The Castle Maiden

Medium fey (shapechanger), Neutral Evil

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

Hit Points 65 (10d8 + 20)

Speed 30 ft., Swim 30 ft.

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

Skills Deception +5, Perception +4, Stealth +4

Gear A iron ring of antique castle keys.

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages Common, Sylvan

Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Traits

Amphibious. The maiden can breathe air and water.

Actions

Multiattack. The maiden makes two attacks: two with her Heavy Keys (Maiden form) or two with her Serpentine Bite (Serpent-Toad form). She can replace one attack with Spellcasting.

Heavy Keys (Maiden Form Only). Melee Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) bludgeoning damage.

Serpentine Bite (Serpent-Toad Form Only). Melee Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage, and the target is Poisoned until the end of its next turn.

Spellcasting. The maiden casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (Spell Save DC 13):

At Will: Minor Illusion (PHB, p. 298), Thaumaturgy (PHB, p. 333)

1/Day Each: Charm Person (PHB, p. 249), Command (PHB, p. 251)

Bonus Actions

Horrifying Transformation. The maiden magically shifts between her beautiful humanoid form and her grotesque Serpent-Toad form. Her statistics are the same in each form, though her attack options change.

Lore

The ghost of a murdered maiden who guards the ruins.

German-language folklore often mentions the Castle Maiden (Schloßjungfrau), also called the Lady of the Castle or the Maiden with the Keys. According to tradition, two main stories about her have survived.

The first is a brief note in the Brothers Grimm collection “Deutsche Sagen.” There the Castle Maiden is described as a young woman who appears with a large ring of keys on the castle hill near Ohrdruf in Thuringia. People say she comes down the hill to the valley to fill a jug with water and to bathe. And that is all the tale relates.

From Grimm Legends Bestiary 5E, p. 72 · Fern Flower Press