DnD Homebrew

Blud (alt: Divagarer)

And Blud had already spotted Arnica from afar. Twisted the paths, closed the roads, then hid himself behind a bush and waited.

Arnica entered the forest… She looked — and the path beneath her feet was gone! She rushed right, then left — exactly what Blud wanted. He crept up behind and quietly clung to her. At once Arnica’s head began to spin; all turned so tangled she could no longer tell where to go nor whence she’d come.

“— Come to us, onto the quiet needles, into the drowsy cobwebs,” the toadstools called — “Here you’ll forget your wanderings, you’ll drift to sleep — and never wake again…”

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	18 (+4)	18 (+4)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)	16 (+3)

Saving Throws Dex +7, Cha +6

Skills Deception +6, Stealth +7, Survival +4, Perception +4

Damage Resistances Psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages Sylvan; understands Common but speaks only in whispers and riddles

Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) — Proficiency Bonus +3

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Traits

Innate Spellcasting. Charisma is the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit). It requires no material components.
At will: Minor Illusion, Silent Image
3/day: Enthrall
1/day each: Hallucinatory Terrain, Gaseous Form

Shadowbound. If exposed to direct sunlight, the Blud is immediately banished to the Feywild until night falls.

Inside-Out. The Blud cannot perceive creatures affected by magic that alters appearance (e.g., disguise self); to it, such creatures are completely invisible.

Rooster’s Third Cry. If a calico cat or a black rooster comes within 30 ft. of the Blud, it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom save or be frightened until the creature leaves its sight. While frightened this way, the Blud cannot use Echo.

Actions

Multiattack. The Blud makes two Claw attacks.

Claw (Natural Weapon). Melee Weapon Attack +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 4) slashing.

Echo (Recharge 5–6). The Blud chooses three visible points within 30 ft. The real Blud teleports to one point; two indistinguishable doubles appear at the others. Each double has AC 8 and vanishes if hit; they last 1 minute or until destroyed. Doubles act on the Blud’s turn and can only move and use Multiattack and Claw.

Blud’s Clung. The Blud targets one creature it can see within 30 ft. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom save or, on its next turn, use all movement to run toward the nearest visible light source it can see. If no light source is visible, it moves in a random direction (1d8). On meeting an obstacle, it turns 90° left and continues until movement ends.
• Other creatures count as obstacles.
• The target moves through difficult terrain without penalty during this effect.
• If it enters hazardous terrain, it stops moving immediately after stepping into it.
• Passing a light source does not end the movement; the target continues in the same direction until movement is spent.

Bonus Actions

Will-o’-the-Blud (3/day). Creates up to three pale, ghostly flames at points within 60 ft. Each sheds dim light in a 10-ft radius, is stationary, and lasts 1 minute unless dismissed. These flames count as visible light sources for Blud’s Clung.

Reactions

Shadow Shift. When the Blud takes damage, it shifts up to 10 ft. to an unoccupied space in dim light or darkness it can see.

Equipment

None.

Buznychyi (alt: Elderberryn)

The Buznychyi is a little grandfather, only half an ell tall, with a long gray beard. On his large bald head grow small horns, and his body and horns share the dark hue of elderberries. The elder-spirit dwells by the house, hidden in the elderberry bushes. He is kindly, guarding both people and animals.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
8 (−1)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	11 (+0)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)

Saving Throws Wis +4, Cha +5

Skills Arcana +2, Nature +4, Stealth +4, Medicine +4

Resistances Nonmagical bludgeoning/piercing/slashing (only within 60 ft. of its elderberry bush)

Vulnerabilities Fire

Immunities Lightning; Charmed, Frightened (immunities only within 60 ft. of its elderberry bush)

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12

Languages Sylvan, Common

Challenge 3 (700 XP) — Proficiency Bonus +2

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Traits

Elderberry Guardian. While within 60 ft. of its bush, the Buznychyi gains its listed resistances and immunities. Away from it, these are lost.

Innate Spellcasting. Spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit). It requires no material components.
At will: Druidcraft, Healing Word
3/day each: Lesser Restoration, Blindness/Deafness, Barkskin
1/day each: Bestow Curse, Revivify

Actions

Elderberry Staff. Melee Weapon Attack +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning + 4 (1d8) poison.

Beating Sticks (Recharge 5–6). The Buznychyi summons up to three animated sticks of elderberry wood within 30 ft. They act on the Buznychyi’s initiative and obey its mental commands (no action). If given no commands, they attack the nearest creature. Sticks last for 1 minute, until dismissed (no action), or reduced to 0 hp.

Buznychyi’s Animated Beating Stick
Size/Type	Small construct (vibes: “small cutie, depressed neutral”)
AC	13
HP	10
Speed	30 ft.
STR/DEX/CON/INT/WIS/CHA	16 / 10 / 10 / 3 / 3 / 1
Saves	Str +3
Damage Immunities	Poison, Psychic
Condition Immunities	Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses	Blindsight 30 ft., passive Perception 6
Languages	—
Challenge	0 (—)
Actions	Slam. Melee Weapon Attack +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target; Hit: 1d6 + 1 bludgeoning.

Elderberries (1/day). Magically creates up to 6 elderberries that last 24 hours; eating one uses an action. Choose on creation:
Good Berries: the eater regains 1 hp (as goodberry).
Bad Berries: the eater takes 1d6 poison damage and must succeed on a DC 13 Con save or be poisoned for 1 minute.

Sickness (Recharge 5–6). Targets a creature within 60 ft. of its elderberry bush to suffer a random affliction (DC 14 Con save). On a fail, roll d6:

d6	Sickness	Effect
1	Fever	Disadvantage on STR & DEX checks and saves for 1 minute.
2	Bone-Ache	Speed −10 ft. for 1 minute.
3	Burning Heat	Takes 1d6 fire damage at the start of each turn for 1 minute.
4	Melancholy	Gains 1 level of Exhaustion.
5	Shaking Fit	Disadvantage on concentration checks for 1 minute.
6	Cold	Takes 2d6 cold immediately and is frightened of the Buznychyi until the end of its next turn.

Bonus Actions

Size-Shifter. As a bonus action, the Buznychyi can change its size from Tiny to Medium, or back.

Equipment

None (too tiny to be of any use).

Shchezhnyk (alt: Vanisher)

All around was emptiness — a lonely forest, with no sign of a living soul.

Ivan glanced back toward the cliffs — and froze. On the rock, astride it, sat him, the Shchezhnyk, twisting his sharp little beard, lowering his horns, and, eyes closed, blowing into a floyara.

“My goats are gone… My goats are gone…”

The floyara’s notes spread with sorrow. But then the horns lifted, the cheeks swelled, and the eyes opened.

“My goats are here… My goats are here…”

The sounds leapt with joy… and the Shchezhnyk vanished into the cliff, while the goats turned into the roots of wind-toppled trees.

From “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”. • Art — Mythic Beings of Ukrainian Folklore — Dara Korniy.

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Mountain spirit of Chort kin with a temper as quick as its wit. Not truly evil; can halt time or cloud minds with nothing but a melody.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
8 (−1)	18 (+4)	13 (+1)	12 (+1)	12 (+1)	18 (+4)

Saving Throws Dex +7, Cha +7

Skills Stealth +9, Performance +9, Deception +7, Perception +5

Resistances Cold; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from nonmagical attacks

Immunities Charmed, Unconscious

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages Sylvan, Common

Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) — Proficiency Bonus +3

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Traits

Mountain Child. Can traverse the surface of trees or rocky cliffs at full speed without checks if it doesn’t end its turn somewhere it couldn’t normally stand. May end its turn atop a tree crown as if solid ground.

Spellcasting. 7th-level (save DC 15, +7 to hit). Uses sopilka as focus; no materials needed.
Cantrips (at will): Vicious mockery, Minor illusion
1st (4 slots): Sleep
3rd (2 slots): Major image (loves to create illusionary goats), Meld into Stone

Actions

Mischief Pinch. Melee Weapon Attack +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 11 (2d10) bludgeoning. Target must succeed on a DC 15 Dex save or drop one held object of Shchezhnyk’s choice and can’t make opportunity attacks against it until end of turn.

Carpatian Tune (Recharge 5–6). Plays a melody that bends sight and thought. Each chosen creature within 30 ft. that can hear/see the illusions must make a DC 15 Wis save or become incapacitated in vivid waking dreams for 1 minute. Ends on damage or an ally shaking them free.

When the sopilka sounds, colors shimmer where none should be; motes of green light dance between branches, and shadows sway like they’re alive…

Bonus Actions

Little Foots. Takes the Dash action.

Reactions

He Was Not Even There! When a creature misses Shchezhnyk with an attack, it becomes invisible and teleports up to 15 ft. to a space it can see; remains invisible until the start of its next turn or until it attacks/casts.

Legendary Actions

• Quick Step. Move up to half speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Frozen Moment (Recharge 6). Time freezes for all but Shchezhnyk until end of its next turn. It can move and interact with unattended objects; interacting with a held/worn object resumes time. Can’t deal damage while time is stopped. Spoken words don’t remain, only impressions.

Equipment

• Enchanted sopilka/floyara (focus, source of pipe abilities)
• Pouch of Trinkets — roll a d8:

d8	Contents
1	A handful of mismatched stolen buttons
2	Several smooth river pebbles
3	Pinecones and acorns, some painted
4	Feathers of various sizes and colors
5	Cheap jewelry and tiny bells
6	A tight knot of colorful yarns and threads
7	A bundle of dried mountain herbs with a weather-changing smell
8	A bone whistle giving a sour, reedy tone

Poterycha (alt: Lostling)

In the shadowed forest, ’neath the willow crowned with flame…
So many Poterychas through the war are left to roam.

Excerpt from the song “Stradcha” ft. SadSvit (translated). Illustration by @romandubina_art.

The Poterychas are the souls of children who died before the ritual of name-giving. Pale, bluish skin with dark veins; eyes glow with a dim frozen light. When they try to say a name, their voice turns into a rasping, childlike whimper.

“I can’t help it! It’s like a hunger… if you go too long without killing, it’s like a fever sets in…”
— from Scene Play “Nostradamus and All Sorrows”, Oles Barlih

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
8 (−1)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)	8 (−1)	12 (+1)	13 (+1)

Saving Throws Wis +3

Skills Stealth +4, Perception +3

Damage Resistances Necrotic; Poison

Condition Immunities Frightened

Condition Vulnerabilities Charmed

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13

Languages Language of its original parents (usually Common); can only speak the phrase “Name me”

Challenge 2 (450 XP) — Proficiency Bonus +2

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Traits

Shadowbound. If exposed to direct sunlight, the Poterycha is immediately banished to the Shadowfell until night falls.

Will you be my mom? Instinctively aggressive toward women; out of combat follows/targets them first. In combat prioritizes attacking female characters when possible.

Leap of the Lost. Grotesquely bent, frog-like gait. Can make standing long jumps up to 20 ft. and high jumps up to 10 ft. without a running start.

Pack Hunters. While within 10 ft. of an allied, non-incapacitated Poterycha, has advantage on attack rolls.

Actions

Multiattack. Makes one Blood Drain and one Claw attack.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing. Has advantage on this attack against a creature it currently has grappled.

Blood Drain. Melee Weapon Attack +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d6) necrotic; Poterycha regains hp equal to half the damage. If target wasn’t grappled, it becomes grappled (escape DC 13). Relentless Feeding: If it hits the same grappled target with Blood Drain on consecutive turns, the second and subsequent uses auto-hit (no attack roll).

Dropped by the Stork. (1/Combat, start of combat) If it drops from above to begin combat, all creatures below are surprised. It lands on one creature; the target must succeed on a DC 14 Dex save or fall prone, then Poterycha immediately makes one Claw with advantage. On a success, it lands in the nearest unoccupied 5-ft space; only surprise applies.

Bonus Actions

Cry for Recognition (Recharge 5–6). Eyes kindle with pale light as it croaks “Name me…”. Each chosen creature within 30 ft. that can hear it must make a DC 12 Wis save or be frightened until the end of its next turn.

Reactions

Don’t Go. When a grappled creature moves, Poterycha may make one Claw against it for every 10 ft. the creature moves (max three, within this reaction). After each, the target may immediately end its movement. During this flurry the grip loosens: the grappled creature may use a Bonus Action to attempt to shake it off with Str (Athletics) or Dex (Acrobatics) with advantage, contested by Poterycha’s Str (Athletics). On success, Poterycha is shaken off and falls prone in an unoccupied space within 10 ft. (player chooses). If from height, it takes normal falling damage.

Special

Name (Ceremony). Only the Ceremony spell (1 hour) can lay a Poterycha to rest; it must be conscious and present (restrained/pacified). If destroyed/reduced to 0 hp instead, it reforms at midnight at the site of death until Ceremony is performed.

Components required: a piece of cloth (swaddling/garment), a food offering (bread/grain/berries/milk), a vial of holy water, and a bestowed name at the rite’s end.

On completion, it dissolves into a faint, angelic wisp and leaves behind a Poterycha’s Candle:

Poterycha’s Candle — Wondrous Item, common. A small handmade candle with a faint impression of a child’s name in the wax. While lit, it cannot be extinguished by wind or water, even underwater. While burning, faint echoes of distant childlike laughter are heard.

A creature holding the candle has advantage on saves vs. Frightened while underwater or underground (caves, crypts, tunnels).

The candle burns non-stop for 9 days, then vanishes in a wisp of ash. Folk warn it must be allowed to burn completely; otherwise, the Poterycha may return at midnight, restless and unappeased.

Illustration from “CHIMERARIUM – Where Ancient Beings Come Alive” — Myroslava Kryvutsa.

The evening glow fades… unbaptized children climb the trees, weeping, laughing, rolling in a tangle along the roads and nettles.
— Mykola Hohol

Domovyk (alt: Househob)

Many years ago, a bearded old man — a Domovyk — lived on the roof of a house… The little tale of Petryk and the roof-walks is still told in Poltava homes.

Ukrainian Folk Tale (Poltava). • Art — Mythic Beings of Ukrainian Folklore — Dara Korniy.

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A quiet helper to those who respect the home — and an invisible foe to those who neglect it.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
8 (−1)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)	16 (+3)	12 (+1)	10 (+0)

Saving Throws Wis +5, Dex +4

Skills Stealth +4, History +5, Insight +3, Perception +3

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages Common, Sylvan (prefers not to speak), Common Sign Language

Challenge 2 (450 XP) — Proficiency Bonus +2

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Traits

Keeper of the Lineage. Advantage on Intelligence (History) checks related to the family tree, ancestry, or generational events of the household it serves.

Housebound. While inside its bound dwelling, the Domovyk has advantage on saving throws. Outside this dwelling, it has disadvantage on saving throws and its speed is halved. This penalty doesn’t apply in the Feywild.

Threshold Dweller. The home’s threshold is its anchor. While in contact with it, the Domovyk can slip between the Material Plane and the Feywild as a bonus action. If the threshold is destroyed/removed, the Domovyk is immediately banished to the Feywild and can’t return until it is restored.

Invisible to the Unwanted. Inside its dwelling, the Domovyk can choose which creatures can perceive it, but it cannot hide from children or animals. To all others it is invisible as per invisibility. The effect ends for 1 hour if the Domovyk makes an attack, casts a harmful spell, is dispelled, or is discovered by a creature that can perceive it by any means.

Quirky Nature. Each Domovyk keeps a peculiar quirk. Honor it to earn favor; ignore it and expect mischief.

d12	Domovyk’s Quirk
1	Dislikes anyone wearing headwear indoors.
2	Wants the house swept clean every evening.
3	Dislikes whistling inside the house.
4	Wants fresh bread and milk left on the table overnight.
5	Dislikes guests sleeping by the eastern wall.
6	Wants all windows closed before sunset.
7	Dislikes muddy boots in the home.
8	Dislikes strong perfumes or incense indoors.
9	Dislikes weapons displayed openly inside.
10	Wants someone to greet the house spirits aloud each morning.
11	Dislikes loud laughter.
12	Dislikes guests wearing boots inside.

Abandoned and Forgotten. An abandoned house has a 1d4 chance of being inhabited by a Domovyk. Such spirits treat most visitors as intruders.

Actions

Thaumaturgy (At Will). Casts thaumaturgy without components to slam doors, rattle windows, creak floorboards, flare the fireplace, etc. Effects are playful or unsettling rather than harmful.

Multiattack. The Domovyk makes two Cat Nature attacks.

Cat Nature. Melee Weapon Attack +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing. For a heartbeat, its fingers lengthen into hooked, catlike claws, then vanish.

Throw Household Object. Magically hurls a small household item at a target within 30 ft. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Dex save or take 10 (3d6) bludgeoning. If the object is messy (coal/ash/flour), the target is also obscured until the start of the Domovyk’s next turn. Inside its dwelling, the Domovyk never runs out of such objects.

Dark Corners (Recharge 5–6). Causes shadows to swell, selecting up to 10 separate 5-ft cubes within 60 ft that are already in dim light/darkness. Each becomes magical darkness for 1 minute or until ended (no action). Nonmagical light can’t illuminate these cubes (bright light from outside looks muted). Cats are unaffected and see normally.

Bonus Actions

Make or Mar (3/Day). Magically repair or damage an item/object up to a 5-ft cube, even if others can’t see it (Domovyk can).

• Repair: Restores the item to full function/appearance; also cleans a 10-ft radius and removes difficult terrain there.
• Break: Breaks/jams the item; creates difficult terrain in a 10-ft radius around it.

Lair Actions

When in its bound dwelling, on initiative count 20 (losing ties), the Domovyk can take one of the following lair actions:

I Like Your Shoelaces. Magically ties laces or binds legs of up to three creatures in the house. The first time a target moves on its next turn, it must succeed on a DC 13 Dex save or immediately fall prone. The bindings persist until untied or cut (an action).

Cloud of Cutlery. A swirling 15-ft-radius sphere of floating kitchen utensils appears (concentration, 1 minute) and lightly obscures the area. A creature that starts its turn in, or enters, the cloud must make a DC 13 Dex save or take 5 (2d4) bludgeoning and be pushed 5 ft. in a random direction. As a bonus action, the Domovyk can move the cloud up to 15 ft.

Reactions

Protect the Home. When a creature enters the Domovyk’s dwelling, it must make a DC 13 Wis save or be frightened until it leaves the house. The creature doesn’t realize the Domovyk is the source.

Equipment

Choose any 2–3: hearth tools; threads and needles; nails; shoelaces; small keys without locks; food leftovers from past offerings; a few tarnished copper coins from offerings.