A death kiss is a lesser beholder that can come into being when a true beholder has a vivid nightmare about losing blood. Its coloration and shape resemble those of the beholder that dreamed it into existence, but its hue is more muted, and instead of magical eye rays, it has ten long tentacles, each ending in a mouth full of teeth. It can speak through any of its tentacle-maws in a high-pitched, nasal voice.
Death kisses fear true beholders, which can easily kill or subdue them. Lacking the egotism of their stronger kin, a death kiss usually submits to the rule of its creator or any other beholder it encounters, but it tries to escape as soon as the beholder is preoccupied.
Large Aberration (Beholder), Typically Neutral Evil
Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 142 (15d10 + 60)
Speed: 0ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)
- STR – 18 (+4)
DEX – 14 (+2)
CON – 18 (+4)
INT – 10 (+0)
WIS – 12 (+1)
CHA – 10 (+0)
Saving Throws: Con +8, Wis +5
Skills: Perception +5
Damage Immunities: lightning
Condition Immunities: prone
Senses: darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages: Deep Speech, Undercommon
Challenge: 10 (5,900 XP)
Proficiency Bonus: +4
Lightning Blood. A creature within 5 feet of the death kiss takes 5 (1d10) lightning damage whenever it hits the death kiss with a melee attack that deals piercing or slashing damage.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The death kiss makes three Tentacle attacks. Up to three of these attacks can be replaced by Blood Drain-one replacement per tentacle grappling a creature.
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 14) ifit is a Huge or smaller creature. Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the death kiss can ‘t use the same tentacle on another target. The death kiss has ten tentacles.
Blood Drain. One creature grappled by a tentacle of the death kiss must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 22 (4d10) lightning damage, and the death kiss regains half as many hit points.