Tiyanak
Excerpt from Dread Isle Denizens, a 5E sourcebook of monsters from Pacific Island and Polynesian myths. You’ll have to forgive me, I just cut and pasted from our original source document so the formatting is a bit wonky. If you would like the Tiyanak in nice, pretty stat blocks then you can buy the book by clicking on that hyperlink disguised as the book title above… or HERE.
TIYANAK
The origin and nature of tiyanaks is a mystery. Some scholars say that they are shape-shifting demons. Some say they are evil spirits that enter the bodies of stillborn children. All that is known for sure is that they eat flesh and have a truly horrifying method of hunting.
Lure of Innocence. A tiyanak in its true form has pallid skin, red eyes and fearsome claws and teeth. Tiyanaks have the ability to change their form to that of humanoid children ranging in size from infants to toddlers. They will go to secluded areas and cry to attract the attention of nearby rescuers, especially women. While most tiyanaks are small in size, some ancient ones are much larger, but shrink down to child-size when disguised.
Strategic Families. An individual tiyanak may be content to lair near a small village so that it can lure lone stragglers that wander away from larger groups of people. They are intelligent enough to not leave witnesses to their method of attracting prey. However, groups of tiyanaks will sometimes gather together for mutual defense if the only food source is a larger town or if the prey living there begin to get more organized in their defenses.
TIYANAK (Lesser)
Tiny monstrosity, neutral evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 52 (8d4 + 32)
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
7 (-2) 17 (+3) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 12 (+1)
Skills Acrobatics +5, Intimidation +5, Survival +2
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages understands Common but does not speak
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Leap. As a move action the tiyanak can leap up to 30 feet.
Improved Grab. The tiyanak makes grapple checks using its Dexterity score instead of Strength and can grapple targets up to large size.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The tiyanak makes two claw attacks.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 slashing damage. If the tiyanak hits a creature with two claw attacks on the same turn the target is grappled (escape DC 13)
BONUS ACTIONS
Strangle. The tiyanak attempts to strangle a grappled target using its umbilical cord. The tiyanak makes a grapple check at +5 resisted by the target’s Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If the tiyanak wins, the target is restrained and takes 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage at the end of each turn until it escapes.
TIYANAK (Greater)
Small monstrosity, neutral evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 85 (10d6 + 50)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18 (+4) 13 (+1) 20 (+5) 13 (+1) 15 (+2) 13 (+1)
Skills Athletics +7, Intimidation +4, Survival +5
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common, and one other
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Keen Smell. The tiyanak has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Wounding. The tiyanak can inflict a bleeding wound on a creature with its bite or with two claw attacks. At the start of a wounded creature’s turn it takes 1d4 necrotic damage for each wound it has received. The target can make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw to remove the wounded condition or an adjacent creature can make a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) skill check.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The tiyanak makes two claw attacks and one bite attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage and the target gains a wound.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack. +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) slashing damage. If the tiyanak hits a creature with two claw attacks on the same turn it rends the target for an extra 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage and the target gains a wound.
REACTIONS
Empathic Pain. When an enemy strikes the tiyanak with a melee attack it reverts to its child form for a split second and the attacker takes damage equal to the amount inflicted.
TIYANAK (Vampiric)
Tiny undead, neutral evil
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 66 (12d4 + 36)
Speed 30 ft., fly 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
7 (-2) 20 (+5) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1)
Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +2
Skills Perception +2, Stealth +9
Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Misty Flight. As its move the tiyanak can shift to mist and fly up to half its speed without drawing opportunity attacks.
Regeneration. The tiyanak regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point. If the tiyanak takes radiant damage or damage from holy water, this trait doesn’t function at the start of its next turn.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The tiyanak makes two claw attacks.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d4 + 5) slashing damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature that is paralyzed or helpless. Critical Hit: 12 (1d6 + 5) piercing damage plus 14 (2d6) necrotic damage. The target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and the tiyanak regains hit points equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target takes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.
BONUS ACTIONS
Paralyzing Gaze. One creature within 30 feet of the tiyanak that can see its eyes must make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed. A paralyzed target can repeat the save each round otherwise the effect lasts for one minute.
TIYANAK (Abyssal)
Small fiend (demon), chaotic evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 112 (15d6 + 60)
Speed 50 ft., climb 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
17 (+3) 15 (+2) 18 (+4) 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 8 (-1)
Saving Throws Dex +5, Wis +4, Cha +2
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Abyssal, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Magic Resistance. The tiyanak has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The tiyanak makes three attacks, two claw and one bite attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) acid damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Corrosive Spittle (Recharge 5 – 6). Ranged Attack: +7 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (3d6 + 4) acid damage and the target is blinded. The blindness lasts until the target takes a long rest or receives a restoration spell or greater magic.
Fearsome Screech (Recharge 5 – 6). The tiyanak emits a horrifying screech. All creatures within 20 feet of the tiyanak that can hear it and are not a demon must make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for one minute. The creature can attempt to make a saving throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the tiyanak is within line of sight.
Adventure Hooks:
- An insane woman keeps a tiyanak in her home and cares for it as her own child. The tiyanak is content to nurture her delusion, as she keeps providing him with a steady supply of wet nurses and caretakers.
- A group of children are the sole survivors of a raid on a small settlement. The PCs discover them and escort them to a village where they will be safe. Repeat.
- A tiyanak has replaced a local lord’s infant son, and is murdering his way through the household. The lord will do anything to find out who is behind this, but will never believe that his baby is responsible.