They were mysterious in many ways, but sometimes showed up in people’s dreams to offer guidance or advice", Wyatt explains. "In their original incarnation in second edition, moonstone dragons were strongly linked to dreams. The team still managed to keep something of the old moonstone dragon in these new rules, though. Indeed, the first moonstone drakes have been retconned as the result of eggs carried by First World refugees that were changed by Feywild magic. They were also tied to the myth of D&D's original world that's long since been lost. With that in mind, Wyatt and co reintroduced them for Fizban's Treasury of Dragons as a representative of the Feywild (the parallel world seen in The Wild Beyond the Witchlight). Despite having been introduced in the 1998 version of D&D, they weren't particularly well defined. The updated moonstone dragon - including that moonstone dragon wyrmling you can see below - sits at the opposite end of the scale. But I think the beholder might be so offended and unsettled by the eyedrake’s appearance that it’s not at the top of its game, which could give the eyedrake an edge." Waking the dragon It’s a significantly more powerful threat at challenge rating 13 compared to the eyedrake’s 8. "Going strictly by the numbers, the beholder would probably win. When I asked what would win in a scrap between a beholder and its dragon-inspired offspring, Wyatt revealed that this new monster wouldn't go down easy. Not that the eyedrake isn't a force to be reckoned with, of course. However, this creativity introduced some problems of its own. Shawn managed to find the perfect fusion of beholder features with dragon shape, down to the central eye that’s inside the dragon’s gaping maw." His visual design absolutely informed the monster design. Our in-house concept artist, Shawn Wood, helped into the hideous monstrosity we see in the book. "The eyedrake began life literally as a line in a spreadsheet that said, 'beholders dream of dragons, creating a draconic inspired beholderkin'. As an unholy spawn of the many-eyed beholder, this addition to Fizban's Treasury of Dragons is quite literally the stuff of nightmares. The moonstone dragon from second edition D&D is an example of the former, while the hideous eyedrake sits in the latter category. Melee Spell Attack: your spell attack modifier to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature."We started the design process for the bestiary chapter with two lists: a list of creatures from past editions we wanted to bring forward (including the gem dragons and the moonstone dragon) and a list of creature ideas we wanted to flesh out," he says during our interview. Hit: 1d8 + 3 + the spell’s level psychic damage. Ranged Spell Attack: your spell attack modifier to hit, range 150 ft., one creature. If the target is a creature, it can’t regain hit points until the start of the aberration’s next turn.Įye Ray (Beholderkin Only). Hit: 1d10 + 3 + the spell’s level slashing damage. Melee Weapon Attack: your spell attack modifier to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. The aberration makes a number of attacks equal to half this spell’s level (rounded down).Ĭlaws (Slaad Only). At the start of each of the aberration’s turns, each creature within 5 feet of the aberration must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or take 2d6 psychic damage, provided that the aberration isn’t incapacitated. The aberration regains 5 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point. Languages: Deep Speech, understands the languages you speak Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 Hit Points: 40 + 10 for each spell level above 4th Warlock (Optional), Wizard (Optional) Aberrant SpiritĪrmor Class: 11 + the level of the spell (natural armor) When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, use the higher level wherever the spell's level appears on the stat block. If you don’t issue any, it take the Dodge action and uses its move to avoid danger.Īt Higher Levels. It obeys your verbal commands (no action required by you). In combat, the creature shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. The creature is an ally to you and your companions. The creature disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or when the spell ends. The creature resembles an aberration of that kind, which determines certain traits in its stat block. When you cast the spell, choose Beholderkin, Slaad, or Star Spawn. This corporeal form uses the Aberrant Spirit stat block. It manifests in an unoccupied space that you can see within range. Components: V, S, M (a pickled tentacle and an eyeball in a platinum inlaid vial worth at least 400 gp)
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