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Yamauba Hag

Witches of the mountains and forests, the Yamauba hags are corrupted humans who disguise themselves as old ladies in order to trick travelers and guests into becoming their next meal.  

Exiled Criminals

A yamauba is born when a young woman who has been accused of crimes and slights is run off into the woods and forced into exile. Alternatively, a yamauba can also be born when an elderly lady is abandoned by their families within the forests, wherein their rage consumes them and forces their transformation. Once this transformation has taken place, despicable acts against any mortals who they happen to cross become an uncontrollable desire, and the consumption of mortal flesh becomes their ultimate goal.  

We Strike at Night

A yamauba often waits until the dead of night to reveal it's true form and take any devious actions they may be planning. During the daytime, the yamauba disguises itself as a elderly lady, often setting up huts by the roadside where they offer shelter, food, and a place to sleep for the night to weary travelers. Come night time, the yamauba will shed her disguise, revealing her ugly, old, demonic form, and they will trap their guest and consume them.   One who can see through illusion magic, will easily notice any disguised yamauba hags attempting to entice them, however, for the regular mortal, the easiest way to determine if an old lady is a yamauba is to keep an eye out for some hided horns or fangs, as often these parts of a yamauba are hard to hide with illusion magic.  

Covens

A yamauba hag that is a part of a coven (see the "Hag Covens" sidebar: Monster Manual pg. 176) has a challenge rating of 7 (2,900 XP)  

homebrew by Team Brievary

Yamauba Hag CR: 5 (1,800 XP)

Medium fiend (yokai), neutral evil
Armor Class: 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 180 12d8+36
Speed: 28 ft

STR

18 +4

DEX

13 +1

CON

16 +3

INT

16 +3

WIS

14 +2

CHA

16 +3

Skills: Deception +7, Insight +7, Perception +6, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances: bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons
Condition Immunities: charmed
Senses: darkvision 60 Ft., passive Perception 16
Languages: Common, Infernal, Primordial
Challenge Rating: 5 (1,800 XP)

Innate Spellcasting. The hag's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: dancing lights, detect magic, minor illusion

2/day: plane shift (self only), ray of enfeeblement, sleep


Magic Resistance. The hag has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.   Mimicry. The hag can mimic animal sounds and humanoid voices. A creature that hears the sounds can tell they are imitations with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (insight) check.

Actions

Claws (Hag Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 2d8+4 slashing damage.   Change Shape. The hag magically polymorphs into a Small or Medium female humanoid, or back into her true form. Her statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment she is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. She reverts to her true form if she dies.   Invisible Passage. The hag magically turns invisible until she attacks or casts a spell, or until her concentration ends (as if concentrating on a spell). While invisible, she leaves no physical evidence of her passage, so she can be tracked only by magic. Any equipment she wears or carries is invisible with her.

 
Origin/Ancestry
Fay
Lifespan
300 years
Average Height
4'7" - 5'2"
Average Weight
116 lbs - 137 lbs
Geographic Distribution
Stat Block Link
Yamauba Hag

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Cover image: wuxia by RRRobin -

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