Small aberration (neogi), lawful evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 33 (6d6 + 12)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (-2) | 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) | 13 (+1) | 12 (+1) | 15 (+2) |
Skills Intimidation +4, Perception +3
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Common, Deep Speech, Undercommon
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Mental Fortitude. The neogi has advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened, and magic can’t put the neogi to sleep.
Spider Climb. The neogi can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The neogi makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) poison damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute. A target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
- Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage.
- Enslave (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The neogi targets one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be magically charmed by the neogi for 1 day, or until the neogi dies or is more than 1 mile from the target. The charmed target obeys the neogi’s commands and can’t take reactions, and the neogi and the target can communicate telepathically with each other at a distance of up to l mile. Whenever the charmed target takes damage, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
Neogi are a race of aberrant creatures that resemble a cross between a wolf spider and an eel. They have eight hairy legs, a long eel-like neck, and a snake-like head with reflective eyes and needle-sharp teeth. They are small in size, no bigger than a child, but they are extremely cunning and ruthless. They often dye their fur and tattoo their bodies to indicate their family and rank. The older a neogi grows, the more colorful its hide becomes.
Neogi are slavers and plunderers, who view all other creatures as either potential slaves or prey. They have an innate ability to control the minds of other beings, which they use to dominate and exploit them. They are xenophobic and paranoid, trusting only their own kind. They have no concept of friendship or loyalty, only ownership and obedience. They are driven by greed and hunger, always seeking to acquire more wealth and power.
Neogi can communicate in their own language and in Common. Many speak other languages to help facilitate their slaves taking orders correctly.
COMBAT
Neogi are not physically strong, but they rely on their agility, intelligence, and mind control abilities to overcome their enemies. They can climb on any surface, including ceilings, and they have darkvision that allows them to see in the dark. They can also communicate telepathically with each other and with their enslaved minions.
Neogi prefer to ambush their foes, using their slaves as shields or distractions. They can bite with their venomous fangs, which can paralyze or kill their victims. They can also claw with their sharp legs, or use weapons such as daggers or crossbows. Neogi are adept at using magic, especially spells that manipulate or enslave others. They often employ magic items or devices that enhance their abilities or protect them from harm.
Neogi are cowardly and will flee if they face a superior force or if they lose control of their slaves. They will not hesitate to sacrifice their minions or allies to save themselves. They will also try to bargain or deceive their enemies if they think they can gain an advantage or escape. Neogi are very vengeful and will not forget those who wronged them. They will seek revenge by any means necessary, even if it takes years or decades.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
Neogi can live in any environment, but they prefer warm and temperate climates. They are nomadic and travel in groups called packs, which consist of a leader called neogi master, several adult neogi, and many neogi hatchlings and slaves. Neogi packs travel in ships called deathspiders, which are shaped like giant spiders and can fly in space or land on planets. Neogi use these ships to raid and plunder other worlds, capturing slaves and resources.
Neogi society is based on a strict hierarchy of ownership and obedience. The master is the owner of all the neogi in the pack, as well as all the slaves and property. The master has absolute authority over the pack and can do whatever he wants with his possessions. The master is usually the oldest and most powerful neogi in the pack, but he can be challenged by any adult neogi who thinks he can defeat him in combat or mind control. The master is also responsible for breeding new neogi by impregnating female slaves of various races with his eggs. The master can have multiple mates at the same time, but he will kill them after they give birth to his offspring.
The adult neogi are the owners of the hatchlings and some of the slaves in the pack. They serve the master loyally, but they also compete with each other for his favor and for more wealth and power. They can own their own deathspiders or other ships, as well as magic items or devices that enhance their abilities or status. They can also breed new neogi by impregnating female slaves of various races with their eggs, but they have to give half of their offspring to the master as tribute. The adult neogi can challenge the master for his position if they think they can overthrow him, but they risk being killed or enslaved by him if they fail.
The hatchlings are the young neogi who have not yet reached adulthood. They are owned by the adult neogi who sired them or by the master who received them as tribute. They serve their owners obediently, but they also learn from them how to be cunning and ruthless. They can climb on any surface, bite with their venomous fangs, and use simple weapons such as daggers or crossbows. They can also communicate telepathically with each other and with their owners, but they cannot control the minds of others yet. They reach adulthood after 10 years of age, when they develop their mind control abilities and can challenge their owners for their freedom and property.
The slaves are the creatures of various races that the neogi capture and enslave. They are owned by the master, the adult neogi, or the hatchlings, depending on their value and usefulness. They serve their owners in various ways, such as labor, combat, entertainment, or breeding. They are treated as objects, not as living beings, and they are often abused, tortured, or killed by their owners. They are controlled by the neogi’s mind control abilities, which make them obey their commands and prevent them from resisting or escaping. Some slaves are implanted with devices that enhance their abilities or make them more loyal to their owners. Some slaves are also infected with a disease called neogi fever, which slowly transforms them into neogi-like creatures.
The neogi tattoo their non-neogi slaves with symbols of ownership, usually on the left shoulder in the front and back.
Captive umber hulks are trained from birth to follow their “small lords”, caring for their every need. Any neogi can command another umber hulk (the effect of this command is akin to the effect of the charm monster spell).
The neogi world view of “own or be owned” has resulted in a paranoid outlook that borders on xenophobia, and their relentless attacks on other races result in their being universally hated. The only “normal” race with ties to neogi are the mind flayers, who make a profit on the neogi slave trade.
ECOLOGY
Neogi are carnivorous and feed on the flesh of other creatures, especially their slaves. They prefer fresh meat, but they will also eat preserved or rotten food if necessary. They have a fast metabolism and need to eat frequently to sustain themselves. They also have a strong appetite for exotic and rare delicacies, such as dragon eggs or unicorn horns.
Neogi have a short lifespan of about 45 years, but they can live longer if they use magic or devices that prolong their lives. They reproduce by laying eggs inside female slaves of various races, who then give birth to neogi hatchlings. The neogi do not care about the race or origin of their mates, as long as they are fertile and compatible with their eggs. The neogi do not form any emotional bonds with their mates or offspring, and they will kill them or abandon them after they serve their purpose.
Neogi have few natural predators, as they are feared and hated by most other creatures. They are also very cautious and secretive, avoiding unnecessary conflicts and hiding their tracks. However, they do have some enemies that pose a threat to them, such as beholders, illithids, githyanki, githzerai, dragons, elves, dwarves, and humans. These enemies either compete with the neogi for resources and slaves, or seek to destroy them for their evil deeds. Neogi will try to avoid or deceive these enemies if possible, but they will also fight them if they have to or if they see an opportunity to profit from them.
As a neogi grows older and his mind fades, his orders become confused and his slaves become disobedient. His fellow neogi may choose to poison the older one at once. The different poisons moving through its body overload the old neogi’s system, and it begins its change into a Great Old Master. A Great Old Master is a huge bloated creature that can barely move or think, but still exerts its mind control over its pack and slaves. It is revered by the other neogi as a source of wisdom and power, but it is also feared for its unpredictable moods and appetites.