monster

Hythonia

CR 17

Large Monstrosity, Lawful Evil

Reveal Stat Block

Armor Class

17 (natural armor)

Hit Points

199 (21d10 + 84)

Speed

40 ft., swim 40 ft., climb 40 ft.

str

dex

con

int

wis

cha

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/Day).If Hythonia fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.

Petrifying Gaze.When a creature that can see Hythonia's eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of her, Hythonia can force it to make a 18 Constitution saving throw if she isn't incapacitated and can see the creature. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is instantly petrified. Otherwise, on a failed save the creature begins to turn to stone and is restrained. The restrained creature must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn, becoming petrified on a failure or ending the effect on a success. The petrification lasts until the creature is freed by the greater restoration spell or other magic. Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can't see Hythonia until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at Hythonia in the meantime, it must immediately make the save. If Hythonia sees herself reflected on a polished surface within 30 feet of her and in an area of bright light, she is affected by her own gaze.

Shed Skin (Mythic Trait; Recharges after a Short or Long Rest).If Hythonia is reduced to 0 hit points, she doesn't die or fall unconscious. Instead, she sheds her skin, regains 199 hit points, and moves up to her speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Actions

Multiattack.Hythonia makes three attacks: one with her claws, one to constrict, and one with her snaky hair.

Claws.mw 11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. ({@damage 1d8 + 5) slashing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage.

Constrict.mw 11 to hit, reach 15 ft., one Large or smaller creature. ({@damage 2d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape 19). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained and takes 15 (3d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage at the start of each of its turns, and Hythonia can't constrict another target.

Snaky Hair.mw 11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. ({@damage 4d12 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and Hythonia can pull the target up to 5 feet closer to her if it is a Large or smaller creature.

Legendary Actions.The creature can take 3 legendary actions...

Move.Hythonia moves up to her speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Snaky Hair.Hythonia makes one attack with her snaky hair.

Petrified Earth (Costs 2 Actions).Hythonia causes stone spikes to erupt from the ground in a 30-foot radius centered on her. The area becomes difficult terrain||3 until the start of her next turn. Any creature, other than Hythonia, takes 9 (2d8) piercing damage for every 5 feet it moves on those spikes.

Hythonia

Theros's reclusive medusas often delight in collecting and expanding their galleries of petrified victims. Unlike other medusas, Hythonia isn't merely a collector; she's an artist.

When Hythonia came to the island of Skathos, the inhabitants worshiped her as an avatar of the god Pharika. The cultists eagerly offered themselves up to the medusa's petrifying gaze in hopes of gaining Pharika's favor. Seeing herself surrounded by willing devotees, Hythonia formulated a cruel plan. After encouraging them to engage in wild rituals, Hythonia began turning her followers to stone, weaving their forms to create a grisly throne made of their petrified bodies.

While the medusa's victims have dwindled, tales of the medusa queen and the divine secrets she hoards have not. Hythonia eagerly trades the mysteries she knows but demands a constant price: a beautiful individual to become part of her throne.