Illustration Xan Drake

Jack of Strings

Tome of Beasts 2
Challenge 5
(1,800 XP)
Robinloft Estimated CR 5
Medium fey, chaotic neutral
Armor Class 14
Hit Points 90 (12d8+36)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
14 (+2)
DEX
19 (+4)
CON
17 (+3)
INT
15 (+2)
WIS
14 (+2)
CHA
20 (+5)
Saving Throws Dex +7
Skills Acrobatics +10, Performance +8
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with cold iron weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common, Sylvan, Umbral
Environments
Magic Resistance.

The jack of strings has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack. The jack of strings makes two mocking slap attacks.
Mocking Slap. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage plus 3 (1d6) psychic damage.
Animate Puppet.

The jack of strings animates up to three wooden puppets it can see within 60 feet of it. This works like the animate objects spell, except the wooden puppet uses the statistics of a Small object, regardless of the puppet’s actual size. The jack can have no more than five puppets animated at one time.

Puppet Link.

One humanoid or beast the jack of strings can see within 60 feet of it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become magically linked to the jack’s marionette. This link appears as a barely perceptible string between the jack’s marionette and the target. A linked creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the link on a success.

While a target is linked, the jack of strings can use its reaction at the start of the target’s turn to control the linked target. The jack of strings can make the target move, manipulate objects, attack, or take other purely physical actions. The jack can’t make the target cast spells. While controlled, the target moves awkwardly and has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks. If the target receives a suicidal command from the jack of strings, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success.

The jack of strings can have only one target linked at a time. If it links another, the effect on the previous target ends. If a creature dies while linked to the jack’s marionette, the creature’s body becomes a wooden puppet that resembles the creature.

Jack of Strings

Not yet described

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