Treant Vassal

Despite Bitterstrike’s control over the Winterbole factions, she is unaware of the truth behind much of it. She is motivated with power, wealth, and the destruction of her enemies. As focused as she is, she cannot understand or see the subterfuge and subtlety going on around her.

Without exception, her vassals take advantage of her shortsightedness. The Tigerclaws and treants use her to make strikes against their enemies. The Frost Witches spy on other vassals and try to subvert Bitterstrike to worship of their demonic lord. The satyrs trade valuable treasures in Bitterstrike’s tributes with fakes and baubles.

Originally from the 4e Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale. This post came out a week ago on my Patreon. If you want to get access to all my monster conversions early, as well as a spot on the Paper and Dice Discord server, consider backing me there!

5th Edition

Treant Vassel
Large plant, true neutral
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 133 (14d10 + 56)
Speed 40 ft.
Str 20 (+5) Dex 13 (+1) Con 19 (+4) Int 13 (+1) Wis 21 (+5) Cha 11 (+0)
Damage Resistances cold
Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Common, Draconic, Elvish, Sylvan
Challenge 6 (2300 XP)
False Appearance. While the vassal remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal tree.
Ice Walk. The vassal can move across icy surfaces without needing to make an ability check. Additionally, difficult terrain composed of ice or snow doesn’t cost it extra movement.
Siege Monster. The vassal deals double damage to objects and structures.
Innate Spellcasting. The vassal’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (save DC 11). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
1/day: hellish rebuke (deals cold damage instead of fire)
Actions
Multiattack. The vassel makes two slam attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6+5) bludgeoning damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 60/180 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10+5) bludgeoning damage.
Bitterwind Blast (1/Short Rest). The vassal exhales freezing air in a 25-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 32 (5d12) cold damage and having its speed reduced by 10 feet until the end of its next turn on a failed save. On a successful save, the target takes half as much cold damage and its speed is not reduced.
Reactions
Sentinel. If a creature within the vassal’s reach makes an attack against a target that does not have this ability, the vassal can make a melee attack against the attacking creature.

13th Age

The true Icons use Bitterstrike’s vassals as a way to spy on the dragon and confirm she is not ready to rise to Icon status of her own. The Orc Lord is fed information from the Tigerclaw barbarians, the treants report to the High Druid of the dragon’s crimes against nature, the satyrs are friends and servants of the Elf Queen, and the Frost Witches report to their demonic patron, who carries that information to the Diabolist’s ears. All ensure that Bitterstrike’s rage and destructiveness is directed in useful directions for them, rather than actually leading the dragon to her own kingdom.

Treant Vassal
Large 6th level blocker [plant]
Initiative: +8
Vulnerability: Fire, all attacks from Bitterstrike
Pounding Branches +11 vs. AC (2 attacks; can target nearby enemies) – 20 damage
C: Bitterwind Blast +11 vs. PD (1d3 nearby enemies in a group) – 25 cold damage
Natural Even Hit: The target is also stuck (save ends).
Miss: 12 cold damage.
Limited Use: 1/battle.
[Special Trigger] C: Bitter Vengeance +10 vs. PD (the triggering enemy) – 10 cold damage and the target pops free from the vassal
Limited Use: 1/battle, as an interrupt action, when the vassal takes damage from a nearby enemy.
Fire, fire, fire!: When the vassal takes 20 or more fire damage from a single attack, it also takes 5 ongoing fire damage.
Hardwood Resistance: The vassal has resist damage 12+ to all damage except fire damage and melee weapon damage.
Lashing Defense: 1/round, as an interrupt, the vassal can make a pounding branches attack against a nearby enemy that makes an attack that doesn’t target a treant vassal.
Resist Cold 14+.
AC 22 PD 20 MD 16 HP 180