ðð
A monument to the consequences of taking the law into
your own hands, a dauður viður is a borderline undead
tree that gains power and something resembling sentience
after having enough people hung from its branches. The
hate pouring out of the dead kills the tree, and makes
something else out of it that attacks anything that goes near
it. Some parts of it still remember being alive, and
sometimes it hangs those already dead upon its branches.
If there is death in the air, a dauður viður is likely nearby.
ðð
Huge plant, neutral evil
Armor Class 18 (natural armour)
Hit Points 287 (25d12 + 125)
Speed 20 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
24 (+7) 11 (+0) 21 (+5) 6 (-2) 12 (+1) 3 (-4)
Saving Throws Str +12, Dex +5, Con +10
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and
slashing from nonmagical weapons; necrotic,
poison
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened
Senses Tremorsense 30 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Can understand Common and Druidic but
can't speak
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)
Ambusher. In the first round of a combat, the dauður
viður has advantage on attack rolls against any
creature it surprised.
Corpses. When first encountered, a dauður viður
contains the corpses of 1d6 + 3 humanoids. A dauður
viður can hold the remains of up to twelve dead
humanoids. If the dauður viður dies, the corpses
hanging off of it can be safely removed.
Art Credit
"The Cursed Hanging Tree" by Elric Darmois.
As a bonus action, the dauður viður can drop and
animate one dead humanoid hanging from its
branches, turning it into a zombie. The zombie appears
in an unoccupied space within 10 feet of the dauður
viður and rolls initiative. The zombie acts as an ally of
the dauður viður but isn't under its control.
False Appearance. While the dauður viður remains
motionless, it is indistinguishable from a dead tree.
Actions
Multiattack. The dauður viður makes four attacks: two
with its branches and two with its grasping roots. If it
has a target grappled, the dauður viður can also make
a bite attack against that target as a bonus action.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 17 (3d6 + 7) piercing damage
Branch. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 20 ft.,
one target. Hit: 25 (4d8 + 7) slashing damage
Grasping Root. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach
20 ft., one creature not grappled by the dauður viður.
Hit: The target is grappled (escape DC 18). Until the
grapple ends, the target takes 10 (1d6 + 7)
bludgeoning damage at the start of each of its turns.
The root has AC 18 and can be severed by dealing 7
slashing damage or more to it at once. Cutting the root
doesn't hurt the dauður viður, but ends the grapple.
Harvest the Dead. The dauður viður grabs one
unsecured dead humanoid within 20 feet of it and
hangs the corpse onto itself, along with any equipment
the corpse is wearing or carrying. The remains can be
used with the Corpses trait.