Nishi Daak
Originating from the Indian subcontinent, the Nishi Daak is an undead creature whose origins and even appearance are somewhat ambiguous. While some believe it to be the spirit of a deceased person that has refused to rest, others maintain that it is a creature of malice more akin to a demon. In any case, the Nishi Daak is most famous for its unsettling tactic of luring its victims out alone into the darkness to isolate and kill them.
A Familiar Voice. The Nishi Daak can unfailingly mimic the voice, language, and speech patterns of a creature that was beloved to a potential victim. Using this mimicry, the Nishi Daak calls out from the darkness in a way that is specially crafted to entice its target victim. However, there is a weakness to this tactic: the Nishi Daak can only call out twice before it is magically compelled to fall silent. Thus, a piece of advice that is often shared by village elders: wait until you hear the voice call out a third time before you answer.
A Shadow in Darkness. The Nishi Daak only appears at night, when its form is obscured by shadow. If its victim responds to the call and goes running into the darkness, the shadowy form of the Nishi Daak usually appears to resemble the shape of the loved one whose voice it is mimicking; however, the Nishi Daak will remain partially obscured in shadow and continually move away from the victim so that its exact features remain a mystery. It is only once the victim has been lured a safe distance away from its allies that the Nishi Daak will reveal its true form and attack.
Nishi Daak
Medium undead, chaotic evil
Armor Class: 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 63 (18d6)
Speed: 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 (+2) | 13 (+1) | 10 (+0) | 10 (+0) | 12 (+1) | 20 (+5) |
Saving Throws: WIS +4, CHA +8
Damage Resistances: bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons that are not silvered.
Damage Immunities: necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities: charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 11
Languages: Common, Prakrit, Tamil
Challenge: 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency: +3
Features
False Appearance: While Nishi Daak remains lightly obscured in an area of dim light or shadow, it has the appearance of a loved one to any creature that can see it. A creature that has immunity to the Charmed condition still perceives the Nishi Daak as a familiar humanoid, but can attempt a DC 18 Insight check to discern that something is slightly wrong with its appearance.
“Beware the voice that calls out twice from the darkness, for there lurks the night caller, the Nishi Daak.”
--Ancient folklore, India, 100 CE.
Attacks At Sea. One of the Nishi Daak’s favorite methods of killing those under its thrall is by luring victims out into the water where they become disoriented and drown. As a result, many Nishi Daak attacks occur near river banks and coastlines, but attacks on the open sea are also known to happen. Usually, the Nishi Daak will single out a target standing watch on a ship’s deck, either calling out from the shoreline or else even appearing in a shadowy corner of the ship’s deck.
Loot the Body! A slain Nishi Daak is reduced to a pile of inky black ichor. While disgusting, this ichor can be used as a material component to amplify spells from the school of divination. A single Nishi Daak corpse will produce 1d4 vials of ichor, each of which can be sold at market for 35 (1d6 x 10) gp.
Mimicry: The Nishi Daak can perfectly mimic the language, voice, and speech pattern of the loved one of a target within 60 feet. The target can tell that the voice is an imitation with a Successful DC 20 Insight check. The Nishi Daak cannot use this feature if the target has immunity to effects that can read its mind or senses its emotions.
Actions
Call (2/Day): The Nishi Daak targets one creature within 60 ft. that can hear it, calling out in the voice of a loved one through its “Mimicry” feature. This call may be worded in any way the Nishi Daak chooses (usually taking the form of a cry for help), but is limited to 25 words or fewer. If the target calls out in reply, it takes a -5 penalty to all saving throws from the Nishi Daak’s spells and other effects for the next 24 hours. If the Nishi Daak uses this feature twice, it becomes magically compelled to fall silent, as though by the geas spell, taking 28 (5d10) psychic damage each time it speaks before dawn the following day, at which point it regains all uses of this feature.
Lure: The Nishi Daak moves 20 feet away from a target that can see it, drawing deeper into shadow or hiding behind an object. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become Charmed until the end of its next turn. While Charmed in this way, the target is overcome with curiosity and must use half of its movement to follow the Nishi Daak.
Multiattack: The Nishi Daak makes two claw attacks
Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) slashing damage.
Source attribution and license
Silk Road's Guide to Seafaring, printed pages 198.