Large fey, neutral

Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 93 (11d10 + 33)
Speed 40 ft.

Proficiency Bonus +3
Proficiency Bonus +5 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
22 (+6)	16 (+3)	16 (+3)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)

Saving Throws Str +9, Dex +6, Cha +5
Skills Athletics +9, Intimidation +6, Perception +5, Stealth +6
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common, Sylvan
Challenge 7 (2900 XP)

Ambusher. The Actaeon has advantage on stealth checks when in woodland environment and opponents have disadvantage on their perception checks to spot the actaeon.

Summon Woodland Allies. Once per long rest, the actaeon can summon 1d6 woodland creatures which arrive in 1d4 rounds. Choose from the list below or roll 1d6 to determine the creature type at random.

• 1. Boar
• 2. Brown Bear
• 3. Centaur
• 4. Griffon
• 5. Giant Lizard
• 6. Treant

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The actaeon makes three attacks, two with its wood spear or one with its antlers or one attack with its polymorph breath.
• Wood Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) piercing damage, or 15 (2d8 + 6) piercing damage when used with two hands to make a melee attack.
• Antlers. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft.., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage.
• Polymorph Breath (once per short or long rest). The actaeon breath out a warm, greenish mist, filling a 10 foot cone. Anyone within it must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw polymorphed into a common forest creature (owls, squirrels, deer, boars, and the like), taking on the creature’s intelligence and habits as well as its looks. This change is permanent unless countered by another polymorph or dispel magic spell. If the saving throw is successful, the transformation still occurs, but it lasts for only 24 hours.

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Actaeon

An actaeon is a powerful fey creature that resembles a humanoid with the head and antlers of a stag. They are guardians of nature and enemies of evil, especially those who would harm the forests and the animals. Actaeons are named after a legendary hunter who was transformed into a stag by the goddess Artemis for seeing her naked.

Description

Actaeons have muscular bodies covered with brown fur and long limbs that end in hooves. Their heads are similar to those of large deer, with expressive eyes and pointed ears. They have impressive antlers that can grow up to six feet in length. They wear simple clothing made of leather or plant fibers, and adorn themselves with feathers, beads, and other natural ornaments. They carry bows, spears, or axes as weapons, and sometimes use shields or armor made of wood or metal.

Actaeons speak Sylvan, the language of the fey, and can communicate with animals and plants. They are wise and intelligent, but also proud and stubborn. They value honor, courage, and loyalty, and expect others to respect their authority and traditions. They are wary of strangers, especially those who wield magic or technology that could harm the natural balance. They are fierce enemies of orcs, goblins, undead, and other evil creatures that threaten their lands.

A solitary being, the actaeon is a protector and hero among woodland creatures. Some Mystarans call it an elk centaur because, like a centaur, its 9-foot-tall body combines human and animal elements. The actaeon has the torso, arms, and facial features of a human, but the antlers and lower legs of an elk. Brown, elklike hide covers its entire body.

Combat

Actaeons are skilled hunters and warriors, who use their natural abilities and weapons to defend themselves and their allies. They prefer to fight from a distance with their bows, but they can also engage in melee combat with their spears or axes. They use their antlers to gore their enemies, and can also kick with their powerful legs.

Actaeons have several magical abilities that aid them in combat and survival. They can turn invisible at will, making them hard to detect and target. They can also create illusions to confuse or frighten their foes, or to disguise themselves or their surroundings. They can sense the presence of evil creatures within a certain range, and can detect magic or traps with a glance. They can also heal themselves or their allies by touching them with their hands or antlers.

Actaeons are not afraid to fight alone, but they often work together with other actaeons or with friendly animals. They can summon animals to aid them in battle, or to serve as mounts or scouts. They can also command animals to attack their enemies, or to flee from danger. Actaeons respect the lives of animals, and will not harm them unless they are corrupted by evil or pose a threat to nature.

Habitat / Society

Actaeons live in forests, mountains, hills, or plains, where they can find abundant game and plants. They prefer areas that are close to the Feywild, the parallel plane of faerie where many fey creatures originate from. The Feywild is a realm of beauty and magic, but also of danger and unpredictability. Actaeons can travel between the two planes by using natural portals, such as ancient trees, stone circles, or waterfalls.

Actaeons are nomadic and territorial, roaming within a large area that they claim as their own. They mark their boundaries with signs or symbols that warn intruders to stay away. They rarely build permanent structures, preferring to live in tents, caves, or hollow trees. They gather in small groups or clans, usually consisting of family members or close friends. Each clan is led by an elder actaeon who has proven his or her wisdom and strength over the years. Clans sometimes meet for trade, celebration, or alliance, but they also compete for resources and prestige.

Actaeons have a strong sense of tradition and culture, which they pass on from generation to generation through stories and songs. They celebrate the seasons and the cycles of nature with rituals and festivals that honor the fey gods and spirits. They also honor their ancestors and heroes who have died in battle or achieved great deeds. Actaeons value art and craftsmanship, creating beautiful objects from wood, metal, stone, bone, or other materials that they find in nature. They also enjoy music, dance, poetry, and games that test their skills and creativity.

Actaeons live alone except during the mating season, which occurs in the spring of every third year. The following autumn, a female gives birth to a single fawn. The fawn remains with her through the winter, learning the basics of survival: how to forage for bark and twigs, how to shape spears and other basic tools, and how to use sharpened sticks and bones to dig edible roots from the ground beneath the snow. Many fawns starve or freeze during their first winter, or fall prey to an attack. Survivors set out on their own come spring, each pursuing its own solitary existence.

Actaeons have an eye for treasure; they collect small hoards in secure, well-hidden locations, such as the hollow trunk of a fallen tree or beneath a rock. As intelligent creatures, they know others also value coins and jewels. Actaeons often trade their riches for tools and – if nature is harsh – for food in the dead of winter.

Ecology

Actaeons play an important role in maintaining the balance and harmony of nature. They protect the forests and the animals from destruction and exploitation by evil forces or greedy civilizations. They also help to preserve the connection between the Prime Material Plane and the Feywild, ensuring that both realms benefit from each other’s magic and resources. Actaeons are allies of other fey creatures that share their goals and values, such as dryads, pixies, satyrs, unicorns, or treants. They are also friendly with druids, rangers, elves, and other races that respect nature and its laws.

Actaeons have few natural enemies, as most predators and monsters avoid them or fear them. However, they face constant threats from evil creatures that seek to invade or corrupt their lands, such as orcs, goblins, undead, demons, or dragons. They also clash with humanoids that exploit nature for their own gain, such as loggers, miners, hunters, or poachers. Actaeons are not afraid to fight for their cause, and will not hesitate to kill or drive away those who harm their domain.

Actaeons are omnivorous, eating both meat and plants. They hunt for game such as deer, rabbits, boars, or birds, using their bows or spears. They also gather fruits, nuts, berries, mushrooms, or herbs from the forest. They drink water from streams, lakes, or springs, and sometimes enjoy wine or mead made from honey or fruits. They do not eat or drink anything that is tainted by evil or unnatural magic.

Actaeons belong to the woodland community that includes centaurs, dryads, and similar creatures. Because actaeons are bold and rare, other forest folk consider them heroes. Actaeons sometimes work with druids to preserve the safety of the woods, especially to thwart a serious danger.