Branded Goblin

Small humanoid (goblinoid), chaotic evil

Armor Class

16 (natural armor)

Hit Points

121 (22d6+44)

Speed

40 ft.

Skills

Stealth +9

Damage Resistances

piercing, slashing, bludgeoning, fire from nonmagical attacks

Senses

darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9

Languages

Common, Goblin, Abyssal

Challenge

6 (2,300 XP)

Proficiency Bonus

+3

Nimble Escape. The branded goblin can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of their turns.

The Black Obelisk. At the start of the first round of combat that the branded goblin is not surprised, if there is not already a Shriek within 300 feet, one erupts from a spot within 30 feet of the branded goblin.

Pleasure in Pain. The branded goblin can use a bonus action to pierce themselves with one of their hooks. The branded goblin rolls a 2d6, taking that much piercing damage and adding that many soul fragments to the nearest Shriek’s Basin of Souls, so long as there is a Shriek within 300 feet.

Actions

Multiattack. The branded goblin makes four attacks; three with their hooks and one with their chains, or three with their hooks and with one succumb if they have a creature grappled with their chains.

Hooks. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6+3) piercing damage.

Chains. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 30ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the branded goblin cannot use chains on another target. This grappled ends if the distance between the target and the branded goblin exceeds 30 ft.

Succumb. If the branded goblin has a creature grappled with Chains, the branded goblin may channel necrotic energy from a Shriek within 300 feet into them, causing the grappled creature to rot and decay. The branded goblin siphons up to 10 soul fragments from the nearest Shriek’s Basin of Souls. The grappled target must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, they take necrotic damage equal to double the amount of soul fragments siphoned, and half that much damage on a success.

Reactions

Mark of the Demon Sadist. When the branded goblin takes damage from an attack, they may place a demonic mark on an allied goblinoid within 30 feet. The mark can be seen by all creatures. Placing the mark requires that there is a Shriek within 300 feet with at least one soul fragment. The Shriek’s Basin of Souls expends a soul fragment when the mark is placed. At the start of the marked goblinoid’s next turn, they take the damage the branded goblin took from the attack, and the branded goblin heals for the amount of damage taken by the marked goblinoid.