses the Tengu with a melee attack, the Tengu can use its reaction to strike back. Make one Katana or Claw attack against the attacker with advantage.
Lair or Environmental Effects (Optional)
High Altitude Wind. At initiative count 20 (losing ties), swirling mountain gusts hamper enemies. One hostile creature of the Tengu’s choice within 60 feet must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away and knocked prone.
Echoing Caws. Tengu illusions cause each enemy within 30 feet to make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on Perception checks until initiative count 20 of the next round.
Lore
An O-Tengu-level leader, imposing in both physical might and mystic skill. Armed with advanced swordsmanship, powerful wind magic, and illusions.
The term “tengu” originally comes from China, where it referred to meteors believed to herald disasters. Fiery objects that blazed through the sky and exploded with thunderous roars were compared to beastlike spirits barreling overhead with growls and howls.
There’s an old account of a massive star blazing across the sky above a city, accompanied by a noise like distant thunder. People who saw it started arguing about what they’d just witnessed. “That thunder came from the star as it fell,” some said. But others shook their heads, convinced otherwise: “No, that was the sound of an earthquake triggered by the star hitting the earth.” At last, a monk named Min, newly returned from his travels, declared: “It was no star at all—it was a tengu. Its roar is like the sound of thunder.”
From Yokai Bestiary 5E, p. 106 · Fern Flower Press