Hello Backers,

We’ve entered the home stretch now with less than two days left in our crowdfunding campaign. We’ve reached end-of campaign surge. Fingers crossed that it’s enough to put us over the top. 

For our final preview, we have another of our my favorites. As an author myself I like the idea that my words can influence reality. The author devil does that literally, but writing words in it’s magical tome, it can magically influence the world around it, including the PC.

Plus, it comes with a bonus magic item! (And the item is only lightly cursed!)

Just as the Fates weave their tapestries of human lives, author devils scribe the exploits of mortals in their dark tomes.

Chroniclers or Authors? While most people think these devils are only recording events as they happen, some evidence suggests the devils can cause things to happen by writing the events in their books. Some even seek out author devils and make dark bargains with them to get them to add lines to their book.

Constant Narrators. Author devils constantly use their telepathy to narrate the actions of those around them as they write in their books. Sometimes this narration includes the thoughts and motives of those acting, though whether these are actual thoughts or just the devil's interpretations is debated.

Author Devil
Medium fiend (devil), typically lawful evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 204 (24d8 + 96)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
STR 14 (+2) DEX  20 (+5) CON  18 (+4) INT  21 (+5) WIS  15 (+2) CHA 17 (+3)
Saving Throws Dex +10, Con +9, Wis +7, Cha +8
Damage Resistance cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren't silvered
Immunities fire, poison; poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Infernal, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 13 (10,000) Proficiency Bonus +5
Traits
Magic Resistance: The author devil has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Actions
Multi-Attack. The author devil makes two pen attacks. Then, if it has blood from at least one target, it uses its Hostile Narration ability.
Pen. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d4+5) piercing damage and 16 (3d10) necrotic damage. If a creature takes necrotic damage this way, the author devil's pens fill with blood from that target. Each pen may only have blood from one creature at a time.
Hostile Narration. The author devil writes narration in its book about the creatures whose blood they have. Each creature who blood is in a pen must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be forced to follow the author devil's narration. This functions as the suggestion spell except the author devil does not need to concentrate on it, and the target can attempt a new saving throw at the end of each turn, ending the effect on a success.
Bonus Action.
Friendly Narration. One creature within 120 feet of the author devil can use its reaction to move up to half its speed and then make a melee attack.

Author's Tome
If an author devil is killed on its home plane, it leaves behind its book, which functions as a magical item described below.

Author's Tome
Wondrous item, rare
This book only functions for you if you helped kill an author demon on its home plane. It details your life and the life of the others who helped kill it with uncanny accuracy. If you spend all night reading it without sleeping, entering a trance, or the equivalent, you learn one secret you did not know about your past or a companion's past, and you suffer one level of exhaustion.

Curse: After you have discovered a secret, each night following, you must make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw. If you fail, you are compelled to spend the entire night reading the book again without resting. You again learn a secret and suffer another level of exhaustion. If this exhaustion would kill you, your soul is sent to hell and transforms into a new author devil.