Large fey, neutral evil
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Armor Class (suggested) 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 51 (6d10 + 18)
Speed 40 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 17 (+3) | 16 (+3) | 5 (-3) | 12 (+1) | 7 (-2) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +6, Dex +6, Con +6
Skills (suggested) Stealth +5
Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages understands Common, Elvish, and Sylvan but can’t speak
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Keen Hearing and Smell. The yeth hound has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Sunlight Banishment. If the yeth hound starts its turn in sunlight, it is transported to the Ethereal Plane. While sunlight shines on the spot from which it vanished, the hound must remain in the Deep Ethereal. After sunset, it returns to the Border Ethereal at the same spot, whereupon it typically sets out to find its pack or its master. The hound is visible on the Material Plane while it is in the Border Ethereal, and vice versa, but it can’t affect or be affected by anything on the other plane. Once it is adjacent to its master or a pack mate that is on the Material Plane, a yeth hound in the Border Ethereal can return to the Material Plane as an action.
Telepathic Bond. While the yeth hound is on the same plane of existence as its master, it can magically convey what it senses to its master, and the two can communicate telepathically with each other.
ACTIONS
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage, plus 14 (4d6) psychic damage if the target is frightened.
- Baleful Baying. The yeth hound bays magically. Every enemy within 300 feet of the hound that can hear it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of the hound’s next turn or until the hound is incapacitated. A frightened target that starts its turn within 30 feet of the hound must use all its movement on that turn to get as far from the hound as possible, must finish the move before taking an action, and must take the most direct route, even if hazards lie that way. A target that successfully saves is immune to the baying of all yeth hounds for the next 24 hours.
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
A yeth hound is a large, black-furred creature that resembles a greyhound with a human-like face and pointed ears. It has glowing red eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth. A yeth hound is a fey creature that originates from the lower planes, such as Hades or Fury’s Heart. It is usually granted by powerful fey lords, such as the Queen of Air and Darkness, to individuals who please them or serve their dark purposes. A yeth hound is a nocturnal hunter that flies through the air with a chilling howl that strikes fear into the hearts of its prey.
These fearsome flying hounds, magical creatures of the night, hunt humans, demihumans, and faerie folk. Standing five feet at the shoulder, yeth hounds weigh around 400 pounds. Their short fur is dull, nonreflective black; in darkness only the cherry-red glow of their eyes is visible. Their heads are almost human, flat with protruding noses instead of muzzles. Their short pointed ears curve up and away from the head, making them look like short horns. They give off an odor like chilled smoke.
COMBAT
A yeth hound is a fierce and relentless combatant that uses its speed, strength, and flight to chase down and tear apart its enemies. It prefers to hunt in packs, coordinating with its mates to surround and overwhelm its victims. A yeth hound’s most terrifying weapon is its baying, a magical howl that fills nearby foes with panicked horror. Those who hear the baying must resist its effect or flee in terror, even if it means running into danger or leaving their allies behind. A yeth hound can also inflict psychic damage with its bite, especially if the target is already frightened.
A yeth hound has a few weaknesses that can be exploited by savvy opponents. It is immune to nonmagical weapons that are not made of silver, but it can be harmed by silvered weapons or magic. It is also vulnerable to sunlight, which banishes it to the Ethereal Plane until nightfall. A yeth hound will never willingly expose itself to sunlight, even if ordered by its master or threatened by its enemies. A yeth hound can also be charmed or frightened by spells or abilities that affect fey creatures.
Because they can fly, yeth hounds move silently. However, their ghastly howl chills the blood up to a mile away. These unnatural creatures frequently run with evil huntsmen or other powerful evil forces.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A yeth hound can be found in any land where there is darkness and evil. It often serves as a hunting dog or a guard for evil fey, cultists, warlocks, or other wicked individuals who have earned the favor of a fey lord. A yeth hound is loyal to its master and will obey their commands without question, unless they involve going out in sunlight. A yeth hound can also form a pack with other yeth hounds, following the strongest or most cunning member as their leader. A yeth hound pack will roam the night in search of prey, often targeting travelers, villagers, or adventurers who wander into their territory.
A yeth hound has a rudimentary intelligence and can understand Common, Elvish, Infernal, and Sylvan languages, but it cannot speak. It communicates with its master or its pack mates through barks, growls, whines, or telepathy. A yeth hound has no sense of morality or compassion and enjoys causing pain and fear in others. It has no interest in treasure or material possessions and only values the thrill of the hunt and the approval of its master.
Within a pack, the hound with the most hit points leads the rest. They give the leader instant cooperation and obedience. They do not help one another, and they are not swayed by threats or promises of great reward. They take pleasure only in the panicked cries of their prey, just before it is pulled down.
The pack lairs in a subterranean den in some remote wild place, sleeping or pacing, until night falls. No persuasion forces them into daylight.
ECOLOGY
A yeth hound is a carnivore that feeds on the flesh and blood of its prey. It will often leave behind mutilated corpses or drag them back to its den as trophies. A yeth hound’s den is usually a dark and secluded place, such as a cave, a ruin, or a forest hollow. A yeth hound will sleep during the day in its den and emerge at night to hunt with its pack or follow its master’s orders.
A yeth hound does not reproduce naturally and can only be created by powerful fey magic. A fey lord can grant a yeth hound to an individual who has proven their loyalty or usefulness to them. Alternatively, a fey lord can transform an existing creature into a yeth hound as a reward or a punishment. The process involves infusing the creature with fey energy and altering its appearance and personality to match that of a yeth hound. The transformation is permanent and irreversible, unless undone by greater magic.
A yeth hound has few natural enemies, as most creatures fear and avoid it. However, it may encounter resistance from good-aligned fey, such as pixies or unicorns, who oppose its evil nature and actions. It may also face competition from other predators or hunters who seek to claim its territory or prey. A yeth hound will fight fiercely to defend itself, its master, or its pack from any threat.