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Siren

Adversaries Designed by Phischi • Art by Witcher Concept Art

Adversary overview

They can transform to resemble beautiful human maidens. Once a naive sailor gets within arm’s reach of these beautiful creatures, their fair faces suddenly turn to fang-filled, fish-like maws.

“Out at sea, if you hear a beautiful woman singing, turn the ship around at once. You understand? Even if it means sailing straight back into a storm.” — Arike of Hindarsfjall, advice given to his son before his first solo voyage

Sirens are sea creatures which typically take the form of a half-human (male or female) with a fish’s tail, a lot like mermaids or mermen. They appear to rule the undersea world and wield mysterious power. Their language is a sing-song variant of the Aquan. They can transform to resemble beautiful human maidens, though with tails covered in silver scales instead of legs. Once a naive sailor gets within arm’s reach of these beautiful creatures, their fair faces suddenly turn to fang-filled, fish-like maws, and lovely tails promising unknown delights become sharp talons.

One legend claims sirens were once friendly towards men—and supposedly were even known (albeit on rare occasions) to accept some sailors’ clumsy attempts at courtship. In our day, however, they are decidedly aggressive, perhaps soured by the numerous kidnappings of carried out by frustrated sea salts. Whatever the truth, one thing is certain: these days the monsters display no signs of good will, and so when spotting them one should immediately reach for one’s sword.

Sirens work in packs, akin to harpies and their ilk. Sirens prefer swooping on their prey, slashing with their claws, or grappling with their tails as they sweep past their victims, throwing them into the sea or from cliffs. On the ground, however, they are virtually defenseless, and so a wise tactic is to damage their fin-like wings or fight into a confined space to force them to land. If gravely wounded, a siren will retreat beneath the sea.

Stat block

Tier
1
Type
Skulk
Difficulty
11
HP
4
Stress
3
Attack mod
+2
Damage thresholds
Minor Damage — Mark 1 HP Minor
Mark 1 HP
6
Major Damage — Mark 2 HP Major
Mark 2 HP
10
Severe Damage — Mark 3 HP Severe
Mark 3 HP

Standard attack

Claws
Range: Melee
Damage: 1d4+4
Attack Mod: +2
Damage Type: Physical

Features

Passives

  • Flight

    While flying, the Siren gains a +2 bonus to their Difficulty.

  • Clumsy on land

    While the siren is neither flying nor swimming, attack rolls against it have advantage.

Actions

  • Illusory Appearance
    stress 1

    Mark a Stress: The siren covers itself with a magical illusion that makes it look like a beautiful man or woman of its general size and shape. The effect ends if the siren takes a bonus action to end it or if it dies. The changes wrought by this effect fail to hold up to physical inspection. For example, the siren could appear to have no claws, but someone touching its hand might feel the claws. Otherwise, a
    creature must take an action to visually inspect the illusion and succeed on Knowledge Action Roll (15) to discern that the siren is
    disguised.

  • Tail Attack
    stress 1

    After doing an attack role on a creature, the Siren can mark a Stress to use their tail to try to envelop the target. If the target fails on an Agility Reaction Roll (11), it becomes Restrained and can free themself when they take the spotlight by succeeding on a Strength Action Roll (11). While the Siren has enveloped a target with its tail, the Siren can mark a Stress to drag the target with it within Very Close range.

Reactions

Motives & tactics

Illusory Beauty Aggressive Monster Amphibious Ambusher

Experiences

  • Swimmer +2
  • Flyer +1

Siren

Tier 1 skulk

They can transform to resemble beautiful human maidens. Once a naive sailor gets within arm’s reach of these beautiful creatures, their fair faces suddenly turn to fang-filled, fish-like maws.

Motives & Tactics: Illusory Beauty, Aggressive Monster, Amphibious Ambusher

Difficulty: 11 | Thresholds: 6 / 10 | HP: 4 | Stress: 3

ATK: +2 | Claws: Melee | 1d4+4 Physical

Experience: Swimmer +2, Flyer +1

HP:

Stress:

Features

Illusory Appearance – Action: Mark a Stress: The siren covers itself with a magical illusion that makes it look like a beautiful man or woman of its general size and shape. The effect ends if the siren takes a bonus action to end it or if it dies. The changes wrought by this effect fail to hold up to physical inspection. For example, the siren could appear to have no claws, but someone touching its hand might feel the claws. Otherwise, a creature must take an action to visually inspect the illusion and succeed on Knowledge Action Roll (15) to discern that the siren is disguised.

Tail Attack – Action: After doing an attack role on a creature, the Siren can mark a Stress to use their tail to try to envelop the target. If the target fails on an Agility Reaction Roll (11), it becomes Restrained and can free themself when they take the spotlight by succeeding on a Strength Action Roll (11). While the Siren has enveloped a target with its tail, the Siren can mark a Stress to drag the target with it within Very Close range.

Flight – Passive: While flying, the Siren gains a +2 bonus to their Difficulty.

Clumsy on land – Passive: While the siren is neither flying nor swimming, attack rolls against it have advantage.

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