Specters

Basic Information

Anatomy

Specters have the same upper body as in life, though looking decrepit. Their lower body is a cloud of mist that they fly on.

Genetics and Reproduction

A specter is the angry, unfettered spirit of a humanoid that has been prevented from passing to the afterlife. Specters no longer possess connections to who or what they were, yet are condemned to walk the world forever. Some are spawned when dark magic or the touch of a wraith rips a soul from a living body.

Ecology and Habitats

When a ghost’s unfinished business is completed, it can rest at last. No such rest or redemption awaits a specter. It is doomed to the Material Plane, its only end the oblivion that comes with the destruction of its soul. Until then, it bears out its lonely life in forlorn places, carrying on forgotten through the ages of the world.
Sunlight represents a source of life that no specter can ever hope to douse, and it pains them. When night falls, they leave their final resting places in search of living creatures to slay, knowing that few weapons can harm them in return. At the first light of dawn, they retreat back into the darkness, where they remain until night falls again.

Dietary Needs and Habits

A specter doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Behaviour

Living creatures remind the specter that life is beyond its grasp. The mere sight of the living overwhelms a specter with sorrow and wrath, which can be abated only by destroying said life. A specter kills quickly and mercilessly, for only by depriving others of life can it gain the slightest satisfaction. However, no matter how many lives it extinguishes, a specter always succumbs to its hatred and sorrow.

Additional Information

Average Intelligence

A specter is about as intelligent as your average humanoid. However, they are so overwhelmed by anger and hatred that they cannot use this intelligence past killing.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

In any nonmagical darkness out to 60 ft., the specter can see, though unable to discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Genetic Descendants

• Ladies in White

Scientific Name

Kingdom: Mortisanimus
Phylum: Phantasmagoria
Class: Revenantia
Order: Wraithales
Family: Spectralidae
Genus: Spectrus
Species: Vengefulis

This creature follows harvesting rules. Creature specific harvesting can be found here.

Basic Rules, pg. 346

Specter CR: 1

Medium undead, chaotic evil

Armor Class: 12

Hit Points: 22 5d8

Speed: , can hover

STR

1 -5

DEX

14 +2

CON

11 +0

INT

10 +0

WIS

10 +0

CHA

11 +0

Damage Resistances: Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Thunder; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Damage Immunities: Necrotic, Poison

Condition Immunities: Charmed, Exhaustion, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained, Unconscious

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10

Languages: Understands all languages it knew in life but can't speak

Challenge Rating: 1 ( 200 XP)

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Incorporeal Movement. The specter 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.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the specter has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Actions

Life Drain. Melee Spell Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 10 3d6 necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the creature finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

A specter is the angry, unfettered spirit of a humanoid that has been prevented from passing to the afterlife. Specters no longer possess connections to who or what they were, yet are condemned to walk the world forever. Some are spawned when dark magic or the touch of a wraith rips a soul from a living body.
Beyond Redemption. When a ghost’s unfinished business is completed, it can rest at last. No such rest or redemption awaits a specter. It is doomed to the Material Plane, its only end the oblivion that comes with the destruction of its soul. Until then, it bears out its lonely life in forlorn places, carrying on forgotten through the ages of the world.
Undying Hatred. Living creatures remind the specter that life is beyond its grasp. The mere sight of the living overwhelms a specter with sorrow and wrath, which can be abated only by destroying said life. A specter kills quickly and mercilessly, for only by depriving others of life can it gain the slightest satisfaction. However, no matter how many lives it extinguishes, a specter always succumbs to its hatred and sorrow.
Dwellers in Darkness. Sunlight represents a source of life that no specter can ever hope to douse, and it pains them. When night falls, they leave their final resting places in search of living creatures to slay, knowing that few weapons can harm them in return. At the first light of dawn, they retreat back into the darkness, where they remain until night falls again.
Undead Nature. A specter doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Suggested Environments

Underdark, Urban