Jackalwere

Overview

Ordinary jackals tainted by demonic power, jackalweres haunt roads and trails, waylaying and murdering those they meet.
A jackalwere has three physical forms that it shifts between. In its true form, it is indistinguishable from a normal jackal. It can take human form, often appearing gaunt and affecting a wretched demeanor to beg goodwill from strangers. When travelers welcome a jackalwere into their midst, the monster adopts its human-sized hybrid form, with the fur and head of a jackal but standing on two legs as it attacks.

Beguilers and Cowards

The demon lord Graz’zt created jackalweres to serve his devoted servants, the lamias. Reaching out from the Abyss, he bestowed jackals with the gift of speech and the ability to assume humanoid forms. A jackalwere is born to lie, and perceptive creatures might notice it wincing in pain when it speaks the truth.
A jackalwere prefers to fight alongside jackals and others of its kind. Under the direction of jackalweres, jackals are fierce and loyal companions.

Supernatural Servants

Jackalweres kidnap humanoids for their lamia masters, condemning victims to a lifetime of slavery or an agonizing death. A jackalwere’s magical gaze renders a foe unconscious, allowing the monster to bind a creature or drag it away. A jackalwere might also use its gaze to incapacitate a deadly enemy long enough to make good its escape.

Jackalwere CR: 1/2 (100 XP)

Medium humanoid (shapechanger), chaotic evil

Armor Class: 12

Hit Points: 18 (4d8)

Speed: 40 ft

STR

11 +0

DEX

15 +2

CON

11 +0

INT

13 +1

WIS

11 +0

CHA

10 +0

Skills: Deception +4, Perception +2, Stealth +4

Damage Immunities: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage from nonmagical attacks that aren't silvered

Senses: Passive Perception 12

Languages: Common (can't speak in jackal form)

Challenge Rating: 1/2 (100 XP)

Shapechanger. The jackalwere can use its action to polymorph into a specific Medium human or a jackal-humanoid hybrid, or back into its true form (that of a jackal). Other than its size, its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Keen Hearing and Smell. The jackalwere has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics. The jackalwere has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the jackalwere’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

Actions

Bite (Jackal or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 feet, one target. Hit: 1d4 + 2 piercing damage.
Scimitar (Human or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 feet, one target. Hit: 1d6 + 2 slashing damage.
Sleep Gaze. The jackalwere gazes at one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must make a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target succumbs to a magical slumber, falling unconscious for 10 minutes or until someone uses an action to shake the target awake. A creature that successfully saves against the effect is immune to this jackalwere’s gaze for the next 24 hours. Undead and creatures immune to being charmed aren’t affected by it.

Lifespan

250 years

Average Height

5 feet

Average Weight

100 pounds