Spectator

Overview

A spectator is a lesser beholder that is summoned from another plane of existence by a magical ritual, the components of which include four beholder eyestalks that are consumed by the ritual's magic. Appropriately, a spectator has four eyestalks, two on each side of the wide eye at the center of its four-foot diameter body.

Magical Guardians

A summoned spectator guards a location or a treasure of its summoner's choice for 101 years, allowing no creature but its summoner to enter the area or access the item, unless the summoner instructed otherwise. If the item is stolen or destroyed before the years have all passed, a summoned spectator vanishes. It otherwise never abandons its post.

Glimmers of Madness

Though it can speak, a spectator communicates primarily by way of telepathy. It is civil while on guard, openly discussing its orders and its summoner. However, even a brief conversation with a spectator is enough to reveal quirks in its personality brought on by its years of isolation. It might invent imaginary enemies, refer to itself in the third person, or try to adopt the voice of its summoner.
Like any beholder, a spectator views itself as the epitome of its kind, and it has an intense hatred of other spectators. If two spectators encounter one another, they almost always fight to the death.

Freed from Service

When a spectator has fulfilled its service, it is free to do as it pleases. Many take up residence in the places they previously guarded, especially if their summoners have died. With the spectator's loss of purpose, the flickers of madness it displayed during its servitude flourish.

Spectator CR: 3 (700 XP)

Medium aberration, lawful neutral

Armor Class: 14

Hit Points: 39 (6d8 + 12)

Speed: 0 ft , can hover

STR

8 -1

DEX

14 +2

CON

14 +2

INT

13 +1

WIS

14 +2

CHA

11 +0

Skills: Perception +6

Condition Immunities: Prone

Senses: Darkvision 120 feet, Passive Perception 16

Languages: Deep Speech, Undercommon, Telepathy 120 feet

Challenge Rating: 3 (700 XP)

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5 feet, one target. Hit: 1d6 - 1 piercing damage.
Eye Rays. The spectator shoots up to two of the following magical eye rays at random (reroll duplicates), choosing one or two creatures it can see within 90 feet of it:

1. Confusion Ray. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw, or it can't take reactions until the end of its next turn. On its turn, the target can't move, and it uses its action to make a melee or ranged attack against a randomly determined creature within range. If the target can't attack, it does nothing on its turn.
2. Paralyzing Ray. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
3. Fear Ray. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the spectator is visible to the target, ending the effect on itself on a success.
4. Wounding Ray. The target must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 3d10 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Create Food and Water. The spectator magically creates enough food and water to sustain itself for 24 hours.

Reactions

Spell Reflection. If the spectator makes a successful saving throw against a spell, or a spell attack misses it, the spectator can choose another creature (including the spellcaster) it can see within 30 feet of it. The spell targets the chosen creature instead of the spectator. If the spell forced a saving throw, the chosen creature makes its own save. If the spell was an attack, the attack roll is rerolled against the chosen creature.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Beholder

Lifespan

200 years

Average Weight

250 pounds

Average Length

3 to 4 feet