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    Tesso, Devourer of Temples 鉄鼠

    Huge fiend (demon, yokai), chaotic evil

    Armor Class 22 (natural armor)

    Hit Points 430 (34d12 + 238)

    Speed 50 ft., climb 40 ft.

    STR 28 (+9) · DEX 20 (+5) · CON 24 (+7) · INT 16 (+3) · WIS 18 (+4) · CHA 22 (+6)

    Saving Throws Str +16, Con +14, Cha +13

    Skills Athletics +16, Intimidation +13, Perception +11, Stealth +12

    Damage Resistances acid, cold, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from nonmagical

    Damage Immunities fire, poison

    Condition Immunities poisoned

    Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 21

    Languages Yokai Speech, Abyssal, Common; telepathic link with rats

    Challenge 20

    Traits

    Iron Hide (Epic). Tesso has resistance to all damage unless the attack is magical or adamantine. (Adjust if you prefer standard demon resistances, leaving him vulnerable to certain types.)

    Rat Mastery (Epic). Rats and ratlike creatures within 300 feet automatically obey Tesso. As a bonus action, Tesso can issue them telepathic commands.

    Magic Resistance. Tesso has advantage on saving throws against spells and magical effects.

    • Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Tesso fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

    Actions

    Multiattack. Tesso makes four attacks in any combination of Claw and Bite, or three attacks and uses Swarm Dominion.

    Claw (Massive). Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

    Hit: 21 (3d8 + 9) slashing damage. Target must make a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or be cursed until the end of its next turn, halving its movement speed and preventing the Dash action.

    Bite (Iron Fangs). Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

    Hit: 26 (4d8 + 9) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or be diseased. While diseased, it has disadvantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws. The target can repeat the save at the end of each long rest, ending the disease on success.

    Summon Rat Legion (Recharge 5-6). Tesso conjures two swarms of rats or one swarm of rat-like fiends (GM’s choice) in unoccupied spaces within 60 ft. Each swarm obeys Tesso telepathically, acting on his initiative immediately after him. They remain for 1 hour, until Tesso dismisses them, or Tesso drops to 0 HP.

    Devour Manuscript (1/Day). Tesso targets a nonmagical or lesser magical text (spell scroll, ancient record) within 5 ft., devouring it instantly. Knowledge is lost forever unless recovered by a wish spell (PHB, p. 288).

    Swarm Dominion (Recharge 5-6). Tesso intensifies his swarm control. Each rat swarm or giant rat under his command can immediately move up to its speed and make one attack. If a swarm hits, it deals an extra 10 (3d6) psychic damage.

    Bonus Actions

    Gnawing Hex (2/Short Rest). Tesso targets a creature within 60 feet that can see him. The target must make a DC 20 Constitution save or take 28 (8d6) necrotic damage and become stunned until the end of Tesso’s next turn, as spectral rats devour the victim’s vital essence. On a success, the target takes half damage and isn’t stunned.

    Tail Slam. Tesso lashes out with a spiked tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

    Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 22 Strength save or be pushed 10 feet away.

    Reactions

    Vengeful Lash (Epic). When a creature within 10 feet misses Tesso with a melee attack, Tesso can Claw or Bite that creature with advantage. On a hit, Tesso adds an additional 9 (2d8) necrotic damage fueled by his rage.

    Legendary Actions

    If you want Tesso even more formidable, give him up to 3 Legendary Actions at the end of another creature’s turn:

    Swarm Attack (Costs 1 Action). Command one rat swarm to move its speed and attack.

    Razor Claw (Costs 1 Action). Tesso makes one Claw attack.

    Lore

    Now a colossal rat-demon of legend, Tesso can stand toe-to-toe with epic-level characters while retaining his theme of rat minions, curses, and unstoppable hide.

    Tesso 鉄鼠 The legend of Tesso (literally “Iron Rat”) connects to a real historical figure: the Buddhist monk Raigo Ajari. His story is documented in Buddhist chronicles, which tell of Emperor Shirakawa, fervently longing for an heir. Hoping for divine favor, the emperor requested the head priest of Mii-dera to have his monk, Raigo, pray day and night for the birth of a son. Renowned for his piety and spiritual power, Raigo took it upon himself, with utmost devotion, to help the emperor. When Emperor Shirakawa asked Raigo what reward he desired if the prayers were successful, the monk asked that Mii-dera be allowed to take on fifty new novices, thereby expanding the temple.

    After many nights of prayer, Fujiwara no Kenshi conceived, and Prince Taruhito was born. However, when it came time to grant the promised reward, complications arose. Rival monks from Enryaku-ji pressured the emperor to renege - their motives uncertain, though likely driven in jealousy and unwillingness to let Mii-dera become the dominant temple of Shiga Prefecture. Feeling betrayed and enraged, Raigo declared a hunger strike to protest the ruler’s injustice. In the end, he died, cursing the emperor and his bloodline. Rumor has it that, in his final days, Raigo lost his grip on sanity, casting dark curses on all his adversaries in the neighboring temple and praying to demons.

    From Yokai Bestiary 5E, p. 13 · Fern Flower Press