Acolyte of Loss

Deep introspection and internal analysis can be very good things for the mind and soul. Understanding yourself, the multiverse, and how they interact helps place yourself within them and recognize your strengths and flaws to a healthy degree. Except some don’t handle it well, and can get lost in spirals of negative thoughts, or come to terrible conclusions that they then justify again and again with selective interpretation of feelings and evidence. These spirals can lead to the manifestation of an acolyte of loss, a meditative dream that sees the end of all as the only result of existence and views failure as not only possible, but inevitable. In order to “prepare” others for loss it rips away their achievements and skills, floods their minds with intrusive thoughts of failure, and may even kill those who refuse to accept its prescription of misery.

The acolyte looks like a palid, slightly wrong version of the person whose dreams brought it about. The most significant of its warped features are a pair of gigantic, red and yellow eyes that open on its chest when it activates its nullifying stance, the gaze seeming to cut through the minds of those who see it. To accommodate these eyes, which allow it to “see” the things a person most fears losing, the acolyte often goes shirtless.

Outside of Dreamblade the acolyte may be a mortal scholar who’s unlocked some unusual magic. In that case, the eyes on the chest might not be necessary, unless you really want to emphasize some mystical transformation that accompanied the mindset and magic. It could remain an aberration, the abilities and changes coming about from a person who’s touched the Far Realm or another strange world outside of the natural multiverse. Originally from the Dreamblade Base Set. 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 access to my premade adventures and other material I’m working on, consider backing me there!

5th Edition

Acolyte of Loss
Medium aberration, unaligned
Armor Class 16
Hit Points 75 (10d8 + 30)
Speed 30 ft.
Str 8 (-1) Dex 14 (+2) Con 16 (+3) Int 17 (+3) Wis 15 (+2) Cha 18 (+4)
Skills Intimidation +7, Perception +5
Senses truesight 30 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages any two languages
Challenge 5 (1800 XP)
Acceptance Of Loss. While the acolyte is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, its AC includes its Charisma modifier.
Actions
Multiattack. The acolyte of loss makes two Touch of Loss attacks. If both attacks hit the same target, that creature must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn.
Touch Of Loss. Melee Spell Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 10 (3d6) psychic damage and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks until the end of its next turn.
Nullifying Stance. The acolyte assumes a meditative stance. Until the end of its next turn, each creature of the acolyte’s choice that starts its turn within 30 feet of the acolyte or enters that area takes 5 (1d10) psychic damage and is unable to cast spells, activate magic items, or use class features until it leaves that area. Passive abilities, or abilities activated outside of this area still persist when brought within the area. For example, a raging barbarian keeps the benefits of the rage after moving within 30 feet of the acolyte, but could not use Extra Attack to make two attacks as an action. This effect ends if the acolyte moves, or if it fails a saving throw.
Reactions
Visions Of Failure. When a creature that the acolyte can see within 60 feet of it targets the acolyte with an attack or forces it to make a saving throw and the acolyte is in nullifying stance, the acolyte can force that creature to make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, the target takes 22 (5d8) psychic damage, and the attack misses or the acolyte automatically succeeds on the saving throw, and takes no damage if it would normally take half damage on a successful save.

13th Age

Acolyte of Loss 
4th level spoiler [aberration] 
Initiative: +6
Touch of Loss +8 vs. MD – 9 psychic damage.
Natural 14+: The target is also dazed until the start of the acolyte’s next turn.
Natural 18+: The target is also stunned until the start of the acolyte’s next turn.
Nullifying Stance: As a standard action, the acolyte can assume a meditative stance. Until the end of its next turn, each enemy that starts its turn nearby the acolyte or moves nearby it takes 5 psychic damage and is hampered until it moves far away from the acolyte. This effect ends if the acolyte moves.
[Special Trigger] C: Visions of Loss +8 vs. MD (one nearby or far away enemy) – 8 psychic damage, and the triggering attack misses and has no effect on the acolyte.
Limited Use: 1/round, as an interrupt action, when an enemy attacks the acolyte of loss and its in its nullifying stance.
AC 16 PD 16 MD 20 HP 54