Umbral Depths: Noctarath
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Noctarath, known as their common name of Umbral Leviathan, is a terrifying and colossal serpent-like creature that prowls the deepest and most treacherous parts of the Umbral Depths. Its body, covered in sleek, black scales that shimmer with hues of deep blues and purples, is adorned with writhing tentacles and multiple gaping mouths filled with rows of jagged teeth. The Noctarath is a creature of pure malevolence, embodying the darkest aspects of the Umbral Depths. Its presence distorts reality, warping the environment around it into a nightmarish reflection of its own twisted nature.
Nature: The Noctarath is a being of relentless hunger and destruction, driven by an insatiable urge to consume and corrupt. Unlike other creatures of the Umbral Depths, it does not hunt out of necessity but rather out of an inherent desire to spread chaos and darkness. Its multiple mouths are not merely for devouring flesh but also for draining the life force and magical energy of its victims, leaving behind nothing but empty husks and desolate landscapes. The Noctarath is highly intelligent, capable of strategising and using its environment to its advantage, but has not faced any predators that rival its might.
“We had heard the legends, but nothing could have prepared us for the reality of it. The Noctarath was no mere beast; it was the darkness given form, a living nightmare. We felt it before we saw it—a chill in the air, a silence so complete it swallowed our breaths. And then, the ground trembled, and there it was, emerging from the shadows, its scales shimmering like a stormy night sky. Those eyes... gods, those eyes. It was like staring into the abyss, and the abyss was staring back. We barely escaped with our lives, but Drak’Thar... Drak’Thar was lost the moment it arrived.”
Lairs: The lairs of the Noctarath are vast, sprawling caverns deep within the Umbral Depths, where the boundaries between reality and nightmare blur. These lairs are often filled with the remains of the Noctarath’s past victims, their bones scattered among the twisted roots and darkened pools of corrupted water. The walls of these caverns are covered in strange, pulsating growths that seem to be an extension of the creature itself, and the air is thick with a cloying miasma that saps the strength of those who enter. The Noctarath’s lair is also home to several other lesser creatures of the Umbral Depths, all of which serve as its minions or simply scavengers feeding off the remnants of its kills.
Environmental Effects:
Warped Reality: The presence of the Noctarath causes reality itself to bend and twist. Objects may appear distorted, and distances can seem to stretch or compress unpredictably. Adventurers may find themselves disoriented, as familiar landmarks shift or disappear entirely.
Suffocating Miasma: A thick, noxious fog surrounds the Noctarath, filled with necrotic energy. This miasma drains the vitality of those who enter, causing exhaustion and weakening their resolve. Prolonged exposure can lead to hallucinations and madness.
Shadow Corruption: The Noctarath’s influence seeps into the environment, corrupting the flora and fauna. Plants become twisted and poisonous, while animals are transformed into aggressive, monstrous versions of themselves. The very ground itself may become unstable, causing tremors or sudden sinkholes.
Unnatural Silence: In the presence of the Noctarath, sound seems to be absorbed by the surrounding darkness. The usual noises of the Umbral Depths—dripping water, distant echoes—are muted or vanish entirely, replaced by an oppressive silence that amplifies the creature’s terrifying roars.
Legends:
The Maw of the Abyss: An ancient legend tells of a powerful sorcerer who sought to control the Noctarath, believing that its immense power could be harnessed to dominate the world. The sorcerer journeyed into the heart of the Umbral Depths, where he confronted the beast. The tale ends in tragedy, with the sorcerer consumed by the Noctarath, his essence becoming one with the monster, forever amplifying its power.
The Writhing Shadow: Some say that the Noctarath was once a guardian of a forgotten realm, twisted by the chaotic energies of the Umbral Depths into the monstrous form it now possesses. The Writhing Shadow is a warning to those who seek to delve too deeply into forbidden magic, as the Noctarath’s transformation serves as a grim reminder of the price of hubris.
The Fall of Drak'Thar: In the ancient city of Drak'Thar, once a thriving center of arcane knowledge, the Noctarath is said to have emerged from the depths, drawn by the city’s vast reservoirs of magical energy. The creature’s arrival was heralded by earthquakes and the sudden appearance of twisted growths throughout the city. Despite the best efforts of Drak'Thar’s most powerful mages, the Noctarath laid waste to the city, corrupting its people and consuming its power. The ruins of Drak'Thar now lie buried deep in the Umbral Depths, a testament to the Noctarath’s destructive might and a warning to those who would seek to reclaim the lost city.
Adventurers' Notes: Facing the Noctarath is an endeavor only the most daring or desperate would attempt. It is a battle against not just a powerful creature, but the environment itself, as the very world seems to conspire to ensure the adventurers' demise. The Noctarath’s lair is filled with dangers, from the corrupted ground to the treacherous miasma that fills the air. Magical protections against necrotic energy and reality-bending effects are essential, as is the ability to navigate in near-total darkness.
Defeating the Noctarath would be a monumental achievement, but even in death, the creature’s influence may linger, corrupting the land where it fell. However, the rewards could include rare and powerful artifacts, forged in the dark energies of the Umbral Depths, or secrets long buried in the shadowy depths of the world. Adventurers who seek to challenge the Noctarath must be prepared for a confrontation with one of the most dangerous beings in existence—a creature that is the embodiment of the Umbral Depths themselves.
STR 28 (+9) DEX 18 (+4) CON 24 (+7) INT 18 (+4) WIS 20 (+5) CHA 6 (-2)
Noctarath (Umbral Leviathan)
Gargantuan Aberration, Chaotic Evil
Armor Class: 18 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 432 (32d12 + 224)
Speed: 40 ft., Swim 60 ft.
Saving Throws: STR +16, DEX +11, CON +14, WIS +12, CHA +13
Damage Resistances: Cold, Necrotic, Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Poison
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned
Senses: Truesight 120 ft., Passive Perception 22
Languages: Deep Speech, Telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge: 20 (25,000 XP)
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the Noctarath fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Shadowy Presence. The area within 60 feet of the Noctarath is filled with dim light and difficult terrain. Creatures that start their turn within this area must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn.
Magic Resistance. The Noctarath has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Amphibious. The Noctarath can breathe air and water.
Actions:
Multiattack. The Noctarath makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its tentacles.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 29 (4d10 + 9) piercing damage plus 18 (4d8) necrotic damage.
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d8 + 9) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 24). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the Noctarath can’t use this tentacle on another target.
Abyssal Devour (Recharge 5-6). The Noctarath exhales a blast of shadowy energy in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 22 Constitution saving throw, taking 60 (11d10) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Creatures that fail the saving throw are also stunned until the end of their next turn.
Reality Warp (Recharge 6). The Noctarath warps the reality within a 120-foot radius centered on itself. Until the start of the Noctarath's next turn, all creatures within this area have disadvantage on saving throws and attack rolls, and any movement within the area requires a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw to avoid being teleported to a random unoccupied space within 60 feet. The teleportation effect ends once a creature successfully saves against it.
Shadow Step. The Noctarath magically teleports up to 120 feet to an unoccupied space it can see that is in dim light or darkness. Immediately after teleporting, the Noctarath can make one bite attack.
Legendary Actions:
The Noctarath can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The Noctarath regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Detect. The Noctarath makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Tentacle Attack. The Noctarath makes a tentacle attack.
Corrupting Gaze (Costs 2 Actions). The Noctarath targets one creature it can see within 60 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or take 36 (8d8) psychic damage and be paralyzed until the end of its next turn.
Corrupting Pulse (Costs 3 Actions). The Noctarath releases a pulse of dark energy from its body in a 30-foot radius. Each creature within that area must make a DC 21 Constitution saving throw or take 45 (10d8) necrotic damage and be poisoned for 1 minute. A poisoned creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.