Rusalka

It is accounted by most stories that the soul of a young woman who had died in or near a river or a lake would come back to haunt that waterway. This undead rusalka is not invariably malevolent, and would be allowed to die in peace if her death is avenged. Her main purpose is, however, to lure young men, seduced by either her looks or her voice, into the depths of said waterways where she would entangle their feet with her long red hair and submerge them. Her body would instantly become very slippery and not allow the victim to cling on to her body in order to reach the surface. She would then wait until the victim had drowned, or, on some occasions, tickle them to death, as she laughed. It is also believed, by a few accounts, that rusalki can change their appearance to match the tastes of men they are about to seduce, although a rusalka is generally considered to represent universal beauty, therefore is highly feared yet respected in Slavic culture.

Rusalka CR: 12

Medium undead, chaotic evil

Armor Class: 17

Hit Points: 58 ( 13d8 )

Speed: 30 ft , swim: 30 ft

STR

10 +0

DEX

17 +3

CON

12 +1

INT

16 +3

WIS

17 +3

CHA

19 +4

Skills: Acrobatics +7, Deception +10, Performance +7, Persuasion +10

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

Damage Immunities: Cold, Necrotic, Poison

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

Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Passive Perception 13

Languages: The languages it knew in life

Challenge Rating: 12

Aquatic Spirit. The rusulka can breath water and walk on it.

Detect Life. The rusulka can magically sense the presence of creatures up to 5 miles away that aren’t undead or constructs. She knows the general direction they’re in but not their exact locations.

Blinding Beauty. The undisguised beauty of a rusulka is beyond comprehension, blinding all those who gaze upon her. All humanoids within 30ft of the rusulka who look directly at her must succeed on a DC 17 Charisma saving throw or be blinded permanently as though the blindness spell. A rusulka can suppress or resume this ability as a bonus.

Unearthly Grace. A rusulka's charm and grace can be just as protective as armor. The rusulka adds her Charisma modifier as a bonus to her AC and to all her saving throws.

Incorporeal Movement. The rusulka can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. She takes 5 ( 1d10 ) force damage if she ends her turn inside an object.

Actions

Stunning Glance. The wrathful rusulka can stun a creature within 30ft with a look. The target creature must succeed on a DC 17 Charisma save or be stunned for 2d4 rounds.

Corrupting Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: one target, 5ft, 1d20+4 to hit, 3d6+3 necrotic damage.

Horrifying Visage. Each non-undead creature within 60 feet of the rusulka that can see her must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the rusulka is within line of sight, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a target’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to the rusulka’s Horrifying Visage for the next 24 hours.

Grapple Creature. The rusulka makes an Acrobatics check vs the creatures Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) to contest being grappled.

Species

Rusalka