Languagesunderstands Deep Speech but cannot speak.
Traits and Actions
Gloomy Aura
TraitCustom
Frightened
Condition
The Gloom Maw emits an aura of fear. Creatures within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn.
Multiattack
Trait
The Gloom Maw makes three attacks: one with its Bite and two with its Tentacles.
Bite
Action
Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 26 (3d10 + 4) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) psychic damage.
Tentacle
Action
Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be grappled. Until the grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the Gloom Maw can’t use this tentacle on another target.
Combat Behavior
Tactics
• The Gloom Maw uses its Gloomy Aura to instill fear in its enemies before engaging in combat. • It prefers to strike at isolated targets first, grappling them using its Tentacle attack to restrain them. • If outnumbered, the Gloom Maw will attempt to flee and regroup using its environment to its advantage.
Combat Style
Predatory and tactical, focusing on weakening adversaries with fear before delivering crushing blows.
Morale
The Gloom Maw fights to the death, though it will retreat if critically wounded or faced with overwhelming odds.
Monster Description
The Gloom Maw is an aberrant entity born of dark magic and ancient evils. Its form is a mass of shifting black tendrils, surrounded by an ever-present aura of gloom that drains hope and light. Legends speak of its origin in the depths of the Shadowfell, where it was created by powerful entities who sought to harness fear to power their dark machinations. The Gloom Maw is as much a predator of minds as it is of bodies, using terror to incapacitate its victims before consuming their very essence. It leaves behind a lingering darkness that could spell doom for unsuspecting adventurers.
Monster behavior
Cunning and insidious, the Gloom Maw prefers to stalk its prey rather than confront them directly, using its fear aura to weaken resolve before attacking. It often lures victims into its domain with illusions or whispers, feeding on their anxiety and despair. When engaged, it unleashes its tentacles with brutal efficiency, incapacitating foes before delivering a soul-crushing bite. The Gloom Maw exhibits a predatory intelligence, often retreating to heal and regroup when faced with superior foes or overwhelming odds.
Ecology
In its dark habitat, the Gloom Maw has no natural enemies; its influence drives creatures insane or compels them to flee. It thrives in dark, humid environments, often residing in ancient ruins and abandoned temples where the echoes of past sacrifices still linger. The creature's consumption of fear and despair sustains it, and its presence warps the very fabric of reality, making the surrounding area oppressive. Locals speak of missing persons and whispers in the dark, often attributing such happenings to the Gloom Maw.
History
The Gloom Maw's terrifying legacy stretches back centuries, often found chronicled in the dark tomes of ancient spellcasters. Its essence is said to have been woven into the fabric of nightmares, and it has inspired countless tales of horror among villagers. It is speculated that the creature originated from a ritual gone horribly wrong, intended to create a guardian against other horrors of the night, but instead birthing a being of insatiable hunger for fear. Over the ages, scholars have tried to understand and contain the Gloom Maw's essence, but many have met their doom, leaving behind only whispered cautionary tales.
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