Hey everyone,
With Halloween just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to get into the spooky spirit by creating some monster manual entries for the real "boogeymen" of the world. These are the creatures from folklore that parents have used for generations to scare children into behaving. First up is a terrifying figure from Venezuelan and Colombian lore: El Silbón, the Whistler.
El Silbón
Medium Undead, Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 97 (13d8 + 39)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 15 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 8 (-1) | 12 (+1) | 17 (+3) |
Saving Throws Wis +4, Cha +6
Skills Stealth +8, Perception +4, Intimidation +6
Damage Immunities Poison
Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Poisoned
Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 14
Languages Understands the languages it knew in life but cannot speak, communicates through its whistle
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3
Legendary Resistance (1/Day). If El Silbón fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Sack of Bones. El Silbón carries a heavy sack filled with the bones of its victims. It has advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks made to shove or grapple a creature.
Unsettling Proximity. El Silbón's whistle is a supernatural paradox. When the whistle sounds distant, El Silbón is very close. When it sounds close, El Silbón is far away. Any creature that can hear the whistle has disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks to locate El Silbón.
Actions
Multiattack. El Silbón makes two attacks with its Sack of Bones.
Sack of Bones. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Haunting Whistle (Recharge 5-6). El Silbón emits a horrifying, high-pitched whistle. Each creature of its choice within 60 feet that can hear the whistle must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Description
El Silbón, or "the Whistler," is the tormented spirit of a man cursed for murdering his own father. Now a horrifyingly gaunt figure of unnatural height, it is doomed to wander the plains, forever carrying a sack filled with his father's bones. Its presence is announced by a chilling, seven-note whistle that confounds the senses, sounding distant when it is near and close when it is far.
Vengeful Hunter. The Whistler is a relentless hunter, preying on the arrogant, the unfaithful, and drunkards who wander alone at night. It will stalk a victim for miles, its unnerving whistle a constant, maddening presence. When it finally strikes, it lays its sack of bones upon its victim, counting each one. If not stopped, it will add the victim's bones to its gruesome collection before dawn.
I hope this terrifying piece of folklore finds a place in your Halloween one-shots. He's a perfect wandering monster to terrorize a party that's gotten a little too comfortable in the wilderness.
As always,
Michael Garcia a.k.a. TheCrazyGM