Rogue’s Gallery is a series dedicated to showing detailed NPCs at different CRs, useful as mentors, rivals, patrons, or just for colorful casting.
To celebrate the launch of Book of Ebon Tides, we’re featuring an NPC for use in (or around) the Shadow Realm. They also make a great way to personalize the adventures awaiting in Tales from the Shadows!
Drayfn Mers Wants to Watch it All Burn
The world and everything in it, be it physical or intangible, is breaking down. Drayfn Mers’s role in the matter is to ensure that prescribed events end up where they are supposed to: in a puff of cosmic dust.
While nothing can stop the inevitable doom, Drayfn’s patron sees no harm in letting her usher creatures that espouse extremism in any form off the stage early.
At the heart of a natural disaster or in a council chamber when war is declared, Drayfn finds a way to stir the pot when world-changing events are brewing.
Personality Trait: I owe it to myself to follow this path to its bitter end. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy myself.
Ideal: Tradition. I am part of a cycle that has repeated for generations. I can’t deny that.
Bond: How I reach my destiny is as important as how I accomplish my destiny.
Flaw: It doesn’t matter what someone else sacrificed for this. I only care about my feelings.
Drayfn Mers, Doomed Acolyte
Medium Humanoid (Human), Neutral
Armor Class 15 (studded leather)
Hit Points 9 (2d8)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| 8 (−1) | 16 (+3) | 10 (+0) | 13 (+1) | 12 (+1) | 16 (+3) |
Saving Throws Wis +3, Cha +5
Skills Acrobatics +5, Arcana +3, Intimidation +5, Religion +3
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
ACTIONS
Eldritch Burst. Melee or Ranged Spell Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) force damage.
Bane of Excellence. Drayfn steals a creature’s chance to shine. A creature of Drayfn’s choice that she can see must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw or else the target treats their next roll of a 20 on a d20 as though they had rolled a 1. The effect ends after 1 minute, or when the target rolls a 20 on a d20.
Spellcasting. Drayfn casts one of the following spells, using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 13):
At will: mage hand
2/day each: expeditious retreat, unseen servant
REACTIONS
Hellish Rebuke (Recharge 4–6). When a creature hits Drayfn, they must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 11 (2d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Drayfn Mers, Doomed Attendant
Medium Humanoid (Human), Neutral
Armor Class 15 (studded leather)
Hit Points 27 (6d8)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| 8 (−1) | 16 (+3) | 10 (+0) | 13 (+1) | 12 (+1) | 18 (+4) |
Saving Throws Wis +3, Cha +6
Skills Acrobatics +5, Arcana +3, Intimidation +6, Religion +3
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 2 (450 XP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Proficiency Bonus +2
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Drayfn uses Bane of Excellence and makes one Eldritch Burst attack.
Eldritch Burst. Melee or Ranged Spell Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) force damage.
Bane of Excellence. Drayfn steals a creature’s chance to shine. A creature of Drayfn’s choice that she can see must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma saving throw or else the target treats their next roll of a 20 on a d20 as though they had rolled a 1. The effect ends after 1 minute, or when the target rolls a 20 on a d20.
Spellcasting. Drayfn casts one of the following spells, using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14):
At will: mage hand, true strike
2/day each: expeditious retreat, invisibility, unseen servant
REACTIONS
Hellish Rebuke (Recharge 4–6). When a creature hits Drayfn, they must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Drayfn Mers, Doomed Devotee
Medium Humanoid (Human), Neutral
Armor Class 15 (studded leather)
Hit Points 58 (13d8)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| 8 (−1) | 16 (+3) | 10 (+0) | 13 (+1) | 12 (+1) | 18 (+4) |
Saving Throws Wis +3, Cha +6
Skills Acrobatics +5, Arcana +3, Intimidation +6, Religion +3
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Proficiency Bonus +2
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Drayfn uses Bane of Excellence and makes one Eldritch Burst attack, or she casts one cantrip and makes one Eldritch Burst attack, or she makes two Eldritch Burst attacks.
Eldritch Burst. Melee or Ranged Spell Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) force damage.
Bane of Excellence. Drayfn steals a creature’s chance to shine. A creature of Drayfn’s choice that she can see must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma saving throw or else the target treats their next roll of a 20 on a d20 as though they had rolled a 1. The effect ends after 1 minute, or when the target rolls a 20 on a d20.
Blunted Blade. A creature of Drayfn’s choice that she can see must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or the target must reroll all weapon attack damage twice and take the lower result for 1 minute.
Spellcasting. Drayfn casts one of the following spells, using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14):
At will: mage hand, true strike
2/day each: expeditious retreat, invisibility, unseen servant
REACTIONS
Hellish Rebuke (Recharge 4–6). When a creature hits Drayfn, they must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Drayfn Mers, Doomed Dominus
Medium Humanoid (Human), Neutral
Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Hit Points 81 (18d8)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| 8 (−1) | 18 (+4) | 10 (+0) | 13 (+1) | 12 (+1) | 18 (+4) |
Saving Throws Wis +3, Cha +7
Skills Acrobatics +7, Arcana +4, Intimidation +7, Religion +4
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Proficiency Bonus +3
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Drayfn uses Bane of Excellence and makes one Eldritch Burst attack, or she casts one cantrip and makes one Eldritch Burst attack, or she makes two Eldritch Burst attacks.
Eldritch Burst. Melee or Ranged Spell Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) force damage.
Bane of Excellence. Drayfn steals a creature’s chance to shine. A creature of Drayfn’s choice that she can see must succeed on a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or else the target treats their next roll of a 20 on a d20 as though they had rolled a 1. The effect ends after 1 minute, or when the target rolls a 20 on a d20.
Blunted Blade. A creature of Drayfn’s choice that she can see must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or the target must reroll all weapon attack damage twice and take the lower result for 1 minute.
Spellcasting. Drayfn casts one of the following spells, using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14):
At will: expeditious retreat, mage hand, true strike
2/day each: dimension door, invisibility, magic circle, unseen servant
REACTIONS
Hellish Rebuke (Recharge 4–6). When a creature hits Drayfn, they must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 27 (5d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
