Hey everyone,
We were without power for most of yesterday, which meant no coding, no server work, and no internet. Instead of being a total loss, it turned into a nice, quiet day. My wife and I broke out some dice and played some Dungeon & Dragons by candlelight. It was a good reminder of how much fun you can have with some simple analog entertainment.
Now that the power is back, let's get back to our spooky season monster manual. Today, we're tackling a creature that has been the stuff of nightmares for children across Spain, Portugal, and Latin America for centuries. It's the shapeless thing that lurks in the dark, the monster in the closet, the creature known as El Coco.
The Boogeyman with a Thousand Faces
Before we get to the stats, it's worth noting that El Coco is often blended with other legends, most notably "El Hombre del Saco" (The Sack Man). While some tales describe El Coco as a monstrous head that looks like a coconut (the name "Coco" is thought to derive from this), many others depict it as a shadowy figure that carries a sack to snatch away naughty children. For our D&D version, we're embracing that terrifying combination.
El Coco (The Coco)
Medium Aberration, Neutral Evil
Armor Class 15 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 71 (11d8 + 22)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 (+2) | 17 (+3) | 15 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) |
Skills Stealth +8, Perception +5, Intimidation +6
Condition Immunities Frightened
Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 15
Languages Understands all languages spoken by children but does not speak
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3
Amorphous. El Coco can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.
Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, El Coco can take the Hide action as a bonus action.
Innate Spellcasting. El Coco's spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
At will: minor illusion, invisibility (self only)
3/day each: darkness, sleep (cast at 3rd level)
1/day: fear
Actions
Multiattack. El Coco makes two Grasping Claws attacks.
Grasping Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) psychic damage.
Abduct. El Coco attempts to stuff a Small or smaller creature into its sack. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or be forced into El Coco's sack. A creature inside the sack is blinded, restrained, and has total cover against attacks and other effects outside the sack. The sack can hold only one creature at a time. If El Coco takes 10 or more damage from a single source, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or drop the sack, releasing the creature inside into an unoccupied space within 5 feet. A creature can use its action to try to escape the sack by succeeding on a DC 14 Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check.
Description
El Coco is a creature of primal fear, a boogeyman given form by the collective anxiety of parents and the terror of misbehaving children. It has no single shape, often appearing as a shadowy humanoid figure with long, grasping limbs, or sometimes as a grotesque head like a hairy coconut or gourd. It is the thing that lurks in dark closets, under beds, and on rooftops, waiting for the moment a child is left alone.
Child Snatcher. El Coco's entire existence revolves around a single, horrifying purpose: to abduct naughty children. It is a silent hunter, using its innate connection to darkness and fear to slip into a home undetected. It preys on disobedience, and once it has chosen its target, it will wait patiently for the perfect moment to strike, stuffing the child into its sack to be carried away to a place of no return.
This monster is perfect for a dark fantasy or horror-themed campaign. It’s not a creature to be fought in a dungeon, but a terrifying stalker to be used in a tense, urban setting where the party must protect a child from the thing that goes bump in the night.
As always,
Michael Garcia a.k.a. TheCrazyGM