Sea Hag

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Sea Hag Introduction

In the dim, mist-laden corners of the world where the ocean's embrace is both a cradle and a grave, there lurks a creature of unspeakable malevolence—the Sea Hag. Her presence is a blight upon the natural beauty of the coastal realms, a living nightmare that haunts the dreams of sailors and coastal villagers alike. As the waves crash against jagged rocks and the wind howls with a mournful dirge, the Sea Hag emerges from the depths, her form a grotesque parody of life.

The Sea Hag's appearance is a chilling sight to behold. Her skin, a sickly shade of greenish-blue, is mottled and slick like the scales of a deep-sea fish. Long, tangled hair, reminiscent of seaweed, clings to her gaunt frame, and her eyes, cold and unfeeling, glow with an eerie luminescence. Her mouth, filled with sharp, jagged teeth, twists into a cruel smile that promises nothing but despair. Clad in tattered rags that once might have been the garments of a drowned sailor, she moves with a predatory grace, her bony fingers tipped with claws that glisten like wet coral.

The Sea Hag's behavior is as vile as her appearance. She delights in spreading fear and misery, preying upon the weak and the unwary. Her voice, a raspy whisper carried on the wind, can charm or terrify those who hear it, drawing them inexorably towards their doom. She is known to weave illusions, creating visions of lost loved ones or treasures beyond imagining, only to shatter these dreams with the harsh reality of her presence. Her laughter, a sound like the breaking of glass, echoes across the water, chilling the hearts of those who hear it.

Typically, the Sea Hag makes her home in desolate coastal caves or among the ruins of sunken ships, where the air is thick with the scent of salt and decay. These lairs are often littered with the bones of her victims, a grim testament to her cruelty. Legends speak of her as a guardian of cursed treasures, hoarding the spoils of shipwrecks and the offerings of desperate sailors who seek to appease her wrath. Some tales even suggest that she is the keeper of ancient secrets, knowledge of the deep that no mortal should possess.

In the lore of coastal communities, the Sea Hag is a figure of dread, a cautionary tale told to children to keep them from wandering too close to the water's edge. Yet, despite the fear she inspires, there are those who seek her out, driven by desperation or greed, hoping to bargain with the hag for a boon or a curse. But be warned, for the Sea Hag is as treacherous as the sea itself, and those who deal with her often find themselves ensnared in a web of deceit and despair from which there is no escape.

Sea Hag Skills & Traits

Skills

• Deception +2
• Perception +3

Senses

• Darkvision 60 ft.
• Passive Perception 13

Languages

• Aquan
• Common
• Primordial

Abilities

• Amphibious: The sea hag can breathe air and water.
• Horrific Appearance: Any humanoid that starts its turn within 30 feet of the sea hag and can see the hag's true form must make a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is frightened for 1 minute. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the sea hag is within line of sight, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a target's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to the sea hag's Horrific Appearance for the next 24 hours. Unless the target is surprised or the revelation of the hag's true form is sudden, the target can avert its eyes and avoid making the initial saving throw. If the target does so, it can't see the hag until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the target looks at the hag in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
• Hag Coven: When in a coven, a sea hag has a challenge rating of 5 (1,800 XP).
• Illusory Appearance: The sea hag covers herself and anything she is wearing or carrying with a magical illusion that makes her look like another creature of her general size and humanoid shape. The illusion ends if the hag takes a bonus action to end it or if she dies. The changes wrought by this effect fail to hold up to physical inspection. For example, the hag could appear to have smooth skin, but someone touching her would feel her rough flesh. Otherwise, a creature must take an action to visually inspect the illusion and succeed on a DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check to discern that the hag is disguised.

Actions

• Claws: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (3d6 + 3) slashing damage.
• Death Glare: The sea hag targets one frightened creature she can see within 30 feet of her. If the target can see the hag, it must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw against this magic or drop to 0 hit points.

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Battle Tips for Sea Hag

The Sea Hag is a formidable foe, known for its terrifying appearance and cunning nature. Dungeon Masters can use this creature to create a challenging and atmospheric encounter for their players. Here are some tips on how to effectively utilize a Sea Hag in battle:

• Leverage the Environment: Sea Hags are most powerful in their natural habitat, such as coastal areas, swamps, or underwater caves. Use the environment to your advantage by incorporating difficult terrain, limited visibility, or water-based hazards that can hinder the players while the Sea Hag remains unaffected.
• Utilize Illusions and Deception: Sea Hags are known for their ability to create illusions. Use this to confuse and mislead the players, perhaps by disguising the true location of the Sea Hag or creating false threats to distract them.
• Exploit Fear: The Sea Hag's Horrific Appearance ability can instill fear in even the bravest adventurers. Use this to break up the party's formation, causing chaos and making it easier for the Sea Hag to pick off isolated members.
• Coordinate with Other Creatures: Sea Hags often work with other aquatic creatures, such as merrow or sahuagin. Use these allies to create a multi-layered encounter, with the Sea Hag providing magical support while its allies engage the players in direct combat.
• Plan for Retreat: If the battle turns against the Sea Hag, it should have a planned escape route. Use underwater tunnels or hidden passages to allow the Sea Hag to flee and regroup, potentially setting up a future encounter with the players.

By using these strategies, a Dungeon Master can create a memorable and challenging encounter with a Sea Hag, testing the players' ability to adapt and overcome a cunning and fearsome opponent.